Starting The Car

[Sam29]

Hi,

Recently I have reset the ECU by disconnecting the Battery and reconnecting it.

Previously on my 03 2.0 D-4D whenever I start the car the needles of RPM and speedometer go to full and return. It happened all the time when I started the car.

But after disconnecting and reconnecting the car has stopped doing it. Does anybody know, why and how to get it back, as I loved that.

Also does it make any difference on anything?

One more thing, all the phones, and some of the cars get upgraded firmware, which increases the MPG and many other stabilities.

Do Toyota also upgrade the firmwares / programs on their cars?

Thanks.

[Daveyonthemove]

I had an update on my phone recently, but my MPG hasn't changed

[t-spiritpete]

I had an update on my phone recently, but my MPG hasn't changed

Love it!.

[Sam29]

I had an update on my phone recently, but my MPG hasn't changed

V funny, but if you look around cars get updates. My friends hybrid civic had it which helped him to improved mpg, as new firmware was using Battery more than earlier version.

[Sam29]

Coming back to my original questions, does anybdoy know how to program the RPM and speed needles going to full when starting the car?

Cheers.

[t-spiritpete]

I had an update on my phone recently, but my MPG hasn't changed

V funny, but if you look around cars get updates. My friends hybrid civic had it which helped him to improved mpg, as new firmware was using Battery more than earlier version.

Toyota do issue and install firmware updates but you will need to contact them to see is yours has been done with the latest one or if any is required, mine was done 12 months ago but to be quite honest I did not notice any change but i'm sure it was done for a reason known to Toyota and good for my car.

Pete.

[Sam29]

Thanks Pete. But such a shame, that by disconnecting the Battery firmware shouldn't be lost.

All I did was disconnect the Battery for 30 minutes and it sounds like gone.

Why I am so concerned, coz I was getting very good MPG.

So do I have to pay them to update or they do it during the service?

Cheers.

[t-spiritpete]

Thanks Pete. But such a shame, that by disconnecting the battery firmware shouldn't be lost.

All I did was disconnect the battery for 30 minutes and it sounds like gone.

Why I am so concerned, coz I was getting very good MPG.

So do I have to pay them to update or they do it during the service?

Cheers.

As far as I am aware there isn't a charge for updates, well not in my case anyway.

Pete.

[Daveyonthemove]

Disconnecting the Battery won't lose a firmware update, it will just allow the car to re-learn your driving style.

If the MPG is low it could be due to the journeys you have done recently combined with the bad weather.

If you were to call your dealer and tell them that you reset the ECU and think you have lost the latest firmware update they MIGHT look at this as an opportunity to get money from you for no good reason (I doubt they would, but you never know) so i would give the car a chance to adapt when the weather warms up.

[Sam29]

Disconnecting the battery won't lose a firmware update, it will just allow the car to re-learn your driving style.

If the MPG is low it could be due to the journeys you have done recently combined with the bad weather.

If you were to call your dealer and tell them that you reset the ECU and think you have lost the latest firmware update they MIGHT look at this as an opportunity to get money from you for no good reason (I doubt they would, but you never know) so i would give the car a chance to adapt when the weather warms up.

Thanks mate. will take my car to em after xmas and ask them to check the car if it is upto date.

Well if it did not lose the firmware, then there is different settings which take both needles to max on starting engine.

I hope somebody knows here how to program it.

Thanks all of you.

[Daveyonthemove]

The firmware update is a bit like a computer update. It isn't a second image for the car to read instead of the first one, its a revised file that replaces the original, so if it vanished from the ECU then your car would have no file at all, and wouldn't do anything.

As for the dials, i have no experience of this car so i don't know if that is normal behaviour or not, but on my last car (Mondeo so probably not relevant) the dials used to do that when there was a problem, so the ECU reset may have removed a fault you didn't realise you had?

If they are meant to do what they used to do, then ignore what i just said and ask a dealer if they have any info.

[Sam29]

I didnt know that needles going to full means that there was a problem with the car. Ideally engine light should turn on.

Well if what you have said, is true then resetting has helped me.

But very poor MPG. I had 383 out of 52 liters of diesel, which comes to only 33.48 MPG.

where as I was easily getting 45 MPG from the same driving habbit.

The only difference is that I reset the ECU and I am using more cruise control these days.

Another thing which I noticed, If I drived without cruise control I achieve better MPG, as I keep the gas very light going uphill (speed decreased) and keep the car coasting while downhill. Whereas if it is on cruise control, it increase the acceleration very shraply going uphill to compensate the speed decrement.

Well Now am thinking of giving EGR valave shower with Carb Cleaner and next would be MAF cleaning.

Hope this will help getting better MPG.

Cheers mate.

[Daveyonthemove]

The only video i could find of an Avensis on startup is this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9tK6IHl9Uo

Not sure why anyone would film it, but it shows that the dials don't sweep so i would assume that yours weren't meant to?

[Sam29]

Thanks Dave for your help.

As it is 07, and mine is 03, so can somebody with 03 confirm, how do 03 starts? On starting, does your car needles (RPM and speed) go to full or they stay the same as shown in the video above?

Cheers.

[Sam29]

Avensis 2.2 vs Accord 2.2

http://youtu.be/LG1SpKUHFZQ

[bestseany]

Thanks Dave for your help.

As it is 07, and mine is 03, so can somebody with 03 confirm, how do 03 starts? On starting, does your car needles (RPM and speed) go to full or they stay the same as shown in the video above?

Cheers.

When I start my 04 Avensis, the needles don't move when I turn the ignition on.

[Sam29]

Thanks bestseany.

Ohhh I forgot to turn on sports mode on my car, that is why the needles were not going up all the way.

Thanks.

[Daveyonthemove]

haha at least you figured it out!

[Sam29]

haha at least you figured it out!

Cheers mate.

[Dmitry_LV]

Thanks Dave for your help.

As it is 07, and mine is 03, so can somebody with 03 confirm, how do 03 starts? On starting, does your car needles (RPM and speed) go to full or they stay the same as shown in the video above?

Cheers.

No, they don't go to full on mine car.

[Sam29]

Thanks Dave for your help.

As it is 07, and mine is 03, so can somebody with 03 confirm, how do 03 starts? On starting, does your car needles (RPM and speed) go to full or they stay the same as shown in the video above?

Cheers.

No, they don't go to full on mine car.

I guess I am the only one with Sports Mode.