My Toyota Lexcen

[bmak]

A couple of months ago I started looking for a really cheap/disposable car for my kids to learn how to drive and race. We were lucky enough to come across a really cheap and not too worn out Toyota Lexcen(VS V6). The good thing about the lexcen is it has solid axle and is very basic with no ABS or any extras and parts are cheap.

After a quick radiator change and mini spool it was taken to the local burnout pad for some testing.

While successfully doing a burnout there were a few issues that arose on the day which soon showed me the car maybe in for a short life if not looked at.
The car will not hold 1st gear and I can see the constant changing killing the auto.
It over heated several times.
With the exhaust open its running different so may need tune adjusted.

A quick search brought me here and I've already gathered a fair bit of information to help. I've also purchased a memcal and an ALDL cable for some logging and will get a programmer to save tunes.

I found removing the thermostat made it run heaps cooler(too cold) so im going to play with different size restricters to get the temp where i want it. Ive also fitted late model falcon fans and done a fan override trick I saw posted here.

In the future I was thinking of maybe running L67 injectors and E85.
For now I just want to do some logging to see what's going on and maybe tweak the tune a little as well as adjust the auto to suit our needs.

[Holden202T]

theres info here somewhere on how to stop it upshifting to second and back all the time .... you can change the power tables and leave the economy tables stock too so then it only works when in power mode!

[VL400]

If you are using the VS enhanced bin, then "Low Mode 1-2 Upshift Speed Threshold" and "Low Mode 2-1 Downshift Speed Threshold" are what will be causing the upshift while trying to hold 1st gear. Some other XDFs call it forced 1-2 shift.

[vlad01]

what about just putting it in 1st on the selector?

[Jayme]

in a stock electronic auto, even when the selector is in first, it will shift to 2nd on its own when you get near the rev limiter go try it one day..... VL400's suggestion fixes that.

[bmak]

in a stock electronic auto, even when the selector is in first, it will shift to 2nd on its own when you get near the rev limiter go try it one day..... VL400's suggestion fixes that.

Yes its actually pretty annoying. What happens is as revs get up pretty high you tend to ease off a little and that often causes it to change into 2nd and bog down. Most guys with no sympathy just hold it on the limiter to prevent this happening.

If you are using the VS enhanced bin, then "Low Mode 1-2 Upshift Speed Threshold" and "Low Mode 2-1 Downshift Speed Threshold" are what will be causing the upshift while trying to hold 1st gear. Some other XDFs call it forced 1-2 shift.

Thanks for the tip.
Has anyone done a good tune that i could start with or am i better playing with the stock one. Not after anymore power and that would probably run it too lean when its running so hot sometimes.

I ran it today but haven't been able to do any data logging yet and want to do that before i adjust anything.

Most guys are pretty rough on these cars for skidding and its pretty common to find the temp sensor disconnected to run thermos continuous and MAF removed and a pod filter in its place or twin throttles.

[vlad01]

in a stock electronic auto, even when the selector is in first, it will shift to 2nd on its own when you get near the rev limiter go try it one day..... VL400's suggestion fixes that.

probably never noticed in my VR. it wasn't auto for long at all. only the trip home it was

[Holden202T]

just search youtube for ecotec burnout, it will be very evident when you find one it just keeps hunting between first and second!

my brothers 355 ute used to have the issue, you'd take off, it would wheel spin then shift to second then bog down and kick back to first ..... easy fix and much more predictable!

[bmak]

Here is my son driving and it shows how bad the auto behaves
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okVpvko-CxQ[/youtube]

This one is of me with a few more revs so it stays in second.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKFPzw8RoYk[/youtube]

[Holden202T]

yeah its not too bad if you can get the revs high enough in second, if they drop too much then it just wants to kick back!

there is also info here somewhere on changes you can make to manualise the gearbox too which might be more suitable for a burnout car ?