I just received a recall notice from Toyota asking me to get my dealer
to reload my 2002 RAV4's ECM with new, "corrected" software. At issue
apparently is a misleading ON condition of the malfunction indicator
light. Fair enough, though I presently do NOT have the false ON
condition...

In view of my experience with mainstream (non-automobile) firmware
upgrades, does anyone know if it's possible for me, or the dealer, to
confirm the version that's *currently* loaded, as well as the version
number of the new code? I'd hate to spend a half-day getting the same
revision imaged over top of itself!

TIA,
Geoff.

"Geoff" <gg@c-l.com> wrote in message news:45C51F2B.7000405@c-l.com...
>I just received a recall notice from Toyota asking me to get my dealer to
>reload my 2002 RAV4's ECM with new, "corrected" software. At issue
>apparently is a misleading ON condition of the malfunction indicator light.
>Fair enough, though I presently do NOT have the false ON condition...
>
> In view of my experience with mainstream (non-automobile) firmware
> upgrades, does anyone know if it's possible for me, or the dealer, to
> confirm the version that's *currently* loaded, as well as the version
> number of the new code? I'd hate to spend a half-day getting the same
> revision imaged over top of itself!
>
> TIA,
> Geoff.
>
I had the recall work done about two weeks ago, and since then the check
engine light has stayed off.

I have no clue what they did "behind closed doors" but the light is off, no
change in gas mileage or drivability BUT the State would now allow them to
inspect the vehicle which wasn't allowed with the light on.

"Geoff" <gg@c-l.com> wrote in message news:45C51F2B.7000405@c-l.com...
>I just received a recall notice from Toyota asking me to get my dealer to
>reload my 2002 RAV4's ECM with new, "corrected" software. At issue
>apparently is a misleading ON condition of the malfunction indicator light.
>Fair enough, though I presently do NOT have the false ON condition...
>
> In view of my experience with mainstream (non-automobile) firmware
> upgrades, does anyone know if it's possible for me, or the dealer, to
> confirm the version that's *currently* loaded, as well as the version
> number of the new code? I'd hate to spend a half-day getting the same
> revision imaged over top of itself!
>
> TIA,
> Geoff.
>

Yes, the version of the firmware can be confirmed 3 ways. By comparing the
VIN with the range of affected vehicles, by ECM part number, and by
"reading" the ECM.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

Ray O wrote:
> "Geoff" <gg@c-l.com> wrote in message news:45C51F2B.7000405@c-l.com...
>
>>I just received a recall notice from Toyota asking me to get my dealer to
>>reload my 2002 RAV4's ECM with new, "corrected" software. At issue
>>apparently is a misleading ON condition of the malfunction indicator light.
>>Fair enough, though I presently do NOT have the false ON condition...
>>
>>In view of my experience with mainstream (non-automobile) firmware
>>upgrades, does anyone know if it's possible for me, or the dealer, to
>>confirm the version that's *currently* loaded, as well as the version
>>number of the new code? I'd hate to spend a half-day getting the same
>>revision imaged over top of itself!
>>
>>TIA,
>>Geoff.
>>
>
>
> Yes, the version of the firmware can be confirmed 3 ways. By comparing the
> VIN with the range of affected vehicles, by ECM part number, and by
> "reading" the ECM.

Thanks to both Ray O and tak for those inputs!
I go tomorrow for the surgery....also found a mess of TSBs on the RAV4
site that were *very* illuminating in general knowledge terms...I've
requested to watch the operation, but I'm getting the usual
liability/injury response (yeah, I know "watching" is kinda like
witnessing paint dry...I'm interested in the location of the connectors,
the instrument screens, the confidence of the operator, the firmware
rev. numbers, etc. etc.). Think I'll wear my safety boots and take my
hardhat as trump cards...<grin>

Thanks again, guys,
Geoff.

"Geoff" <gg@c-l.com> wrote in message news:45C7CC85.8010705@c-l.com...
> Ray O wrote:
>> "Geoff" <gg@c-l.com> wrote in message news:45C51F2B.7000405@c-l.com...
>>
>>>I just received a recall notice from Toyota asking me to get my dealer to
>>>reload my 2002 RAV4's ECM with new, "corrected" software. At issue
>>>apparently is a misleading ON condition of the malfunction indicator
>>>light. Fair enough, though I presently do NOT have the false ON
>>>condition...
>>>
>>>In view of my experience with mainstream (non-automobile) firmware
>>>upgrades, does anyone know if it's possible for me, or the dealer, to
>>>confirm the version that's *currently* loaded, as well as the version
>>>number of the new code? I'd hate to spend a half-day getting the same
>>>revision imaged over top of itself!
>>>
>>>TIA,
>>>Geoff.
>>>
>>
>>
>> Yes, the version of the firmware can be confirmed 3 ways. By comparing
>> the VIN with the range of affected vehicles, by ECM part number, and by
>> "reading" the ECM.
>
> Thanks to both Ray O and tak for those inputs!
> I go tomorrow for the surgery....also found a mess of TSBs on the RAV4
> site that were *very* illuminating in general knowledge terms...I've
> requested to watch the operation, but I'm getting the usual
> liability/injury response (yeah, I know "watching" is kinda like
> witnessing paint dry...I'm interested in the location of the connectors,
> the instrument screens, the confidence of the operator, the firmware rev.
> numbers, etc. etc.). Think I'll wear my safety boots and take my hardhat
> as trump cards...<grin>
>
> Thanks again, guys,
> Geoff.
>

