vF Tuner for the 3.5L Tacoma

ok thanks guys makes sense


so for those of you who flash lots of trucks did you just get the $5k pack with all the files? or did you collect them as you went?

im curious because if people are only charging $250 to do it does that mean they are only finding people with the same ECU ID so the cost is just credit unlocks? or if someone wants you to do it and you dont have that pack do you charge them the cost of the pack and credits?

 

Some are unlocking the ECU and transferring certain changes from one to the other. I'm sure some are buying other tune packs as well.
You could always charge someone the price of credits, tune pack, and your time.

 

There are only so many ECU IDs. At $250 per truck it only takes 2 trucks to break even on a new tune pack ($250 + $250 - $80 credits - $380 tp = $40). Plus, if you are willing to update people's ECUs, then you only need to worry about one ECU ID per model year.

 

interesting so you can unlock the ecu ID and just essentially copy paste the tune?

 

You could do that, and you'll have some of what the tune changes, but not all of it.

For example on the MT tunes, we rewrite the code for individual gear to throttle tables, simplifying all to a single tune-able table.

you can't do that by copy/pasting.

 

wonderful thanks for breaking that down for me makes a lot more sense now

 

very great to know. I will probably just end up buying the packs to make sure I get every drop of specific goodness. Plus then I get to help support Mr OVTune and that is always good. more support = more features.

 

This is how I look at it, too. I haven't tuned anyone else (yet), but I'm honestly kind of surprised that the licensing is so much in favor of the tuner rather than OVTune. All things considered, it's pretty cheap to get started. Once you have all the tune packs you need your cost becomes only fuel, time, and $40 per new VIN. Those are huge margins.

 

ok so who knows off the top of their head how many total ECU IDs there are?

does one save a lot of money just getting the $5k pack? or does it break about even?

 

there are currently 35+,

390 x 35 = $13,650


not to mention buying the master pack gets you future ECU ID packs without cost.

And we have 3 more years of ECUs coming since this truck doesn't get a new engine until 2024.

 

You can find most of that info here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ecu-tsb-update.562550/

Whether you save money or not with the $5k pack probably depends on if you're targeting ALL ECU IDs ever made or just the latest ECU ID per year; however, there's more to it, too, since I think the $5k pack also comes with updates (at least for 2021/2022). Personally, I wouldn't go with the $5k tune pack unless I was not going to update people's ECUs. Updating ECUs does come with risks, but my understanding is that tunes are best from the latest ECU calibrations.

 

HEYSOOS CHRISTO

so that is a humangus savings.

 

yaa I feel that. I have been back and forth in if I would do TSB as well as flash. The thing is I can practice the flash process on my own truck. Practicing the TSB process I am not sure that is a good idea.

 

Flashing a TSB is pretty easy, and it won't let you flash the wrong one. But if something were to go wrong during the process, it could get bad.

 

I think the other thing to consider too is expecting updates.
The master pack is supposed to include 2022 as well. ($780-1170 value) Say, there is a new TSB for 2021s (there is another $390) and 2 years from now the 2020s get an update (+390-780) and then they find some bullshit in the 19's and tweak that (+390-780).

Its hard to predict what will happen but knowing that you get fed updates could make it a worthy investment.

 

Ya I will probably just put any money I make from flashing and put it into a master pack fund especially since I’m not doing it for living money just fun or no money since I live that full time rv life I want it to be more about meeting fellow Tacoma fanatics

 

THIS. The two best parts of tuning Tacomas are meeting rad dudes with badass trucks (since most people are pretty far down the Tacoma rabbit-hole if they've found out that tuning is a thing in real life)... and the smiles on their faces when we do the test drive after flashing.

 

Can somebody answer a couple of my questions about vF Tune?

I bought the $700 kit from OVtune about 2 years ago and have used it in the past. I have a 2018 MT and am currently running the 2.0 SuperFOB tune on the updated ECU of 04A71.

I'm trying to get into vF tuner. I have it downloaded. Its to my knowledge I have to get a Master Key or something from zendesk to get started and then I'll be awarded some credits and all that. Also have put together through reading that I have to buy a tune pack after using my credits to unlock 04A71 ECU.

My questions are

1) Do I have this process right or am I missing something? Also how much will it cost to get the Master Key and Tune pack I need?

2) Are there tunes on there pre-made that are going to better for me than the one I'm running, or will I have to essentially make the tune myself using vF software?

 

I answered your PM on this.