Ever Had a Code That Couldn't Be Read?

Did you pay for the Toyota dealership service call? If you did then the DTC should have been listed on the service invoice.

If you are interested in being self-reliant, then get Mini VCI.

 

how many miles on her? i would call the dealership back and demand the codes. auto zone (non toyota software) won't read all the codes.

 

For your safety, install the hacked Techstream on a spare laptop. If you don't have one, buy one or hit-up your friends in IT. Used XP laptop $50-$75 on craigslist. Search Newegg or TigerDirect for used/off-lease laptops too.

People who have installed this on their everyday laptop report their anti-virus program going crazy. Thus the importance of a spare laptop that will only be used for Toyota diagnosis, and never used to log onto the Internet with confidential info (email, banking, etc). Just assume the software has viruses, malware, etc, reporting your every keystroke back to a criminal organization. That being said, many here have been using the hacked Techstream and mini VCI w/o any issues.

Official Techstream hardware requirement: https://techinfo.toyota.com/techInfoPortal/appmanager/t3/ti;TISESSIONID=1Pz7JFQDvwpLLnphLzp0pDZLPyLDD4zmPWKN671Mv8rpgwBdCdVm!-926618849?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=ti_sys_req_page

Techstream ABCs & 123s: TundraTalk.net - Toyota Tundra Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Offical TechStream software thread( settings and such)

If installing on a Windows 64bit OS or a Mac, perform searches on the Internet to find your solution. Your question, and many questions you may have, will have been asked and answered before.

 

ExStudent, can you please amend that statement? Unless you are one of those people that lets facts get in the way of a good story. It makes the post sound as if the poster is a hysterical chicken little. As a person who has a background in IT and PC support, I personally find this amusing, but I imagine that there could be others reading who would be truly fearful. I am not saying your other advice (use a stand alone PC with no network functionality) is not sensible, but just keep the scaremongering in check. And at least factual. Like I said I had to laugh, but after reading this statement three times in quick succession, I felt compelled to challenge it.

The truth is that there is one .exe file that some (some being a minority (3 out of 10)) virus checkers identify as having been reported as containing a virus. That file is a utility file associated with the cable, and nothing to do with techstream per se. That file is not necessary for the operation of Techstream, and no longer has any use except to verify the PC now talks to the cable, so if anyone is fearful of viruses, they can skip over the step that asks you to run the X-Horse update utility and check that you see all the fields populated with data, the one most often asked to check is the cable version number.

I had my set up installed well over a year before my virus checker (AVG) decided that file had a virus. I then ran an online aggregator virus checking service to find out only a minority of virus checkers reported it as a virus. Personally I think it is a false positive, but quarantined it anyway as I didn't need it day-to-day. To date, I have no virus symptoms on current PC image, so am not at all worried.

Otherwise good job and keep up the good work.

 

Only change would be this: People who have installed this on their everyday laptop report their anti-virus program going crazy during installation. Some of the warnings might be false positives', but why risk it on a laptop containing sensitive/valuable info and used for sensitive interactions (email, banking, online business transactions). Thus the recommendation to install on a spare laptop that doesn't contain sensitive info and won't be used for sensitive data. Obsolete laptops are readily available from Craigslist, NewEgg, and Tigerdirect for $50-$100.

Since you are in IT, you are aware that the hackers are ahead of the anti-virus/Security companies, as secuirty companies are reactive. Case in point: Randsome Ware. No Security company and Security System will be able to stop it, even with firewalls. It is just too profitable for the bad guys to walk away from, and easy for them to make better versions, to stay ahead. Even the FBI recommends that people/business just pay (Oct 2015). As you may know, a small hospital chain in Los Angeles recently revealed that they paid 40 Bit coins ($17,000 USD), to get their computers back. How many companies and individuals have paid, but never reported this to Law Enforcement? No one will ever no the true figure. McAfee believes the Randsome Ware attacks will increase in 2016 (Nov 2015 internal report).

To each their own. Easy enough for me to install the hacked copy of Techstream onto an obsolete laptop, that otherwise was going to an electronic waste recycler.

 

Devil is in the details/paperwork. Did you ask for proof? If so, you would have seen the battery as a NEW OEM battery from Toyota, a rebuilt/remanufactured battery from Dorman (or similar battery rebuilder), or a module replacement.

