Crazy transmission shifting question.

[Prof ozone]

I hope someone can answer this for me. What I want to know is if the ecu in the second generation Avalon with the 1mzfe with vvti, causes the timing to retard when the automatic transmission shifts, to lessen shift shock. Some Toyotas do this and I would like to know if the Avalon is one of them.

I know it's a strange question, but I hope someone can answer it.

Thanks.

[DaiFai]

Yes ECM will advance timing to improve output or retard timing during downshift to reduce engine torque and lessen shift shock.
ECM will retard timing as much as 20 degrees on vvti engines during downshift.
ECM will also advance timing when ACIS operates.
Avalon is one of them.

[Prof ozone]

Thank you for the information. After searching on the net for a while, I finally found that the 1999 did do that so I figured the 2000 did too (I was looking into a possilbe buy of a 2000).

You seem pretty knowledgable about it.

What I'd like to do is use this engine in another car with a manual transmission. I can fool the ECM into thinking that the automatic transmission is there, but it will also think that it is changing gear and alter the timing. Obviously that won't do.

I was able to find the schematics for the 3mzfe engine, which has one of those manumatic type transmissions. On that setup I believe I could fool the ECM into thinking that the transmission has been put into manual mode and then just never have it shift. I believe this would eliminate the problem. However, I don't really know anything about the Avalon (or any car with the 1mzfe with vvti). I refer to the Avalon because I have found a couple at a good price with low mileage. I don't know if the Avalon has one of these manumatic transmissions or if it's just an automatic.

What do you think of the idea?

The original idea was to use the non-vvti version of the 1mzfe, which I know would work because they came with manual transmissions. However, these engines are getting quite old now, with high miles and of course it doesn't hurt to have the extra HP/torque.

[DaiFai]

You would better off get a ECM for a manual transmission V6, because to logic inside the ECM between Auto & Manual is different.

For Manual transmission, engine ECM has to see a clutch signal to command retard timing. In automatic, ECM has to see braking & release in throttle plate to command retard timing

Avalon never came with manual trans.
2000 Avalon's came with VVTi, with a cable sytle throttle.
If you need a newer 1MZ-FE, you can get 04 Camry, but it's in electric throttle body. don't get the 05 cos it runs CAN ECM.

The 3MZ-FE is the same block with 1MZ-FE, only the internal is different, ie. piston. but i think the manual trans only came with the 2AZ-FE, not sure if it will fit 3MZ.

You can probably get used engines from Japan for the 04 Camry, but you will need to find a different ECM, because 04 uses Electric throttle body and it replaces the old TPS, and it runs Air Fuel ratio sensor instead of Oxygen sensors, so the ECM for the newer 1MZ will not work for the older types.

My suggestion is get a used old motor and re-build the internals, like piston rings, valve seals, adjust the
valves, etc. Cos lots of changes had been applied around 2003-2005 on these motors. I hope i didn't bring you more headache.

[Prof ozone]

According to the MR2 websites, the ECU on 2003 and earlier model V6 Solaras is the same for auto and manual versions. I have the repair manuals for my wife's Solara and there is no difference indicated for the automatic and manual. Of course, this is an early 1mzfe (1999) so it does not have the vvti.

I don't really want to get just the motor. I would prefer a donor car because I need a lot of items, like the key, ignition switch, evap canister, ecu, motor, wiring harness. Plus there are additional parts I want for other reasons, like the door locks, ABS parts, etc.

I'd like to get a 1mzfe with the vvti, but I don't want it if I can't trick the ecu into NOT adjusting torque during shifts. If the ECU is going to adjust the timing during shifts, I assume it must be judging the shifts by a signal from the transmission or it's control module. So if I can feed the ECU the appropriate signal, it should assume the car is never shifting. Then I could use the engine and ECU, but if it works differently then I could have drivability problems.

By the bye, I don't believe my wife's Solara does this. There is only one connection between the clutch and the ECU and it is the STA signal, which I'm pretty sure is the starter signal and has nothing to do with shifting.

I won't use any motor that has throttle by wire.

Thanks for the info.