Folks
Have a 97 3.2 TL. Love the car - runs smooth and returns 20mpg pure city on the clock.

I just have one problem. I seem to be loosing the traffic light derbys to almost everybody. Either I drive like an old woman (I rarely go over 3k rpm in normal day to day driving) or everybody else stomps on their gas pedals like the end is near or my car lacks low end grunt.

I really have to press the accelerator for the car to response with vigour. Is there some seting to loosen that a bit. I drove a friends 95 honda accord the other day and it seemed so light on its feet. It seemed to like to move when I hit the gas. But my car seems to be more content to amble along gracefully rather than hauling its ass a little quickly...

I recognise its an old car and expect the same kind of performance...don't expect it to go all out like a 2006 TL. But I still think it can utilise it's 200 horses a little better.

- Is the car designed that way where more torque is available at higher rpms?
- Is there some way the accelerator can be tweaked to be lighter and easier to press?

Side note:
- It's been maintained well
- Oil changes every 3-4k miles
- New air filter
- Ran bg44k through a tank a couple of months go - think the car ran smoother for some time but may have been psychological.
- Washed and waxed almost every other week. Heard that adds another 5 horses

 

From a dig, our cars aren't that great. We shine, though, from a roll. If you MUST participate in a "traffic light derby," then: TCS off, half-throttle start and a half-second later, full throttle launch. Keep in mind that we're around 4000LBs... Power/weight ratio isn't all that great. Now, if you can get them going from a 20MPH or 50MPH roll, you'll beat cars you wouldn't think you could've even hung with, even with TCS on. But remember, NO 40MPH rolls, only 20 or 50.

~Cheers~

 

Thanks for the response....just to clarify - I am not looking to race other people. Just normal acceleration to keep up with everybody else taking off when the light goes green ....

 

I see... Well, now if you've got a Shit-vic with a fart-cannon revving on you, you know what to do, hehe.

~Cheers~

 

Sure do ) Thanks.......

 

Do you have TCS?

If so, turn it off and you'll notice a difference

If you dont, sounds like you've got a problem. The TL should have plenty of low and midrange power.

 

3,000 RPM is pretty weak on our cars. I would say 4,000 or so is good for a regular start.

Overly slow acceleration doesn't help gas mileage.

And our pedal is heavy, so it feels like its taking more gas than it really is.

You'd be surprised who mashes at lights. I've ridden with lots of people and it seems the vast majority have a bit of a heavy foot. Its why that little buzzy Corolla next to you can keep up.

 

Ken
I have TCS.

Isn't TCS a passive system which doesn't come into play till it detects tire slippage? Does it add some load onto the engine even in normal situations (when I don't see the TCS light flashing on my console)

 

Wackjum
Can you explain the comment - 'Overly slow acceleration doesn't help gas mileage'. I thought lower rpms meant better fuel economy.

I think I'll push the car a little bit (reach 4k rpm on take off for gear changes) for one tank and see what kind of milleage I get.

Pedal is heavy - that is exactly what I meant. Is that a setting or is that the way for every 1st gen TL.

Love your expression - buzzy corolla but thats exactly what irritates me slightly. A buzzy corolla keeping up .....

 

It is a passive system but it will kick in slightly in the first few MPH without the light coming on to prevent slippage. If you stomp on the pedal and depending on your tires, you'll lose grip and TCS will definitely slow you down for a second and the light will flash.

This is simply the nature of FWD cars under heavy acceleration.

 

Mine was pulling hard from 2,300RPM to 3000, then a bit slower, then 3900-4000RPM to 6000RPM with the final stage of the TB opened up. Gone is that feeling now, though, hehe. Much smoother powerband thanks to my new timing belt and some other things...

~Cheers~

 

I was typing up a whole mathematical explanation but it was crazy long. I still have it if people want to see it.

Here's goes the short form. Moderate acceleration is better for mileage because an engine is most efficient in the mid band. Quick example: To get from 1,000 RPM to 2,000 RPM takes minimal pedal pressure, which means a minimal increase in fuel. This is because an engine has to consume a quantity of fuel just to keep itself going. The rotational inertia allows it to build revs (essentially doubling output) with just a minimal amount of gas.

Secondly, moderate acceleration keeps you in gear for a little bit longer. Shifting gears trades torque multiplication for speed.

Imagine an extreme example. As soon as your car is moving, you shift into the highest gear. The engine is still moving but there's almost no force. That's because gear ratios go something like this: 3:1, 2:1, 1:1, .8:1. In the lower gears, the crankshaft turns 3 times for every 1 time of the wheel. That's a lot of power. In overdrive, the crankshaft turns .8 times for the wheels to turn once. Good for speed and lower RPMs, but not for power.

So if you accelerate from 5 mph to 30 mph in top gear, the engine is still bumming along at 3,000 RPM but its not moving you very efficiently. By contrast, staying in 1st gear would get you from 5 to 30 mph pretty quickly at the same 3,000 RPMs.

So accelerating from 0-30 in first gear up to 4,000 is more efficient use of the engine's power then say accelerating from 0-30 in first and second without ever breaking 3,000.

 

My engine's sweet spot is 2200 rpms to 6800

 

My cousin lost the manual when she sold me her car. And it costs money to get a new one, how do you turn TCS off?

Edit- and I've tried Google.

 

There is a button left of the steering wheel and to the right of the interior light dimmer wheel.

 

Lucky, hehe.

~Cheers~