How does 96 Avalon climb up the hill?

[stevehosun]

Hello,

I did TLC as much as I could for 96 Avlon with 47K (hand-down from Mom)-- MAF clean with CRC MAF cleaner/new FRAM air filter/TB intake clean. Still car is sluggish at incline--specially long one-- I had to step aside to avoid stamped. It went to over 80mph on flat. At incline, max speeds I can get is 65 miles with RPM @2250. After this point, pressing down acc did not increase speed nor RPM. If you own 96 (1MZ engine--before sludge era), please share your experience. I want to know if car was built in this way or something needs to be cared.


Thanks

[KeepItSimple]

I drive my '95 Avalon XL with 148k from Sacramento in the valley to Tahoe up in the mountains all the time. All I do is step on the gas a little more going up hills for it to downshift and take off like a rocket. With the ECT on it takes off like a supercharged rocket.

Good luck getting your Avy's mojo back -- I'm sure it's still there!

[silverxls]

if all you can get is 2250 rpm then you have some other problem. if you manually downshift the transmission can you get more rpm? no matter how long or steep the incline, you should be able to select a gear and take it to 6500 rpm if you want...

[stevehosun]

Is it safe to shift from D to 1 or 2? I have a friend with automatic tranny prematurely died-- and he drive auto as if it is manual....

[Kingdom934]

Most times by pressing more on the accelerator, the transmission (automatic) should downshift to give you more 'power' and the RPM should increase. If your flooring all the way and the transmission doesn't seem to downshift, you might have an issue.

For all I know, my mom's Camry (2001) I4 is a bit sluggish with the A/C on at highway speeds. On a steep hill with 4 passengers, I have it nearly floored to increase speed.

[toyomoho]

Next time you go up a hill turn off the O/D and see if the this kicks up the RPM. As Kingdom states the trans should downshift if you floor it. The trans should select the proper gear without needed to manually do the job. The ECU will output trouble codes for the trans, might have them checked.

[stevehosun]

Hello guys!

Thanks for your input.
I think my problem is not being able to downshift. When I pressed down, I did not get any acceleraton. On hillside, it eventually slowed down so I had to move to slower lane.
I will check throttle cable to see if I can adjust. Or is there any 'kick down' switch?

Also I will try test with OD off on hill. I will let you know what solves!

[lue_moua]

you should accelerate fine....i have a 98 w/200k miles goes up easily

[AvalonMan96]

I have never had a problem with power on hills with my 96 Avalon. It has ~173k miles on it. It maintains 70-75mph on some steep hills and can accelerate briskly from a dead stop going up hills, too. I couldn't say that about my old 4-cylinder 88 Camry, where a speed bump could slow up all forward progress (not that bad, but you get the point ).

--AvMan96

[2way]

Still having some troubles, huh? It should fly!... granted I have an SRI... but the '96 is no slug... I can hammer it @ 65 and be doing 80 very quickly.... even uphill. Have you checked/purged the tranny fluid? Yeah.. it should downshift... & even quicker if you have the ECT in Power Mode. Go thru some more injector cleaner. I think you need to find someone nearby that can assist you. Sounds like it has been pretty maintenance neglected. The tranny is electronically controlled... and it still sounds like you have some engine performance issues. Might want to pull a plug & see what they are like. Normally, they wouldn't even be due until 60-90K... Maybe a bad O2 sensor? Is it throwing any check engine codes?

[stevehosun]

Hello,

I found it why my car was so heavy-- there are 3 floor mats filed under accel pedal. So it never open throttle fully. After removing the mats, it flys

Thanks all for your inputs.

[TMack409]

Originally Posted by stevehosun

Hello,

I found it why my car was so heavy-- there are 3 floor mats filed under accel pedal. So it never open throttle fully. After removing the mats, it flys

Thanks all for your inputs.

Put Chevron Supreme in the tank....and it will scream!

[muchachomalo]

Something wrong with your foot or your car. My avi climbs up hills fairly easily. It tops out at 120mph. This is a 96xls that is in need of an oil change. If yours tops at at those rpms it needs professional help because I have hit 6grand before on mine

[2way]

Originally Posted by stevehosun

Hello,

I found it why my car was so heavy-- there are 3 floor mats filed under accel pedal. So it never open throttle fully. After removing the mats, it flys

Thanks all for your inputs.

That'll do it! Sometimes it really is the simple things

[Kingdom934]

Originally Posted by stevehosun

Hello,

I found it why my car was so heavy-- there are 3 floor mats filed under accel pedal. So it never open throttle fully. After removing the mats, it flys

Thanks all for your inputs.

Heheh...

I wonder why there was 3 floor mats there?