MOG

Did anybody got his ECU re-flashed in Montreal area? Got my 8 last August and I getting very annoyed by the very poor MPG. Best so far is 375km with a full thank while driving like a nanny on the highway. At this point I'll take anything that can improve my MPG and performance!!!

My dealer is denying the existence of such re-flash.

Rotator

I am in Toronto and am also suffering from dealer ignorance about the existence of an "L" or "M" pcm flash.
One dealer said he has V B30.6. but he wasn’t convenient to visit.
Went to a dealer close by and asked to flash to 30.6 thinking this was the "M" version.
They had the car for half a day, managed to scratch it up (only discovered after I drove away)
Did the brake test - no needle movement
Phoned dealer to ask what version in the WDS - response 30.3.
Why 30.3 when I asked for 30.6? Their response – that was what was on the disc.
Move to another dealer - can't get 30.6 loaded for whatever reason.
Puts in 30.8 - car there for 5 hours.
This dealer polishes out scratches from other dealer – Kudos to them for doing this.
Pick up car - 20 pulses of the brake no movement.
I'm no drummer, but I'm sure I can do over 20 pulses in 8 seconds.
WTF?
So my questions are:

What is V30.3, 30.6, 30.8?
Should I see the needle move on an “M” flash?

How do I determine what version the PCM is?

8zoom

A Technical Service Bulletin was issued April 12 telling dealers to flash all PCMs to the "M" calibration. A link to a thread discussing the subject is https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...threadid=25613

The TSB itself can be found at http://www.finishlineperformance.com...1-04-1273d.pdf

Make a copy of the TSB and take it in to your dealer, this should help.

8zoom

Oh by the way, there's no such thing as an "N" flash, at least not this week.

baze

Hey MOG,

Which Montreal dealer did you go to? They seem pretty lame.

I have to try try out some service departments to see which ones are up to speed....

Thanks!

MOG

So far, I've been going to Boucherville Mazda, they are completely ignorant about the car! They are not even aware of what flooding mean and pretty much all other known issue on the 8. I'm going there for the third time next week to get my brake looked at, squeaking like an old bus since day one. My previous Honda dealer know more about the 8 then those guys!!!

RXATE

I was at Downtown Mazda yesterday. Took the M flash bulletin with me. They knew nothing about. Did not come on their computer. Needless to say I did not get reflashed.

SQ88

I got my car flashed yesterday at Airport Mazda and the service manager said that they flashed it with the "M" version. On the work order, it indicates "M 30.8". Not sure why they are using 30.8 instead of just the "M"...may be this is what Mazda Canada uses!

Anyway, the car seems to run alot better now. I can't wait to see improvement in gas mileage.

baze

Read the service bulletin, and it tells you (or the maintenance tech) how to determine what version you are on. Interesting stuff. It also identifies the 30.8 nomenclature.

jays8

I got mine reflashed last week. I have no clue which i got but i beleive he indicated 30.6 was the disc he had (not sure, maybe 30.3). Is this "L". I must say i think the car seems more sluggish. The long starts are gone but it feels like it lost power. Is 30.8 the "M". Maybe i got the "k". WTF. I looked everwhere on the car and can't find the code, not even on the work order.
Anybody else noticed a lose in power after the falsh?

BIU

its not a lost in power.... after the flash the power is distributed more smoothly across the whole power band so you wont feel as much as a jerk or feel of instant power like before.

MOG

I did exactly this morning, and you guys know what I was told!!!!!

"Sir, this service bulletin is for US only, I doubt that we will be able to do something, we'll verify with Mazda Canada"

This is ridiculous. Did anybody got it done in Canada? Do we have a Canadian equivalent service bulletin? Is it normal that we (RX-8 owner) have to instruct Mazda service people?

Danomite

I had my car flashed in TO at Avante Mazda. Their service department is great, and the service order says my PCM was reflashed with their latest version.

However, I have no idea what the dealership's "latest" version is. I tried asking the service guy and he couldn't tell me the calibration code. I tried the 20 times in 8 sec brake pedal thing, but no movement of the oil needle.

On the plus side, the car idles smoother (had spark plugs replaced too), and I don't have to turn the starter as long to get it started. I don't know if this true, or not, but the car feels like it has slightly more pull in the lower ranges from 3000 - 5000 rpm.

On the minus side, the clutch feels a lot heavier than before. Not sure if this has something to do with the damper recall service done on my car.

Gord96BRG

I brought that TSB to my Calgary dealer last week when I asked for the latest flash, got the "we'll see if it needs it" story, and I said "No, it needs it - this service bulletin says that every RX-8 needs it, no faults required". They said "can we keep this?", and did the flash no problem.

My work order does not indicate the version, but the brake pedal test (turn ignition on but do not start, tap brake pedal 20 times within 8 seconds - the oil pressure gauge will then sweep from bottom to halfway and back down again. This was introduced with the L flash as a way to identify the flash without having the diagnostics hooked up) works, so I have at least the L flash. According to canzoomer, the fuel/timing tuning are pretty much identical between L and M, so I'm happy enough!

Regards,
Gordon

MadJoker

getting mine done tomorow in valleyfield, but I know brossard has it to

MOG

I finally got it done at my dealer yesterday, there a appreciable difference at high rev, but I'll have to wait a little to comment if MPG was improved...

sto16

MOG, what did you ask to get it. Last time I called my dealer, they were lost.

Which dealer did you go?

regards,

Simon.

MOG

Boucherville Mazda, 10 minutes away from L-H tunnel.. They where unable to tell me which version of the software (L or M) I was updated to, but they told me that CD was received few days ago…

MadJoker

Had it done today in valleyfield, brossard has it to cause I went there to look at the mazda 3 and 6 , ..

sto16

Hey guy's.

What do you tell them to get the flash?

I'm asking because I called one dealer near my house and they told me thet will ONLY flash my car if the check engine light came on. I could lie, but they will find out when they check with there computer tool.

Maybe I should go to Valleyfield or St-Constant.

Thanks

GO! HABS GO!

Simon

MyRxBad

iTrader: (1)

sto16: check the TSB list as they have revised the one calling for the "M" flash. All cars are to have it done when someone brings in the car for something else (ie. recall, servicing).

Basically from what I've read, they won't bring the car in just to flash it, but if it's in the shop for any reason then they should flash it (doesn't matter if there was a CEL or not.)

sto16

Thanks MyRxBad

Just on time for my second oil change. 10K

Simon.

Murray

I brought my 8 in just before hearing about the M flash for prolonged cranking on warm startup.All they did at the time was reset the ECU.Since then I've experienced the same problem, 2 more times.I asked my service manager about the mandatory reflash in the U.S. and he said he is just getting news of this for Canada.Shouldn't be too much longer I hope.

Also, I see the oil pan replacement has also become mandatory for specific VIN's.Can anyone confirm this?If so I think I'll wait for everything to be done in one visit.

MadJoker

I brought it in for oil change , ask about the flash, Service guy said Ok i'll put it on but ill write that the light came on..

He also put a sticker in my door telling that a mazda autorized modification was done and there's a bunch of numbers finishing off with a nice - M so I guess it means The M flash

pauleta

Went to get the airbag recall and oil change, mentioned to the service guy at the counter I wanted the pcm upgraded. He said he'd put it on the work order. When I came back to pick it up, he told me they didn't flash it because they don't have an update from Mazda yet. He said to call back to find out when they get it.