Why is my 97 more powerful than my 99?

[SnowLizard]

specs both
4x4
3.4
auto

99 difference
e-locker
Cali emissions (two cats)
limited, so Multi-mode TC
40k less miles

Is the Cali emissions really that parasitic? it is a dual cat setup vs the single the 97 has.
it doesn't even feel like I have 4.3 gear ratio...
the 97 can put you in your seat so much better.
Yes I'm using my butt-o-meter to compare power/acceleration...

disclaimer... I'm not making a race car, just wanted to know what happen to the power... if anything 4.3 gears should feel more umph... kinda.

EDIT:
97= peppy
SR5, 4x4, 4.10, non cali

99= less peppy than 97, kinda sluggish
LTD, Multi-4x4, 4.30 (e-locker), Cali (dual cat)

 

[JayRolla]

specs both
4x4
3.4
auto

99 difference
e-locker
Cali emissions (two cats)
limited, so Multi-mode TC
40k less miles

Is the Cali emissions really that parasitic? it is a dual cat setup vs the single the 97 has.
it doesn't even feel like I have 4.3 gear ratio...
the 97 can put you in your seat so much better.
Yes I'm using my butt-o-meter to compare power/acceleration...

disclaimer... I'm not making a race car, just wanted to know what happen to the power... if anything 4.3 gears should feel more umph... kinda.

Multimode is dragging you down compared to the RWD.

 

[StreetCreeper]

specs both
4x4
3.4
auto

99 difference
e-locker
Cali emissions (two cats)
limited, so Multi-mode TC
40k less miles

Is the Cali emissions really that parasitic? it is a dual cat setup vs the single the 97 has.
it doesn't even feel like I have 4.3 gear ratio...
the 97 can put you in your seat so much better.
Yes I'm using my butt-o-meter to compare power/acceleration...

disclaimer... I'm not making a race car, just wanted to know what happen to the power... if anything 4.3 gears should feel more umph... kinda.

Must be that our 97s are just badass....

I often hear others talk about how anemic our 3.4s are, and wondered what they are talking about. I've only driven my 97 so I have no other Runners to compare against, but I've never once felt the engine was weak. I have 4.3 gears too and I literally launch off the stoplights even with nearly 400k on engine and tranny.

Now I'm not saying it's powerful — but it sure as hell isn't as weak as some people describe.

 

[SnowLizard]

Multimode is dragging you down compared to the RWD.

both are 4wd...
is the 97 4wd less parasitic than the 99 multi?
I'm comparing when I drive in 2wd mode on both vehicles.

Must be that our 97s are just badass....

I often hear others talk about how anemic our 3.4s are, and wondered what they are talking about. I've only driven my 97 so I have no other Runners to compare against, but I've never once felt the engine was weak. I have 4.3 gears too and I literally launch off the stoplights even with nearly 400k on engine and tranny.

Now I'm not saying it's powerful — but it sure as hell isn't as weak as some people describe.

a agree, it's not powerful, but the 97 has more gruff... and it's running the 4.10 gears (no locker)

 

[T4R2014]

Must be that our 97s are just badass....

I often hear others talk about how anemic our 3.4s are, and wondered what they are talking about. I've only driven my 97 so I have no other Runners to compare against, but I've never once felt the engine was weak. I have 4.3 gears too and I literally launch off the stoplights even with nearly 400k on engine and tranny.

Now I'm not saying it's powerful — but it sure as hell isn't as weak as some people describe.

It's the geniuses that think that late 90's power standards combined with slapping on taller, heavy ass LT rated tires(or any extra weight for that matter) without regearing will result in a 3rd gen being as quick as a stock SUV sold within the last ten years. Some geniuses go as far as comparing it to a car.

OP, make sure the transfer case is in 2WD and make sure your throttle cables do not have any slack. Tightening the cables made a difference on mine, but I think a new cable may be on order since it can only be adjusted so much.

 

[SnowLizard]

It's the geniuses that think that late 90's power standards combined with slapping on taller, heavy ass LT rated tires(or any extra weight for that matter) without regearing will result in a 3rd gen being as quick as a stock SUV sold within the last ten years. Some geniuses go as far as comparing it to a car.

