Hello Fellow RX-8 Owners!

First I want to say, forgive me - I'm hoping I've made the right choice as to where I should post this question/thread. I'm also new here in posting - but I've been reading for some time.

I've a very young owner of my RX-8. I've only owned it about a month now and I just recently noticed something... A Mazda Authorized Modification sticker, in the inside of driver's side door well (?) only visible when the door is opened quite a bit. From what I gather it just says that there's been an official Mazda Mod done to my car but I don't know what it is.

For a bit of background - I'm the second owner. It's a '05 AT Touring with 7k miles on it. It looks like it's hardly used and spent most of it's time in a garage as far as I can tell. I assume its a very negligible mod - whatever it may be. I assumed the car was still entirely Touring stock under the hood. Maybe a simple interior mod?

Here is a quick cell phone photo snap of the sticker. (Sorry about the poor quality! - I believe the code reads:
POM: 03za-18881- H)

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http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g43/gyric/DSC00066.jpg

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Any clue as to what this mod maybe? Or maybe a place I can refer too to find a list of these Official Mazda Modification codes and what they are?

Thanks in advance!!

-Niric

That should be PCM, not POM

and the number after it, is the revision of the mod that you have.

looks like they flashed your PCM with new settings.

That should be PCM, not POM

and the number after it, is the revision of the mod that you have.

Ah - PCM is it? Hmm. I believe I understand. So if its a revision of a mod, could that mean a recall of some sort was completed on the car? I really don't know what Mods have been done to the car as I'm the 2nd owner.

Is there a place I can look on my paper work or online to find out what mods my car has had done to it? Maybe an email of that code to Mazda?

None-the-less I'm mainly just curious. I'm not having any problems of any kind.

Thanks for the reply nycgps!

-Niric

what a coincidence !!!!!!

i have the same sticker in the same place but i dont remember the code # right now. My car is a '04 MT sport package.

I'll check and see if we have the same code, by now you made me curious :uhh:

looks like they flashed your PCM with new settings.

Ah, I see! I did run by my local dealer for some parts pricing. I asked the parts guy about the sticker and he was happy to run out and take a look at it for me. And now that you say that Jedi54 - that sounds exactly like what he was guessing. Well, I'll try to find out what this PCM device is and what it does, then. I really have no idea... Haha.

I have little to no knowledge of cars, let alone one with a Rotary in it... I have always been fascinated and eager to learn more about cars though. I really wish I knew how to do half the things I see people talking about on the forums here. Still - I'm very proud to have such an amazing and unique car. (It's still hard to believe its mine!) Hell of an upgrade from my get-me-by 95' Merc Tracer. Hahaha.

Ok, bit of a ramble there. I'll shut up.

Thanks for the reply as well Jedi54!

-Niric

what a coincidence !!!!!!

i have the same sticker in the same place but i dont remember the code # right now. My car is a '04 MT sport package.

I'll check and see if we have the same code, by now you made me curious :uhh:

Haha. Woah. Maybe it's fairly common then? That sounds good though First-Rotary. I'm curious to see if you have the same code as well then!

-Niric

PCM is pretty much the computer that runs the car.
Last year they recalled the RX-8's and one of the repair procedures was to give it some new parameters. Mazda developes the code, and the dealer 'flashes' the car with the new settings.

I have all of my stickers.

PCM is pretty much the computer that runs the car.
Last year they recalled the RX-8's and one of the repair procedures was to give it some new parameters. Mazda developes the code, and the dealer 'flashes' the car with the new settings.

Interesting... So it was more or less the confirmation of a recall of some sort. I wonder if it's safe to say that other recalls were performed on the car then?

I did set up an Owners account on the Mazda official site. It made it look like they would tell you if your car had any necessary recalls. (It has you input your vin# and such.) Could it be they've already been performed? Or are the other recalls just something they will give you if you have a problem with the part?

-Niric

No big deal, that just means that the dealership that your car been to actually doing quite a good job.

My car's computer has been updated at dealership at LEAST 3 times. None of which got the stickers that they MUST MUST MUST stick it on after flashing.

So, dont worry be happy (Oh btw, there is a even newer flash out there, if you still under warranty, go to your dealership ask them to update it)

Every time you get a sticker... Your car goes faster.

Every time you get a sticker... Your car goes faster.

only if the sticker is on the outside attached to body panels.

Damn, then how do you explain the fact that I have 18 more HP than most of the other 25 club members that dyno'd on the same day?

Interesting... So it was more or less the confirmation of a recall of some sort. I wonder if it's safe to say that other recalls were performed on the car then?

I did set up an Owners account on the Mazda official site. It made it look like they would tell you if your car had any necessary recalls. (It has you input your vin# and such.) Could it be they've already been performed? Or are the other recalls just something they will give you if you have a problem with the part?


The web site is kind of random on recall information. It might tell you if there's a current recall, but does not keep track of what's been done to your car.

If you contact any dealer's service department, or Mazda NA Ops, and give them your VIN, they can tell you everything that's been done to your car by a Mazda dealer.

Recalls are done to every car, whether there are symptoms or not. There are also Technical Service Bulletins that describe fixes to cars that have particular problems. For example, there's a TSB on replacing a broken heater knob, but they're not going to replace your knob unless it's broken. There are also TSBs that descibe improved service procedures, like the one that says how to remove the center console without breaking the retaining latches.

Ken

No big deal, that just means that the dealership that your car been to actually doing quite a good job.

My car's computer has been updated at dealership at LEAST 3 times. None of which got the stickers that they MUST MUST MUST stick it on after flashing.

So, dont worry be happy (Oh btw, there is a even newer flash out there, if you still under warranty, go to your dealership ask them to update it)

Thanks nycgps! Yeah - I think my car is still inside it's manufacture warranty by a bit. It's got like 6-8 months or so left, I believe. I'll have to check with my local Mazda dealer here about that then. I'm sure I would have had no idea about that unless you had told me.

I really appreciate the advice and information!

-Niric

The web site is kind of random on recall information. It might tell you if there's a current recall, but does not keep track of what's been done to your car.

If you contact any dealer's service department, or Mazda NA Ops, and give them your VIN, they can tell you everything that's been done to your car by a Mazda dealer.

Recalls are done to every car, whether there are symptoms or not. There are also Technical Service Bulletins that describe fixes to cars that have particular problems. For example, there's a TSB on replacing a broken heater knob, but they're not going to replace your knob unless it's broken. There are also TSBs that descibe improved service procedures, like the one that says how to remove the center console without breaking the retaining latches.

Ken

Ken, thats some really good info. I'm about as new to this stuff as I could be. (http://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php?p=2278224&postcount=668)

I'll definitely have to give my local Mazda dealer a call about this then.

I was wondering what the difference between recalls and TSBs were, as well. I'm glad you cleared that up for me.

I need to get the car good and in order while the factory warranty is still live. I assume things like the PCM update aren't free with non-Mazda extended warranties. Though, I honestly have no idea.

Thanks Ken, this info is really useful to me!

-Niric

i think everyone has a sticker there. i know i do.

afaik, pcm = powertrain control module. aka, the cars computer.