Tacoma - OVTUNE - VFTUNER - Update Info and Original Development

I've done many things

 

I’m with you, had the truck 4 weeks, really noticeably unpleasant shifting, the hesitation and then aggressive forward jerking when it finds the gear. Got the updates, had it for the last 2 weeks, while much better, issues still noticeable and present. It’s like just when it seems like it drives well enough, it has some kind of episode.

Random clunk when stopping, still occasionally hunting gears, sometimes feels like it wants to settle in to a higher gear, even when only at 2k rpm’s, and still sometimes the hesitation and surge/jerk forward (smoother release than before, but still just the worst)!

Honestly, the closest comparison in my experience with this truck has been like driving an older automatic car where the transmission is old and going bad, slipping, jerking, clunking, etc. even if I trust their word that this is “normal,” it just feels so abnormal I find it hard to believe and it feels like damage is being done to the truck.

I am blown away that Toyota hasn’t sorted this out, even if it meant pulling the transmission from every damn truck out there.

I didn’t suffer as long as the 2016-17 folks to get the latest updates based on the latest TSB’s, but I will likely go for the OV Tune as everyone swears by it saving them from losing their minds. And anyone who’s going to the dealer and getting turned away on the updates, it just makes me sad you can pay upwards of 35-40k for a truck with a live forever reputation and get an experience that makes you want to hit your head onto a wall.

 

@thelifeaquatic Yeah it amazes me too that a company as renowned as Toyota would allow such a fatal flaw to make it to market on one of its highest grossing vehicles. And that they have put such little effort into resolving the problem that loyal Taco owners are all complaining about. I guess people are still buying them like crazy, and the resale value on Tacomas is sky high, so there was no great need to fix the flaw. $$$
I'm going to try and get my local dealership to flash my ECU to the 04B04 version, but they aren't exactly whistling while they work over there so I'm not going to be surprised if they try to turn me away. I am supposed to have an appointment with an agent sometime soon about another simple problem the service guys can't seem to fix, so I'll bring up the TSB at that point.
Either way I'm getting the OVTune. It's just a matter of whether i'll be using the 1.04, or 1.04r until 1.05 comes out. Heck it sounds like Matt is putting in his due diligence on the new ECU flash, but 1.05 might be ready by the time I get my kit anyway!

 

Does anyone have flash manager they can link me to? Want to try 1.04r, but have no flash manager

 

I think the only way to get 1.04R is to email Mat/OV help desk for the files

 

Getting this

 

you have already applied or had the dealer do the latest TSB to get B04 ?

also would make sure all electrical load is off, and if you haven't started your truck in awhile a start up and warm has helped others in terms of battery voltage and whatnot.

otherwise mine used to end unsuccessfully a lot when I was using a virtual machine on my mac. I just kept retrying and eventually it always worked FWIW

I see you're on a windows PC so that's likely not it, but I would turn off all other communications on that laptop (bluetooth, wifi, networks, etc.,)

 

No, I did go to dealer for unrelated matter, but no where on a receipt does it say anything about ecu update.

 

OK - If you are still on B03 then the file intended for the B04 ECU won't flash. Part of its checks to confirm compatibility before it can flash. You'd have to have either the dealer flash the B04 (latest TSB) ECU version OR you can get the files and a copy of TIS in this thread (And others) somewhere through searching and DIY. Can't flash 1.04r with B03

 

Makes sense
Thanks

 

Had that happen to me - I failed to push the START button the required two times. Once I figured out my screw up it all went per instructions. ??

Or as @bshammer0 has identified you can not do the flash without the TSB for 1.04R first.

 

I’m in accessory mode when trying to flash. I think the issue of it not being B04 makes more sense

 

In case you want to go to 0B04...

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-alpha-release.495735/page-1094#post-18467047

 

Seems like a byproduct of insufficient competition. Hopefully new Ranger and Jeep truck help fix that.

 

Thanks for the link! I’m sure you’ve said it but I haven’t read back yet.. did you ever go to 1.04R? Or just updated TSB and that’s it til 1.05? I was going to just hold out til 1.05 but now I’m kind of wanting to update TSB and give 1.04r a go..

 

Installed tis but getting an error with that too lol

 

Yes, you need to be at B04, but also you need to have the ignition ON, not accessory mode.

 

Not sure on that - but you may need to go into your TIS settings to select the proper interface so it's using the OpenPort adapter (Tactrix). So long as you've selected the right adapter and have everything hooked up and your truck ignition on (engine off) it should hook up easily.

Once you have TIS installed and working, you don't actually have to open TIS again to use the CUW file as it becomes an executable file with an embedded installer package (still requires you HAVE TIS installed to be compatible with the file types and interfaces)

 

Right, that what I meant

 

Good call, I didn’t bother to check. All works