OVTune Tacoma 3.5L Auto - Transmission / Engine - ECU Reflash

If you're running the version of the tune that doesn't require a dongle, that should work fine. I think it only has one USB port, and those
of us with the old version of the tune need two USB ports (one for the dongle and one for the OBD cable).

 

Just thought I would send out an update on my quest to solve the "shift" issue on my gen 3 Tacoma sport 4x4.
The OVtune was great and all however I was still not satisfied. On a trip to Las Vegas from Salt Lake I had to drive in 4th at 3100 rpms to maintain speed and prevent gear hunting. Downshifting was still too aggressive and cruise control was sometimes too obnoxious to deal with.
For those of you not familiar with the trip from Vegas to SLC it's an uphill climb most of the way.
So, I took my truck to a place in Bountiful Utah, Axis Driveline, and had them install 4.88 ring and pinion gears.
Booyah!!
On the way back to SLC I put the truck in "D" and cruise and it ran all the way home in 6th gear at 70 mph and about 2200 rpm. It held 6th really nice. On a hill it downshifted to 5th very nicely and the rpms were about 2500 so the truck had plenty of power to pull the hill. Gone are the downshifts that act like I am racing or trying to beat the train to the crossing!!
IMHO you can't fix mechanical issues with programming. I think Toyota put way too tall of ring and pinion gears and adding larger tires just added to the problem.
The OVtune will add more power and improve the overall HP curve but the real solution to larger tires is...and always will be....ring and pinion.
PS.
The guys at Axis Driveline were really great to work with. They had some issues with the gear supplier trying to figure out what size gears I had in my truck. The supplier insisted 8.75 but the tape measure said...... 8" front and rear non elocker.

 

Thanks for the information on the 4.88. I just started looking for someplace in NC that I can get it done. (If any buddy knows a decent place in the Raleigh, NC area that can do gears. Please let me know.)

 

Ordered mine today!

 

ECGS in Raleigh, they're your answer. Look them up on line they will take care of you.

 

Because of all the scams and viruses I dumped my Windows based computer and went with a Mac. Is there a way to download this to a Mac and use it. I am NOT computer literate so go easy on me.

 

Nope. The flash manager is a Windows app. It will not run on macOS.

 

Plenty of people have used boot camp or a VM on Mac to do the update with success.

 

That's not what he asked, and he made a point of saying that he's not computer literate. Setting up Bootcamp or something like Parallels would probably be way over his head, plus you still need a valid Windows license which adds additional cost. He'd be better off buying one of those cheap $89 Windows 10 tablets and using that.

 

Good point

 

OK, now that you answered my question about the Mac, is there somewhere in western NY that will do the install for me and save the program to whatever hard drive/thumb drive available for future use?

 

Tim, this whole process is tied to the specific computer you use to flash the ECU. So, once you register the machine with Mat you can only use that specific computer to re-flash your Taco (if you need to apply an update, or if you want to go back to the stock tune for instance). If you read through the OVTune Alpha release thread you'll find that a number of people have purchased sub-$100 Windows 10 tablets to flash their trucks. My suggestion would be to go that route.

 

So now with registering the "device ID" ; what happens when your device breaks or gets lost or you upgrade? You now no-longer can use OV tune without repurchasing?

 

You'll have to direct that question to Mat. I don't know.

 

If I’ve read earlier posts correctly,all you need todo is contact Mat and he will switch all of your info to your new device

 

Thanks. I did ask Mat directly in the main thread as suggested. I assumed it would be something along those lines.

 

Hello, Good to know! BTW, What size tires are you running?
Thanks

ECGS:

https://eastcoastgearsupply.com/

 

I just sent you a PM. Hoping you check those. If not, please let me know the best way to get in contact with you. Thank You!

 

Subbing for future updates

 

So I’ve driven about 6k -8k miles on the ovtune... but for the past couple days it’s been jerking and feeling real sluggish. Especially coming from a complete to stop or low speed. Is there an update or should I reflash it again?