KDMax-Pro Tuning--NOW YotaWerx Tuning

Hi All. I have a question for all KD MAX PRO users...

I had KD MAX PRO put on my 2019 TRD Pro in January of this year (I live in MA, had install done in NH). Overall I am very pleased with the performance. However, last night for the third time in as many weeks, a strange thing happened while I was driving and I am wondering if anyone else has experienced something similar? So what happened? Well, I was driving along at maybe 25-30 mph, took my foot OFF of the gas, and the engine immediately raced up to about 4000 RPMs for a few seconds and then dropped back to normal.

As I said above, this is the third time this has happened in the last 3 weeks. Clearly not normal, so I am wondering if anyone has any insights or similar experiences?

Thanks.

 

its happened to me on stock and tunes. i dont think its the tune causing the issue

 

There’s a thread that other tuned customers have experienced this too. Also note that it has happened on stock as well.

Stuck Accelerator thread.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tacoma-accelerating-on-its-own.611912/page-6#post-27272689

 

Yes it’s my street legal race car. I have owned since 1992 and raced it since 1994. Here’s a track action shot.
MayPIR_zpsb556d3be by Victor M, on Flickr

I actual have two. The race car is an 86 SI, the other is a 1985 that only has 75,000 original miles on it. I am the second owner of that car as well as the 86. Here is a picture of the two at our church car show. Nice thing is the 85 has working AC so we can drive it any time here in AZ.
Untitled by Victor M, on Flickr

 

FWIW - just finishing my first tank after upgrading from kdmax6 (slt or wife tip, can’t remember) to Pro (normal). (Thanks @KH86 )

The whole thing just drives better and feels more polished. I think the RPMs have come down in various points that make it smoother. Like for example I’m idling a little bit lower than I used to and cruising a little lower. I have no idea if this is unique to my truck, but it’s quite comfortable.
I’ve also noticed on some of my normal routes (mixed driving) that it’s shifting even better, which may be why (coupled with rpm changes) I’m seeing 1-2 mpg per trip improvement and as good if not better responsiveness.
We will see if this continues through the second tank but based on my experience with the first tune, I suspect it will.
Overall, so far, the truck just seems to drive better. Thanks Kdmax team

 

Those are some really cool cars! I bet they are FUN to drive!
I bet a satin black wrap would look good too.

 

Thanks.

I just tried the link, but it takes me to a TW error page. I also tried typing the link directly into my browser and also ended up at same TW error page. Was the thread you pointed to working earlier today? Thanks.

 

It was working earlier, maybe it was taken down. I don’t think anything on that thread was bad. Who knows.

 

Interesting; I've been following that thread closely, and no bad posts occurred, that I saw at least. Any mods active in this thread that could shine some light on it?

 

Huh, usually TW is good at archiving stuff without deleting it. I know that I certainly references threads that are years old but still have useful information. I suppose it could just be a glitch, but I haven't seen a glitch like that on TW before.

 

they are fun for sure!

the 86 has 150 wheel hp with a 1.6L in it now. We are in the process of putting a 2.4L that will make 220 wheel hp. In a 2000lb car needless to say it going to be much faster. I have had to step up to 245 wide front tires, 225 rear

Untitled by Victor M, on Flickr

 

I've seen entire websites go down without notice....but technology is love hate kinda thing for me so who knows.

 

For any of you who have or know 2nd gen folks, here's a review of the 2G KDMax Pro ECU tune by user @Mynameisbrandin :

2013 Toyota Tacoma

-automatic trans

-180xxx miles

-naturally aspirated

-geared to 4.88s

-37x12.50 tires


Initial drive was like the truck woke up from a deep sleep. Stayed in the proper gear under slight acceleration with a perfect pedal feel (not too laggy, not too touchy, just perfect)


I and many other Tacoma owners, even geared properly, drive around with the shift selector in 4th to keep the truck from going into overdrive just around town. With the new tune, that is a thing of the past.. The trans ECU I believe did have to learn the new tune on the engine around town and now after almost 1k miles on it, driving around town is awesome in normal “D” shift selector mode.


