Why mod a Camry??

[GSteg]

Got your attention?


anyways. my mom has a 1993 Toyota Camry LE V6. We bought it for $2,200 in january with 94k miles. It runs absolutely fine. Some point to bring up though.


I do not know if this is common or not on toyotas, but the throttle response and feel of the car is too spongy. I know this car was built as a family car to smoothness, but it just feels very soft.

for example. In my acura legend, i am able to feel the road and if i gave the car alittle more throttle, you can feel the car accelerate, basically you're connected to the road.

On the Camry though, when I do the same thing, the car is just ultra-smooth that i see the speedometer needle rising, but I don't actually feel the car going. I would have to depress the accelerator about 50% to get moving where as my legend would only need 25% to get to a comparable speed.

Anyone knows what i'm talking about? It seems to me that most hondas feel the way they do and most toyotas are much smoother, but not as sporty i guess.


I'm going to try to mess around with the throttle cable Tomorrow and see how it goes. Perhaps i can increase the tension just a tad bit so I wouldn't have to almost floor it (sarcasm) everytime i drive.

Thanks everyone!

[xtychx]

Might need a tune up? I'm not the most familiar with the 3vz.

BTW, I had a legend back in the day myself. Sick car.

-Scott

[GSteg]

dude..u have a blower on your camry. i envy you



now back on topic. i recently changed oil, fuel filter, air filter, tranny fluid, etc. i helped performance, but the feel was still the same.


after thinking for awhile, i'm guessing its the suspension. Its so smooth over bumps and such that I wouldn't be able to feel the road like my legend. My legend has a bit sportier suspension and a firmer ride. i guess its time to get new springs for the camry


Since we're talking about camry, can anyone tell me what the ECT button does? I pressed it and can't feel any different. perhaps the suspension is absorbing the difference?

[Ratko]

The 3VZ-FE engine in your V6 is very torquey. I have no idea why you're not feeling it with the throttle response. Yes, the first thing to check would be the throttle cable. Secondly, the ECT changes the automatic trannys shifting patterns to a slightly more "aggressive" mode, meaning it will typically shift at higher RPMs than if the ECT switch is not enabled. Another thing is that if you turn off the O/D by pressing the switch on the stalk of your shifter then the car will stay in the first 3 gears, and never shift into O/D, so you'll notice the car won't upshift as much since it's basically lost a usable gear. So turn ECT on and O/D off and you'll notice a difference.

I know what you mean when you compare your Legend. My buddy had an old 1989 Legend V6 and that thing was all torque, all the time... lol.

Good luck.

[ekim55121]

"why not mod a camry?" thats what i ask people when they ask me why i mod my camry

[BlueFusion6851]

Originally Posted by Ratko

Secondly, the ECT changes the automatic trannys shifting patterns to a slightly more "aggressive" mode, meaning it will typically shift at higher RPMs than if the ECT switch is not enabled.

dont you mean if the ETC IS enabled? i notice that the engine revs faster and shifts at higher rpm

[mescalito]

yeah, when it is on the gears wind out, and its drops one more than usual when you get your foot into it - kind of worthless imo, shoulda just made the old camry's quicker!

my guess is the simple fact they are different cars alltogether, camry vs legend are very different in build, and scope.

[Toysrme]

but the throttle response and feel of the car is too spongy. I know this car was built as a family car to smoothness, but it just feels very soft.

That's just how the throttle plate opens. It's progressive. 100X easier to drive once you have more power. I hate gas pedals that are like a god damned On-Off switch. (read Maximas) There is no aftermarket to make it open quicker, nor can you swap throttle body's and come out with what you want. If you don't like it, tuff...


The car is meant to be smooth. You can't have a smooth car with a throttle plate that opens 50% when you push the gas pedal down 1".




FYI The ECU has nothing to do with the engine, nor any programming for it. it's sole function is for the ECT-ECU to tell the transmission to hold gear longer (5850-6100rpm instead of say 5500)
The engine doesn't not "rev faster", or "pull stronger" by turning ECT on.

[GSteg]

i know the feeling of a car when it is all jerky. My sister's new 2005 honda accord sucks in terms of throttle. the moment you tap the pedal, it jerks forward.

In my 1992 legend, it has a wide variation of throttle, as in not on and off type of thing. Basically I can predict what RPM the engine will rev to. In the camry, 10% almost feels like 50% throttle. I would have to dig in deeper before the engine comes alive. I accelerates pretty quick, but i just can't feel it doing so. Most likely the suspension is making it too smooth that I feel its just standing still.

[Edmond]

I always thought they were meant to be soft and I enjoy that softness of the Camry. But even with that being said, I wouldn't mind a little quicker throttle response.

[GSteg]

maybe i'm just use to honda's where i can feel the acceleration. on the camry, i can't feel the acceleration, but it is accelerating. Oh well. my mom drives it anyways so i don't think she cares. she went from an old 1990 ford van to this camry so its going to feel faster for her. lol.

[karugs]

Is it possible to adjust the throttle cable? On my mom's car I notice that when the pedal is depressed the throttle "pulley" turns as the cable is pulled in by the pedal. Maybe if you adjust this the responsiveness would increase. If this is the same as Gsteg's Camry then it could be done. Just my .02