KDMax-Pro Tuning--NOW YotaWerx Tuning

I’m posting preliminary impressions of the new Pro9. A reset of learned values was not required, so I just flashed KDMax Pro9 and went for a short drive. I’m updating from Pro+XT so all my impressions are compared to that. Which makes it hard because Pro+XT was, in my opinion, the best, and there wasn't much they could improve upon.

1st impression: idle is just as smooth and quiet, maybe more so. Taco tick not present. Shifting appears to be more smooth, in fact if I’m just pooping around town never going to be out of 4th gear, and with minimal throttle input, I really could not butt-tell what gear it was in. Other than 1 or 4. That’s mighty smooth.

Acceleration from a standstill felt to me like the ECT was on. It’s improved over XT and the throttle also has a improved linear feel. With ECT really on, it does not disappoint. Lots of oomph! I’m sure I’ll notice the extra torky stuff next spring when I haul the camper again.

Performs well on the highway. Lingers in 5th under throttle shifting to 6 only when required. Or, when under normal acceleration at around 95kph like it’s programmed to do. Commanded downshifts are smooth and effective, ending up in the correct gear or converter unlock for the situation.

No take on CC or RCC because I didn’t try it out yet. More at a later date.

A great product that will get better as it settles in. Thanks @PapaRee and @TWTaco. You do good work and have excellent customer relations. Much appreciated.

 

KDMAX 9.0 impressions.
I've been on every KDMAX tune since 6.0 and even the Kruiser 4.0. Too say the least, the tunes have come a long way. From 8.0, noticeable torque increase and smoothness. Throttle from a stop no longer gives me any sort of jumpiness. It got better and better with each tune, but would still have times were it caught me off guard and would have an abrupt start. This is totally gone now even with ECT engaged! Another welcomed improvement is shifting. I used to get a semi abrupt shift going from 2nd to 3rd especially when cold. This is no longer noticeable even when the truck is cold (been about 35 degrees in the morning).
This new 9.0 tune is very impressive and makes the Tacoma a real joy to drive. As always, PapaRee delivers great service with quick replies and applied the 9.0 changes to a custom tune he did for me last year to my liking with shift points!

 

Many thanks to Kreg, Dave and the KDmax team on the new 9.0 tune.

Earlier today I upgraded my 21 OR from 04c20 to 04c21 using tonered's instructions which are linked in the 1st post of this thread. The instructions were excellent and the upgrade process painless.

Next I upgraded from +XT to 9.0.

As others have said, 9.0 is more refined and a noticeably better tune.

On the freeway both 5th and 6th gears have more power with the truck holding 6th gear on some inclines where previously it would have downshifted. On inclines where it did downshift from 6th to 5th, the shifts felt smoother and the engine/exhaust noise seems quieter.

I still need to see how it does driving into a headwind as there's no wind today. The +XT tune was a big improvement into the wind and I'm hoping 9.0 is even better.

Constant Speed cruise control now behaves like a normal cruise control. No more early downshifts and late upshifts (if it decided to upshift at all).

I'm very happy with my initial KDMAX 6.0 investment along with every subsequent upgrade, by far the best mod I've made to the truck.

 

Thanks for the review. Glad your enjoying the new Pro-9.0

 

Have you noticed any difference in gas mileage?

 

Jerome @jayrome came in for his update to Pro9.0 with his 2020. He just jumped up to 35's he wanted to try out Sport throttle with his new 35's. He does have 5.29's.
It was good seeing you again Jerome let us know how your enjoying the new Pro9.0.

 

My biggest complaint with my stock/untuned Tacoma is low/midrange power. Power is decent at WOT above 3,500-3800-ish RPM, but that's not where I want to drive a truck. I'd really like to see an increase in 2000-4000 RPM power, especially at reasonable throttle inputs.

I'm on light 32s (Wildpeaks) on stock 16" wheels, V6, 6MT. No real added weight except 120lb of sliders. I'm also at 4,000ft elevation and frequently go to 8,000ft+. Would be 87 octane.

The dyno results on 9.0 look almost too-good-to-be-true. Does this thing really feel like it's making that level of improvement? Is the change appreciable at part-throttle, or is the improvement only at WOT? I'm not trying to race this thing, just want more mundane/everyday torque.

