Retro-fitted DPF burn switch to my early-2018 Prado

[Yellowdog Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Yellowdog]

I've just had a second ECU update and a DPF burn switch fitted to my early-2018 GXL. This was done by my dealer in Sydney under warranty service. They had put the switch into some Hiluxes but this was the first Prado that they had done.

My problems were the "DPF full - see owners manual" message coming up and having to drive thousands of kms with the message showing. Three northern Australia dealers did forced burns for me and the last one also cleaned the 5th injector - which seemed to fix the problem.

I won't know how the ECU updates and new switch go until I get across the country again this winter. I willl report back later this year.

The second half of my last trip was ruined because I had to stay on highways rather then getting into the bush. I was very very unhappy with Toyota after their immediate response was not helpful. However, I'm now pleased to see that Toyota is putting some effort and money into trying to fix our problems. Let's hope my car goes ok from here on.

[ExNissan Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close ExNissan]

Bummer about the ruined trip! I'd had the dreaded white smoke manifest itself just before a 2 week Simpson trip so I sympathise. I did a bunch of manual DPF regens at various stops and luckily didnt have any dramas in the desert.

I dont know about others but I have a bunch of my switch blanks in use with USB outlets and various switches. Which blank did they fit the burn switch to and do you know if they're flexible as to which position they mount it in?

Cheers
-Rod

[nudgebar Member Find all posts View Profile Close nudgebar]

that DPF burn button is a real headscratcher - ive been looking at the hilux page and some dealers fit it without question and some refuse to do it at all , and some wait for head office approval. Ive seen some cases where the whole dash comes out and others where they just run the wire up behind the radio.

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

Interesting. Isn't the ECU behind the radio somewhere on the left hand side?
I'm planing a big remote trip in July and plan to harry a couple of Dealers here shortly to retro fit the button.

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

Interesting. I just had a service and they wouldn't do the update YET. They said they were doing Hiluxes and Fortunas first BUT mine was listed in Toyota's computers to be done and I would get an email from them. They said they weren't fitting switches. If mine was blowing white smoke it would have been done straight away. It will be done before or at the next service in June but they did say that as I was doing a big desert trip before the next service they would do it. I am very interested as to what the actual Toyota position is on fitting the switches especially for those who go remote like me. It seems to me that if it is deemed necessary in the new ones then it should be put into the older ones.

[Yellowdog Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Yellowdog]

In response to ExNissan, the photo shows where they installed the switch at the bottom right of the six switches.

[ExNissan Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close ExNissan]

Thanks Yellowdog,
looks like I need relocate a switch in preparation.

[Yellowdog Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Yellowdog]

This is an extract from a Whirlpool post made yesterday re 4wd dual cab utes:
"The next Euro6 standard will require Particulate Filters on petrol engines"

Just as I was happily thinking that my next 4wd in a few years time would have a petrol engine and how I'd miss the thump, thump, thump of the diesel .......................

[Yellowdog Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Yellowdog]

After the second ECU update by the dealer, I was driving along today and a "DPF regeneration in progress" message came up on the small display. That must be a feature of the ECU update.

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

I had a discussion with the service people at another Dealer today.
The maintenance 'customer managers' at my usual Dealer become Abominable No-men when I ask about a DPF switch.
The people at the smaller Dealer were refreshingly informative. They have been retrofitting the DPF switch. They have to ask Toyota for permission.
There is another ECU software update around which I will get when I put my 2018 GXL in for its 30,000Km service in a couple of months.
The DPF switch needs the new software update I'm told.

I have been watching the DPF perform with my Scangauge and it completes a burn very well when in 4Lo on slow tracks. Burns take around 6-8Kms when doing 10-20-30Km/hr.
However I'll press for the switch as I'm heading off to a 500Km remote track in July and the nearest Toyota Dealer is the best part of 900Kms from the middle of the track.

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

I dropped my VX in last week for 12 month service, that service manager said that my VX was due to a recall that I didn't hear anything from TOYOTA officially, and it was all about DPF burn frequency and temperature issue. And I also requested to fit a manual burn button on dash. I was then told they had to obtain permission from TOYOTA first to get an answer for me. It would take 2-4 weeks. Will see if I can get it installed under warranty or other ways.

My VX just finished the first regen today after that recall was done. Surprisingly quick one, the process finished within 5-6 mins, I was able to monitor that burn with Torque, didn't see increased burn temperature (still in range from 570 to 700c), but I did see more quick DPF% drop by more than 10% per scan interval, and finished at 2% stage.