I know this may be a silly question, but I was wondering if the ecm learns driver habits and adjusts things like throttle response? A couple of weeks ago I drove my car very tame on purpose to see how high I could get the mpg on one tank of gas. The next time I filled up, I drove it like I stole it. I didn't notice a slower response than normal, but I'm wondering if it's possible for the car to perform differently based off of very different driving habits. Thanks!

 

It does in the A6 cars not sure about M6 cars.

 

There's predictive shift logic that the auto transmission uses to shift optimally. If you think about it the process of shifting is not instantaneous. So the ECM will learn how you drive and command shifts to start for best fuel economy and the most optimal shift timing when WOT.

But also the ECM is constantly adjusting Fuel trims and weather also affects performance. So depending on what the weather is like, the performance could also vary slightly.

 

This but I had always heard it referred to as adaptive shift logic. Same thing really.

 

Yeah I have also heard this talk about "adaptive learning" and it never made any sense to me. I can see the computer taking data on response to things like throttle body position to adjust things like idle speed, but don't understand what it would actually change to adjust for "driving habits."

It does make sense that this is really talking about automatic transmission shift points only.

 

It all about the MPG but the 13/14 Select-Shift pretty much throws
the MPG out the window.

 

I don't have to use select shift to throw the MPG out the window.

 

The adaptive learning does have an effect its mostly on automatics for shift points but it does control idle speed. Its not as obvious on a performance car like the mustang because it has enough power that you likely won't be able to tell. I had an 03 ranger I shared with my father in high school and you could definitely tell (he drove like a granny I drove it like I stole it). I could always tell after he had been driving it for a while it would fall flat on its face from a light. Not that it had much to start with but it was very obvious. Even after I swapped in the manual trans as carbon built up in the throttle body it would have acceleration issues so its not limited to the trans but shift points are where it does most of its changes.

 

I had a 2007 GT automatic. It didn't learn a thing.

 

Does in all the newer mustangs... accordingly adjusts throttle response and transmission behavior over time (if automatic) to conserve fuel. To reset it pull the negative terminal on your battery, you will notice a significant difference in performance if youve been driving miss daisy

 

I noticed my '13 would have an odd RPM rev on the 5-6 upshift if the car had been driven easy for a few days. Cure was to make sure to get on it on a regular basis. Hasn't been an issue after SC install.