Bad Idea to Not Address Brake Power Recall to Keep ECU Unlocked

[AngelsofVerdun]

Hey, everyone. I am new to performance vehicles, but this recall sounds like a nasty one.

Given how incredibly frustrating it has been to deal with my local Toyota to get the brake power recall addresses on my car, I’m considering foregoing the fix. I cannot begin to tell you how many times my local Toyota has called about issues with my scheduled appointments--forcing me to reschedule them.

However, I imagine ignoring a recall about brake system issues--much less a recall at all--is ill-advised. I also read that there is a full-screen Apple CarPlay update that comes with the ECU flash that addresses the issues, but I am starting to not care about it.

I'm looking for some scope on the severity of the issue.

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[XtremeMaC]

It's not severe if you don't hit the Start button twice, ever. Deleted for ambiguity...

I think either I did or somebody else did attach all bulletins NHTSA remedy etc stuff in one of these brake topics... It's easy find on Google as well .

 

[suicidaleggroll]

As far as failures go, this one is pretty easy to avoid. When you press the brake to start the car, actually press the brake, don't just lightly touch it. Same goes for the start button, press it with purpose, don't tap it a bunch or feather it. The failure comes from tapping the start button multiple times in rapid succession, WHILE barely pressing the brake pedal.

 

[zrk]

It's not severe if you don't hit the Start button twice, ever. I think either I did or somebody else did attach all bulletins NHTSA remedy etc stuff in one of these brake topics... It's easy find on Google as well .

It's.. not quite like that. If you flinch on the button or the brake pedal (imagine hitting volume up twice on your tv remote when you meant once). Or you giggle the brake pedal a little bit.

The chances of it happening are indeed low but human bodies are weird and can twitch a bit. This is what causes the booster to fail.

 

[Jesse DaBears]

I know there are people who can do the update for you aswell without locking the ECU. @Levanime i believe is one of them. Marin Nelson is another. maybe @Marshall@ViscontiTuning

 

[Davedaveee]

My whole head unit and screen got bricked from getting it updated. So make sure your dealership is fully versed on how to actually complete the recall update. Maybe get a hold of toyota corporate before hand to make sure they provide proper instruction to dealership.

 

[AngelsofVerdun]

My whole head unit and screen got bricked from getting it updated. So make sure your dealership is fully versed on how to actually complete the recall update. Maybe get a hold of toyota corporate before hand to make sure they provide proper instruction to dealership.

Oh, yikes. That is terrifying. I've heard terrible things about my local Toyota, too.

 

[Davedaveee]

Oh, yikes. That is terrifying. I've heard terrible things about my local Toyota, too.

Be proactive. My experience might be rare but it's possible. Toyota is a joke with these cars. Just be adamant on them knowing the full procedure. And make sure they have it on a battery tender to keep the car from dropping voltage during update

 

[Kyuen16]

I’ve been on the fence about bringing my car back to Toyota for the update or just go ahead and start tuning and adding parts. I have checked and my ecu build date does allow me to tune still but I am still factory locked.

if I were to go in and get the recall and update would that fully lock My ecu from being unlocked by a tuner?

Also I heard if you are already tuned and unlocked and if you go in for service, it can brick your ecu or it re-locks your ecu. Which will require you to pay a tuner to re-unlock. Is this true?

 

[HAL 9000]

Techs don’t really care if the recall bricks something. We just call it in and move on

 

[Davedaveee]

I’ve been on the fence about bringing my car back to Toyota for the update or just go ahead and start tuning and adding parts. I have checked and my ecu build date does allow me to tune still but I am still factory locked.

if I were to go in and get the recall and update would that fully lock My ecu from being unlocked by a tuner?

Also I heard if you are already tuned and unlocked and if you go in for service, it can brick your ecu or it re-locks your ecu. Which will require you to pay a tuner to re-unlock. Is this true?

You can be stock and the recall can brick it. It's from incompetent toyota techs not keeping the battery charging while doing it. In the middle of the firmware update the car shuts off and the car bricks.

 

[Carl - Driveway Labs]

So what I was informed of by a supra tech homie at Hendrick Toyota here in Concord, NC:

if I want to bring him my car for recalls which require a DME update, he is able to coordinate with Toyota to ONLY load the new tables to my DME that require updating. Meaning I can bring him an unlocked DME, get that updated file through him from Toyota, and it won't impact my DME.

I hope I explained that well.

I wouldn't entrust a safety recall to an aftermarket source tbh

 

[zrk]

I’ve been on the fence about bringing my car back to Toyota for the update or just go ahead and start tuning and adding parts. I have checked and my ecu build date does allow me to tune still but I am still factory locked.

if I were to go in and get the recall and update would that fully lock My ecu from being unlocked by a tuner?

Also I heard if you are already tuned and unlocked and if you go in for service, it can brick your ecu or it re-locks your ecu. Which will require you to pay a tuner to re-unlock. Is this true?

https://www.viscontituning.com/pages/toyota-supra-recall-update-infomation

 

[Levanime]

So what I was informed of by a supra tech homie at Hendrick Toyota here in Concord, NC:

if I want to bring him my car for recalls which require a DME update, he is able to coordinate with Toyota to ONLY load the new tables to my DME that require updating. Meaning I can bring him an unlocked DME, get that updated file through him from Toyota, and it won't impact my DME.

I hope I explained that well.

I wouldn't entrust a safety recall to an aftermarket source tbh

this is not possible

 

[Carl - Driveway Labs]

this is not possible

mom gping off what I was told by a tech, not arguing one way or another

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