After I had read so much good about the "L" flash, I made an appointment at my dealership, brought 8 in this morning and told them that the car was running a bit rough in idle in the morning (true) and didn't deliver the 24 mpg (I get 19 to 20).

They didn't harass me or anything, a good experience.

3h later I come back and they had..

- put in new hotter spark plugs
- reflashed to level M
- relearned CKP

Now that surprised me. I thought level M was for cold climates only? @32 Fahrenheit? When I said "rough in the morning", that means at 10am and it's 60F then???

The 20 times pumping the brake test shows that something changed and I also note that the oil pressure gauge shows a bit higher now.

I never had a flood problem, not sure why I got the new plugs.

- Does the M include the improvements of the L level?

I've driven it 12 miles since, honestly, I cannot find a difference, but I was in traffic all those miles. Maybe late tonight I can go play. Uh, oh, it's the month's end, cops out everywhere. I better wait.

 

According to reliable sources, there is little difference between the L and M version flashes. I don't know the exact differences, but the A/F ratios should be nearly identical. There were supposedly two versions of the L flash, one for colder and one for warmer climates. This may hold true for the M version, as well. You should have all the benefits of the L version flash.

 

I would have thought that each flash rolled up the previous flashes, but maybe that's just coming from a systems admin background.

Anyway, which dealer did you go to? I've been thinking of all the tall tales I'll tell to get a flash, and I'd love not to have worry about it so much.

 

My dealer is "MARINA MOTOR COMPANY" in Capitola, about 45 miles from Fremont. All in all I've been pleased with them, the 8 is my second new car I bought there.

 

Well, I'm in Virginia and went to Hampton Mazda. They reflashed mine to the L version with little fuss. Just tell them your vehicle has repeatedly almost not started (turned over forever before starting) and you've seen your check engine light come on and off a couple times. Tell them specifically about the PCM reflash (show them the TSB printed from Rosenthal Mazda) and tell them you know this will solve these problems you've been having. If that doesn't do it, find another dealer and tell MNAO.

 

Those resources are not so reliable! There is only 1 L flash & 1 M flash. M has all the improvements of L, & some additions to help prevent the flooding during cold starts.

Bottom line- Get the M!

 

If you do the 20-tap brake test you will erase the "learning". I haven't learned a plausible explanation for what exactly it "learns" though. I can say that I did the test and learned that I am "pre-L" (my vin is a few hundred shy). After doing the test I noticed 2 things that persisted for several days. 1) apparently better fuel mileage and 2) somewhat rougher running. Both of these traits were only mildly changed and both returned to their former states after week or so (i.e. engine smoothed out again and has its usual thirst for fuel).

There is a procedure in one of the TSBs relating to putting the car through a relearning sequence.

 

If you're getting 20mpg, I really wouldn't worry too much.. that's excellent!!

 

yeah, I know, lots of people getting less than 15 mpg, but I still believe that one should be getting the EPA number without obscure tricks like set cruise control to 55 mph or similar.

In all other vehicles I've had, I was able to achieve EPA's highway number and my girlfriend would even surpass them - she drives gentler than I do.

-Peter

 

Wow 19-20 mpg....I wish I could get that. Just got my car flashed...L flash which is Mazda's latest and greatest. The tech told me they can't pick and chose what flash you get...depends on what your computer aready has and if there's any updates since you will get that with the next flash. So far the car is real rough when cold but after that it seems smoother and better...have to wait to see if gas mileage improves any. Had a valve sensor replaced on wheel(kit tool broke off in it and ruined it)....had a flat tire and hole the size of your thumb in sidewall on my winter tire. Had them switched out to stock tires while there. I will update if I notice any other changes with the flash.

 

i get about 160 - 185 miles on a full tank of premium ($2.00 a gallon)

I didn't buy the car for gas milage

 

I got the L today; I have a first increment car (from the first ship over); the invoice said I had H flash from the factory. Some dealers seem to reflash "on demand"; I had to talk my dealer into it with a song-and-dance about running rough. Even then, he said "We'll have to see if you're eligible." But they did it. when I return from vacation on the 10th I'll start running mpg calculations. I've been getting 16.8 mpg pretty reliably till now.

