1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Computer programmer

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by jmz82, Apr 25, 2013.

  1. Apr 25, 2013 at 8:02 AM
    #1
    jmz82

    jmz82 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2013
    Member:
    #102577
    Messages:
    7
    Gender:
    Male
    Pittsburgh
    Vehicle:
    2004 4x4 Access Cab Tacoma
    I bought a ELM327 ODB2 adapter online, mainly to look at diagnostic info i.e check engine light codes.

    The one I got will connect to my computer/phone, can I use it to reprogram the trucks computer? I'm new to this so any info is great, is there any benefit, are there any dangers, what computer program/app should I try, etc.
     
  2. Apr 25, 2013 at 8:11 AM
    #2
    Lumpskie

    Lumpskie Independent Thinker

    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2013
    Member:
    #102450
    Messages:
    1,978
    Gender:
    Male
    New Hampshire
    Vehicle:
    '96, 4x4, v6, manual hub
    Toytec 16" coilovers with Tundra Bilstein 5100s, Light Racing UCAs, Alcan Leafs with Orbit Eyes, 12" Bilstein 7100 short Bodies, ARB rear locker, 33x12.5 Duratracs, CBI sliders, Bushwacker fender flares, self made front bumper, M8000, Vision X 6.7" Hi/Lo Beam HIDs, full skids, Inchworm dual case setup - 15º clocking
    You'd need a program to interface with the ECU and that varies with the year of your truck and I don't know of one that can do that for the tacoma. From what I've seen, people run a "piggy back" box that has a GUI for the user and translates inputs before sending them to the truck.

    This can be very dangerous if you don't know what you are doing. If you change items like fuel ratio or timing (don't know if you can do that on a taco) you can blow up your motor.

    What are you trying to accomplish?
     
  3. Apr 25, 2013 at 8:30 AM
    #3
    jmz82

    jmz82 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2013
    Member:
    #102577
    Messages:
    7
    Gender:
    Male
    Pittsburgh
    Vehicle:
    2004 4x4 Access Cab Tacoma
    Thanks for the reply, I guess I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do just wondering what I would be capable of. If I were to start anywhere it would probably be trying to get better MPG since I do a good bit of driving in it. I have an 04 if that makes any difference.

    If my only options have a possibility of being dangerous I'll probably just stick with checking diagnostics.
     
  4. Apr 25, 2013 at 8:55 AM
    #4
    Blackdawg

    Blackdawg Dr. Frankenstein

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2010
    Member:
    #48500
    Messages:
    80,673
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Monte
    Wyoming/St. Louis
    Vehicle:
    The Trifecta of Taco's
    ALL OF THEM!...Then some more.
    Nope

    Our ECU's aren't reprogrammable. No stock ECU is.

    Only thing you can do is get a piggy back of some sort.

    or stand alone

    You'll see very little improvement without FAI though.
     
  5. Apr 25, 2013 at 9:07 AM
    #5
    Lumpskie

    Lumpskie Independent Thinker

    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2013
    Member:
    #102450
    Messages:
    1,978
    Gender:
    Male
    New Hampshire
    Vehicle:
    '96, 4x4, v6, manual hub
    Toytec 16" coilovers with Tundra Bilstein 5100s, Light Racing UCAs, Alcan Leafs with Orbit Eyes, 12" Bilstein 7100 short Bodies, ARB rear locker, 33x12.5 Duratracs, CBI sliders, Bushwacker fender flares, self made front bumper, M8000, Vision X 6.7" Hi/Lo Beam HIDs, full skids, Inchworm dual case setup - 15º clocking
    So, with an 04 you will be OBDII. Like Blackdawg said, you won't be able to do much unless your are running forced induction (is that FAI?) I've seen 4 cylinder turbo tacomas make a lot of power and run aftermarket programs to tune fuel, timing, knock control etc.

    If you are set on it, you can check out megasquirt as a fuel management system:

    Here's the hardware:
    http://www.diyautotune.com/catalog/index.php
    V6 Tacoma stuff
    http://www.diyautotune.com/diypnp/apps/n76/usdm-toy-tacoma-9597-5vzfe-mt.html

    4 cylinder megasquirt thread on customtacos
    http://www.customtacos.com/forum/showthread.php?t=71430

    Some threads of people troubleshooting once they run into problems(tach won't work, truck wont idle, loosing crank signal)
    http://www.msextra.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=101&t=48788

    http://www.msextra.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=101&t=47665

    http://www.msextra.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=134&t=47209

    Hope this helps,

    Lumpskie
     

Products Discussed in

To Top