Here is a combination of two posts in the stickied thread up there...
This looks like a nice place to expalin Toyota's air intake control system, or ACIS as it is now called.
First of all, it does not ever "kick in". The default position of the valve is springloaded open, which is high rpm use. Vacuum pulling on the diapragm closes it to boost low RPM torque. The manifold with longer runners aids low end torque, but starve the engine at higher engine speeds. The shorter ones lose velocity, but can fill a cylinder at high RPM.
So the system is set up for high rpm, and closes the valve for low speed torque. If you really feel it kick in, your probably does not work, and the vacuum solenoid is froze. Take a good look at that stock torque curve, and how flat it is.
The ACIS is designed to shift the torque band higher along the rpm range. It does this by responding to changes in the throttle opening angle (VTA signal of the TPS) and engine rpm (NE signal in the CPS). The air control valve is then opened or closed by the ECU via a VSV and vacuum actuator.
The valve is located in the center of the manifold and when closed divides it into two sections - a front chamber for cylinders 1 to 3 and a rear chamber for cylinders 4 to 6. A closed ACIS valve has the same effect as lengthening the intake manifold while an open valve has the same effect as shortening the intake manifold. In other words flow efficiency what's being controlled.
When the ECU turns on the VSV vacuum is applied to the actuator and closes the valve. When the VSV is turned off atmospheric pressure is applied to the actuator and opens the valve. There are four combinations of speed and throttle angle the ECU uses to decide when to open or close the ACIS:
1) Above 60% throttle angle and above 4,200 rpm: VSV off, ACIS open.
2) Above 60% throttle angle and below 4,200 rpm: VSV on, ACIS closed.
3) Below 60% throttle angle and above 4,200 rpm: VSV on, ACIS closed.
4) Below 60% throttle angle and below 4,200 rpm: VSV off, ACIS open.
