Tune Questions from an Idiot

But it *is* broke... I guess people who don't understand shifting/low torque/power ratios are idiots.

 

Actually, they are ignorant (which isn't bad), if they willfully stay ignorant and judge others, then they are idiots.

 

I agree that it is broke, the throttle response and lagging power is awful compared to my old 2012 TRD OR.

 

all true. fair enough. I just dont have an extra $700 laying around right now!

 

Enjoy it stock, or enjoy it tuned, I think most can agree that to call people OCD idiots is out of line.

If you like driving, I vote tune it. There is a big difference between a stock tune and a quality aftermarket tune.

 

What tune costs you 700? Most of us paid in the 300 range for KDMax.

 

the OV Tune - $350 for the tuner, then another $390 for the tune pack.

I'm looking into the KDMax now!

 

I've only had my truck for a couple of months, but I've gotten used to being heavier of foot off a stop. Keeping the gas pressed a bit more than I'm normally used to keeps it from shifting quite as quickly into that next gear.

 

Yeah, i get that. My old stock 2012 TRD OR would roast the rear tires from a standstill/idle just by punching the pedal. This new 2019 is painfully slow, no where NEAR breaking them loose. I'm ready to start looking for another 2nd gen.

 

Ya, stock '08 people accused me of having a turbo, it was nothing to jump from the line.

 

This may be an overly simplistic thought, but what about keeping ECT mode on all the time? Wouldn't that change my shift points? My only fear is the affect on gas mileage.

 

From reading here, It looks like that's all ECT does. It doesn't change the motor at all. Stands for Electronically Controlled Transmission power.
What is the ECT PWR button on the Toyota Tacoma? - The Geek Pub

 

Can you please elaborate on this comment? What specific parameters are being calibrated with the majority of tunes? (I use the term majority as there are various tunes being offered on this forum but I assume they all have the same premise) You stated the AFRs run at stock values at the same or larger areas of the map which implies there are changes to the remaining areas. You also state that the tune is EPA compliant. Does that mean that the EPA allows changes to AFRs within a certain range? And if this is “not a tune that turns up the AFR to get power” than what is being calibrated to get more power? Just trying to understand as I’m coming from a background of having FI cars tuned where increasing the boost and calibrating the AFR is how the power is made.

 

Search your regional threads for someone doing tunes in your general area. I had been going back and forth on OVTune and just couldn't pull the trigger for that much. But, I very recently met up with a local tuner and got his tailored version of a tune for $200. Was offered continued support and updates for the life of my truck, and tunes by anyone in his network should I be out of the area on a trip and need it. Definitely worth it!

Also, in reference to the dealer knowing...as it was explained to me, I don't think they can tell? At least that was my understanding. But, if there is a TSB for the ECU and they do it, they will overwrite the tune and render it ineffective. At that point you'd have to get retuned.

 

Thanks Mando! I just PM'd a local tuner to ask him how this works. I'll take it into the dealer first for the ECU updates and my leaky windshield! Ugh.

 

As noted, I was talking about the unedited vF / OV Tunes. Not the other shared tunes.

If you have noticed your Taco does not run like you would expect from a normal V6 / AT, that is because the Stock tune is a mess. It took years to crack and refine. There are thousand plus page threads that get into all of the minutia. But basically, Toyota bloated the tune with a bunch of unnecessary stuff that VFT found and cleaned up.

That is not what I said and please do not read in implications. You can simply move the close loop to open loop boundary without changing the closed loop or open loop AFRs. There was, of course, a lot more work done than that, and I appreciate the effort.

The tunes were tested according to the EPA tests and found that they are compliant. I.E. they would pass cert if they were submitted, which they were not.

Compliance versus certification. There is a big difference.

There are multiple areas where a bloated Stock tune can be refined to gain power. VVT, ignition, ACIS, response to air load calcs, etc.

Note that I flash unedited vF Tunes. I put my trust there after seeing the development process.

Yeah. And, I drive behind those cars in disgust smelling the poor tuning in the close loop regions. You don't need to turn up AFRs to increase boost.

I've been in groups of tuned Tacos. IMHO, it's a pure pleasure not to smell the results of a bad tune.

 

Good idea....

 

No problem man. The tuner should also be able to tell if you're on the most recent ECU update. If you are, then he can go right ahead and tune. If not, I believe they are able to give you the most recent one before tuning. Definitely ask your particular tuner that question though. I hope you get it done. Having driven it these last two weeks with a tune, I definitely regret not getting it done sooner..