Manual DPF burn switch

[JohnLynn Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JohnLynn]

Very good question, seems customers are kept in the dark as usual. My December 2015 GXL will be having it's final capped service next week. It is called the 60,000Km despite not having covered 40,000Km but I digress, when I booked it in I asked it if would be having an update re the DPF. No was the reply, "it has already had one" well that one, the only one was a very long time ago.
I am still waiting for "the" letter and of course feel even more cynical about believing anything the dealer tells me.

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

Other dealers?

[JohnLynn Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JohnLynn]

I must admit that I have been too lazy to ask any, may be a good idea to ask some.

[Yellowdog Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Yellowdog]

So why do some get a switch and others don't????

Don't know if it's relevant but I did put in a formal letter of complaint to Toyota last year after I had DPF problems all over Northern Australia on a trip from Sydney. I also pointed out that the cost of a recovery from the middle of the Gary Junction Road is over $20,000 (as quoted to me by Pilbara Towing) and it appears that Toyota pays most of this for cars under warranty (again quoted by Pilbara Towing). Without any request from me, my dealer advised that they were fitting a switch while doing the ECU update with my service. Maybe it was brought about by my complaint or maybe my dealer was just being helpful.

[vxowner18 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vxowner18]

I didn't receive any official letter from TOYOTA in regarding to DPF recall, neither was any obvious DPF issue there at time of the routine 12-month service point. I told my dealership that my prado took ages to finish a burn (20-40 mins and longer depending on driving condition), then service advisor put in my VIN number and came back to me, my prado was due for an ECU update, which was all about DPF burns (to burn hotter and more often), I was wondering if I could get a manual burn button along with the ECU update, he told me they couldn't do it unless they could get permission from TOYOTA. I asked him to send my VIN and request of installing the button to TOYOTA, in about two weeks time, permission was 'Granted'. Don't know the story behind, but I've got a manual button installed under warranty.

Or it may be a sign of DPF defect of JAN 2018 build prado, and does need a manual burn button to survive somehow. thoughts?

[Puddock Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Puddock]

I have had problems with the DPF on my 2015 GXL. Last year it was towed over 270 klms to the nearest dealer when the DPF got full, failed to burn and the DPF and engine light came on.

The Customer Service Notification letter and pamphlet which I received in Feb 2019 appears to be going out to all customers who own a vehicle irrespective of whether or not they have had problems with the DPF. There are two separate versions of the letter.

Owners who have had no issues with the DPF get a letter which refers to an ECM software upgrade and DPF system inspection.

Owners who have had problems with the DPF get a letter which refers to an ECM software upgrade, a DPF system inspection and also refers to the fitment of a DPF manual regeneration switch.


On 28 Feb 2019 my car had the ECM software upgraded but I am still awaiting the fitment of the switch. The service staff disputed my entitlement to have the switch fitted until I pushed the point and showed them the Toyota letter.

The service staff relented but could not fit the switch as they said they had none in stock. They have said they have requested a switch and will notify me when it arrives so I can book the car in to have it fitted.

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

Mine had the update today. Because I pointed out that my car spent time in very remote areas I specifically asked for the switch [ my letter didn't mention it. I was told by a BIG Sydney dealer that they do not keep them in stock because they have to have Toyota approval to fit them. They claim that they have logged on the computer to get one fitted but also said that Toyota's computer system was hacked weeks ago so there is an issue there! They say they will let me know.....cheque's in the mail! I will be following up. This is the 3rd update in 33 months...."fit for purpose"???

[brissy Member Find all posts View Profile Close brissy]

I didn't receive any official letter from TOYOTA in regarding to DPF recall, neither was any obvious DPF issue there at time of the routine 12-month service point. I told my dealership that my prado took ages to finish a burn (20-40 mins and longer depending on driving condition), then service advisor put in my VIN number and came back to me, my prado was due for an ECU update, which was all about DPF burns (to burn hotter and more often), I was wondering if I could get a manual burn button along with the ECU update, he told me they couldn't do it unless they could get permission from TOYOTA. I asked him to send my VIN and request of installing the button to TOYOTA, in about two weeks time, permission was 'Granted'. Don't know the story behind, but I've got a manual button installed under warranty.

Or it may be a sign of DPF defect of JAN 2018 build prado, and does need a manual burn button to survive somehow. thoughts?

Hi VXowner
how did you know that a previous burn took extra long 20-40 mins?

[vxowner18 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vxowner18]

Hi VXowner
how did you know that a previous burn took extra long 20-40 mins?

Hi Brissy,

There are a few ways I can recognise a regeneration, the most obvious way is the idle Rev, which will be around 800-900, when you stop the car in Drive or park the car. You can feel the little PUSH from the extra Rev, and a bit lose strength when you take off from a stop. And also the engine does sound differently if you pay attention to it.

After I picked up the noticeable long regeneration, I followed other PP members and brought in Torque APP, I found the soot% was dropping at 2-4% rate, and even didn’t drop at all on highway. I have to drive 80 km per day to and from work, of which 65 km are highway, I used to avoid highway driving once I felt a regen was ongoing, to speed up the regeneration. If I didn’t do that, the regen would have been two or three trips time between home and work, that was cold start, warm up, slow regen, and stop cycles repeating.

After the ECU update, the regen now takes 15 mins MAX regardless driving conditions, I’ve had the record shortest regen was about 6 mins with pure low speed driving and waiting while finding a parking spot.

Hope this will help you.

[brissy Member Find all posts View Profile Close brissy]

Thanks vx owner, my request for a button install was rejected and lately i have noticed higher fuel consumption, i would like to have the button installed as a last resort -of limp mode issue, 100's of kms from a stealership , i am now hesitant on remote trips with no button in case i have issues

[vxowner18 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vxowner18]

Thanks vx owner, my request for a button install was rejected and lately i have noticed higher fuel consumption, i would like to have the button installed as a last resort -of limp mode issue, 100's of kms from a stealership , i am now hesitant on remote trips with no button in case i have issues

I've seen another PP member reported the same issue in different post,

I didn't pick up a higher consumption so far. Base on my calculation, I've got regularly 10-11L/100km at the moment.

I didn't see more frequent burns (still every 270-300km interval), and higher burn temperature either (550-730c).

If your request was rejected by TOYOTA, it would be a good news as your DPF is still healthy.

[brissy Member Find all posts View Profile Close brissy]

The DPF been healthy is an assumption made by toyota , service dept told me it will get checked at ecu update, all the new prados on showroom floors have healthy DPF's too but they ALL come with a manual regen button- why the disparity over a $10 switch