Restyled and refined the new BT-50 is based on the D-MAX. Switching to a platform that has proved to be a great solution for the ute market. This means that a large percentage of the parts found in the D-Max are found in Mazda’s BT-50 which looks more elegant than rugged.
While for some that may not be a good thing, what’s under the bonnet definitely will. You get to choose between two-diesel engines, a 1.9-litre or a 3.0-litre with the latter being made for off-roading while the former being more for regular commuting. But even if you go for the more slow-paced BT-50 you can still make it peppy enough with a throttle controller.
Throttle Controllers
What Are They?
Electronic throttle controllers are small devices that are capable of modifying the throttle response of your BT-50. They do so by sending electrical signals at different voltages to the ECU which then does the same to the throttle controller that came with your BT-50. A proper BT50 throttle controller works in the background while you drive around the way you always do.
Benefits
With an aftermarket Mazda BT 50 throttle controller, you can easily improve your ute’s acceleration response. You can easily sharpen the way your BT-50 feels both on and off the road. There is also an improvement in efficiency which means your Mazda will use up fuel more intelligently without making the engine run rich. With a BT50 throttle controller, you have more control over how your ute which means you can set it up the way you like. Be it to be more aggressive on the throttle or to be more efficient, it all depends on your preferences.
Types of Throttle Controllers
Advanced
What also depends on your personal preference is the type of Mazda BT50 throttle controller you go for. If you want to go all in on performance gains you can go for advanced throttle controllers which are able to offer more than just a simple change in acceleration.
If you want to be able to create modes of your own without any limitations to both the type of parameters you can set and the number of modes you can make. Advanced throttle controllers often come with a touchscreen that allows you to access certain information about the engine and gearbox as well as access to a backup camera.
Basic
A more reasonable approach for most people would be to go for an off-the-shelf throttle controller for BT50. With this type of device, you can still choose between a certain number of modes and create some but you won’t have to fiddle around with a lot of settings and parameters. They are simply put, a more straightforward version of advanced controllers often called programmers.
How to Set Up a Throttle Controller in Your BT50
- Adding a throttle controller to your BT50 is a rather easy task since you don’t need any tools for the job. You don’t even need to start your car or open the bonnet. All you need to do is roll back the driver’s seat so you have enough room to get access under the steering wheel.
- This space is needed in order to remove the connector going into the back of the throttle pedal. Once you have it disconnected, connect the one you got with the throttle controller for BT50. With the new connector plugged into the back of the throttle pedal, get the piggyback connector from the box and plug it into the back of the connector you just plugged in.
- After you’ve done all of the above, plug in the original connector into the back of the piggyback connector and you should then be able to find a spot for the controller. You can’t just leave it hanging as you still need to use it to set the throttle in the right setting.
- Find a place on the dashboard where the controller won’t be in the way of other controls but it won’t feel out of each either. You should also route the cable through the steering column as this way it will be out of sight and also out of the way of your feet.
- After the controller is mounted in place with some double-sided tape, you can turn on the ignition. With the ignition on, the device will either turn on by itself or you’ll need to do so by yourself for the very first time.
- When your Mazda BT50 throttle controller is on, you then need to choose between two options which are usually two letters or numbers. Each one represents a certain type of transmission that you need to select and it should correspond with the one in your BT-50.
- With the controller now set up, choose a mode that fits your driving style best or leave the unit in auto to let it decide on its own which mode is best for you according to your driving.
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