Techstream Tips and Tricks

Yes, this cable will work with both. You need to send VFTuner its serial # if planning to use VFTuner.
I use Techstream for diagnostic, some maintenance procedures and changing some settings(tpms, blinkers, etc).
Vftuner is for creating and flashing tunes.

 

Question from a noob:

I need to have the ability to diagnose my 2021 Tacoma via techstream or an off-the-shelf scanner tool (XTool D8 for example). My truck will eventually be far away from dealerships and other mechanics that have access to these more sophisticated tools.

My question is, is a free version of Techstream, loaded on to my laptop, and the appropriate dongle, comparable/better than just buying an all-in-one tool like the D8?

I really just need to be able to see what sensor/device is causing a particular issue. I don't need tuning capabilities or anything like that.

It wouldn't hurt to be able to modify seat belt chimes or the turn signal blinks (both can do I think), but I really need ease of use. The D8 seems to do that well, but techstream is much cheaper (I think it's free).

Thanks for your help.

 

Hard to say. Free is good. But if you have cars other than Toyota, go with XTools.

 

I'm a new '22 TRD Sport owner, and I'm interested in knowing the following (sorry for so many questions):
Is there a document somewhere that describes what can be done with Techstream?
Is Techstream free?
Will it run under a 64bit Win10 OS?
Where do I get a cable that is capable of being used under 64bit Win10?

 

I have an old version of Techstream that I got back in early 2018 (supports models up to 2018). I heard that newer versions have a cumbersome process of getting a key. So it is not 100% "free".
However, I did use my old version on 2022 toyota to change # of blinks.
It will run under 64b win 10. Recommend to get Tactrix openport 2.0 cable($169 + Tactrix.com)
Techstream GUI pretty intuitive and has on- screen instructions for active tests(compression test, etc).

 

info is spattered throughout this thread
officially, no
it should
you need a very high quality cable, it is in the thread

 

Thanks for the background and the warning about the use of a poor quality cable. Quite a bit more expensive than I expected. I wouldn't be flashing an ECU map or anything, maybe just running diagnostics, or changing a few of the configurable things one can't do via the Head Unit interface... I was hoping to find a list of things one could change. Seems overall, cost prohibitive for what I'd want to do.

 

I only need these diagnostic capabilities for my 2021 Tacoma. I don't care about any other vehicle, just one specific truck.

 

Diagnostics is also a reason to get a higher quality cable. A true tactrix can poll much faster than the fakes/clones, which tells a much better story of what is going on. 100 samples per second with Tactrix or 1 sample per second with cheap alternative for example. The numbers I mentioned aren't truly representative, but you get the idea.

 

You can use any cable you want. Just make sure it is j2534 . Amazon have mini vci for $40.
Most of light, beep, etc. setting under Main body control unit.(CU)
For diagnostic, each CU has a data list(PIDs). You can monitor/log all PIDs or use pre-built TS lists (misfire, O2, VVT etc)
Also, ECU, TCU have a list of Active tests. You can spin a fan, run compression test, check tranny solenoids, etc.
TS has a logging function and analysis tools for scanned data.

 

It seems like all of the links for TechStream v14.*** (the one with the keygen "techstream-act.exe") have been removed, and looks like it has been taken down from here:
//mega.nz/ /6dhQ3AxC#86U_-i2UvbMs3TCfF0ZYBsLbkywrbxnqZ5gd6NSVCqo
Anybody know where I can get that to run a .cuw file?

The newer versions need an activation key and I can't use the patch file that are provided with any of those newer versions to run a .cuw file. Unless I'm doing something wrong...


EDIT: Ended up just "acquiring" a key for v17 from another forum. Pretty painless.

 

Can you please PM (Private Message) me with where you got the Key and software for V17. I found some websites for V17 just not sure if it is malware free.

 

Anyone with prior experience using techsteam to grab the code from an SRS warning light? Straightforward?

 

No experience but from what I can tell, it looks like you can do it through Techstream like you would for any other code. There is another method but it looks like it would be a bit more cumbersome.

 

Here is a question for ya', and 'scuse me if this has already been answered somewhere, but I want to know if Techstream can be used to change the default cruise control setting from its default of Adaptive Cruise Control, to the Classic Cruise Control that is activated if you hold the button in for a few seconds? I'm used to it, having to hold in the button, but it is annoying. I was looking at the new Ford maverick recently when one arrived on a local dealer lot, and while it was there, I had a salesperson show me the vehicle. I asked him if the Maverick had the ability to not use its own adaptive cruise control, but to be able to utilize classic cruise control. he said nobody had ever asked him that question, so while I was looking at the truck, he researched it, and came back to the truck. he turned on the accessories via the ignition, and then went into settings, and voila! Right there, is a section called "cruise Control". Click on that and the 'default' setting is adaptive cruise control, BUT, there is the alternate setting for "classic cruise control"! I mean, WHY doesn't toyota do this??? The guy clicked the classic cruise control setting and then it always utilizes classic cruise control instead of the dang adaptive cruise control. I loved it! So since Toyota does not provide this option in the settings, I just wonder if Techstream has the capability to take care of this?

 

Holding the button in for two or three seconds is really a problem?

 

Actually yes. While it seems like a couple of seconds, but a couple of seconds when traveling down the road at 65mph, and one covers a lot of distance, not to mention what can happen when one has to take their eyes off of the road, to look at the screen in the middle of the dash, so one can tell if indeed, it has gone to Classic Cruise Control or not. Sure, even now, at almost 4 years since purchasing the truck, most of the time I do hold the button in for the correct amount of time, without verifying it, and it is OK. But there were a couple of times where I thought I was in classic cruise control mode, and I was not, only to find out when the dang thing SMASHED on the brakes because it thought I was too close to the vehicle in front of me, when I wasn't. Hope that explains it....

 

I've never had a problem with it and was actually ecstatic that they made it optional. I think you're in rare company.

 

Agreed

 

I don't know if I would get it or not since I bet it's expensive and difficult to figure out, but I'm interested in knowing if:

It could perform the transmission flash to fix surging at 45mph and supposedly "improve" shifting

Plus perform a zero point calibration? I'm kind of annoyed that the OBDII port jumping trick doesn't work on my 2018. I wish there was some alternative way to do it, since it's so much easier and convenient to do it myself then pay a dealer or pay for techstream assuming it can do it. Ever since I lifted and put bigger tires on, my VSC/Trac light flashes sometimes when turning or if my truck's tires jump a curb lol. It's kind of annoying, and I'm hoping the system isn't f'ed up.