Sulfur TSB process
- Thread starter irwinSR5
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irwinSR5
New member
i'm not sure but they said there are some steps to the process
1) prove that there actually is a sulfur smell
2) check to see if ECU is properly programmed
3) order cats
4) replace cats
so there are several things that could make them slow down or stop the process.
the work of replacing and reprogramming, as said by toyota, is supposed to take 1.2 hrs
1) prove that there actually is a sulfur smell
2) check to see if ECU is properly programmed
3) order cats
4) replace cats
so there are several things that could make them slow down or stop the process.
the work of replacing and reprogramming, as said by toyota, is supposed to take 1.2 hrs
slowginjoe
New member
having done this and read about other people's experience, here's an outline of what's suppose to happen if everything goes smoothly.
1. they identify the sulfur smell and approve of the tsb work.
2. they order your cats (unless they already have the parts), meanwhile letting you keep your truck to drive because it could take a week or two to get the parts.
3. the parts are in, they call you to bring in your truck. should take one day with no need to leave truck there overnight. they will: replace the cats, reprogram the ecu with obd-2 code, recalibrate the yaw sensors.
very important here is the last item in 3: recalibrate the yaw sensors. so many people have complained that after getting the tsb done their vsc and check engine light came on and the dealer spends days trying to figure out how to turn them off, with all kinds of wild guesses as to the source of the problem, even as far as ordering a new ecu. well, in the tsb instructions for the techs, there is a small section at the end which tells them that after reprogramming the ecu, the yaw sensors need to be recalibrated. many techs miss this and can't figure out how to turn those lights off. i just wanted to point this out in case you experience the same thing. btw, the yaw sensors tell the ecu how fast you accelerate, decelerate, turn, or if you're in a skid, which way you're skidding. legally the dealership cannot let you drive off the lot if the vsc lights are on, meaning the system is disabled, they will be liable if you get into an accident since they're the ones who worked on it and disabled it.
hope this will help.
1. they identify the sulfur smell and approve of the tsb work.
2. they order your cats (unless they already have the parts), meanwhile letting you keep your truck to drive because it could take a week or two to get the parts.
3. the parts are in, they call you to bring in your truck. should take one day with no need to leave truck there overnight. they will: replace the cats, reprogram the ecu with obd-2 code, recalibrate the yaw sensors.
very important here is the last item in 3: recalibrate the yaw sensors. so many people have complained that after getting the tsb done their vsc and check engine light came on and the dealer spends days trying to figure out how to turn them off, with all kinds of wild guesses as to the source of the problem, even as far as ordering a new ecu. well, in the tsb instructions for the techs, there is a small section at the end which tells them that after reprogramming the ecu, the yaw sensors need to be recalibrated. many techs miss this and can't figure out how to turn those lights off. i just wanted to point this out in case you experience the same thing. btw, the yaw sensors tell the ecu how fast you accelerate, decelerate, turn, or if you're in a skid, which way you're skidding. legally the dealership cannot let you drive off the lot if the vsc lights are on, meaning the system is disabled, they will be liable if you get into an accident since they're the ones who worked on it and disabled it.
hope this will help.
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I had mine done about 3 months ago. I didn't let the dealer check for the smell. Iwalked in withouth the truck and set up an appointment to have the TSB performed. It took about 4 days for the cats to be delievered. I dropped the truck off in the morning and it was done early afternoon. I was sure to ask the service writer if they had performed the TSB before. I didn't want to be the first one.
JThree4Runner
New member
Sulfer TSB Process
Hey guys,
My '04 SR5 has had that freakin' sulfer smell since I got it in October of '03. I'm happy to see that there is finally a TSB to fix it.
IrwinSR5 - I'm up in NoVa too, so let me know where you go to get yours done. I've read through some of the other threads where people have had really bad experiences with the whole process (i.e. after having the ECU flashed, engine performance had dropped; gas mileage has dropped; etc). I've also read about a good experience from Sharp4Runr (but he's down in Woodbridge). I'm out in Ashburn and don't WANT to drive down to Woodbridge, but I will if I can't find any other places to go.
Let me know how it works out for you and how long things take.
Thx.
Hey guys,
My '04 SR5 has had that freakin' sulfer smell since I got it in October of '03. I'm happy to see that there is finally a TSB to fix it.
IrwinSR5 - I'm up in NoVa too, so let me know where you go to get yours done. I've read through some of the other threads where people have had really bad experiences with the whole process (i.e. after having the ECU flashed, engine performance had dropped; gas mileage has dropped; etc). I've also read about a good experience from Sharp4Runr (but he's down in Woodbridge). I'm out in Ashburn and don't WANT to drive down to Woodbridge, but I will if I can't find any other places to go.
Let me know how it works out for you and how long things take.
Thx.
irwinSR5
New member
I am getting mine done at the same place I bought it, Ourisman Chantilly Toyota (at the Auto Park)
It's down route 50 past the bridge for the beltway I believe.
I will update this thread late on Tuesday and tell you all how it's going
--
4135 Auto Park Circle
Chantilly,
It's down route 50 past the bridge for the beltway I believe.
I will update this thread late on Tuesday and tell you all how it's going
--
4135 Auto Park Circle
Chantilly,
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JThree4Runner
New member
thx for the heads up irwin. i know exactly where that dealership is located (used to live out in Fairfax). was the dealer open/willing to do the work for you or did they give you a bunch of s**t when you told them about it? Did they know about the TSB ahead of time or did you have to tell them? Obviously, I'm just thinking about getting this done without getting a bunch of crap from the dealer.
let me know how it works out.
thx
let me know how it works out.
thx
irwinSR5
New member
They had no f'ing clue that there was a TSB out and didn't really want to believe it. I showed them the printed TSB that was linked at this site and they believed me then, make sure your VIN # is in the range of the TSB, mine was like 25 #'s in range. They are willing to do all of the work however the process they laid out makes it sound to me like they might try and say they can't reproduce the problem but we'll see on Tuesday.
