vF Tuner installation guide & FAQ

Hopefully I hear back soon, all I need is a new registry since my laptop died. Should only take a few seconds to have a happy customer!

 

Do you have a master key? If so you don’t need a reg key, just install the new version of vF

reg keys and the old flasher have been discontinued for a while now

 

I tend not to frequent the forums as I have come to the conclusion I can be a major asshole...so I've tried to be reserved in this matter as my norm is asshole and that's just not helpful.

It's comforting to know I'm not the only one...from all I've heard the product IS great and does exactly what it's advertised to do...sad that the communication factor is lacking. They keep saying replying to the email they eventually send is best to get a response but I've never found that to be true. I ONLY got a response after submitting a new ticket, I would reference the previous ticket numbers too. Even their on-site forum says replying to emails is best...yet I wasn't getting responses that way at all.

The forum on their site is not actually monitored by actual staff that respond to issues. The mod there said no one in charge looked at the forum...to which I asked what the point of their on-site forum was...the mod DID finally say they would forward my complaint up-line but I still didn't get a response. Not until I made more posts there and here AND made more tickets. Still a bit pissed they closed the post down and their email was more of not taking any responsibility at all for the communication problems...so good luck to you.

You'd think they'd address this communication problem...good luck finding a phone number for them...that would be preferable, I mean I do like online communication but you need a phone number...I haven't found one for them. I even asked for one and they didn't comply.

The tactrix company is communicating great so I'll eventually get to use my $800 product...after dropping another $130-150 or so for the tactrix...again on me for misunderstanding the instructions (which weren't clear) but hey...I'll quit bitching when I can use the software

 

Thanks for the info. I will have to check. It would have been nice if Matthew at OV had just said this.

 

No sign of a master key. I don't claim to be smart at this. I'm just trying to continue to flash tunes created by others. This is how our conversation started:
Aug 3, 2021
Hello,
My laptop died with my OV Tune on it. What do I need to do to get another registry key? Below is all my information.
Thanks, Don

Mathew Wilson (OVTune)

Aug 4, 2021, 10:39 EDT

Hello,
If you are an original flash kit owner (dongle or non dongle P5F system) and would like to upgrade to our newest software as we are going to be releasing new calibrations / tunes soon.

*There are 2 different version of upgrade*

1) vF tuner lite upgrade* - Only flashing & logging. No editing available.
Free upgrade to our previous customers. If you would like this option, please provide us information as a reply to this email. Also the instructions on how to update will be on our website, tacomaworld forum, and our forum (forum.vftuner.com)

Information we need:
Name:
original order number if you know it:
VIN# of the truck
(Please make sure to copy & paste. Any typographical error will cause a delayed process/possible system error)
(Please type your VIN in all CAPS. example: 5TFMSJDJ$. NOT 5tfmskdsl)


2) vF tuner full upgrade* - Able to do access full vF software including editing you own maps.
$79 upgrade fee applies. Please see the link below for purchase.
https://vftuner.com/products/vfores...omers-flash-kit-dongle?variant=37951342346437
(Select the standard flash kit option).

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Thank you.

Aug 4, 2021

Hello Mathew,


Here is the information you require. I am only looking for the “light” upgrade as I am not a tuner.


Information we need:
Name: Don Baker
Original order number if you know it: 5936
VIN# of the truck: 5TFCZ5AN7JX161772


Thank you for the fast reply,

Cheers, Don

Since then I have emailed through their helpdesk 5 times with no response at all. Ridiculous!!

 

I can be the same way and am trying to remain calm about this but it's unacceptable. Even if this is a side-hustle, emails need to be responded to in a timely manner. If there is an issue ie. sick, than an automated email should say so. Ignoring customers who paid over $600 for a product is a horrible way to run a business!!

 

I didn't have any luck with emails either. I contacted them through ZenDesk each time and would get a response within a few days.

 

I have done that as well. That is how the responded to me the first time. I have done ZenDesk three times since with no response.

 

I’ll be trying to tune my truck today but I have a few questions regarding resetting the learning values.
I recently got a tune on my truck but I decided to try a different one and this time I will be doing it myself. My question is,
When should I reset the LV?
I know once the flashing is complete the program will ask to turn off the truck.

should I reset the LV before turning off the truck? Or should I turn on the truck let it idle for 10mins, turn it off and then go to the “on” but engine off and then reset the LV?

 

Always finish the flash as prompted. So:

-- After the flash complete confirmation, cycle the Ignition and do a test start.
-- Turn it Off and go back to Ignition On. Do the Resets. No particular order, but I generally do DTC, then ECU, then TCU if needed.
-- From there, I do a 2.5min idle. The idle seems totally settled and happy by 2min. I give another 30sec for insurance.


Then drive off and feel it out.

 

Received my new master key last week...finally! love the product but having to call them out on a forum to get a response is sad.

 

The CS side is what it is. In the end, the results are usually worth it all.

 

Agreed!

 

Thank you!! I was able to successfully flash and reset the LV on my truck right now!

 

You're welcome!

Enjoy the tunes.

 

Huge shout out and kudos to @Shellshock for coming to my aid last night after I seriously thought I had screwed up my truck.

I know he can explain the technical nuances of what happened in much greater detail, but I will briefly describe why I really shouldn't be tuning my truck unsupervised. I was attempting to re-load my stock tune, which I thought I had successfully done. Followed the procedures, idled for 10 minutes, then went on a quick test drive around the block. About halfway through the test drive, the truck stalled and would not restart (would only crank, not turn over). Messages on my dash told me to visit my dealer for a brake override and to check my stability control. Not really knowing what happened, I attempted use VFT in a vain effort to go back to my previously installed tune in the hopes that would solve my dilemma. VFT would not communicate with the ECU, which then led me to reach out to @Shellshock in hopes that he could point me in the right direction. He graciously spent damn near 90 minutes walking me through my mistakes (they were plenty!) and got me back up and running. He was able to troubleshoot that I had idiotically loaded an incorrect file and blew my INJ fuse, which caused the truck to stall and prevented ECU communication with VFT. Once I swapped out the INJ fuse, VFT successfully communicated with the ECU allowing me to load the correct file.

Can't thank him enough! He went out of his way to walk me through what I did wrong, and really saved my ass. All this while he was 5 hours ahead of me (near midnight for him).

Hopefully, he can explain the technical details better in here so that folks know what to do should they make a boneheaded move like I did.

 

If I owned the old Ovtune dongle with version 1.0 and then purchase the Vftuner, do I have access to 2.0+ or do I have to shell out more money?

 

Dongle folks get a free full License upgrade to vF. You just need to coordinate with vF Tuner. It will be required that you ship in your dongle to get the free upgrade.

You'll get a Full License to the vF software and a Tune Pack for the ECU ID that you want. Current right now is 04B04 AT and 04B14 MT for the 2017s.

 

Anyone know if upgrading to windows 11 will create a problem with vf tuner?

also does anyone know how l(like hack)to get the original flash tool that’s registered to one particular computer onto a new computer?

 

I've been using Win11 Beta for a couple months now. With the updates coming pretty frequently, you want to be sure to Pause the updates while flashing. Otherwise, it is a pretty nice OS.