ECU TSB Update

Oh cool, I am DFA on there

 

Dude.... thats sweet. Looked at pictures of your tacoma, your love for kayaking and mountain biking per your truck setup and seems we are wired similar- thats awesome man. Love your truck---

 

Hey y'all. Anyone in Utah can forget Mark Miller Toyota. I took my truck in and they say it's operating normally. I even pointed out that my ECU calibration is listed as needing an update. They called Toyota service and they told the dealership to absolutely not do it because this update is for automatic transmissions only. I asked again why the TSB has manual transmission ECUs listed as needing the update and they said they can't answer that.

The incompetence on the part of the Toyota engineering staff is beyond frustrating.

 

I would not assume that they called Toyota Corporate...

 

I took mine to Toyota of North Hills in Pittsburgh. They didn't do the update the first time because it says AT only. I had my rep call the service guy to the desk and showed him the manual calibration ID's and that they mis labeled AT only. He was like " I didn't even read back that far", which is fair since it says AT only. So he said he was there the next day and to bring it in and he would do it. Sure enough he did and I have the paperwork to support just cant upload at work.

On the drive ability aspect of the the update. The power band is much improved and gives the gear changes a much smoother transition. Almost feels like a different gearbox when you drive it for the first time. There are still a few little lugs/surges on hills, but that could be my rear differential (not quite sure). Overall, I love the update and i'm glad I did it.

Now if only I could get them to open up my rear diff and see if I have abnormal (or normal) wear and tear. I suspect a few teeth are missing if I had to guess. Par for the course with these issues, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Love the truck.

 

I'll just get the cable myself and do the update. Anyone in Utah want to do it together?

 

They may have called because they want to make sure they will get reimbursed for performing the TSB.

 

I had a long chat with the tech advisor. He told me he did the healthcheck and it shows I have 04A70, which I pointed out in the TSB shows as needing updated to 04A71. He says he saw that and called Toyota technical support and they said that he shouldn’t install it. He could not elaborate as to why manual ECUs are listed in an AT update. The dealership was nice and even gave me a loaner car to use while they checked it out. Part of me understands why they can’t do it. It’s Toyota’s fault. Not the service department’s fault.

 

It seems that everyone including Toyota is confused about this TSB.

In the end, I'm just thankful that it does work for us.

 

Anyone in Middle Tennessee do not go to Roberts Toyota in Columbia. I just took my truck there and they would not install the update. They tried to tell me the stumble was because I had a brake controller installed and the BS about it being for an automatic.

Edit: Called Toyota to complain but I might as well have been talking to a brick wall.

 

TSBs are just guidance. If it's warranty work, all they have to do is say they validated the condition, found an updated ECU calibration, flashed, and now all is well.

Honestly, I'm surprised they're not trying to do more of these. TSBs normally pay less than standard warranty.

 

I have no idea what pays more, but this update takes 10min and it looks like they are billing 0.5hr to 0.6hr. That sounds like money to me.

 

Have you tried any dealers around? Do you plan on giving it a shot and see what they say? I’m in VA and I’m going to Malloy in a few weeks for my 25k and seeing what they say. Keep us posted on your end. We gotta find somebody in this area that can help. Either that or get a few of us together and do it.

 

I'll be taking it to Ourisman Chantilly in about 2 weeks. About to leave on vacation and going to give it a shot when I get back because I have the rear end howl and it's getting worse as well.

 

At Chrysler, TSBs always paid about 10% less than full warranty. Bullshit, but it's how it was.

 

Interesting.

One and done with Chrysler / FCA BS for me (1996 Dodge Stratus). Although, I did looks hard at Wranglers before the Taco.

Still billed on "book time," right?

 

Well I’ll let you know on my end and if I can’t make any progress maybe you can. Gonna try and download TS on my wife’s laptop in a few. Still need a Tactrix but at least I’ll have that part done.

 

Always. Typical reflash was 1 hour diagnosis, 1 hour flash and test for paid work. Warranty used to be .6 flash and TSBs were .5 hours. Not sure what it is now though... that was like 15 years ago.

 

Gonna start there, then Koons, then Ourisman in Fairfax. Dunno if others are around but I'm going to try all I can.

 

I’m in Winchester but maybe I can search out any other that are at least somewhat close. Maybe Harrisonburg, WV etc.

Edit: Apple Valley in Martinsburg is one I may try and there is one is Hagerstown, MD. But are not too far.