Dealer Refusing Reflash
 

My dealer refused reflash, I told him about the TSB but he said unless there is a problem, Mazda and the warantee will not pay for that reflash. I quote that it said all cars brought in for any kind of service should receive the reflash to prevent flooding issues. In response, he tells me that's not the case and he's been at Mazda for 20 years. Damn these dealers! Anybody in SoCal know of a service guy I can call to hook me up with a reflash? I don't understand why there is still so much miscommunication between Mazda and the dealerships? I don't think bringing in the TSB would help much because he got all turned off when I said I did receive this information from the Internet.

Go to Long Beach Ford, They purchased the mazda franchise and even though they are still trying to get the accessories in, the service has been exceptionally good. Look for Juan or Steve they will take care of you in the service department. here is the number 562-426-5110 tell them Bryan(RX8 T-Gray) sent you. I hope that helps

***Call First***

Re: Dealer Refusing Reflash
 

Fer cryin out loud, why would you have not BROUGHT the TSB to show him in writing what Mazda says? Of course it will make a difference - it's a Mazda TSB, if you can show him the printout of it and he sees the TSB number, he can confirm it's real - otherwise, it's just hearsay.

I don't understand why you wouldn't have brought the printout with you in the first place - after reading here of problems that others had when they just TOLD their dealers here about it, you should have expected a problem!

Regards,
Gordon

I would just go in tell them that your car is taking about 4-5 seconds to start sometimes and you're afraid that it is about to flood. They will then have a reason to give you the re-flash. Another thing to do would be to go in with the car and get some other warranty work done like the AC amplifier and insist on them doing it with the work.

My local dealer tried to deny it to me as well and I called MNAO and complained. The customer service person I was talking to called the dealership up and had it all approved for me to go in and get it taken care of. They also didn't like the complaint they got from me with MNAO.

Call 1-800-222-5500 and open a complaint on the guy.

Internet or not...the bulletin spells it out in black and white.

going to call MNAO
 

Thanks for the responses. I brought the car in for scheduled maintance and requested a reflash at the same time. Yea, I probably should have brought in the TSB paper but the problem is the guy that takes in the car and fills out the work order usually doesn't know anything about the car. I told him to reflash the ECU and he put reflash ECU on the order. He said they just go to the computer and Mazda tells them exactly what needs to be done on the car according to VIN, "their computer will tell them", he told me. So he probably would have just told me to keep my papers. But then later, another guy calls me and tells me the car's ready. I ask about the reflash and he said you don't need one, yada yada. Over the phone, I can only tell him the TSB number and I doubt he is willing to wait for me to go over there and show it to him if he's already writing me off. It's a damn inefficient service structure.

when it took mine in i ask for the same flash when i was getting my oil changed .he said if their had not been a problem he could not do the reflash and kept repeating himself to me so i finally told him want he wanted to hear .he said if their is a problem mazda will pay the dealership for the reflash if not it comes out of their pocket.so just tell him want he wants to hear you have or had a problem with hard starts

OMG
 

OH MY GOD, this is sooo FRUSTRATING! I just called MNAO and this woman picked up the phone. I explained everything and then she asks me what the ECU chip is. Then I have her call the Claremont dealership where I dropped my car off. She talks to the service advisor and the service advisor says they can't do it unless I have a legitimate problem. I give her the damn bulletin number, and she says the bulletin is only for issues with flooding. Then I read her the damn statement that says it's for all cars even for cars brought in for scheduled maintenance. Then again, she starts talking about how stuff on the Internet is different and can be altered. Instead of a 12 page report, she has a 3 page report and tells me there is no way Mazda would release the TSB report to the public. At this point, I'm yelling at the woman and telling her to just read the TSB carefully. But she tells me she can't do anythin and the great service advisor at Claremont has spoken. If you can't go to MNAO, who can you go to?

Her supervisor

Back to square one. Print off the TSB and highlight the part that says that mazda will update anyone without the flash. SHOW it to your service writer, and if necessary, the service manager.

I've seen that Wooo Wooo video.

My dealer just reflashed my new 8 and said it was free when ever i wanted one. there was a 35 dollar charge billed to mazda.with the work order stating customer request ecu update.

Kick all of them in the balls. Then go to another dealership.

disbelief
 

You're not gonna believe this. I printed out the TSB, underlined the lines that say all cars should receive the M-flash, brought it into the service advisor Larry at Claremont Mazda, and made him read it. He took about 3 minutes reading those 3 lines and then said he can't do it. He said it's not on the recall or any notice that Mazda sends him, so there's nothing he can do. I repeated the three lines, it says right here, even if the car is brought in for scheduled maintance which is what the car is here for, it should receive the M-flash.

I guess I have no other choice but to go to another place. Dammit, I'm going to be out of town for a month. Anybody know of any way I can get the M-flash by Thursday?

That level of customer service is completely UNACCEPTABLE...
BTW, what dealership is this?

I would not only go back there and file a written complaint with the Service manager AND the General Manager, but I would call MNAO, and file a report on the customer service representative who was not very helpful.
I would then make sure the MNAO files another complaint on your behalf against the dealership who would not listen to reason.

I realize this is quite a bit of work and it will not even guarantee that you will get your reflash but it is something that needs to be done.

Without doing all of the above, your frustration and time consumption will go unnoticed and nothing will ever be done about it.
(check my profile for employment. I deal with these things from time to time but on a much LARGER scale: $$$)

Unfortunately the dealership refuses to do the work, not because it would be time consuming or that they can't bill it to Mazda (b/c they CAN) but for the simple fact that the service rep refuses to admit that he was wrong. (TSB proved that)

The worst part about this is that he has forgotten that above all, the customer must come first.

I apologize for the long post but customer service is always a touchy subject for me....

GOOD LUCK!





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Try the better business bureau too. BBB.org i think