Help with ecu update/tsb terrible shifting

So I tried one of the custom tunes and still had some issues so I had them return me to stock so I could really feel the difference between stock tune and theirs and my god I hate it so much. But here’s the kicker. Everything I hate about how the truck drives seems to be what’s fixed by tsb-0092-20 so I just took it to the dealer to make sure I have that ecu firmware and they said I already do…. So I don’t know what’s going on now and just feeling lost, hoping someone can point me in a direction.

2019 sr5 rwd v6 AT
Constant shifting and over drive toggling
Dead spot at ~3k rpm then two big surges as vvt kicks in
Hesitation
Shifts hard
Little surging when lightly accelerating that goes away if I down shift
I commute 2 hours a day in heavy traffic and I hate this so much I’m about to not care about the thousands I lose on the taxes and sell this thing. Anyone in the Bay Area think they can just reflash the newest firmware even though Toyota says I already have it?

 

go to the tuning forum area. look up kdmax 9.0 thread, ask your questions there. they can update the ecu spec, install the tsb, through techstream, and give you another tune to try. their 9.0 pro latest is the I have driven on. seriously was in your shoes, ready to sell it. @TWTaco, @PapaRee
Ski

 

Whose tunes and which versions?

 

And the 9.0 made you happy?

 

I guess I don’t know the version but it was a kdmax

 

KD Max Pro was my second tune. Their first was done three weeks after I bought the truck. Night and day difference. I then went for the Pro and AGM adjust a year later to tighten up because it was part of a local group tune. All I can say is it is verging on criminal that these trucks come from the factory with such shit performance. I have not lost any mpgs and my truck is always in the right gear. A damn no-brainer if you ask me!

 

Try this one time....put it in S5 and leave it there. I've been driving like that for 5 years and love how it drives.

 

My 2021 drives fine, wouldn't change a thing.
I would advise anyone to let it hit 2-3,000 miles before monkeying with it.... let it break in a bit.

 

I’d just sell and get something with a 4 speed

 

Idk, about your sr5, but a buddy had that tsb done on his 2019 trd or, and his truck didn't perform much different, yet my 2020 sr5 truck came with it already when I ordered the truck, and it performs extremely well. I'm guessing there's more to it the way these trucks are put together. Some just run much better than others. My buddy that's been a large automotive shop owner for decades has said the same, and got rid of his tacoma for a new frontier which he's finally no longer complaining what a turd his tacoma was.

 

Go talk to the person who tuned your truck.

 

you need to reset the throttle/transmission learned values. my truck drives totally different after a reset. make sure you use the same octane gas during the entire learning process or it will really confuse the ECU.

 

Not sure if I missed it but, how long was the tune on the truck before you went back to stock? When you get tuned it usually takes a little time, about two tanks of gas for the ECU/TCU to relearn your driving habits. Also your tuner should have made sure your ECU was up to date prior to flashing the tune.

 

yes. Ski

 

Is there a way to do this without the tuner?

 

I had the tune for several months. Many tanks of gas. I didn't feel any great difference, except for the very touchy throttle with the sport and track tunes, before and after the tune but now that it's been returned to stock it's WAY worse. So it either worked better with the old stock tune or the "stock" tune I returned to isn't correct, though it's version number is the most recent one.

This morning it shifted about 6 times in ~10 seconds as I gave very gentle throttle inputs. It's just stupid

 

I too had the tsb applied thinking it may help.
It seemed slighty better, but as it re-learned it was right back to shitty stock gear hunting. Been running the KD max tune with light throttle for a little while now and it shifts spot on. Also gained in the mpg's

 

I too have been there and have tried tune after tune after version of tune.
I found a tune (OTT Mild) that is the best for my type of driving which is mostly city and stop an go highway traffic driving. I use to give the car in front of me at least 30-40 feet in traffic as it would lurch forward because it seemed to be all or nothing. The touchy and dead spot throttle versions sucks also especially when wet or winter weather, was the worst thing, then shifting on hills was a bit wonky. There is a huge difference in a mild tune compared to any other as far as touchy throttle. My shifting issues also are as good as I believe you’re gonna get with this taco set up. No more smoking tires in every hill no matter how small, or chirping at every intersection (painted crosswalks). Just a smooth no dead spot throttle control. If I want a little peppier when I’m not city driving I can push ECT button and have a quite a bit more throttle response which makes you think you have more power but it’s just better response time IMO. My wife also likes to drive it now that the jerkiness is gone.
And yes I would most definitely have your tuner clear values before installing your tune. I suggest whatever tune you decide to get go with the mildest one first.

 

Sounds like you have more issue than just transmission tuning. What mods have you done? Have you check transmission fluild level? Any issue driving s4 or s5 instead of drive? Are the road hills or straight?

 

Yeah, anything but the mild tune felt like there was just a long dead spot until the peddle position would be read. so only 10-100% of peddle position would register and then you'd also get 10-100% throttle position. So gentle acceleration was impossible.

I doubt it. All the issues are too similar to what everyone else says they experienced. I checked the fluid too. It seems like these trucks got filled then had the transmission coolers added without the factory topping off the fluid. I found a lot of people who discovered they were a quart low, and I found mine was too and filled it.
It's stop and go traffic through hills and flats. Putting in s4 or s5 doesn't do anything cause my issue is mostly with the lower gears.