Oil change at my dealership was $30 ($29 and some change).

The new flash was applied and I have not noticed an increase in power but it seems to be smoother.

 

I guess I'll do mine when I get my 30k service.

 

please keep me updated. The last time for a reflash, Mazda Canada sent me a letter.

 

Mine was in today for some transmission probs (and the sunvisor + parking brake lever snap), and it was getting flashed as well. I'll just reflash back with the AP. They called me back after looking at the tranny (no issues found, of course) and said there was an open campaign that required a reflash.

 

What were you transmission problems? I thought my transmission was questionable, the 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd shifts have never felt perfect. I just changed the transmission fluid to Redline and its much better, no longer feels like you are pushing through molasses. I can't imagine how good it would be combined with a short shifter.

 

You have to go in prepared with all your documentation, print the TSB-MSP out. Lets hope you dont need them but if you do you have them.

 

I called my dealer and told them that there was a new flash out (MSP16) and that I would like to see when I could bring the car in. The guy starts out by telling me that they usually don't do any flashes if there is nothing wrong with the car, etc, etc.... Then I told them that "The Letter" says that all vehicles should get this flash..
He said that he never heard of this "letter" and that I should bring the letter in and take it from there....

.... About 5 minutes later, he calls back and asks me when I wanted to bring the car in.... he checked on the computer and it showed that my car needed the re-flash..... funny....

 

my car probably needs to be reflashed. i took mine in today for an oil change and tire rotation and told them about my rough idle and how she will shake voilently. the tech looked at but said the mounts were good. so i have to go back on tuesday and the certified tech is going to look at it. i will keep you posted if the flash helped or if it is something else.

 

The dealers usually aren't as on top of these things as the owners are today. The internet has completely altered the car ownership experience, and I mean that in a good way.

 

You know a couple of years back I took my 8 in for a TSB, and my service writer, who is pretty good and a nice guy, told me that he had never heard of it so I produced the printout, and he took it back to the Mechanic. Service writer comes back and embarassedly says that he had just never heard of it, and that the Tech looked it up and that they would do it.

I pointed out that it is easy for me because I only have the one model to track. He has fourteen or so models produced over the past ten years and that he shouldn't sweat it. He looks at me, and says yeah that's true!

I don't think that he had ever even thought of it, but keeping up on TSBs on every current and past models is a large burden on top of doing the day to day of getting people's cars in and out and doing diagnostics. It is completely understandable that a service department might not know of every model that has a TSB released.

 

Though I understand the reasoning, somehow I would expect expert Mazda mechanics and dealerships to have a good line of communication with Mazda Corporate and be made aware the INSTANT a TSB is released.

We are in 2008, we have e-mail and telephones and faxes.

When dealerships charge a premium to do service and try to force you by lying about warranty issues to get service done only at dealerships... I'm sorry, but I dont think they deserve the leniency.

However, if the TSB is released in the morning and you go in that afternoon... well you cant blame them.

Id be lenient for a week I guess.

Now, is Mazda or the dealership to blame about the communication issues... thats another story. I dont know...

 

We'll have to agree to disagree because the volume of material these guys get and are expected to read on top of their day to day money producing activities is fairly large.

It's how they act when you show them the material that tells the difference between a good service department and a bad one. If they stone wall, then not so good, but if they accept the material and do the work with an apology, well that's OK then.

It isn't a communication error. It is the fact that your car is just one of many, many models that they have to maintain and be responsible for. There are other customers besides we elite 8 owners, and they all have to be helped.

 

^^^

You guys are letting the techs of too easy. The computer system they use (WDS) is really user friendly. In fact when the tech inputs your VIN # it will automatically bring up any/all TSB's related to it. It will even catagorize the TSB's. For instance, the tech types in the VIN #, and can enter the problem the car is in for, "loss of power", it will display all TSB's related to "loss of power" for that VIN.

 

Haze, like I said, we are in 2008. Its not like he has to read Mazda TSB's weekly on the can to keep up to date.

I dont expect them to know how to do every procedure by heart, just be aware of them, or keep their equipment up to date is all.

But you are right, that the most important thing is how they react, and how good the service is once they are aware of it.

 

I had the MSP16 reflash done last Friday at Rich Morton Mazda. Took the car in for an oil change, replacement of broken heater ****, and taillight condensation. For $34 I got all of the above plus the reflash and the dipstick ventilation TSB. The car feels much stronger from 3500 to 6000 rpm.

 

Got the flash done this morning and the even did engine cleaner too. I'm out of warranty and I didn't have to pay a penny!
There is a noticeable increase in power & smoothness but I'm not sure if thats just because they "reset the trim" as someone posted earlier... but I hope they were wrong and it stays the way!

Props to Southern States Mazda in Raleigh NC, Ive always had great service from them.

 

Actually, I didn't have to print anything out. I didn't mention the MSP to them, since I didn't really want the reflash. They called me and let me know that they had just completed doing it. I'll flash it back to my previous map tonight.

 

I've got my oil change and PCM flash scheduled for next Monday afternoon - just as my '8 comes out of its Winter hibernation. The service manager did appear aware of the MSP16 TSB. As Gomer Pyle would say... surprise, surprise.

 

I got the new flash when I plugged in my AccessPORT... then changed to a better flash

 

No, no, no. That isn't the point.

The point that I am making is that if you ask them on the phone or when you walk in BEFORE THEY PUT THE CAR ON THE COMPUTER, that it is pretty unreasonable to expect them to have the TSBs right on the top of their minds.

As I said, when they tell you it doesn't exist, but go into the computer and find out that it does, an apology and a repair is great service. A guy who stone walls to save face is a problem.

I just don't think that you can expect the guys to know this stuff off the top of their heads.

 

Gotcha, my fault for reading those couple of posts to fast. I agree, its not fair to expect a service advisor to memorize every TSB for all the models.

 

the dealer i went to keep insisting that mazda won't cover the msp under extended powertrain.. annoying -.- stupid munday mazda

 

Checked in with the service manager this morning and he said they still had no MSP16 notice for the Canadian dealers.

I'll keep checking with him weekly and let you know.

 

You should ask him is there newer ECU flash for your year of 8.

 

MSP16 deals with using the car at "high ambient temperatures"... i.e. summer. So for most, this TSB can probably wait until the next oil change. Don't think anyone has to get it done immediately.