vF Tuner for the 3.5L Tacoma

Why did my brain see the last line of this post first?
"MT files released"
Gotta go take another heart pill

 

That makes me nervous ASF. The stock numbers seem exact and intentional, with decimal points even. This reminds me of crispr. We don't know the long reaching affects of a small change. At least I don't. But I'm an idiot. It could very well just be me and my ignorance

 

Jesus I’m on edge reading one post at time trying to keep my s*** together. I’m past my nails and literally gnawing on my wrist at this point. Not sure how I’m even going to be able to drive my MT to enjoy the tune

 

Jumping in with questions after reading this thread and the Ovtuned.com website. I want to run a single Group 31 AGM battery (already ordered the tray for $80 from CBI on TW) but nobody makes hardware to boost the alternator output for a 3rd gen Tacoma in a single battery system. Redarc tells me they don't support that configuration and have no hardware for it. CTEK may have something that works, but I've spent a couple of weeks on this and am exhausted from researching. Hearing that I can (soon) flash my ECU to boost the charge voltage sounds great!

So on to the Ovtuned WallOfText (apologies, no TL;DR):

1. on page 1 of this thread it says the vforest software gives you the ability to edit and flash your tune files as much as you want, yet a few pages back in this thread I read that the tunes you download are encrypted and cannot be edited even after purchase? So does that mean you can't take a tune file you download and tweak it yourself? If so, why not?

2. the Ovtuned website (no offense intended) really could stand to be updated and enhanced. I read the entire site I think, even the FAQ, and did not see a description of what "credits" are? I thought you download the vforest software for free but to use it for anything useful you need a license, which you purchase. Then you get free-for-life access to all tune files to download and use for your vehicle, as well as the ability to read and modify your current ECU settings. Is that all correct?

3. there is a download available called ToyotaFlashManagerInstaller on the Ovtuned website. I assume that is different than the vforest software? If so, is it needed also? The link is really hidden if it is...

4. I assumed the term "ECU ID" meant the unique identifier of your vehicle's hardware ECU, sort of like a serial number. But further reading seems to indicate that it actually refers to the "BIOS version" (for lack of better description) of the firmware that is currently installed in your vehicle's ECU. Or am I even more confused than it seems?

5. apparently you need a $170 cable to use the software, but the Ovtuned website says "sold out" with no link to alternatives or info as to when they will be getting them back in stock. In this thread people have mentioned a Tactrix cable, which seems to be the "openport 2.0" item on the tactrix.com website, also for $170 but it looks very different. The Ovtuned website has a video referring to the "orange cable". Are these functionally equivalent items? If I got the Tactrix cable would I need a "reflash adapter" also?

6. is it really, truly, true that the dealer service shop cannot detect that I flashed my ECU for warranty purposes? I would be shocked if Toyota didn't at least calculate and store a one-way hash of the current flash data...think Hamming codes...

Perhaps page 1 of this thread (or the Ovtuned website) (or both) could be enhanced to include more information that would prevent me from having these questions...I noted how answers to the warranty-related questions in the website FAQ are black-on-black and LOL'd.

 

Getchu a nice glass of your favorite whiskey and blanket. Find one of ovtunes responses and start reading. Even if someone answers all your questions, there will be follow up questions and follow ups to those. Better off just reading through the info and solidifying it to your memory.

 

Yeah, I can see how you got to that conclusion. I’m not setting any ACT score records myself, so I plan to tweak settings and measure where I can and always have a safe plan B. I’ll be keeping my tuning computer in my truck as I make changes so if shit hits the fan I can flash back to stock, barring the fact my truck isn’t a smoldering dumpster fire on the shoulder of I-215 here in SLC...

My personal mode of operation is “distrust and verify”. So I’ll be monitoring things as much as possible as I make changes to things I don’t know shit about.

 

Exactly... Now that I have some time (the children are asleep) this is what I am looking at:

 

None of those maps shown have had similar “tuned” maps shared from OV that would guide you into making changes. My opinion is to wait until OV releases the “tune packs” and then compare different tunes to see maps and values changed. Myself and I’m guessing 99% of everyone else are too dumb to just start making changes to all the current maps available.

 

That is correct and my plan. For now, I am aiming to familiarize myself with the program.

One thing I guess I need to do is copy and paste the file, then rename it. There is no option to "Save as."

I have no way of knowing what any of this is, yet. However, I am willing and eager to learn (with this computer and Tactrix forever onboard).

 

I think I'll flash 2.0 and give VF a good loooong incubation (get it?) period before I start getting any kind of confident on the longer reaching effects. Sure a "trust but verify" could net you the results your after, but at what cost? Like u observed what inputs were modified and verified it yourself with a multimeter, makes complete sense, but it's uncharted territory as far as duty cycle on the alternator, No one really know the long term implications of a small change up front. Conjecture at best I'd say. Again, coming from a total moron and this is just an opinion. No facts here.

 

“Export” is the “save as” option.

 

Thank you.

 

No, my mode is “distrust and verify”. That’s very different from “trust but verify”. One of those can leave you bleeding out the ass as you try to figure out what just happened...

 

Right but it's semantics. You verified you got the results u wanted but no idea the long term implications, that's all.

 

I'll try to answer from what I understand:

1. Yes you can edit tunes you make or other make including the example tunes, if you want the tunes OVTune has already made you need to also get the "tune pack". The tunes provided to us before VFtuner were encrypted to keep people from copying/sealing OVTunes work.

2. Credits allow you to unlock VFTuner for an ECU ID (Ex. 04B90, 04B13) then you can edit and flash those tunes, you need more credits if you want to unlock another ID.

3. No, Flash Manager is for the older "Flash Kit" that is no longer available.

4. ECU ID (Calibration ID) is more like the version of the Toyota software currently installed in your ECU.

5. OVTune is out of stock on cables right now, I believe do to COVID-19. They are the tatrix openport 2.0. IDK at what point they were orange, mine is several years old is a simi-transparent clear color. This is the cable need to connect your laptop to the vehicle.

6. To my knowledge no one has had the dealer detect the tune.

 

How do you know what ECU you have?

 

You are most likely 04B12 unless you had the old TSB done. Then, 04B13.

You can use the Carista or OBD Fusion apps with an OBD adapter to tell you.

 

Great thank you.

 

@OVTune the evolution of your product offerings from the initial flash kit to vfTuner is nothing short of amazing. I've been a customer the whole ride and am looking forward to the future and the collaboration of all us taco enthusiasts! So cool!

 

You can set up a search on eBay and sometimes the Tatrix cables will pop up there.