ECU TSB Update

Still not supported by Vftuner.

 

I’ve been contacting my dealer about the ECU TSB update for my 2021 OR. They are telling me they have no knowledge of the update nor the ‘gear hunting’ in the 3rd Gens. How is this possible???

 

Dealers are going to give you a run around most times.

The 2021 TSB is not released yet, as far as we know. If your production date is May or later, you're likely on the latest version. If your production data was before that, then the software is in the 1st Post. We don't know what it is exactly for other than fixing the Crawl Control issue. It is unlikely to fix your shifting.

 

At this point just do it yourself or have a friend that has techstream do it. Since we can get all the update files ourselves, why rely on the dealer to do it? All they're gunna do is argue anyway...

Side note, anyone know how to get .cuw files for other models? I've got an 09 Camry and a 16 Rav4 Hybrid I'd like to make sure is on the right software as well.

 

Sweet talk a dealer tech

or buy a day or week sub to TIS

 

You have a few options. The main thing is to try and identify a TSB from the nhtsa.gov site for those models. I know that a TSB update helped one person that contacted me for their Camry.

We have a couple dealermoles that are happy to help. Alternately, you can jump on a 2day TIS subscription and go fucking nuts.

 

They are either ignorant or lying. Either way, sounds like you need to find a new dealer to go to, or get set up with Techstream and do it yourself.

 

Your dealer has no knowledge of a TSB for your vehicle probably because there isn’t one, yet. What we know as ‘gear hunting’ is an urban legend to a dealer and what said dealer would call ‘normal’ behaviour. (based on the factory ECU programming designed to get the AT Tacoma into the highest gear possible in the shortest possible time thus promoting ‘gear hunting’) Easily remedied with any of the OVTune derivatives.

 

I hear you concerning the ‘gear hunting’. I owned an ‘08 Tacoma Sport and had 350k miles on it original engine. I never had this gear hunting issue.
I’m comparing a 2008 to a 2021 and realizing the two don’t compare.

 

Ya, but. I have flashed a few 2nd Gens and 4Runners with TSBs. They are surprised at the differences there also. Engine and AT.

I'm starting to think that Toyota NA has systemic tuning problem.

 

Yes, I would agree. That said, the 2008 did not sporadically shift that I noticed. If I had known about the tune, I would have tuned it. It was a great truck!

 

Definitely a good truck. I test drove a 2007 4.0l and a 2009 2.7l. Both had over 140k and still felt like new. The 4.0l was winded up top, which I have seen the TSBs fix.

 

Hello, new guy here. Bought my first Tacoma (2021 TRD OR AT) in March of this year. It has a 2/21 build date. It has the same transmission characteristics that have been described in these posts. I have been reading these "tsb" threads for a couple of weeks now. I can confirm my CID is 04C20. A few posts up, tonered responded and said it would be unlikely that TSB-0045-21 (04C21) would fix our shifting issue. My question is, as of right now, the only way for me to remedy these problems is to "OVtune" it?

 

It never hurts to try a TSB tune, but for your specific shifting issue, the vF Tunes will take care of it and improve several other aspects of the crappy Stock tuning.

If you happen to be local to Seattle, WA, I can help you out. Otherwise, there is the Feelers thread for other folks and also getting your own license.

Note that the latest TSB tune is typically a better base for the vF Tunes also.

 

Any 2021 owners you know of had the latest tsb(04C21) done?

Man, I appreciate it, but I'm down in the south. Arkansas

So, getting the latest 04C21 via dealership or doing it myself with Techstream would be beneficial for vF tunes?

 

You're welcome!

I think a couple folks have posted. 2020s and 2021s were on the TSB. It mainly notes the Crawl Control fix, but you never really know all that Toyota wrapped in. In the past, I found some pretty big changes compared to what the TSB actually said.


Yes. Doing it yourself is the least frustrating method. Just follow the 1st Post. You'll want at least TS V15, as V14 will not allow you to do any dealer Customizations on your 2021.

Tune support for 04C21 is very close.

 

Awesome. Thanks Tony.

One last question, will any of these home flashing methods, TS or vFtune, void my factory warranty and can I or would I want to flash back to stock, if that's possible, if I had to take it to the dealer for some other issue?

 

You're welcome!


The tune would technically cause an associated warranty repair to be denied. That said, some dealers recommend the tune to fix the issues that you are having. Mine should have noticed several obvious mod and how differently the Taco drove. I never got a good or bad word from them.

vF Tune has even met with the ECU folks at Toyota.

You always have the option to flash back to Stock, but I have not seen that to be needed. Personally, or on the forums here.

 

Alright, I believe I will try to perform the TS flash first and go from there. I'll report back after I get a chance to do it. Thanks for your time.

 

You're welcome!

That is always a good starting point.