Celica Forums General Discussion General 2000 GTS Powerband/Lift Question

Hi,

I bought a used 2000 GTS with 76,000 miles on it. I had a good mechanic check up my car, and everything seemed ok. He worked for Toyota dealer for 16 years, but now he's on his own.

I've been browsing this forum for some time now. And I've read the thread about the bolt being broken and then the GTS wasn't able to get lift.

However, I do have a different lift problem. It is kind of wierd. My lift kicks in around 5500, which is a bit earlier. When it reaches around 6500, I feel that the engine's kick wasn't as strong as it was. However, unlike the experiences described by people who had their bolts broken, my celica still accelerates rather smoothly even until the redline, but the power somehow doesn't feel as strong as when the VVTL-i first kicked in.

I'm not sure when people say "i love hitting lift", how that "lift" should really feel like. I used to drive an Integra 97 GSR, and the VTEC really, REALLY kicks in at the higher RPM. Unlike the integra, I feel that this engine does not have as much power. I don't want to offend any of you celica enthusiastics, but I can safely say that the VTEC design is still a masterpiece.

Nevertheless, I'm not sure if the acceleration of a celica GTS is SUPPOSED to be the same as that of Integra GSR's VTEC? And if not, does my engine sounds like it was modded before? such as having the VVTL-i kick in earlier than it should? Because I've heard people who have lowered their Integ's VTEC to kick in at around 4000, thus feel the power earlier but losing it later at the higher RPM. I'm wondering if it seems like the case for me.

By the way, when I bought the car from a dealer, the car was extreley clean. Most of the milage, from what it seemed, were highway miles. The person before me MIGHT have installed a K&N filter, because the sensor right beside the filter was clogged with oil when the mechanics checked it, which he said could only mean that the filter was changed to K&N. Therefore, I believe that the previous owner(s) were not hardcore racers. The rims are stock too, so is the exhaust. So I'm pretty confident that when I bought it, it wasn't used for racing.

So I'm basically asking... 1) Is my car's lift experience "normal", and 2) If it isn't, was the powerband possibly shifted in anyway? 3)Or, if anybody knows what COULD be the problem if this case isn't normal?

What rpm does your rev limiter hit?

What rpm is your idle at?

Do have factory gauges?

5500 is a little low and dies at 6500. That's strange. To my knowledge there is nothing to lower the point where the cams switch over for the VVTL-I. Just for an example here. My car hits lift at 6000 RPMs always and screams all the way to redline just around 73,000 miles on my car. There is a definite rush and kick of acceleration. Maybe the bolts are broken or worn and you are not really getting into lift?

Congrats on the car!

u sure you got a GTS?
sounds like a GT redline to me?

I have everything stock, including gauges.
Yes, I'm 100% it's a GTS. The engine says VVTL-i, and the readline is at 7800 or somethin like dat. I wouldn't buy a car not knowing the most simple thing as whether or not it's a GTS, now would I?

Can I check the bolts myself? where are they located?
If not, what's their exact name so I can ask my mechanic to help me check it out?

sounds like a worn engine

ic, so you do got a GTS

do you want to go test drive another GTS and then feel the difference between the two?
that way maybe if you tell some mechanic that knows GTS will be able to pinpoint the problem

i drive an '00 gts and lift for me occurs around 5800 rpms.

the difference though is that acceleration feels the same all the way throughout the fuel cutoff point (8400 rpms).

at no point in lift does my car accelerate unevenly...without anymore info i really don't have any choice but to agree with a couple of people that you may have a worn engine.

definately drive another '00 gts for comparison.

IMO- Vtec isnt nearly as strong as lift, and somthings up with ur celi, mine pulls in a around 5700 and lasts way through redline...

vtec is just as strong. you have to think about it in terms of power (civic si uses vtec, but its bhp figures are well below the 180 bhp of the celica, for example)

in terms of proportionality, vtec & "lift" are just about the same.

I suspect the problem is the lift bolt, however, I talked to the mechanic and he says this operation listed here in this PDF file:

http://russ.angrypacket.com/celica/tsb/celicagts.pdf

will cost about 600 dollars labor charge.



dats quite a bit... don't you think?

rofl yes, have lucky_317 check it out. 35 bucks for check, and 80 bucks for a change to new bolts he goes good shit