Question about Requesting Calibration FIle from Magnuson

When going through the process of requesting the calibration file from Magnuson, there is some highlighted text in the instruction saying, It critical that the vehicle is flashed with the most current stock calibration file from Toyota"

Why does this matter, or does it really actually matter?

In my case, I purchased a Magnusson Kit through a local shop who also handled the installation. During the installation, I had a conversation with them mentioning that at some point, I would seek a custom tune, knowing the Magnuson Calibration was not neccessarily optimized, but rather just a conservative and safe version of calibration. The shop owner mentioned that for Tacoma and Tundra installations, he was partnered with a reputable tuner and that his customers had been very happy with their product. He quoted a price and I agreed, so he never went through the process of requesting the Magnuson Calibration since he would just load the tune I purchased.

After I got the truck, I was not happy with the throttle response of this tune as it was basiucally the same laggy OEM throttle mapping. So he put me in touch directly with the tuner and I purchased a "custom" tune where I could give feedback and get as many revisions as it took to get it right. After 6 months, some of my initial complaints about the tune were still not changed, so I have decided to seek another tuner.

The new tuner asked if I had the original Magnuson calibration file as known safe fall back if I ever had the need to do so. So I went back to the shop and asked for my Magnuson calibration. They are telling me they need my truck for a week to flash the OEM tune back in so they can start the process of requesting the calibration from Magnuson. This makes no sense to me. They should just provide me with the file they were supposed to request in the 1st place, as part of my original purchase.

So I have just decided to fill out the calibration forms myself and go direct to Magnuson. After reading through the instructions, I see again they want the truck to be on the latest stock calibration. Not sure why this is necessary if they are creating a canned tune with my Tune ID imbedded.

Any thoughts on why they are asking the truck to be flashed to stock before I request and install their stock calibration?

 

@reywcms

 

It shouldn’t matter whether or not you have the stock canned tune from Magnuson. Although I have a Whipple on my ‘13, the process is virtually the same. You simply want the original NA tune file from the Toyota repository (from the tuners software).

Whipple never provided a canned tune for me; I told them I already had an MPVI3 and didn’t need the RTD device, buts still asked pre-purchase if the initial calibration was provided. They said yes, but refused to send me a tune post purchase.

I had planned on getting a custom tune anyways, but was quite concerned about driving the vehicle home after the install without any tune. It was fine. I didn’t romp on it and was very easy on it for the 8 mile drive, especially since it was in the middle of a winter storm.

The tuner didn’t need the original canned tune from Magnuson - just the original ecu calibration from which they could build the new tune. So don’t worry about getting the one from Magnusson - you will toss it anyways. Again, you just want the original NA tune from Toyota.

You DO, however, want to have the latest ECU version from Toyota. In the event that your truck is flashed by the dealer for say, a recall, the ECU ID will change and both the customer tune and credits (money to the tune software provider to access your ECU) will be useless. You will need to purchase additional credits and pay to have a new tune built off of the new calibration.

As an example: I was worried that the dealer would flash my ECU with the original Toyota TRD tune when they installed the blower. If I already had a tune built for the vehicle based off of the original NA ECU calibration, or would have been useless. The TRD tune rewrites thr ID with a new Calibration number, so it would appear to the software that I was trying to write Tune A to a vehicle that needs Tune B, which could cause all sorts of issues including a bricked ECU.

I’m running in to this problem on my ‘21. I’m waiting for my blower to show up and was going to get the truck tuned NA while I waited. But the ECU ID has an update available. I asked the dealer to update it but they said ‘nope, it’s correct’. The tuner will update it for me via techstream, but I have to make the time and drive to do it. If I had them flash it now (without updating the ECU calibration) there’s a good chance the dealer will update my ECU at some point down the road since it’s still under warranty and I’d have to pay to have everything redone. As long as the ECU ID remains the same and the dealer does flash it, you can simply reflash with the custom tune. If the ECU ID changes with the dealer update, you are SOL.

P.S. - I may have interchanged some terminology, and I’m sure someone can clarify if I am in error. But the process is correct.

