How to Recover/Replace ECU Thread

https://www.g7computers.com/collect...repair-service/products/honda-computer-repair

 

Noiceee, I’ll send my original there for that price. Currently my ECU is going for 500-550 on ebay, there was a sold one for 180$ a month ago.

 

The handshake didn't work for me, I think because my truck pulls to much from the battery with the key on. Even with a battery charger on it the battery got down to 11v. I will try again tomorrow with a bigger charger.

 

@Ponderosa_Pine so I have the orange dongle that came with my SC 1900. I guess that one will work with techstream, assuming I have the 2.0 one. It has been unlocked by Magnuson also. I did find a TS software 17.30.011 and uploaded it to my PC. Now the only issue I have is it asks for a new key. The only thing I have found as far as getting a key is from a website called mhh auto. You apparently "donate" a 1 time fee of $30 and you give them your TS software ID and they send you a key. For how long this key will work isn't said on the site. The request for the 17.xx key is currently at 126 pages. The one for 18.xx is at 765 pages. Everyone that puts in their software ID gets a key posted to the site.
Anyone ever heard of this?

 

So does their software work regardless of if you have HPT, VFT, or their tuning?

 

Did the 17.x come with another folder with a shortcut type file in it? Ill find my links later tonight and write it up here. Essentially that shortcut will bypass the key as long as your dongle is plugged in to the computer. (And you don’t start the software from the actual techstream shortcut if that makes sense). I used the Ih8mud write up where the very nice gentleman created a windows xp virtual machine image you just fire up using oracle virtual machine or similar and has techstream 12.2 pre installed. I then installed 17.3 over that plus installed the tactrix open drivers and that worked really well.

I think what the person getting the fee for 30$ is doing is you send your softwares ID and they have a pirated lookup tool to see what that ids code is and send it back haha. So it’s “legit” but interesting.

Also if you find a techstream download larger than about 400-500mb it’s likely a bad idea to install. This is the reason the virtual machine is nice since you never install the pirated software on your main machine.

 

I tried to do this today but I couldnt get it to start without asking for the key, and when I used the key that they give you in the download it said it was expired.

 

No it did come with another folder. It looks to me like a legit TS software install. It is 257MB in size. I got it off OBDII365 website. Here's the folder form them.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JEPEqc_3LKIGsbmzsOCXNJch2U4o5xQO

 

Here the dongle that came with my SC. Hope it's the right one, so at least I can use it for something.

 

That’s what it seemed to me on the phone but I would think they’d need your stock calibration before hand

 

Mine looks exactly like that from D3 but whitish/clear in color

 

This is what I used for techstream:
Virtual machine image from here (Step 4, you only need step 1-3 if you need to install a virtual machine like Oracle VM VirtualBox)
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/how-to-techstream-in-5-minutes.1034923/

Then used techstream 17.3 found here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JEPEqc_3LKIGsbmzsOCXNJch2U4o5xQO

And used the Tactrix drivers found here (only relevant if using the VF "legacy" dongle):
https://www.tactrix.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=38&Itemid=61

With the virtual XP machine running, I then dragged the 17.3 install file and Techstream Patch 32bit.lnk to the virtual machine. I then installed 17.3 over the existing 12.2. I also dragged over/installed the tactrix drivers. With the tactrix or other dongle plugged in, the virtual machine should see it, however you want to make sure under the "devices" drop down its selected. Then select the patch shortcut, which should open techstream after running some checks and ask you what vehicle you are using it on. If the Tactrix/dongle is plugged into the vehicle when this is done it should auto default some information like year/make/model and vin.



Credit to this user for alot of this info (also this ih8mud thread had alot of good pointers):
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/how-to-techstream-in-5-minutes.1034923/page-56

 

That's just like mine and is a Orange Virus branded Tactrix 2.0, which is worth 150$ at least and is what the Amazon OBD2 techstream knockoff dongles are trying to impersonate.

https://www.tactrix.com/index.php?o...ategory_id=6&Itemid=53&redirected=1&Itemid=53

 

I just bought this guy for doing the tuning now and have been using this last week. It's nice as it auto adjusts the amps and you can point it at the cab to see whats happening. I noticed when doing the 30min handshake although my dash lights were not flashing, the amps from this unit went way up indicating something was going on with the ECUs/battery draining.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-...-with-100-Amp-Engine-Start-DXAEC100/321283942

 

Nice, we have a snap on unit that you can set it to 14v and it won't let the battery go below that. My fuel pump and intercooler pump kill my battery with the key on.

 

I got tired of pulling the fuses and put them on a switch. Controls all non essential accessories like fuel pump, intercooler afr and fuel pump gauges.

 

That's the way to go. My intercooler pump runs of the switchpros. Normally comes on with key on, but just push a button to turn it off if tuning or whatever.

 

@Ponderosa_Pine I did everything you posted. I had to figure some stuff out, but. I had to update to TS18.xx. Then when I open it though the patch, it try to communicate but gives me an Unable to connect to VIM. Any ideas?

 

@Ponderosa_Pine got it figured out. I had to open TS and choose the Tactrix Openport dongle from the drop down menu. Thank you for putting all this info up. I now have access to TS!!!!

 

What’s funny is I drove around a bit with the naturally aspirated oem tune from this junkyard ECU and it’s not bad. Not a daily driver but do need it weekly for moving trash cans 1 mile to put out, going to the dump and remodeling materials. Haven't/wont WOT of course. I got the original magnuson OV tune file as well as an option. Thinking I will get my original ECU unbricked then attempt another tuning session, this time with a 30amp variable battery tender.

 

Do you run the VM disconnected from the internet? I thought I saw somewhere you needed to do that to keep techstream from locking out, but then I get a bunch of "offline mode" popups and it limits what the software can do.

 

I didn’t in my case, I do get the offline mode popups as well. So far haven’t encountered a situation where techstream was limiting what I needed but there could be something for sure. I think techs are using techstream to update calibrations for recent TSBs, which the offline version can’t do (from my understanding).

 

So, the truck is running but the tune won't down load, it says the tune was complete in HP, but I can tell it's not. VCM scanner won't show the vin, just ???????????????? I bought more credits on HP but still no go.

 

Did you change the vin in the new ECU?

 

Nope.

 

I'm not sure I can do that with the HP tuner.

 

There is a VIN change tool in HP tuners but it doesn’t seem to work with our Tundras. I had to use techstream to update the VIN and was very quick (once techstream was setup). I believe HP tuners tools reads the main ECUs VIN (and may compare to other on board ecus vins which could be resulting in why it’s confused with the discrepancy).

 

I hit the read vin tab on the VCM scanner, it's now send me a stock vin tune.

 

I have a new tune but HP says I don't have a license. I have 4 credits available, but the vin is in a ???????????

 

Bought another ECU for my truck as backup, found on ebay for 190$. Any more than that then the company G7 (ECU unbricking) makes sense. It looks like almost every Tundra ECU can be had for about 150$ if you wait on ebay long enough. Now back to tuning .