I bought my 2010 Tacoma TRD Sport four door truck new from the dealer just under three years ago. I have about 30k miles on the odometer. I am 50+ years old and do not 4 wheel the vehicle. So I think it's been driven pretty mildly. Maintenance to date has consisted of regular oil changes, a radiator flush and I added a KN air filter. A brake fluid flush is on my radar for next spring.
Despite many mailings from Toyota, I have not done the accelerator factory recall. I am considering taking it in to the dealer for part of the recall work. The ECU reprogramming and the mat replacement but not the pedal cutting.
I would also like them to look at the transmission as I have never liked the way it shifted between first and second gear.
Questions:
Any other maintenance items I should be considering at this time?
What do you think of my plan for the recall work?
Do you think the reprogramming of the ECU will also fix the transmission shifting issue?
Any advice or suggestions are appreciated - Thanks.
Maintenance...sounds like you're staying on top of it. Only other things on the list would be spark plugs (every 30K on the V6) and lube the zerks on the drive shaft. Some will tell you to go ahead and change out the Diff and T-Case fluids.
As for the recall work, just let them cut the pedal. You won't notice it (and it'll be like they are in the newer trucks). The ECU reflash may very well fix your shifting issue, so I'd wait and see until after the recall work is completed before bringing it up.
I have an '05 4x4 and held off having the pedal and ECU reflash done for several reasons. I just had both those and the clockspring recall done last month. I wish now I had done the ECU recall when it first came out.
After the recall was done, the truck runs and shifts SO MUCH BETTER than before. The shifting is much smoother and hardly noticible unless you really honk down on it. You mentioned the first to second gear shifting...mine now is much smoother in that regard. The acceleration is much more responsive and "peppier".
As for the pedal cut-off, you won't notice it. After I picked up my truck and drove it home, some 20 miles, I had to get out and look at it to see if they really cut it. I could NOT tell any difference (I have small feet, size 9).
Go ahead and have it done. You won't regret it. It took about an hour for the ECU and pedal and another hour for the clockspring (did the two recalls in two trips to dealer).
I can only echo what's already been said.... the reflash helped my shifting (and greatly improved cruise control operation), and you won't notice the shorter pedal. You didn't say which mats you have now.... I *think* they only replace the older style Toyota All-Weather mats, and most folks don't like the new, thinner replacements, so if you want to keep your old ones, remove them prior to going to the dealer.
When I changed my gearbox fluids (just past 30K), the front diff & t-case fluid looked good but the rear diff looked nasty. Based on that, I would at least change the rear diff fluid. Loosen the fill plug before removing the drain plug.
I just had the pedal chop/ reflash recall and the spiral cable recall done on my '06 this past monday. I held out before as I really didn't want the pedal cut, but when the airbag light came on and code 51 came up, I decided I wanted the spiral cable replaced and reflash done for free more than I didn't want the chopped pedal. I drove 15 minutes home before I remembered to look at the pedal, didn't notice any change with my foot. It doesn't look awefull either, and really, how often do you look at your pedal?
I've also noticed that it runs much smoother, especially at idle, though I have a 6M so shifting hasn't changed noticably. It seems to start easier too, where sometimes a bit of an extended crank was needed. I'm hoping for a wee bit more fuel milage from the reflash too, dream on, right?
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Thanks for the info gents - I will go ahead and GIT 'ER DONE!
(I've seen Larry live - this is my kind of forum )
Based on you advice my new plan is to simply remove my existing floor mats since the new ones are thin, and just take the truck in for the recall.
I did speak to a service rep at the dealership yesterday and I have one concern that I hope you can confirm. He did not know anything about the ECU reflash as part of the recall process. He only mentioned the mats and the pedal cut. I asked and he said he was not aware of this as part of the process but he admitted that he was new to the dealership.
The ECU reflash is a standard part of the recall procedure - correct?
I'd also be concerned if the service rep wasn't aware of the ECU reflash. The entire procedure for the recall is thoroughly documented, and the reflash is definitely part of the instructions. Toyota even gave every dealer a set of metal templates to use to cut the pedal, so the whole thing is all planned out. It's not like "cut off 1/2 an inch" - there is an exact template for each car model to guide them.
The recall originally happened in 2010. Maybe the service rep you talked to is new and wasn't at a Toyota dealer then?
As long as they follow the instructions, they'll be fine. When they flash the ECU, they're supposed to put a sticker on the hood that says "Toyota Motor Corporation Authorized Modifications" with some code numbers for the ECU and the program version ("calibration"). I believe it should also indicate why it was changed - "SSC 90L", for Special Service Campaign (Toyota-speak for Recall) # 90L.
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2013 Highlander Limited
2009 Tacoma DC SB TRD Sport 4x4
Retired: 2000 Tacoma Xtra Cab V6 TRD Off Road 4x4
The ECU reflash is a standard part of the recall procedure - correct?
As toto said, yes it's part of the recall. The reflash programs in the brake override function. If you need a pic of what that is, let me know and I'll post it.
I concur with all the guys above...the ECU reflash IS part of the recall and IS CLEARLY documented in the paperwork. Don't let the service guy B.S. you.
When I took mine in, the dealer reflash computer was down and they didn't want to risk a bad reflash with the comp acting up, so I went back a couple of days later and had the reflash done (successfully).
I'd also be concerned if the service rep wasn't aware of the ECU reflash. The entire procedure for the recall is thoroughly documented, and the reflash is definitely part of the instructions. Toyota even gave every dealer a set of metal templates to use to cut the pedal, so the whole thing is all planned out. It's not like "cut off 1/2 an inch" - there is an exact template for each car model to guide them.
The recall originally happened in 2010. Maybe the service rep you talked to is new and wasn't at a Toyota dealer then?
As long as they follow the instructions, they'll be fine. When they flash the ECU, they're supposed to put a sticker on the hood that says "Toyota Motor Corporation Authorized Modifications" with some code numbers for the ECU and the program version ("calibration"). I believe it should also indicate why it was changed - "SSC 90L", for Special Service Campaign (Toyota-speak for Recall) # 90L.
Interesting...I'll have to go look under my hood and see if they "stickered" me. If they didn't, it'll still be in their computer database.
Based on the suggestions here I got the work done at the local dealership. Fitzgerald Toytoa in Gaithersburg MD. Pleased to say they did it in less than two hours. No sticker under the hood but I am sure they re-flashed the ECU since the transmission shifting is much improved.
I did keep my old floormats. Thanks again for the advice.
Based on the suggestions here I got the work done at the local dealership. Fitzgerald Toytoa in Gaithersburg MD. Pleased to say they did it in less than two hours. No sticker under the hood but I am sure they re-flashed the ECU since the transmission shifting is much improved.
I did keep my old floormats. Thanks again for the advice.
Glad it worked for you. I live in a really hilly area and have noticed MUCH better performance, particularly the shifting, in the hills. Sometimes I don't even feel the truck shift, can only tell by the tach.
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