Help please: Thinking Twice About My OTT Tune

Hey folks,
Looking for some input from anyone who's run the OTT tune on their Tacoma.

I've got a 2021 Tacoma and had my local tuner install the middle-level OTT tune a couple months ago. At first, it felt awesome — shifts were smoother, RPMs weren’t flaring up like they used to, and overall it just drove better.

But after about a week or two, things started to change.

• Acceleration just didn’t feel right. The truck began hesitating when taking off from a stop
• Shifting from 1st to 2nd became rough

I took it back to the shop last weekend and they decided to remove the tune, thinking maybe it was something that Toyota should look at under the drivetrain warranty. But, after they removed the tune, the truck drove better than it did even before the tune. Acceleration was smooth once again, and it just felt “right” for the first time. Even my wife — who’s been complaining about how the truck shifts since the day I bought it — said it finally feels normal.

That said, I’m still noticing that the shift points seem a little high. It's not bad, but it's there.

The shop offered to try a lower-level tune this week to see if it behaves better, but now I’m second-guessing everything. I already paid $500 for the original tune, and part of me is wondering if I should even mess with it anymore. It's driving better than it ever has right now, even though it isn't perfect.

So my questions:

• Anyone else have this kind of experience with the OTT tune?
• Will going down a level help smooth things out?
• Or should I just leave it stock now that it’s finally behaving?

I appreciate any feedback!

 

If the dealer sees that the ECU has been flashed because of tune install, you can kiss that powertrain warranty goodbye

 

What fuel are you using?

 

There haven’t been any instances of this happening shared here. The only issue was failing emissions tests prior to OTT getting certified or whatever.
This doesn’t mean what you are saying isn’t true, just that no one has experienced this and shared it on the forum.

 

My guess is the changes you're seeing is the trans re-learning after the flash. It's possible the first flash didn't 'take'. I've read a few cases where a vehicle had to be re-flashed.

 

A couple of things.
Dealer does not hook a scanner willy-nilly without securing a payment from you. You need to sign on the line and agree to pay diag fees to get a scanner connected.
Secondly, there is no a "flash" counter. There is Distance since last battery disconnect value that gets reset after a flash and a battery cable disconnect. If things get escalated, you tell them the story of replacing a bulb.
There are calibration ID and Calibration verification number. Most tunes retain Calibration number, but verification number is changing.
If you go back to OEM Calibration, Verification number reverts back to OEM.
Even if Toyota plugs the scanner, they need to go to a different section of the diag app to dig the information on Verification number. Most Toyota techs don't go to that section of the app.

 

You shifting from 1st to 2nd became rough, what is rough? Also, you have manual transmission? I have manual 3rd gen no problem with OTT.

 

Have them put you on the minimum agro pedal response. Love my tune!

 

3rd gen MT with an OTT tune chiming in as well. While OP didn't directly come out and say it was an AT, this alludes to it being an AT and not an MT; "That said, I’m still noticing that the shift points seem a little high."

I am fortunate enough to have been tuned by the famous Justin himself, and he recommended the Mild tune to me after some discussion. I loved it so much I wanted it more but have come to love the Mild setting on the manual.

 

Yes it is an AT. I am considering the mild. I will know more this Saturday when I go back.

 

The mild/medium was sweet spot for me in OTT. Remember it will still learn your driving habits, with or without tune.

 

I kinda trust Toyota Engineers with multiple advanced degrees to know better than
I ever will how their product should behave.

 

OP, you said it's driving better.. then my recommendation is just leave it alone.

I paid ~$700 for an OVTune many years ago and quickly went back to stock just months later due to jumpy acceleration.

 

OP, leave well enough alone….

 

After applying the factory tsb flashes for trans tuning on my AT 2020, I always thought my truck shifts fine.

I think there's too much credit given on the aftermarket tunes via the owners butt-o-meter. I wonder how many people would have been happy just having the factory flashes updated.

 

OP, re-flashing may solve your issue. Love the OTT tune. It’s not perfect but a huge improvement over stock. Been running it for almost one year. No issues.

 

I've got some questions...

Are you the original owner of said 2021?

How many current miles are on your truck?

Reason I ask, the ECU/ECM recognizes the driving habits from the moment it leaves the dealership with less than 10 miles. (Something I read/learned since being on TW/Sep2021)

These factors I believe effect the way the OTT Tune reacts to driver input.

Of course, this is theory but I drove my truck like a grandma the first year of ownership and had OTT installed in May 2022.

I eventually had one more update after the first...then my third update is the current and most satisfying tune:

Mild Drive/Spicy ECT

I've had no issues as you describe...but I did have a hot throttle/pedal with my initial tune.

I dialed it down a notch and liked the Mild tune...and have stayed with it since.

 

Well... if it was "just" the engineers involved in bringing a car to market... maybe. EPA restrictions requiring adherance have taken an already mild drive train and put it in the doghouse.

That being said, my OTT tune on my truck didn't seem to perform as smoothly on 85 & 87 octane (elevation octanes for 87 and 89) gas. No hiccups on 91 (93) since I switched.