My truck also almost "lugs" going up hills in 2nd gear with 50% throttle at 25mph (on pavement, nothing crazy). It's not actually lugging, but you can feel a slight pulsing in the power output there. Curious if this tune will clean up behaviors like that as well?

Thanks for any input. I'll continue reading the 325ish pages I haven't read yet for more info as well.

 

Not yet. I’ve only driven it to fill up then straight back home. It’s the winter fuel so I’ll probably won’t notice any difference.

 

I know you wont be disappointed with the Pro9.0. The Manual owners are really enjoying the new tune. You will enjoy the benefits down in the 2000 to 4000 RPM range that you are looking for.
Here is a review from a Manual owner.
From Mike (2021 TRD OR Manual)

This truck is so much better-
1 ) Pulls up hill WAY better. 0 downshifting required on the hills on the way home that required 5th on the way at lesser speed.
Speaking of speed., 2) It will go 100 easily in 6th now. It honestly would not go that fast before, above 95ish even on flat road required a downshift to fifth.
3) I can lug it around in 2nd now without it feeling like a bucking bronco. 4) Take off is way easier, the throttle feels so much more natural…, I feel like I know how to drive a manual again! 5) I don’t know how (I made it home faster than I made it there) but., the fuel mileage is definitely better. No matter how much I enjoyed my new found power & smoothness, it averaged 17.6 on the way back. And 6)., I love power.. and for the first time in my life I just wanted the thing to run right. And that it does, feels like a new Toyota should now…. With noticeably more power than it left the factory with. Everywhere

 

I got the new 9.0 a few days ago after moving to 285/70/17s. Super smooth, holds gears better and the shifts are super smooth. From having many tunes and updates along the way, I'm very much pleased with this one but I need some more seat time. I don't drive my Tacoma much and every time my new tunes settles in a new one comes out, but like I said I don't have many miles on my Tacoma for being 4 years old. Wahoobie has been great, very knowledgeable and takes great care of me plus I only lives a few minutes from him. Wahoobie also got my inline calibration spot on perfect for my 285s and going from 265s was well worth it. My truck still performs like its is on 265s still. Overall the truck is even more refined feeling and again the last three tunes have been amazing and superior to the stock tunes. Thank you to all the tuners for making this possible and helping others like me enjoy our trucks to the fullest.

 

Going directly from factory to the 9.0 tune is a very significant improvement. I can’t imagine anyone getting their stock truck tuned not being thoroughly satisfied.

I’m running an AT and can say on 9.0 my truck is the best tuned vehicle I’ve ever owned. I’m confident a MT truck would be as well.

 

I'm currently on the kdmax 6? (I think) with the premium 91 tune on 6MT. Love the power! But I think I read on here that the 9.0 can do 87 - 91 octane on the fly changes without retuning?

 

That’s correct. You’ll be happy with the upgrade. 9.0 is very well received.

 

Finally had a good freeway run yesterday and the 9.0 is a beast! Top end has lots of torque even at cruising speeds of over 85mph.
But I would never go over the speed limit so this is all speculation.

 

I've had the 9.0 for a week now with over a 1000 miles on it and its absolutely amazing. Much better then the last tune

 

So who do I contact about getting the new tune? I'm in the SF Bay Area.

 

Locations (kdmaxprotuning.com)
Call Kris

 

We still have DIY remote kits also.
These kits include the Tactrix cable, Vftuner software, and KDMax-Pro-9.0 tune files for your vehicle.
If you are interested in a DIY/Remote kit, get in touch with Chris @wahoobie

Or click on the link on our website
Remote Tunes (kdmaxprotuning.com)

 

Any feedback on the newest 9.0 tune for 2nd gens? I really liked my pro xt tune except that with the 4.56 gears there was a surge in power at about 20 mph no matter how light I was on the throttle (my wife didn’t like the surge at all when she drove it). The truck would accelerate cleanly and then at 20 mph it would jump forward without a gear shift and with nil extra throttle input. Otherwise great tune, but if you found more in the new tune and smoothens that out I’d be interested to try it.