KDMax-Pro Tuning--NOW YotaWerx Tuning

Thanks for taking the time to review Anthony, I really appreciate it!

Everyone that I have updated from PRO+XT to V9 has been very happy with the performance bump. If anyone is on the fence about the update being worth it, definitely reach out to your local tuner. You will be glad you did.

 

Just an update after running the 9.0 for a few weeks. First off, the mileage is a bit better overall, went from a inconsistent low to mid 19's, to a solid low 20s. The map is getting so refined, it is really a pleasure to look at the avg fuel mileage stats. You can see the latest map is working, and head and shoulders above previous versions. The shifts, and power are spot on, and the throttle sensitivity is outstanding. Shifts are smooth and predictable, and better than previous versions, for sure.

My only complaint is, not from the tune, or the tuners, it is Toyota's learning logic now. the first few days of the 9.0 loaded, with no re-learn set upon flash, the truck was perfect for me. lost my chugging while foot driving up slight hills, between 45-60mph. after a few days, it came back. thought about re-flashing but, decided to just drive in s5, below 65 mph.

to me, the truck just should never get into 6th below 65 mph. if it does, and I am driving by foot up an incline, it is like it is too high of a gear to pull the truck but, wont shift down because of the throttle position I am asking, and placing on the accelerator pedal. if I give it a little pedal in this situation, it will downshift to 5th, and the chugging goes away. this isnt a trans shudder, as much as it is the truck just being in the wrong gear for the load, and pedal position asked of it by my light foot. putting the truck in s5 for local, non freeway driving, is still netting me consistent low 20's fuel mileage, and my chugging feeling is gone.

Having the rest of the package the way it is, I feel my complaint is like picking fly shit out of pepper, when I can over ride the trans logic, and just stick it in S5.

Thank you to @PapaRee and @TWTaco and all the tuners, and testers. this is a great update and tune for the masses. Ski

 

Very well said very very well

 

I agree @skidooboy. The 9.0 tune is awesome, i just wish the transmission would stay in 5th until 65 mph. I don't know if this is possible to edit the 5th-6th shift in the tune or not, but everything else is perfect. KDMAX 9.0 is a major update, well done @PapaRee and @TWTaco

 

It is certainly possible to adjust a shift point. What I found is with v9 that I was able to get into 6th sooner than ever before and in conditions that it would not before. I personally attribute that to the improved setup with increased torque....you can really feel it all around the gears now and with that affords a truck that can be in 6th when it would not have before. So for a stock truck perhaps it's dead on but perhaps some loads, speeds, tires, weight, lifts, or "foots" as it where may favor the current shiftpoint where others want something like the ask here. That is perfectly reasonable and any owner who can pinpoint there needs should just ask for it.

My last thought is that the improved MPGs comes from somewhere.

 

Alright fellas sooooooooooo I've tried many of tunes and help develop some . I've been all over the place testing tunes on long trips. What @skidooboy said was pretty spot on . One thing I would like to touch bases on is throttle sensitivity. So my taco is 5400+ lbs , tires 315/75/16s, and stock gears . I have a few other goodies combined on my truck to work with the tune and power delivery and fuel mileage is top notch like 20mpg . So throttle settings, I've always selected to have a sport type throttle . I love the snappy of the nappiest lol. In the recent month for the 1st time I kicked it back to normal throttle. What I noticed is slight increase in mpgs , makes sense why of course. Now I started liking these normal throttle settings. Made my commute more enjoyable I noticed. The tune itself, man the power is still there just push the pedal more . Now speed up to last week and I flashed lite throttle settings for the first time ever. I was like wtf where have you been. So today on my commute to work I really seen how great this tune really is, you can really have great control of the power curve . It just felt like I had more control than ever , I can say when you want the sport throttle it is very sensitive. My perspective of lite to sport is a night day difference. With the sport throttle your asking the computer I want power now now now and your putting the engine under a heavy load faster vs the lite throttle setting. To me my truck today maintained going down the freeway without me having to manipulate the throttle to change gears in my automatic. The issues I realized today with my truck and sport throttle is with high sensitivity pedal , quickly puts engine under heavy load , therefore computer is gonna want to shift , slight uphills/overpasses engine quickly goes under heavy load due to throttle sensitivity, less fuel mileage again engine is more sensitive to heavier engine loads , ppppphhhhh so much to say dang it , and as much as I love loved sporty feeling it made me start thinking theories . Which these theories led me to seeing the true power of this tune. With my heavy taco and telling the computer to aka sporty let's go just felt like I was mashing around all the time lol loved it, but those issues started bugging me . Now to the lite throttle settings. OMG so first of all stop and go traffic , truck behaves better than ever , over passes/ hills , now it can hold 5th on some of the steeper grades on my commute and over passes I'm noticing 6th gear more at 60mph yeah that's right 60, so 6th gear really is happy at 65mph like recent members stated, I just feel like I can notice the tune pull better with lite throttle. I should really have typed this up on my laptop nope busy dad of two teens . So to sum this up lite throttle to me feels like you get the best power delivery from kdmax pro 9.0. Come on im on stock gears and I'm happy as F.
I could rattle on some more and give more details . Guys I did the best I can do for the review of kdmax pro 9.0 . Keep it coming I'm loving every bit of it @PapaRee and @TWTaco

 

Thanks Chris
I was wondering if you were ever going to try another throttle option. I am glad you gave the Lite throttle a shot. Enjoy it Brother!

 

Well you know , I thought I knew better lol

 

Is it me or did I just notice that the tune thread doesn't pop up on main 3rd gen forum when a new reply has been added or I'm just crazy?

 

Ahhh we have our own section now? Performance and tuning I must of been blind for a minute lol

 

It kinda sucks as no owners really go there.

For something so prominent as improvements to poor throttle and shifting for essentially every Tacoma since 2016 being placed in a performance section is really not right. Sure, for FI applications, but not when a mod truly makes every truck run like they should ahve from the factory. It should be in a section called "Essential Mods"

 

Yeah when did this change? I swear hot 3rd gen tuning threads always popped up on the main 3rd gen forum . Hmmm alright then

 

They used to, then a few months ago they moved them to the Performance/tuning forum.

 

Probably cause all the damn scuffling that was going on AnywaY I had meat loaf for dinner it was very good

 

Has anybody elese had issues with downloading the latest VF tuner update 1.6.9.901

 

interesting… I’m running the normal throttle setting and I do find myself having to be careful not to press the throttle too much so that it doesn’t downshifts because of the sensibility. After reading your post I give the Lite setting a try, it might be better for my driving style.

on another note, I just upgraded from pro+ to 9.0. I already drove 300 miles with 9.0 and all I can say is I’m impressed. I didn’t think it could get any better but it definitely did, I can feel more torque and shifts way better. This tune made me put on hold re-gearing and that says a lot because I’m running 33s, front and rear bumpers, winch, sliders and a roof rack.

 

I just tried the download from vftuner.com and it didn't work. I got the same error screen that you did. But I was able to update within the vftuner software with the "check for updates" button.

 

Same results as of now also.

 

Mods didnt like the fighting and pissing contests on the main forum page, from some members. tuners, vendors, regular members bickering about this tune, that tune, or this or that person. people were just mean, and badmouthed one another, and it got old. they warned everyone, then moved all the tuning threads to the performance and tuning forum, when they had enough. Ski