Reset Flex Fuel Alcohol/Ethanol Percentage Level with Bidirectional Scan Tool

Does that matter for which scanner I have? I have the Creader elite this one.

$159 2025 LAUNCH Creader Elite OBD2 Scanner for Toyota Lexus, Full System Bi-Directional Diagnostic Scan Tool, All Reset Service Code Reader, Battery Registration,ECU Coding, AUTO VIN,Lifetime Fr-ee Update

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CDPKN3X4

 

Which scanner you use makes no difference as long as it can perform the reset.

 

OK thanks. I’ll let my gauge get down to about 3/4 I’ll do the reset and then fill up the remaining of the tank with new regular 87. Then I should be good? I’m new to tundras and especially flex fuel trucks lol sorry for all the questions

 

What scanner did you use?

 

Is “learning” the same as reset?

 

Yes

 

did you reset/relearn? Add gas, then just drive normal. Then check it again later for the alcohol %?

 

All I have to do is crank my truck to move the gauge.

 

On mine, there a special function option then select Fuel Density value reset (But just turn the key to on and not start the engine). Try that to see if it reset

 

I missed the official process. I reset, drove 2 miles, got gas, and then drove. Truck still runs much better but I am planning to run the reset again when I have some gallons of gas in a jug or I'll just take my scanner with me to the pump since it doesn't take long to run.

 

Same one you posted you have

 

is that the Creader elite scanner?

 

QUOTE="Hbcon20, post: 3846949, member: 130090"]is that the Creader elite scanner?[/QUOTE]

Yup

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2045967796...QxJ7RxkQAG&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

Yup

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2045967796...QxJ7RxkQAG&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY[/QUOTE]
Maybe mines got that way to reset too. Thanks!

 

Great post here. I was having this same issue with my 2015 Tundra that now has almost 200K miles. The dealership gave me the same spiel and were quoting me $1688.75 to perform TSB0166-19, reprogram ecm, replace fuel pump and perform fuel alcohol value relearn. I asked them if they could just perform the fuel alcohol relearn and skip the other stuff and they said no and wouldn't budge on that (probably cos it wouldn't make them any money).

Anyways, I found the Launch X431 2025 Launch reader Elite OBD2 Scanner for Toyota Lexus on Amazon for $130 (is back to full price of 170 now). I ran the updates when I received the tool and then was able to read the Alcohol Fuel Density Level that was also 85% on mine (I had also seen this at the dealership). I followed the same steps in this post to then perform the relearn and my truck started right up, drove it around for a few miles (its currently 5 degrees in Kansas City - very cold) and I rechecked the levels and still at 0% and my truck is running like a chump!!!

Thanks again for this post that helped. I'm happy with the results.

 

Heck yeah

 

Hey quick question. I got the big Launch X431 to fix this issue a few months ago, and I hated that it had a one year subscription that would have to be renewed to keep using it, so I went ahead and returned it on Amazon. Well the issue has come back and I want to try this Creader Elite, does it also have a subscription that will expire or is it something I could leave in my truck for years and pull it out if I ever run into this issue again?

 

According to the description on Amazon, it's free lifetime wi-fi updates for the Toyota or Lexus vehicles, but also can be used on other brands when you download the other vehicle brands and that download is for one year free, after which there appears to be a subscription price. But if using only the Toyota/Lexus functions it's free for life. (but you know how that sometimes goes.....)

 

Can the scanner be used to check other vehicles check engine lights? My wife’s got a 2011 Honda Pilot.

 

Don't buy the Toyota/Lexus one then

Either go universal or buy 2 (one for Toyota/Lexus and the other for Honda)

 

I had to buy the Toyota specific one to reset my alcohol density. So I was just wondering if it could read other car obd2 codes. Thanks for the advice.

 

Sadly, I don't think it will work for her Honda but I'm by no means 100%. Just based on how this one is listed for Toyota/Lexus only and their other ones were for specific manufacturers makes me think they only work for the ones they have listed.