Universal/generic OBD-2 readers will be able to read most emission codes and then some. But they lack the programming to "cover all protocols from all car manufactures." Now you know.

 

You seem to be missing my point, it is the above sentence with which I have a problem.

I have read a lot of posts concerning the installation of MVCI, and there are no widespread reports of "anti-virus programs going crazy". It would seem you haven't actually installed MVCI, so all I am doing is asking you to modify your information so it is factual. Anti-virus programs are not going crazy.

All the rest of your post is is taking this thread off-topic, so I will not go into it here. If you don't want to change your information, fine. If you are not interested in the facts, fine also. But just because it is your impression and you keep repeating it, doesn't make it so.

 

You paid the dealer to diagnose the car and provide the codes not there opinion. Go back and demand the codes but its probably the Hybrid battery. You may want to join toyota.com/owners and enter your vin as the results may be posted on that site. Plus it will show every dealer repair event in the car's history. If you just bought the car you may see where the original owner brought the car to a dealer and the dealer found a soft hybrid battery and the car was traded in on the spot. Off to auction and a used car lot it goes. We see that alot here.

Autozone can't read the codes because they are Hybrid Codes and you need proprietary software to do that Toyota Techstream to be exact.
You can either get a mini or a VXDIAG. I have both and like the VXDIAG as its a breeze to install just won't work on W7.
XP only. Basically plug and play just need to change one line in the registry.

New Vxdiag VCX Nano for Toyota Tis Techstream Diagnostic Tool V10 10 018 | eBay

Btw, your car is probably an excellent candidate for Hybrid Battery charger. There about $350 and work very well. Many posts on this site about it.

 

I do have mini VCI installed. You missed this from #8 above: "To each their own. Easy enough for me to install the hacked copy of Techstream onto an obsolete laptop, that otherwise was going to an electronic waste recycler."

Anti-virus program going crazy is subjective to the individual and the anti-virus program itself. An individual may be alarmed with the warnings popping-up during install. As you may know, anti-virus programs are different; some are more conservative than others.

Obviously we won't be in agreement over this. You will live your life, I will live mine, and we will both live happily every after.

Food for thought though. Neither of us are programmers. Neither of us have looked at the codes for the countless number of hacked Techstream floating in cyberspace. There may very well be a functioning Techstream that has malicious codes, that an anti-virus program can't detect. You and others can believe I am paranoid, thats fine. Anyone can do what they want to do or don't want to do. I choose to use the hacked version of Techstream on an obsolete laptop that is only used of Prius diagnosis.

 

Demand a refund like Ed said in post #11. If you used your credit card, dispute the charge as services were not rendered.

You probably paid $99+ to be told you will need a new battery. OK, what is their proof? No codes, no objective proof. The ding dong tech forgot to copy/paste the codes into the final statement, which is his fault.

Toyota won't cover warranty work unless there are codes or visible evidence (ie water pump leaking). So yeah, get your money back.

 

I didn't miss it, but it came across as "I haven't installed MVCI myself, but it would be easy enough for me to install the ...", hence my comment. I guess that's the risk you take when you don't use complete sentences.

Actually, I am a programmer, but you are right, I haven't looked through the countless number of copies of Techstream that are floating around. (Incidentally, Techstream does not need to be hacked, you can download it from the Toyota website and use it after updating an INI file). If someone was to get significant number of hits on any of the actual Techstream file, I would bin it and seek out a new copy from a trusted site. Incidentally, how many virus hits did you get on your install?

Yes, I think you are being paranoid and I don't have an issue with that, you can do personally what you like. I just don't think it is helpful to spread the paranoia.

I certainly agree that for safety's sake the Mini VCI cable and Techstream software should be installed on a standalone laptop that has no network connectivity and have never disputed this or said otherwise. It is very good advice.

Enough said.

 

Zero warnings as the obsolete laptop (XP 32bit) has no anti-virus program installed. No need for antivirus as the laptop is only used a giant OBD2 reader for the Prius; besides the antivirus program would make this laptop even slower.

 

The solution is to replace the traction battery.

 

Looks like a nice piece of kit and another alternative to the MVCI.

P3000 = HV Battery Malfunction
P0A80 = Replace Hybrid Battery Pack

Definitely problems in the HV battery area. Do you have a feeling for which direction you will go to tackle this?