Can we do a software update after EGR cleaning job with TechStream

At what time in the video does he say this? His condescending tone and misinformation drives me nuts, would like to avoid watching more than necessary.

I'd suspect it might only be necessary IF you're replacing the EGR valve, with one having newer part number, ie: it's revised.

My 2 cents: if you're just cleaning stuff and putting it back together, you've restored it to as-new, and there would be no need to update any programming. That's the route I took, no issues.

 

There are a couple different TSBs out, one for an EGR issue, and one for an intake manifold issue, and they both end with a recommendation for updating the ECM, to the same updated firmware version.

If you were following the EGR TSB, you'd be updating to that firmware version with a new EGR and the old manifold. If you were following the manifold TSB, you'd be updating to that same firmware version, with a new manifold, and old EGR valve.

From that, I'd infer that the updated ECM firmware contains a few general improvements or bug fixes, and nothing that actually depends on whether you have the new manifold or the new valve.

I typically go to the dealer when I would like firmware updated. They're just using Techstream, the same as I could, but they are using the $500 Toyota-supported dongle, where I'm using a cheaper one, and if I'm paying them for the update and something goes wrong in the middle and bricks the ECM, they get to take care of it. The charge is generally about an hour at their shop rate, and that feels fair for letting them take the risks.

If you do still want to attempt it yourself, you should get familiar with all of the precautions they are trained to take to minimize the chance of bricking the car. You can read this service bulletin and this old post for more on that.

There may be a more recent version superseding that bulletin. They keep releasing new ones with longer lists of precautions to take. (That, in itself, might say something worth hearing.)

 

I was wondering about updates too. When I got my car the 13 was like 2 years ago it looked like it had been serviced recently and we just started driving it and then when I bought the dealer computer from the service department the Panasonic thingy and the big file from text stream or from Toyota that was updates way up through 21. I connect my car to that the 13 and it keeps telling me I need various and sundry ECU updates but my ECU all of them have the updates that adhere to the numbers of the current and most recent updates for all the ECUs that's on my Panasonic from the dealer but every time I use text dream it always tells me that there are new updates or there are updates I cannot connect to the internet with this Panasonic toughbook because I don't have a dealer login so I'm not online with Toyota when I'm being told this they just flash in red in some screen while I'm looking at my car The Gen 2 does not do this.

 

As an aside, while I would be reluctant to use Techstream and my own cheap dongle to try to do an update, it is a perfectly good way to find out what current firmware versions your car has. You'll see them all in the "calibration ID" column of your Health Check results, and you can compare those to the versions that you find in service bulletins and recalls.

That's also an easy way to check that the dealer really applied the update you asked them to, when you get the car back.

 

Hey Mendel, I ended up with a brand new (2010 - 2015) EGR valve on my parts rack that was bought from a Toyota dealer a couple years ago. Do you think I'll run into any problems swapping it out at some point?

Every time I've read on PriusChat that a new part replacement part requires reprogramming I've found those claims to be false. You think that will also be the same with an EGR valve?

 

I’ll defer to Chapman, no clue. Apparently there’s an software revision regardless.

just my hunch: especially if it’s the same part no, can’t do any harm; all you’ve done is cleaned components.

 

My guess is the software update actually controls the opening and closing of the EGR Valve more efficiently and properly so it's not open at low speeds and idle anymore (which as you know, subsequently floods the intake with hot vapor and gasses). Interesting if it works, but I've seen some 2015+ cars in the shop still with nasty gunked up parts even after this supposed "updated software" from the dealer.

 

2015’s also had the latest EGR valve and intake manifold versions if I’m not mistaken. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men…

 

Does that mean the Gen3 2015 engines are just as reliable as Gen4 engines that came out in 2016?

 

The TS-B resolves the issue of a sticking/stuck EGR valve. It replaces it with a redesigned valve that is less likely to stick, plus revised operation also to decrease the likelihood of the new valve sticking.

(This is per verbiage on the T-SB, to my understanding. Unfortunately I’ve misplaced my copy a long time ago).

I currently have the programming with the old/original valve. So far so good…

 

No. The EGR system is largely unchanged. It's not clear what the intake manifold and EGR valve revsions were intended to do; I don't think Toyota has divulged their motivation.

 

No it does not mean that. And no they are not. They still had plenty of head gasket issues in 2015's. Gen 3 Prius V's from 2016-2017 however have LESS issues and LESS head gasket issues from my experience.

 

Our buddy "The Car Care Nut" swears this is Gospel...(EGR reprogram and replacement). I think it's more likely the upgraded valve more than the reflash. I have been running an aftermarket Chinese EGR valve on my car for months and a gauge to monitor it's flow...it's leaps and bounds above the original in terms of opening and closing at the right times.

 

The T-SBs each have a specific problem/issue that they are supposed to resolve. This could be a rough running engine along with code or without code(s). EGR valve was redesigned requiring wire loom to be adjusted to be able to reconnect. The intake manifold replacement was to help a difficult/no start condition under extreme cold temperature.

I admit they don’t detail the engineering aspect on how they accomplish this but the intention is noted….

 

You'll need to buy TS subscription hence EGR update can't be done using bootleg copy. Second, I will be very nervous using knockoff VCI cable, you can brick ECU. This is something more than just flip flop minor things like settings or data read mode - aka diagnostic.

 

Officially, you need a Techstream subscription to do anything with Techstream, and yet the bootleg copies disable the subscription checks and do (most of) the things. There seem to be different bootleg copies / versions where the subscription-check disabling is done different ways, and some of them have messed up some of the functionality.

So I wouldn't necessarily assume a particular bootleg copy can't do firmware flashing; that would be kind of an empirical question. An empirical question for someone more risk-tolerant than me, though.

But the point about the dongle is well taken. A Toyota dealer will be using their copy of Techstream with Toyota's recommended and tested $500 dongle, The cheaper dongles most of us around here use are already known to sometimes flake out doing the simple things we around here mostly do, Flaking out during a firmware flash would be really unwelcome.

My local dealer usually charges about an hour of shop rate when I go there and ask for a specific firmware update to be flashed. That seems kind of reasonable, for them to take on the responsibility in case something goes wrong and bricks the car.

 

When I replaced my egr valve and intake manifold with the updated part #s, i decided to do the reflash per TSB. I got in contact with the service manager at my local dealer and sent him the TSB and scheduled an appointment. Brought my car, paid for the hour of labor but this is where things got weird. The master tech came and spoke to me and told me how the last dealer who did the J0V did not finalize the calibration or something like that, and they completed it… well I was super confused and reading my service receipt I realized they did nothing for the TSB… called the manager and he gave me a full refund. Gave up trying to get the update and I’ve been driving with the new valve and manifold for almost 40k miles and still going strong. Will take everything apart in another 20k.