Driving on the highway is night and day, the power difference in 5th gear is unmatched to stock. I can accelerate in a timely manner to pass someone and get back over in the lane without the truck screaming into 4th gear. Hills are the same way with that- it doesn’t seem to struggle and holds the speed or increases speed on hills that it would need 4th gear when it was stock.


Me having 37s, I never kept up with gas mileage (when it’s nearing E, I stopped to fill up and that’s it) on the 6hr road trip to Jambo, I noticed I was getting slightly better gas mileage than my buddies untuned 3rd gen on 35s and 5.29 gears. We filled up at the same time, stopped when nearing a quarter tank and filled up again. I beat his fuel consumption by about a gallon. Not saying I got better MPGs but I feel that usually a 6hr road trip, I’m filling up almost 3 times when this trip took only 2 tanks with fuel to spare.


The con… not really a con I would say, but something to get used to… from a stop and taking off with a much better throttle response, 1st gear is great. While it shifts rather quickly into 2nd, the fuel mapping on it I believe jumps the RPMs up right after shifting into 2nd gear. The wizard making the tune can tell you why maybe, but it is completely predictable now that I’m used to it, I don’t mind it at all. I can only describe the feel as it was it downshifting into a lower gear to accelerate, but it’s actually staying in the same gear. After the jump in RPMs, throughout accelerating to 70mph, the throttle and acceleration are great.


Despite the better throttle response feel, wheeling and crawling in 4Lo was not changed at all. On the park roads when it needed 2nd it would do the RPM spike, but like I said before, I knew it was coming and adjusted my pedal accordingly. My slow, technical crawling style felt as it should with no ill effects however.


All in all, a great addition to my 4.0L Tacoma. It made it feel awake and wanting to always go instead of “I’ll go when I want to go” as you press the throttle. Definitely worth it I believe and I also think the trans tune that’s (hopefully) coming soon will take care of the RPM spike I’ve experienced.

 

Matt figured out what was going on with the license migration. He sent instructions on how to delete the license files and it loaded right up!

 

Great! Thanks for the update.

 

I've put a couple hundred miles so far since updating from KDMAX Pro to the Pro + and I continue to be impressed with these tunes. I first tuned my 2020 OR last year with the 6.0 tune and eventually KDMAX PRO. Not long after flashing to PRO I added larger/heavier tires, but thought the truck still handled itself pretty well. Since updating to PRO +, the smoothness in how the truck shifts is definitely noticeable. It also seems that I've regained about 1.5 mpg or so. Take my experience for what it's worth, but for anyone on the fence about tuning their 3rd gen - it makes the driving experience what it's supposed to be. Whether tuning it yourself in your garage or meeting up with your local tuner - you can trust the KDMAX guys to be a resource in getting it done. I couldn't be more pleased.

 

Glad to hear your enjoying the Pro+ tune. We appreciate you posting your review.
What throttle setting are you running?

 

I've run the sport setting on both Pro and Pro +. Comes in handy in the 5 o'clock 500 commute after work.

 

I just took my first, real (short) road trip with my pro+ normal throttle yesterday on the NYS Thruway. With about 300lbs of PA gear for a gig, and a head wind, it was such a pleasure to drive...stayed in 5th and 6th the whole time...on the way home, the wind had died down and it was smooth sailing...like a normal vehicle!! Driving just didn't seem like a chore anymore. My Tacoma has a new life now!

 

Sounds encouraging.
Was this with the cruise control on or off?
My truck is stock now. Only real complaint is the shifting from 5th to 4th with the cruise on, on small inclines. 6th to 5th in not bothersome.

With the cruise off, I can feather the throttle to hold 5th longer, but with the cruise on it downshifts to 4th WAY to early.

My questions are, when tuned, with the cruise on, will it hold 5th longer, and how much longer (MPH drop)?
Thanks!