I'll keep you posted!
mike
I'll keep you posted!
mike
irwinSR5
New member
I dropped my car off there today at 2:30, they called me back at 5pm stating how they recalibrated the ECU however did not seem to actually check the smell. They told me to give it a week and see if the recalibration fixed the problem and if it didn't to bring it back and they would order the cats. I also got my car inspected there at the same time and they said my parking break did not hold the truck well enough so they had to replace that (one reason that it took so long).
So for anyone considering doing the tsb process in NOVA, they seem to be handling the situation pretty well. Also, if you are getting your car inspected soon you might want to consider getting it done at a dealership to make sure they check everything properly, maybe it is just some weird problem with my truck but I figured i'd give you a heads up in case it happened to you.
So for anyone considering doing the tsb process in NOVA, they seem to be handling the situation pretty well. Also, if you are getting your car inspected soon you might want to consider getting it done at a dealership to make sure they check everything properly, maybe it is just some weird problem with my truck but I figured i'd give you a heads up in case it happened to you.
JThree4Runner
New member
hey irwin,
thx for the progress report. I wonder why they didn't replace the cats on your truck. From what I understand, that is supposed to be a big part of the problem???? Let me know how your truck behaves/smells over the next week (per the dealer's suggestion). If everything works out well for you, I know where I'm taking my truck!
BTW - any response on the NOVA 4Runr meet?
- christian
thx for the progress report. I wonder why they didn't replace the cats on your truck. From what I understand, that is supposed to be a big part of the problem???? Let me know how your truck behaves/smells over the next week (per the dealer's suggestion). If everything works out well for you, I know where I'm taking my truck!
BTW - any response on the NOVA 4Runr meet?
- christian
irwinSR5
New member
Well, they would have to order the cats anyway, so they said that I should try seeing how it is when they recalibrate (i am not very hopeful, I doubt it will actually fix it) but they said if it is still bad they would order the cats and install them, this was part of the process anyway so it's ok. Atleast it's a step in the positive direction, I'm going to pick it up in about 20 minutes, they said to give it a week for the ECU to re-gather data, i'll update when i can
-as far as im concerned they have been very helpful, that dealership is very easy to get stuff done, no waits at all.
-no information on a nova meet yet
gotta go get the truck, ta ta
-as far as im concerned they have been very helpful, that dealership is very easy to get stuff done, no waits at all.
-no information on a nova meet yet
gotta go get the truck, ta ta
sharp4runr
New member
Hey bro,
Just chiming in. Front what the Service Manager told me at Lustine, the CATS were the primary reason for the poopoo smell. They said that the CATS where made to strict standards to keep the truck at LEV (Low Emissions Vehicle) levels. Well they did such a good job at it, that the byproduct was the sulfur smell.
Just be warned, the smell is still there but it isn't anywhere near what it would be before the TSB. Good luck with yours.
NOVA meet - I'd be down for meeting up at a parking lot and then hitting a restaurant afterwards. Not a bad way to meet and mingle with other members at all.
Just chiming in. Front what the Service Manager told me at Lustine, the CATS were the primary reason for the poopoo smell. They said that the CATS where made to strict standards to keep the truck at LEV (Low Emissions Vehicle) levels. Well they did such a good job at it, that the byproduct was the sulfur smell.
Just be warned, the smell is still there but it isn't anywhere near what it would be before the TSB. Good luck with yours.
NOVA meet - I'd be down for meeting up at a parking lot and then hitting a restaurant afterwards. Not a bad way to meet and mingle with other members at all.
irwinSR5
New member
well i just picked up my truck and drove home the whole way with the back window down, drove on the highways and such to get home and i didn't smell anything, usually i would have. Tomorrow will be around 70 deg (ya 70 deg in VA in january, i know) and i will drive around all day with the windows down so i can give you a better update then. I have a decent feeling it will either be there immediatly or it will come back as time goes on but we'll see.
*note* all they did for now was recalibrate the ECU, whatever that means
*note* all they did for now was recalibrate the ECU, whatever that means
JThree4Runner
New member
Hey irwin. thx again for the info on the TSB. I'm looking forward to your update! btw... i'm lookin' forward to the high temps too! might try to wash the truck!
as for the meet... count me in. any suggestions? sharp: you're down in Woodbridge, right? irwin: you said oakton, right? I'm waaaaay out in Ashburn. Maybe somewhere in between? Dates?
as for the meet... count me in. any suggestions? sharp: you're down in Woodbridge, right? irwin: you said oakton, right? I'm waaaaay out in Ashburn. Maybe somewhere in between? Dates?
NCSU_4RUNNER
New member
I just got my 2005 near the end of December and have noticed the smell as well. I just called the dealership and they told me to change gasoline because some cheaper brands (BP/Amaco) put sulfur in the gas as a filler and that Exxon/Chevron have higher quality gas with less sulfur.
I don't know if this guy was trying to get around fixing the problem, but I am going to give it a try for one tank at least.
He said if that didn't work, they would look at the converter.
I don't know if this guy was trying to get around fixing the problem, but I am going to give it a try for one tank at least.
He said if that didn't work, they would look at the converter.