I suspect that the technician will plug into the OBD II connector under the
driver's side of the dash, turn the key, and push a button on the Toyota
Hand-Held tester.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

Ray O wrote:
> "Geoff" <gg@c-l.com> wrote in message news:45C7CC85.8010705@c-l.com...
>
>>Ray O wrote:
>>
>>>"Geoff" <gg@c-l.com> wrote in message news:45C51F2B.7000405@c-l.com...
>>>
>>>
>>>>I just received a recall notice from Toyota asking me to get my dealer to
>>>>reload my 2002 RAV4's ECM with new, "corrected" software. At issue
>>>>apparently is a misleading ON condition of the malfunction indicator
>>>>light. Fair enough, though I presently do NOT have the false ON
>>>>condition...
>>>>
>>>>In view of my experience with mainstream (non-automobile) firmware
>>>>upgrades, does anyone know if it's possible for me, or the dealer, to
>>>>confirm the version that's *currently* loaded, as well as the version
>>>>number of the new code? I'd hate to spend a half-day getting the same
>>>>revision imaged over top of itself!
>>>>
>>>>TIA,
>>>>Geoff.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Yes, the version of the firmware can be confirmed 3 ways. By comparing
>>>the VIN with the range of affected vehicles, by ECM part number, and by
>>>"reading" the ECM.
>>
>>Thanks to both Ray O and tak for those inputs!
>>I go tomorrow for the surgery....also found a mess of TSBs on the RAV4
>>site that were *very* illuminating in general knowledge terms...I've
>>requested to watch the operation, but I'm getting the usual
>>liability/injury response (yeah, I know "watching" is kinda like
>>witnessing paint dry...I'm interested in the location of the connectors,
>>the instrument screens, the confidence of the operator, the firmware rev.
>>numbers, etc. etc.). Think I'll wear my safety boots and take my hardhat
>>as trump cards...<grin>
>>
>>Thanks again, guys,
>>Geoff.
>>
>
>
> I suspect that the technician will plug into the OBD II connector under the
> driver's side of the dash, turn the key, and push a button on the Toyota
> Hand-Held tester.

Just for completeness, here's the wrap-up:
Took just over an hour; they wouldn't let me watch (surprise!), but did
dump for me the before and after cal-IDs for the firmware.
Unfortunately, I think these came out of their database, rather than by
interrogating the ECM, which is what I really wanted. So I have "as
should be", rather than "as is" data <grin>.
No noticeable difference afterwards, except *perhaps* a lower idle for
the first 5 minutes...seems to be back to normal now, though, and I may
have imagined it, and/or it may be unrelated to the ECM change.
I *did* learn that they had to first download the automatic-trans file
into the tester, having only the manual-trans file currently on board...
All in all, fairly painless.

Geoff.

"Geoff" <gg@c-l.com> wrote in message news:45CA7457.1000100@c-l.com...
> Ray O wrote:
>> "Geoff" <gg@c-l.com> wrote in message news:45C7CC85.8010705@c-l.com...
>>
>>>Ray O wrote:
>>>
>>>>"Geoff" <gg@c-l.com> wrote in message news:45C51F2B.7000405@c-l.com...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>I just received a recall notice from Toyota asking me to get my dealer
>>>>>to reload my 2002 RAV4's ECM with new, "corrected" software. At issue
>>>>>apparently is a misleading ON condition of the malfunction indicator
>>>>>light. Fair enough, though I presently do NOT have the false ON
>>>>>condition...
>>>>>
>>>>>In view of my experience with mainstream (non-automobile) firmware
>>>>>upgrades, does anyone know if it's possible for me, or the dealer, to
>>>>>confirm the version that's *currently* loaded, as well as the version
>>>>>number of the new code? I'd hate to spend a half-day getting the same
>>>>>revision imaged over top of itself!
>>>>>
>>>>>TIA,
>>>>>Geoff.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Yes, the version of the firmware can be confirmed 3 ways. By comparing
>>>>the VIN with the range of affected vehicles, by ECM part number, and by
>>>>"reading" the ECM.
>>>
>>>Thanks to both Ray O and tak for those inputs!
>>>I go tomorrow for the surgery....also found a mess of TSBs on the RAV4
>>>site that were *very* illuminating in general knowledge terms...I've
>>>requested to watch the operation, but I'm getting the usual
>>>liability/injury response (yeah, I know "watching" is kinda like
>>>witnessing paint dry...I'm interested in the location of the connectors,
>>>the instrument screens, the confidence of the operator, the firmware rev.
>>>numbers, etc. etc.). Think I'll wear my safety boots and take my hardhat
>>>as trump cards...<grin>
>>>
>>>Thanks again, guys,
>>>Geoff.
>>>
>>
>>
>> I suspect that the technician will plug into the OBD II connector under
>> the driver's side of the dash, turn the key, and push a button on the
>> Toyota Hand-Held tester.
>
> Just for completeness, here's the wrap-up:
> Took just over an hour; they wouldn't let me watch (surprise!), but did
> dump for me the before and after cal-IDs for the firmware. Unfortunately,
> I think these came out of their database, rather than by interrogating the
> ECM, which is what I really wanted. So I have "as should be", rather than
> "as is" data <grin>.
> No noticeable difference afterwards, except *perhaps* a lower idle for the
> first 5 minutes...seems to be back to normal now, though, and I may have
> imagined it, and/or it may be unrelated to the ECM change.
> I *did* learn that they had to first download the automatic-trans file
> into the tester, having only the manual-trans file currently on board...
> All in all, fairly painless.
>
> Geoff.
>
Thanks for the update!
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)