OP, make sure the transfer case is in 2WD and make sure your throttle cables do not have any slack. Tightening the cables made a difference on mine, but I think a new cable may be on order since it can only be adjusted so much.

yup tightened the throttle cable on both, the 97 had no change, as it didn't have much slack, but the 99 did change, still not that much of a power change, just a throttle response got better.

I hope I'm not in that genius catagory, I hope I'm comparing an apple to another apple... granted a SR5 vs a Limited... but all things on 'paper' say the limited 'should' feel faster... am I wrong to think this? maybe I should go drive a non-cali 99 limited with e-locker... just to see if it's the truck.

 

[Dephcon]

I have a 96 Limited and it has some decent pickup. Im never the last one through the intersection, but then the only thing I have done is install a lift. No, armor, no bumpers, nothing except a speaker box to add weight. Even with the ECT turned off, pickup is decent. I think the lesson here is, older is better.

 

[Justin727]

I've pondered this too. My 2001 is a slug driving compared to my buddies 97.

I chalked it up to mine having Multimode. I do regularly maintain my rig. I do not cheap out on any of my vehicles when it comes to maintaining etc.

 

[T4R2014]

yup tightened the throttle cable on both, the 97 had no change, as it didn't have much slack, but the 99 did change, still not that much of a power change, just a throttle response got better.

I hope I'm not in that genius catagory, I hope I'm comparing an apple to another apple... granted a SR5 vs a Limited... but all things on 'paper' say the limited 'should' feel faster... am I wrong to think this? maybe I should go drive a non-cali 99 limited with e-locker... just to see if it's the truck.

Definitely not. I've driven a variety of 99-02 Cali specs. They are by no means slower than their single cat counterparts. I think the extra weight on the Limiteds might add a few seconds, but they should still get to 60 in under 10. BTW, if your 97 has no locker, then it has 4.10 gears. Drive a 2WD V6 with 3.73 gears on 225/75's, now THOSE are decently quick.

 

[SnowLizard]

97 =
sr5 4wd 4.10

99 =
ltd 4wd 4.30 (with multi and e-locker)

it really amazes me that the 99 'feels' lower on power...

I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels this way... that I (soley) don't have a 'odd' power sucking gremlin in my stock 99...

 

[T4R2014]

97 =
sr5 4wd 4.10

99 =
ltd 4wd 4.30 (with multi and e-locker)

it really amazes me that the 99 'feels' lower on power...

I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels this way... that I (soley) don't have a 'odd' power sucking gremlin in my stock 99...

Can we get a comparison video?

 

[D Farms]

is the air filter dirty, are you running the same tires and pressure, replaced the fuel filters, spark plugs, throttle body clean? there are a lot of variables.

 

[Yoter]

Check the throttle cable on your 99, is there any slack in it? Second only to the infamous TRD sticker upgrades adding a minimum of 20,000 HP, tightening/adjusting your throttle cable can give you more momentum then Donald Trump.
Edit:
My bad, just saw this was already mentioned above.
Have you checked the spark plugs and compression?

 

[SnowLizard]

Can we get a comparison video?

you're joking right? what kind of video do you want?

is the air filter dirty, are you running the same tires and pressure, replaced the fuel filters, spark plugs, throttle body clean? there are a lot of variables.

new toyota filters all around
same air pressure on both (same gauge checking)
cleaned TB's new spark plugs &wires
new fluids all around

Check the throttle cable on your 99, is there any slack in it? Second only to the infamous TRD sticker upgrades adding a minimum of 20,000 HP, tightening/adjusting your throttle cable can give you more momentum then Donald Trump.
Edit:
My bad, just saw this was already mentioned above.
Have you checked the spark plugs and compression?

yes, both are new all around.. compression, not checked yet.

 

[T4R2014]

you're joking right? what kind of video do you want?

Kind of. Honestly if the 99' can hit 60 in a hair under ten seconds, it should be fine.