VF Tuner ECU/TCU Tuning for the GX550

[VF Tuner]

You can and should expect better for an application/product that, if done incorrectly, can brick your $80,000 vehicle.

Our software has built-in brick protection you can't break the car if for any reason the flash fails you just use the recovery tool and flash again straight the same way.

 

[VF Tuner]

I will make GX specific instructions but the process is like this
Step one install and register your software step 2 connect the can cable and read your ECU step 3 send us the readout file and will return your email with the tunes
Step four flash whichever tune you want to the vehicle

That's pretty much the entire process

 

[RickBullotta]

I will make GX specific instructions but the process is like this
Step one install and register your software step 2 connect the can cable and read your ECU step 3 send us the readout file and will return your email with the tunes
Step four flash whichever tune you want to the vehicle

That's pretty much the entire process

Right - but I'd include the "what if X happens" for troubleshooting, rollback, reinstall. I'm definitely considering a tune BTW. Want to wait for a bit more real world feedback. Thanks for offering it!

 

[VF Tuner]

Right - but I'd include the "what if X happens" for troubleshooting, rollback, reinstall. I'm definitely considering a tune BTW. Want to wait for a bit more real world feedback. Thanks for offering it!

If something happens that is out of the ordinary you can simply email us and we'll troubleshoot it or walk it through it with you we have somebody on standby and we answer emails almost any hour of the day even including 2:00 a.m. in the morning

Not to mention for most troubleshooting steps there's guides on our website.

Please do not think that you will be stranded / dead car / dead ECU / etc.

 

[Mainelexus]

I will make GX specific instructions but the process is like this
Step one install and register your software step 2 connect the can cable and read your ECU step 3 send us the readout file and will return your email with the tunes
Step four flash whichever tune you want to the vehicle

That's pretty much the entire process

But you can read your ecu without the can cable hooked up, right through the regular port?

 

[VF Tuner]

But you can read your ecu without the can cable hooked up, right through the regular port?

No, the CAN Connect cable is required for reading/writing.

Identifying the ECU info (ID/VIN/etc) and Datalogging can be done through the stock port.

Any form of SECURITY unlocking (to enter diagnostics mode for reading / writing / etc) through the stock port will flag it. That is why we use the CAN connect to bypass.

 

[Bluegill]

These guys (VFT) do indeed respond to emails 7 days a week. They won’t leave you stranded.

 

[Mainelexus]

No, the CAN Connect cable is required for reading/writing.

Identifying the ECU info (ID/VIN/etc) and Datalogging can be done through the stock port.

Any form of SECURITY unlocking (to enter diagnostics mode for reading / writing / etc) through the stock port will flag it. That is why we use the CAN connect to bypass.

Continuing with VFT's 2-part email, still on part 1:
This ECU can be read. Please redo the ECU Identification process, and then the "ECU Read" button should be available.

After the read process, there will be a window that will pop-up asking you to name the file and save to a folder in your computer of your choosing.

Save the file. This will be your stock file. You can flash this in case you need to go back to stock in the future for any reason. My ECU read went on for about 10 minutes with the progress bar a bit past half-way, then I received an error code "Unable to receive ECU Block!" and everything froze up. After another 12 minutes with no change on the progress bar the vehicle shut down to conserve the battery and I disconnected the USB cable and re-booted the VFT software and tried again. I got the same error message immediately.

I emailed VFT and they had me use the DIAGNOSTICS TAB in the program and click the "dtc / clear dtc all modules" button under Toyota gen4 options. Worked perfectly and cleared all codes. VFT further informed me that since your ECU is an already supported ECU you do not have to read it you can flash the tunes. In other words, I could go straight to part 2 of the 2-part email and start flashing. Then why did their instructions tell me to start with Part 1?

Do we need to read/save the original file or not?

 

[VF Tuner]

Continuing with VFT's 2-part email, still on part 1:
This ECU can be read. Please redo the ECU Identification process, and then the "ECU Read" button should be available.

After the read process, there will be a window that will pop-up asking you to name the file and save to a folder in your computer of your choosing.

Save the file. This will be your stock file. You can flash this in case you need to go back to stock in the future for any reason. My ECU read went on for about 10 minutes with the progress bar a bit past half-way, then I received an error code "Unable to receive ECU Block!" and everything froze up. After another 12 minutes with no change on the progress bar the vehicle shut down to conserve the battery and I disconnected the USB cable and re-booted the VFT software and tried again. I got the same error message immediately.

I emailed VFT and they had me use the DIAGNOSTICS TAB in the program and click the "dtc / clear dtc all modules" button under Toyota gen4 options. Worked perfectly and cleared all codes. VFT further informed me that since your ECU is an already supported ECU you do not have to read it you can flash the tunes. In other words, I could go straight to part 2 of the 2-part email and start flashing. Then why did their instructions tell me to start with Part 1?

Do we need to read/save the original file or not?

This is probably because the instructions / email with the break down process is not specific only to the GX but to other vehicles where this is required to do.
We will make revised simpler instructions, because currently the GX550 only has 2 ECU versions in existence so far.. unlike the Tundra and Tacoma which have 50+. Our instructions are generalized due to those trucks.

 

[vraa]

Do we need to read/save the original file or not?

Yes so you can go back to stock

 

[Mainelexus]

I asked because BIll was told not to bother when his system crashed trying to read then save the ecu file. He was told it didn't need to be done. I would be happy skipping that step if it isn't required, especially if it can crash, like Bill's did. From the previous response it sounds as if it isn't really neede anyways.

 

[munkeeboi]

I would definitely have a copy of your stock read file. You only need to do it once

 

[Bluegill]

Yeah, I guess I don't have a copy of my stock ECU file.

But if there's only 2 stock ECU files, I can just flash the appropriate file back if I want to go back to stock.

 

[texastate]

All,

Read the whole thread.. not new to tuning but hopefully since i'm late to the party thing will be a little easier with the instruciones..... Back to even square 1.. What's the process to purchase... you pick tundra gen 2 v..xxxx ?? I don't see GX550 under the Lexus section on VF site....




EDIT::: nevermind i just used the search tool on the site.... FYI to newbs..