 

All they need is not the stock Maggy tune. They want the file from the truck. Then they tune off that etc @snivilous can go more in depth on why how or how but yes when going to any tuner or back to mag they’ll need the stock file of truck first. Who tuned it aftermarket? I pretty sure I can guess who and if it is who it is then they have various reps to handle the loading in not the actual file manipulation

 

I would just "read" the vehicle, HP Tuners will download a file, send them that.

Is the latest and greatest calibration for the truck preferred? Sure. But at the end of the day it doesn't really matter, the file HP Tuners pulls is the file they will modify and that can be flashed onto your truck.

 

Yeah, the new tuner does not need the maggy file. Just wants to make sure I have a safe tune if I ever need to flash back.

I'm just wondering why Magnuson cares about stock tune being on the truck. They don't even request a file. They are only asking for my VF Dongle ID and my Cal ID.

I think its all bullshit. I've been given so much misinformation from the shop who installed the blower. I really think they just don't want to have to go back to Magnuson 6 months after registering my dongle and blower and have to explain why they are just now asking for the Magnuson tune.

At the end of the day, I just want the Mag file as a matter of principle because I paid for the kit and that includes their file.

I'm not naming who I bought $2K worth of tunes from and was completely disappointed in the fact they couldn't fix a very obvious flaw in their tune after 6 tries. They watch these forums and then end up calling me and whining about how I'm soiling their name. I'm over it.

Someone on this forum once said something to the tune of...."find someone who seriously geeks out on tuning and finding the right setup for you" rather than dealing with a company who makes crazy claims how their tune makes unreal power and gets 22 MPG and cures cancer. Either way, I'm moving on and trying someone who doesn't make outlandish claims...

Once I'm sorted I'll definitely post up who I ended up working with. They have been recommended by multiple folks on here.

 

I had the 2650 installed recently. They do send you a dongle with an ID and they will provide you a tune for your specific install and yes you have to send them your stock and recent ecu file which they will work off it. The kit tech installer have to send them the serial for you SC kit and the VIN number, they will have to register it and then Magnuson will send your tech installer the specific tune for your kit they worked off your initial file. It takes a day or two just for that process as Magnuson is not very responsive. In my case they send the tune back to Magnuson for some adjustments. The process is a bit involved. At least that's what I understood from my Toyota tech.

 

Appreciate the info. I just submitted the 2nd calibration request form and it inly asks for VIN, Cal ID and Dongle ID. We'll see what they come back with.

Anyone know the process to flash the latest file from Toyota using VF Tuner? I think you just Flash Tune with no calibration file loaded in VF Tuner software.

 

^^^ This. Your installer should have the dongle and it belongs to you not them. It was packaged with and included with the SC when shipped. Magnuson wants the dongle number as it is necessary to register the device with VFT. You can download the VFT software and with the dongle flash tunes yourself. Stock oem ecu files are available in the VFT software. With the software and dongle you can determine what your ECU ID is. Magnuson's Tunes come up short when it comes to shifting logic and optimum power. If you are looking for a Tuner check with someone that does OTT - their Tunes are Carb Compliant and will pass any emissions testing you may have - if any.

Summary - get your dongle and all other hardware/software (registration and use instructions for VFT) back from your installer. Find a OTT Tuner. Also there is a VFT Tuner thread on TacomaWorld that has tons of helpful information about VFT.

I had a Magnuson SC on my Tacoma and did development/testing for another provider for their SC Tune. Using VFT can be a PIA but there are many users out there willing and able to help. @Mooseditty17

 

Sorry if I mislead or confused anyone. I have the dongle and VF Tuner software. I have flashed several revisions of the purchased tune, while working with the original tuner. I just want to have possession of the Magnuson base file simply because I should have received it from the installer.

I'm was only questioning why having the stock OEM calibration onboard was necessary for Magnuson to produce the calibration file. Getting conflicting information from different sources, some saying that they do not need my OEM calibration to create a new tune for me.

 

Well, I just received the Magnuson calibration directly from them and have to admit that it tool less than 1 day after sending in the 3 pieces of information they requested.

So far, my tuner has been spot on about what they needed to produce the file. All is good!

 

That's unusual but I guess is your file? I never asked for a physical copy of my tune file. I will just go back to the Toyota dealership if I need something and have them deal with it.

 

I wanted a copy of the Magnuson File, not the OEM Toyota file. My installer never requested or installed the Magnuson file...