Gen 7 - My Vvti Has Gone!

[iceland_potter]

Hi all,

Since I bought my 2nd Gen 7, I havn't had that magic increase in acceleration at a certain rev count.

I have oil changed, air filter changed, spark plug changed, all has made no difference. I'm thinking it is perhaps the crankshaft sensor, which I think is about £100 for the part, no idea how much fitted tho.

Anyone had this before?

Any ideas whether it is the crankshaft sensor?

My next stage is to probably take it to a garage, but I'm thinking Toyota will probably charge me for even looking at it?! so this is my 1st port of call.

[fazzer]

Hi all,

Since I bought my 2nd Gen 7, I havn't had that magic increase in acceleration at a certain rev count.

I have oil changed, air filter changed, spark plug changed, all has made no difference. I'm thinking it is perhaps the crankshaft sensor, which I think is about £100 for the part, no idea how much fitted tho.

Anyone had this before?

Any ideas whether it is the crankshaft sensor?

My next stage is to probably take it to a garage, but I'm thinking Toyota will probably charge me for even looking at it?! so this is my 1st port of call.

give me a call before you go to a garage,if a sensor has gone it should show up on diagnostics check

[iceland_potter]

Cheers Fazzer mate, Is there a guide on how to read the diagnostics code anywhere you know please?

[aquazi]

Have you checked the rocker cover/ lift bolts.

It is fairly common failure on the pre faclift 190.

[jonny_gt]

if its the vvti it will not really increase at any revv, its the VVTL-i that changes at around 6k

if yours is the 190 then check the lift bolts, and make sure its the correct oil that been used

[iceland_potter]

I have a 140, I know on my old 140 (the one that was broke!!) there was a change in acceleration at about 5000 revs, but the same effect is not present on this one and hasn't since I bought it 5-6 months ago.

VVTi is a major fun part of driving the Celica and I am keen to get the sensor or whatever it is sorted and cheap if possible. Any advice greatly appreciated i.e where the sensor I'm looking for is etc

[GazChap]

I have a 140, I know on my old 140 (the one that was broke!!) there was a change in acceleration at about 5000 revs,

If you had a 140 before, then there wasn't any change. It's only on the 190/T-sport that the lift activates (at about 6.2K revs) and you get a boost in acceleration.

[edwardio]

The Variable Valve Timing kicks in at 4600 revs on a 140. The timing changes to be for more performance, this produces a noticable difference in acceleration. I'm on my second 140, both having the performance change at 4600 revs.

"VVT-i, introduced in 1996, varies the timing of the intake valves by adjusting the relationship between the camshaft drive and intake camshaft."

"In 1998, Toyota started offering a new technology, VVTL-i, which can alter valve lift (and duration) as well as valve timing."

I'd say it's going to be the VVT I Controller or/& cam sprocket

[GazChap]

The Variable Valve Timing kicks in at 4600 revs on a 140. The timing changes to be for more performance, this produces a noticable difference in acceleration. I'm on my second 140, both having the performance change at 4600 revs.

Interesting, I stand corrected. I can't say I ever noticed this on my 140 though? Maybe mine was broken too!

[iceland_potter]

I've searched but can't find where abouts the VVTi controller is located on the car to have a look at it/clean it etc, can anyone advise please?

[fazzer]

I've searched but can't find where abouts the VVTi controller is located on the car to have a look at it/clean it etc, can anyone advise please?

The vvt is located on the intake cam,cleaning it will have no effect,but i doubt very much that there is a problem with it,any sensor going down will show up with the management light coming on.why not try a good service first.

[MIP]

vvti's effect is continuous across the entire rev range, it's not a cam switch like lift or vtec. The only thing I know of that opens up with revs on the 140 is the intake butterfly, and that just makes a bit more noise as it lets the air through. It won't really give a kick in acceleration, the revs just continue to climb in a linear fasion.

[iceland_potter]

Faz - what do you reckon it is if its not that sensor then? I have changed oil, oil filter, air filter and spark plugs.

MIP - I felt a definate performance increase in my old 140. So much so that on a wet road in 1st gear, it was sometimes harder to control....do you think the intake butterfly could be faulty then?

[edwardio]

It won't have any effect on the VVTi kick, but have you had your - clutch, gearbox & diff oils changed at all? (should've been done at 60k) If not, that will help with performance.

[fazzer]

without seeing the car its very hard to know,do you not have a local specialist who could look at it for you.

[TheNumpty]

I was used to mine picking up from 3.5k rpm, and really surging above 4.5k.

I've found my car was quite sensitive to fuel actually. A duff load of 95 RON from the wrong station made it feel very lethargic. Maybe you've got an iffy batch of fuel? It's a long shot, I admit.

[Mark Tiller]

hi all ...my 140 pulls strongly from about 3500 but runs out of puff about 5000, should it pull all the way to the redline?, Mark

[edwardio]

The 140 hits max Torque at 3400 revs (or 3600), then the VVT kicks in at 4600 revs. This is followed by max BHP at 6600 revs.

So it should accelerate good upto the VVT, then have a small surge and increase in power all the way upto max BHP.