Any tuner with the ability to modify text on the dispaly?

So....put the 17 in beast mode today...huge grin on my face. Got me thinking, are there any tuners/programmers that can modify the text on the digital display. Would be really cool for it to say "Beast Mode" instead of "traction off"

 

@Jeff_5_7 is the only one I know of doing work with the display

 

You wont really find anyone talking about or working on this. I have seen no instance of any "tuner" caring much about the instrument cluster/display. The cluster is its own isolated ECU on the network. Most turners only care about the Engine Control ECU. I know HP tuners, Orange Virus Tuning, ect have cracked the Engine ECU and have the abilty to read, change, and reflash data but it took them all years to get to where they are now. The Toyota ECUs have multiple layers of security. You need one coded security phrase to open access to the ECU to read the data, then you need a separate authorization code to reflash/upload new programming to the ECU. The only way people figured this out was disecting CUW update files in Techstream.

As far as I know nobody has actually pulled data from the factory microcontroller in the instrument cluster. I have looked into it but the security requirements would make it very difficult to read and change any of the factory code. Not to mention the hours and hours it would take to find out where items you want to change are "stored" in the code.

I am however in the process of mapping the data signals from the microcontroller to the LCD display. Just started this last week, actually still waiting on some parts in the mail. But if I can figure out how the "brain" of the cluster controls/feeds data to the factory LCD, then I can "intercept" these messages, modify them and then send them to the display.

The main goals of this idea are to update the background image on the factory display. The blue is ugly and outdated looking. I want to replace it will a newer more modern image. Additionally, adding a display page for Digital Speed, Transmission Temp and a few other parameters would be something most would like.

I mention all of this because if I do get this working one option could be to relabel text notifications based on button presses/input. The "brain" of the cluster sees you push the Traction Control off button, in turn is displays the pop up message "Traction Control Off". If I had these signals mapped I believe it would be possible to display any text value you wanted on the trigger of the Traction Control button press.

This working and being customizable is probably still months away, if even doable. I literally just thought of the idea and ordered parts last week to try and control the factory lcd display.

 

You carry the hope of all mankind on your back.

 

Wonder if any of that would allow you to display current tire pressue...my wifes 2012 camry can, Id think a 2017 tundra would have that feature especially when people adjust pressure so much when off roading. If your able to crack the display stuff let me know, sounds cool

 

Ehhh harder to do in the 2017 and older Tundra. The TPMS Ecu reads the data from the wheel sensors and just uses that data to control the orange warning indicator. You can "ask" the ECU for the tire pressure values and it will give them to you in a code but that data is on the LIN network. There is no inflow of LIN data to the instrument cluster.

The mastero radio interface people have figured this out. They tap into the LIN at the OBD2 connector, read the Tire pressures and then disapply them on aftermarket headunits.

 

Sounds super complicated. Since you seem to know a bunch of this stuff do you know anything about programers. I know there is a couple floating around with pre-loaded stuff but is there anything for the tundras like hpturners has with GMs? Something that you can do your own tunes without relying on a prebuilt package that may or may not fit your specific circumstances? Ive checked the forums and the most that comes up is the ones that pretty much just do prebuilt stuff

 

Yes HPTuners supports Toyotas and the 5.7. If you read above I mentioned they are one of the only ones to “crack” the Toyota security on the engine ecu and modify if.

Basically anyone with a serious/custom tune is using Hp Tuners. It’s several hundred dollars but opens up almost every parameter in the engine ECU.

The supercharger companies found a way to do it also. They are flashing supercharger tunes in. Harrop, Whipple, Magneson ect. Toyota was the first to do this with the factory TRD supercharger flash. They might just be copying the Toyota file, not sure.


Of course you can get generic OBD chips from companies like bully dog but they really don’t help much I hear.

HPTuners is the way to go if you are any kinda of serious about tuning.

 

Awsome. Looks like its time for me to do some research and learn a new skill