Self Taught Tuning : By Mooseditty17

I've personally had luck with copying all values and axis tables from one ID to another.

 

Figured as much, thanks.

 

Hi

 

Compared to me you certainly are.

 

No

 

Ok

 

I hope this thread isn't quite dead yet; This was the best schooling I've had in years.

If anyone with some tuning chops happens to see this, please chime in with an opinion on what would be a safer and more logical beginner strategy (i'm a scientist so I don't mind keeping notes or tinkering):

a. Start applying this wisdom to Mat's 2.0 tune that I'm running now for 04B81
b. Take an updated/vetted 04B81 tune as an adjusted starting point
c. Grab one of these super dialed in tunes from a different ID, copy them over to 04B81 and give that a go.

Again thanks for the lesson!

 

Most people start with one of the final 2.0 tunes and then start making their adjustments.

copy paste is a good theory but doesn’t always work out well

 

I recommend option A. My experience is that it is better to only make adjustments to one or maybe two maps at a time and keep detailed notes on what you changed. Then let it burn a tank to let the ECU re-adjust before making further changes. And save every edit as a separate revision file, so you can go back to a previous file when you inevitably make a change you don't like.

 

Awesome advice; thanks to both of you. I was leaning the same way but it's always good to get confirmation. I loved the suggestion of using the S mode to find comfortable shift points.

I'll ask another rookie question: throttle angle vs accelerator angle. Synonymous? How is it measured or are you estimating? At first I thought it was a % of the full range of the pedal but that doesn't make sense with the numbers in this thread.

Sorry for the basic questions. I pick things up quick so once I get up to speed here I won't be (as) useless.

 

The relationship of AA to TA means, depending on the values set, you give it x-amount of pedal/accelerator and it will open x-amount of throttle angle.

 

Accelerator angle and throttle angle are not the same.

Accelerator angle is the % travel of the gas pedal. 0 is foot off the gas. 100 is pedal to the firewall. Many of the Toyota maps use columns with accelerator percentages beyond 100. These columns thus can never be used because you can't push the pedal past 100%.
Throttle angle is the throttle blade opening angle in degrees. 0 is closed, 89 is all the way open. The blade does not go all the way to 90*; something about the mechanism required to push it back closed can't accommodate 90* is what I have heard.

Both of these values can be monitored by logging with an OBD logger. I use the OBDLink app with the OBD Fusion brand bluetooth connector and like it a lot. Look up the OBD Fusion tips and tricks thread on this site.

 

Option A for sure. You're going to find some things people love just aren't for you. By "building" your own tune, you're going to better understand exactly what each change does for you.

 

Solid advice. Verbage and terminology are very specific in this game. Things like throttle and accelerator are one in the same until you start tuning

 

^what he said

Build the tune for your truck and driving preferences / habits. Then you’ll get exactly what you want.

 

If Toyota doesn’t have engineers lurking in this thread they should...

I spent a good part of the day looking though some earlier versions of user tunes, comparing all those maps to the stock map and to OVTune’s 2.0 5.29 file that I was running, mostly to be sure there wasn’t weird stuff hidden somewhere that was altered for the gear change. I’m new at this but I remain detail obsessed...

After the headaches subsided (information overload) I made the basic adjustments outlined in this thread with the exception of the common torque map (but that’s probably next).

For the shift schedules, I borrowed ideas from several versions just to smoothed things out so it wouldn’t granny shift at the lowest rpm possible any more. Next step will be fine adjustments I suppose BUT...

Sweet Jesus it’s like the truck reads my mind now!

Aside: I’m shocked there are people in the 5.29 thread balking at spending $300 on vFTuner after dropping ~$3k to regear.

anyway, this thread should be required reading for any Toyota owners. I traded an IS to get my Taco and now I kind want another one so I can vF tune the shit out of that too... I’d need a second job for the speeding tickets and insurance premiums though...

Happy tuning folks and thanks again for the education and clarifications.

 

The common torque map is the single best mod you can make to this truck! Definitely do that next.

 

Also, here's a tip on dialing in shifting. I had three complaints about how the stock tune shifted.

1. It would upshift too soon at light pedal.
2. It would be too slow to downshift at light pedal when you encountered a hill or something like that.
3. It would be too fast to downshift at mid to heavy pedal positions.

Scenarios 1 and 2 are best fixed by modifying the shift schedule maps. Scenario 3 requires raising values in the torque maps.

 

that’s all the encouragement I needed. I’m going to burn this tank down so I can actually appreciate the difference. tbc...

 

I always recommend giving it a tank between flashes. The ECU is always learning, and you want to give it time between flashes to settle out a bit. Otherwise you will make further changes before knowing how your previous changes will effect the truck long term.