2016 OVTune Tacoma 3.5L Manual Transmission / Engine ECU Reflash

Even the techs at my favorite dealer agree.

 

You got some good comments from them?

 

Essentially one of their master techs and the guy in the Bay next to his were dissing on the accumulator and bashing Toyota (and all oem) for adding crap like that to new vehicles.

 

I now know the pain the slushbox guys are feeling. @90yota contacted me yesterday about bleeding the brakes on his truck. I offered him the use of my vacuum bleeder,when he brought it back we took each others trucks for a ride to compare the differences.
His truck is still on the stock tune running 35's with 4.88's IIRC, no offense intended but his truck is a dog,it barely has the power to get out of it's own way. I now completely understand why some people have sold their trucks over the shifting,lack of power,I couldn't live with it either.

 

Just did this today, using @Trident904's kit. Best $75 I've spent on this truck. It did take a good while to bleed the clutch out, my helper must have cycled the clutch about 300 times before the pedal was back to proper firmness. Also having had the clutch creak TSB done this past week, the truck is unrecognizable to drive compared to last weekend, in the best way. Now just can't wait for OVTune's store to come back online and get some power behind this buttery clutch!

 

Looks like we have another graduate of the @Shellshock school of clutch bleeding

 

Hahaaaa, I didn’t manage to get myself into quite as much of a pickle as you did, but it was a bit stressful when the clutch was still spongy at the top after bleeding for a bit. The trick is the high pressure bleeds, where you pump like 50 times and then crack.

 

a-trac only works in 4-low, not sure what roads you’re needing that on.
i’ve used it extensively, and i like it.

also: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-traction-control-modes-explained.530695/

 

that is an excessive amount of compressor cycling. Have a competent shop check your refrigerant charge.

 

Hello TW been following the thread for a while but first time post (I apologize in advance for the lengthy post.) Wondering if you any of you guys would be willing to help clear up a few questions I had? Thanks.

First off, OVTune sounds perfect for me. For the first 20K miles I have enjoyed driving it. But the more I read about OVTune the more I realize there is more to my truck than I thought and it seems like OVTune will improve all of my concerns. I am on the edge of purchasing OVTune but am still hesitant to do so.

Things I hope OVTune improves: Throttle response (I would like to be able to blip the throttle and downshift as apposed to having to press the throttle and wait for the RPM's to rise then shift), smoother shifting (less bog when I go from a dead stop to 1st gear and from 1-2), a little more power between 2000 and 2300 RPM, and just overall smoother drive-ability.

My biggest concern is obviously messing up my truck. From what I read this doesn't seem likely but I am still wondering if anyone has had catastrophic failure or major problems directly related to OVTune? Next I plan on taking my truck to the dealership for all maintenance. My lifetime power train warranty is very important to me as I have already had my leaky diff replaced covered under warranty. I would hate to have the dealership plug in to my truck and go "this guy has installed a tune, warranty voided." Is there anyway they can tell a tune has been installed? If so do I risk anything by flashing back to stock before each visit? If I do flash back to stock can they still tell a tune was installed at some point? Next, does this tune prematurely wear the engine and components? I plan to have this truck for the next 10-15 years and would hate to get 5 years down the road and realize I have been overworking the engine just so it drives better. Finally, I have read on OVTune's website "this product is for off-road use only." I do not use my truck for off-roading, I drive it back and forth to work. Is this statement only for liability reasons because it is an aftermarket, non-OEM product? Is it widely understood that most people that purchase OVTune are in fact using it to improve daily driving?

 

You'll be fine!
In order of your questions:
1) Not that I know of, or at least no worse than normal. I know a kid with no OVTune whose motor spun a freaking bearing at 60K but I have NOT heard of anything other than some odd misfire counts on OLD VERSIONS of the tune. The newest versions of the tune are actually not as hard on the engine as stock. The tune really is an overall improvement, the possibility of which is likely symptomatic of rushed software/hardware development between Denso and Toyota to get the truck to market.

2) Yes, you can install any version of the tune as well as the stock tune at any time on your truck. It is very simple, once youve done it once or twice its about a 5 min procedure.

3) Yes,its for liability as you said.

 

Thanks for the quick reply, do happen to know about any dealership or warranty issues?

 

Warranty can only legally be revoked if the aftermarket part is PROVEN to be the cause of the defect, with the burden of proof resting with the dealership. As long as you are respectful of the guys you talk to at the dealership youll never have a problem. The suspension of my truck has been completely rebuilt with aftermarket parts and I still get warranty work done when necessary. In reality, it has a lot more to do with whether the dealer thinks your work is sketchy than anything else. If you buy good parts and install them as you should, you wont have issues that way whether its you doing the work, an actual shop, or even a more liberal dealership thats willing to have some fun.

Other than that, the tune self-corrects what is known as the check-sum (ecu check for how many times it has been flashed) every time you flash a new tune making the tune essentially undetectable. Again, I had the ECU TSB installed at a dealer and got no questions about the tune or any other type of push-back.

 

Care to share info on this? Auto or manual? I'm just trying to think how the hell someone could spin a bearing on this motor other than being in high revs constantly.

Once apon a time I has a wrx. Which I purchased to beat the living hell out of under the 3yr/36. Spun a bearing.. That was a fun winter on snow tires

 

TBH I have no idea what his driving style was like, just remember seeing a tastefully modded 2017 being trailered out of campus a few years ago. I guess to be fair I more knew OF him, he was a president of one of the frats on campus so it was pretty well known when his truck was dragged out with a dead motor. He probably beat the shit out of it if I had to guess, but then again I beat my to shit too and I just passed 75k, its all in the luck of the draw. Any vehicle has a percentage of problems/failures

 

It's plain stupid that in order to be EXACTLY at 3500 rpm when you shift in 2nd you need to rev it all the way up to 6000 rpm.

On a side note, I have buttersmooth shift anytime now since I put 93 gas on FOB91, now I'm gonna try FOB93.

 

Back on the 1-2 dull, jerky shifts I was have on 87 2.0 Beta. I flashed back to previous tune I was using 87fob. I like this tune better for low rpm shifts. It doesnt have pull like 2.0 Beta, but I don't rev this truck like I have in previous sports cars.

I would love to try a 93 tune, but prices for 93 octane around here is almost $1 more per gallon. Fuck that!

 

What would a 5.29 tune look like? Seems like it would not be so different than 1.05 91 FOB

If there isn't a 5.29 MT tune then come on with 2.0 MT for 2019 before year end. OVT has $700 of my money and I love FOB, but come on man.


OK I feel better now.

 

Aren’t the 4.88 and 5.29 tunes just shift point adjustments? Since we shift, dunno what would be diff

 

Kind of what I was thinking. The power band seems about perfect with 91 FOB. I get better mileage letting rev closer to the PB than bogging below even a fat portion of the torque curve.