 

I have had three flex Toyotas now and have never had this problem. I still bought the scanner just in case.

 

Another success story with the
LAUNCH Creader Elite Bi-Directional OBD2 Scanner for Toyota Lexus, 2025 Full System Diagnostic Scan Tool, All Reset Service Code Reader, ECU Coding, Battery Registration,AUTO VIN,Lifetime Fr-ee Update

$169 LAUNCH Creader Elite Bi-Directional OBD2 Scanner for Toyota Lexus, 2025 Full System Diagnostic Scan Tool, All Reset Service Code Reader, ECU Coding, Battery Registration,AUTO VIN,Lifetime Fr-ee Update

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D176ZCXQ
Had the TSB and a fuel pump replacement 3 years ago. Started having the slow starts last winter. Bought the tool and reset last week following all the advice in this thread.
This week freezing temps, no issues. Problem solved. Great thread!

 

The Launch Elite will do global obd2 like any other basic scanner and will pull global obd2 codes from the Honda.

 

Finally got around to running the procedure. Alcohol at 0% now.

Thank you, everyone.

 

Ok, apparently I'm pretty dense. I created an account just so I could ask a question. I can't get this to work. I have a 2012 FF sequoia. Ordered the tool c reader elite T, did all of the updates, followed the directions about how to get to the alcohol content reset. The problem I'm having is after that. I drove to the gas pump, with the key on did the reset and it said compl, left the key on while I filled up with gas, I think I messed up when I got back in the car I turned the ignition switch of and back on. After that it said incompl so I just unplugged it. I then drove for about 15 minutes and checked the density when I got home and it was still at 75%. I read through this entire post and didn't see explicit instructions on how to do this part of the procedure. Should I leave the key on the whole time? Turn it off and then back on? Leave the scanner plugged in the whole time? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

17 Pro 38gal/flex was down for the last few months while trying to find a fuel pump. 2000 plus OEM fuel pumps are backordered at the moment through Toyota, according to Joseph Toyota in Cincy.

My truck was a crank/no start after a few months of hard starts. We were having some very cold temps here, and I wasn't aware of the flex fuel issues with these trucks until I had the crank/no start, so I figured it was just cold temp related until it wouldn't start at all. I figured the fuel pump was dead, so I'd been trying to find one at a good price. Didn't need the truck repaired in a hurry, so I let it sit, unable to start.....until

I figured I'd go ahead and buy my own OBD2 scanner and give it a go, since the dealerships wanted around $500-600 to do the fuel density reset/ecm flash. I thought I'd buy a scanner and do it myself, especially after reading how the issue eventually pops back up later after the reset. I bought a TOPDON Phoenix Nano on Amazon to do the fuel density reset, and my truck started right up. No hesitation, no rough idle...started like it was new, and feels like it runs a little better on the road with slightly increased fuel economy(went from 13ish to just under 15). When the Nano came in, I charged it and ran the updates, then took it out to the truck to start the procedure. All of that took about 30 minutes. Very easy to do.

Thanks to everyone on here for all the info about this issue... it helped me tremendously!

Cheers!

 

thanks @lowercaseg for starting this thread and sharing!

i own a 2017 SR5 FFV and was curious what my alcohol density was (i don't run E85 ethanol personally).

i purchased a 2025 LAUNCH Creader Elite off eBay the other week. all in all, it's decent although updating firmware is a bit wonky.

one thing i noticed is it shows my vehicle as a TRD Pro when using the VIN auto-detect:


my truck is NOT a TRD Pro. anyone else notice this? not sure if it really matters but figured i'd ask here.

thanks again for all the useful info everyone's provided in this thread

 

Just got home from being out of town for work... I am 99% sure I need to address this now.

Anyone in Gainesville/Trenton/Newberry or Pinellas County that has one and can help a member out? I will most likely order the elite if not so I can do this, but hoping to save a couple bucks.

Lastly, there is an in town shade tree mech I may swing by and bring a gas can.