4.90 - What is a TSB ?
Description
This article is from the Toyota Tundra FAQ, by Steve Yee with numerous contributions by others.
4.90 - What is a TSB ?
A TSB is a Technical Service Bulletin. It generally appears in the form of a
service manual add-on or notice that is updated quarterly by the manufacturer
and sent out to dealers.
TSB's perform three primary functions.
1) Informative/Instructive: These types of TSB's add information that is
normally not needed in the owner's manual but may be necessary to
operate/program an additional accessory or perform a certain duty. Two
examples of this are the seatbelt extender instructions (TSB BO004-99), and how
to "dinghy" tow your Tundra (TSB AX001-01).
2) Dealer preparation: These types of TSB's give specific instructions as to
how to handle certain types of situations. For example, TSB# PG006-00 deals
with how a dealer can order a replacement Emission Control Label in case your
hood gets wrecked and has to be replaced.
3) Modifications: This type of TSB is used for a wide variety of reasons. Some
can be as innocent as a new replacement part or modification for an item that
is non-crucial in the safety and integrity of the vehicle, (for example, TSB
BO013-00 deals with a modification of the interior Dome Lamp) to actual
modifications of the truck that is involved with a major component (such as TSB
# BR003-00 dealing with replacing front brake pad kits if you have problems
with them.) This type of TSB released is sometimes done in place of a recall.
In general, TSB's that are performed by the dealership while the Tundra is
under warranty usually will be done for free.
There are times in which a TSB that is done to your vehicle is not covered
under warranty and you can be charged for parts and labor. For example, the
Seat Track Kit for model year 2000 Tundras with bench seats are not required to
be installed into your Tundra, and it does nothing for the safety or proper
operation of your Tundra. It does reduce 95% of the vibration in the seat, but
the lack of the bracket installation does not compromise the safety or
integrity of the vehicle in general. In cases such as this, you may be charged
for the installation. (Please note, this is highly unlikely).
Please be aware that in many cases, TSB's cover specific "ranges" within an
entire production run and do not cover every vehicle made during that tooling
run. For example, TSB EG003-00 covers a limited number of VIN's within the
range of 5TB####1#YS030022 that may have a cooling reservoir problem. (Note,
The FAQ considers a production run to be a batch of vehicles done from a
specific calendar date to another specific calendar date. A tooling run is a
group of consecutive production runs using the same molds, parts, sheet metal,
etc. Tooling runs can span multiple model years and most if not all of the
parts are interchangeable from one model year to the next in a tooling run. A
new tooling run is when a major group of items, such as exterior sheet metal,
frame, etc. prompts the factory to re-tool (reconfigure) all the robotic
machines and retrain all the manufacturing personnel to produce the revised
vehicle.)
If you have any questions in regards to TSB's and your Tundra, please contact
your dealer or your service advisor.
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