Potential Problem with new recall ECU flash
 

Ok, so I just got my car back from that recall that mazda put out and the good news is that I didnt need a new engine so they just reflashed my ecu. Now the car seems to take a little longer to turn over but it SEEMS like i MAY have more performance. Maybe its just in my head but I dunno. I just want to see if anyone else here has had their ecu reflashed for this recall and do you have the problem of the car taking a little longer to turn over? Also does your 8 seem to have more "get up and go" from the midrange on up? :scratchhe

i experienced the same thing, the longer turn over for the engine only lasted a couple starts, it starts right up now just fine. the more "up and go" might be from the new spark plugs, did you have original plugs in before with alot of miles on them?

Nah ive only had the car for 13000 miles. They were replaced with the NGK's per the last recall from mazda

Most people report that their car feels peppier right after a reflash. The reflash also cuts fuel on startup to avoid flooding. That could explain more cranks to start.

Ah, I see said the blind man!

Do you know all of what this flash changed vs the previous one?

mainly the oil meter, pumps a tad more oil during engine revolutions so check it a little more.

I just wanted to give an update to this thread...

Its been a few days and MANY starts later and the problem still has not gone away. I called a few mazda dealers and all said the same thing... this problem has been reported and isnt going away, Its a byproduct of the new PCM flash. I asked if the flash could be changed back to an older version so I dont have to worry about the starting problem and each of them said no. In short... if you want to avoid the problem dont get the recall work done if you dont think you need it (IE not having any kind of problems)

What kind of problem is it if the engine requires a few more cranks but has less (presumably) potential for flooding?

Get it done and you will see.... When it starts it starts HARD. It actually sounds like its just about to quit then it cranks over. Its almost like the air / fuel ratio is WAY off when its trying to start

I had the engine flash (I also have the new battery and starter), and it takes me no longer to start up as it did before. It's possible MAYBE a fraction of a second.. but nothing noticable.

This is WAY noticable. Other people have been calling the dealer complaining about it too. This is what the guy in service told me so I know im not alone on this one (hince me starting the thread). I say call a few dealers and ask them if anyone has called reporting this issue

I still have the original starter ( 5/2003 ) but I do have the larger battery and new plugs. How would the older starter react to this new Flash? I am also out of warranty so would they change my starter? More and more I feel like my fine running 8 will not see a dealer anytime soon. Once I receive the letter I do plan on asking Mazda what they will do if I was to get this flash and my car start to run like crap. If they will not stand behind the flash I am not going to get it.

I dont know how the old starter will react because I have a late model 2005 RX8. I would just hold off for right now if your car is doing fine for time time being. If your really curious though you could call your mazda dealer and see what they know but I doubt they know much.

You might want to call Mazda directly and complain if you are not satisfied with what the dealers say.

Thats already on my list of things to do when I get home today (im at work)

i believe we should keep track of this into the colder winter months and see if this flash effects a truly "cold" start that we in the northeast will experience. I had no trouble last year in some of the freezing weather, but lets just keep and eye open to see what we experience this year with the new flash.

From the main recall thread, it seems that Mazda has reduced the amount of gas delivery on initial cranking. Hence, you are experiencing longer starts. It makes sense that you are experiencing consistently longer starts.

I assume Mazda did this to reduce the chance of flooding the engine (or increase the chance of deflooding it if it was somewhat flooded).

As others have said, we've yet to see whether this will actually be a problem in cold temperatures.

In fact, the recall letter to owners says that one of the problems is that "Too much fuel may be injected at the time of engine start causing carbon to be deposited on spark plugs or plugs may be flooded, causing a difficult start condition."