T-SB-0044-14 Feedback: Engine ECM Reprogram [Pinging]

OP, can we get the mods to open the poll back up so we can see current results?

 

I'm not sure if this is possible, can a moderator chime in?

 

I just had the reprogramming done today at AutoNation in Leesburg, VA. Having a copy of the TSB (Thanks to everyone on this forum)helped with my credibility. I was using a lot of 93 octane on my 64-mile round trip (mainly highway speed) commute to manage pinging over the last 18 months. As others have said, either it's my imagination or my truck is running/shifting (AT) more smoothly and more quietly on a current tank of 87 octane as a result of the reprogram. The dealer did NOT place a sticker on the underside of my hood after the work was done. My receipt with the EG1404 solution reference is my proof. I would not have known about the TSB nor had access to the text of it if it were not for this forum. Thank you all again.

 

I had mine done yesterday. Having a copy of the TSB was a big help. The dealer just did it with no questions asked. On my short 5 mile trip home the only thing I noticed right away was it seemed like it down shifted sooner. I will post more after I get more miles on.

I was told by the dealer after the re-flashing, the memory is erased and for the next 10-12 miles no hard acceleration and no hard braking because the computer has to relearn my driving habits. Does this sound right?

 

just drive normally ignore the computer it will figure it out

 

It won't/can't reduce power nearly as much as a hole in a piston top will.

The reflash could do a few things in a few different ways to achieve the goal. While some of those options (timing retard being one) can cause a power loss, it should only occur during 'at risk' conditions, not across the board under all conditions. In other words the input parameters are important, and if done correctly, you'd should never notice a difference in normal driving, only when thresholds that create pinging come into play.

I've also seen cases were pinging was easily solved by correcting / improving cooling system efficiency. One example is making sure that airflow through the radiator was maximized. On the marquee I have in mind it was very common to not replace the plastic undertray splash pan because it was a pain to work with. But often ping ended with it back in place, because the turbulence w/o it disrupted the radiator flow. And the radiator was undersized to begin with.

Makes one wonder about certain modifications and their effects.

 

Not really. Most 'learning' ECUs I've seen care more about keystarts/cycles than just a few miles. What you want to do is drive in a way that you want to be your new 'normal'.

Keep in mind that a battery disconnect that is long enough for the ECU memory to clear creates the same new learning condition. It's not nearly as special as your service writer painted it to be. The reflash was the important part.

 

I went to the dealership here in Sacramento, CA MONTHS AGO because I was hearing this same exact noise. I noticed it after an oil change and was driving with my radio off. I took it immediately back to the dealership and they got me in right away only to call me back later to say the techs found a chain rattling in the bed of my truck. I WAS PISSED! I have had that chain back there since I bought the truck and I tether my dog with it. I told him it was an ENGINE noise. I've never brought the truck back there for anything. Seeing this TSB makes me feel like I'm not some stupid "girl" like they made me feel. There will be Hell to pay if they give me any grief about this TSB.

 

Good luck! Don't give them any room to pass judgment on you as a female, just tell them straight up that you want the ECU flash to mitigate spark knock. This happened to my ex all the time, and she was a wizard with vehicles. It's frustrating how hit-or-miss dealerships can be. I guess that's one reason why forums exist eh?

 

Props for this thread - bought my 13 Tacoma about 6 months ago and been trying to diagonose the few potential issues I noticed - this thread helped me figure out three main ones:

1) bogged down acceleration at 40-50mph - I always felt like I was stuck in 5th at 40 mph
2) Pinging while accelerating uphill under light to moderate acceleration
3) hard shift from 4th to 5th

I had tsb 0044-14 done yesterday and it corrected all three of these issues and I'm pretty damn happy with it. If you have even slight/ occasional pinging, I would definitely consider getting this done - this is how the Tacoma should have come out of the factory. I no longer feel like I'm fighting the gears and slamming down on the peddle to upshift to 4th. The shift points now make actual sense and I would now describe it as smooth v a rock slide.

 

The dealer just performed this TSB on my 2013 Tacoma with 15,000 miles. I took it in for a knocking sound from the engine compartment that occurs a few minutes after first starting it in the morning. I also said that it would ping on hot days. They listened to the knock and determined that the noise was spark knock and that there was a TSB for it. I did not have to mention the TSB at all. They determined it just on my description. I haven't driven too far yet so I don't have a definite answer as to whether it fixed it or not. Once I drive it for a while I will vote on the poll. But I can say that it did seem smoother and quieter on the ride home from the dealer. I am looking forward to using regular gas again.

 

Had the reprogram done this past week and right away I noticed the difference as I drove off from the dealership.
I described the noise it was making around 1500rpm predominantly and I took a technician out for a drive. He heard the rattling noise and I mentioned the reprogram. He confirmed the issue and they performed the reprogram on my 2014 Tacoma. Double checked a few other things and issue has been resolved. I went directly to the gas station and filled it up with 93 octane and has been a smooth ride so far.
Having the PDF on this thread was super handy as I showed it to the service tech and were able to quickly go about helping out with this.

 

Just checking in on this thread - I'm glad to hear the TSB is working for those who report positively!

 

I had the TSB work done about 5000 miles ago. It eliminated the pinging up until this week. Now it's pinging just as bad as before the TSB. Anyone else have the pinging come back and did Toyota have a solution to fix it the second time?

 

Pinging has come back, no fix that I know of. Maybe disconnecting the battery for a while might fully reset the ecu and fix it. I think the TSB is more of a bandaid for the problem.

 

no, the tsb is not a bandaid

it is the updated release of the ecu code

whereas the version shipped, had bugs

pretty straightforward fix, on auto-tranny it modifies shift points and
modifies timing. mine is 100% ping free now (at least I cannot detect any
now...where I could previously hear them under conditions stated in the tsb)

 

I've been noticing that under the stated conditions my engine makes a noise. Accelerating under 2k rpm when the engine is warm. My problem is that it's a noticeable 'knock' and not a 'ping'. I haven't been able to locate a sound clip of the this and was hoping someone cloud describe it or link the sound...

 

in automotive terms knock and ping are the exact same thing. detonation.

so if this is not spark knock also called ping then it is something else.
Pings or Knocks (detonation) sound like what pings and knock sound
like since waaaaaaaaaaay back in the day. very distinct impossible to mistake for something else.

some detonation, sounds a lot more like a large diesel which is where knock comes from. usually that old 'Family Trucker' sound when trying to shut off engine and it keeps running....pings are milder usually heard when engine is lugging up a hill.

 

I am aware that's it's basically a ecu flash. The TSB is a bandaid because it did not permanently fix the pinging issue. My truck went right back to pinging, and the smooth shifting that occurred after the TSB has gone away, and now shifts like it did before the TSB. The only way to address the shifting problem is to disconnecting the battery for a while, then reconnect it. Our trans basically adjusts to our driving style, and disconnecting the battery resets the computer.

 

then something is wrong with your vehicle and the flash job.

my TSB reflash is there for good,
my tranny shift points remain optimized,
I use 87 octane, it's been 90 degrees here for days,
and I have zero pings and smooth shifts everywhere.