 

The M-flash is for any climate. I took mine in to Marlin Mazda today for stalling, white smoke and strong chemical smells from the exhaust, slow revs and 14 MPG during normal driving, it's much worse when I haul tail. They gave me the M flash,plugs,detail and oil and filter change for no charge along with the air bag fix. They are a pleasure to deal with and I will give them and excellent rating. Driving home I noticed a little more responsiveness, I will measure MPG accordingly although they called Mazda to complain about the MPG and Mazda's response was that the 14-15 MPG was normal and fell within EPA's criteria. I will call Mazda's customer service as this is 1 MPG below EPA's range and certainly not the target range for sedate driving.

 

I'm gettng 17-19 MPG, it runs like a dream, and It came off the boat in February....Any reason to take it in for the L-flash?

 

I brought mine in because I thought even with 19-20 it would be nicer to get even 21-22 instead :-)
I drive 100 miles roundtrip to work, so the mpg do matter a bit.
Plus I had indeed the rough idle in the morning.

Then again, if it ain't broken, don't fix it.

I learnt that today again the hard way. Picked up my RX-8 from the dealership and they had scraped the leather steering wheel. A ~ 2 inches long kind of cut.

I didn't bother taking the car home. They'll fix that tomorrow.

That's the 4th time that they've damaged my car. On other occasions they scraped my door, put a dent in the RX-8 when it was a week old, ruined a rim.

I cannot say that they don't try to please me. They always repair their shop damage. Just makes me wonder what they do next time.

 

im fortunate that i havent experienced the flooding, nor the rough idle. on average i get about 240 to 260 total miles with mixed highway and city, on a full tank of premium. I just purchased my car this month, it was built in january 2004, and delivered to port in february, purchased in march. I consider myself lucky that mazda ironed out most of the quirks that the earlier owners were experiencing. I just wanted to thank everyone out there for their input. this is an excellent source of info exchange.

happy rotoring.

 

What is the VIN where cars came with the 'L'?

I am getting 20-21 MPG consistantly and actually hit 23+ MPG the other day through 2 tankfulls when traveling on the highway at 70-75 MPH. I am guessing I have the 'L' already.

 

I'd like to know the same.

 

i am curious. was there any charge for all that work they did, the m flash, new plugs, etc?

 

I have to say this for my dealer...they surprised me yesterday. After seeing all the posts about having to fool the dealer into reflashing the '8' I was expecting a big tussle...

So I went into the dealer to ask about the VIN number thingee and the repair dude said that he didn't know the number (he looked on his comp) but that if I bring the car in he would hook it up to his gizmo machine and update my car to the latest flash that was out there. Coolies!

Next oil change I am there!

Still would like to know that VIN number however.

 

Just got back from the dealership, and had my oil changed and the airbag recall done. Asked about re-flashing with the "L" flash, and they said sure no problem!

Didn't notice much of a ride diff. on the way home, but I'll check MPG and report.

I've been getting 16.5 average, with a low of 14.9 and a high of 20.

 

I didn't pay a penny. The service writer said it is under warranty.

(?)

 

Just got back from the dealer. Got an oil change and my friend in the service dept put the M flash on.

I can't quantify it in numbers but let me say this... I feels almost like a different engine. I had a slight lag when I hit 6k rpm... gone. I have more power off the line and more power between 6-9k now, feels that way at least.

My MPG was pretty good about 18 or so before the flash. I drove the **** out of it on the way home, about 25 miles in stop and go and the needle only dropped one bar and I had only used about an 1/8th of a full tank when I brought it in.. Need to test with a full tank but I am stoked.

I totally believe Baller's post about his test of the L vs factory default flash now. Not that I doubted it before but I have experienced it first hand now.

 

PTIEMMANN

You sure they are not out road racing and drifting your car???

I would look for another dealer.

 

Had my car in today for recalls and asked them to flash me. (Tampa FL, Ferman Mazda on Florida) no problem... they flashed it with "M". Also noted that the center console door had a problem and there was a chip missing on the rail that it slides on... they ordered a new one under warranty.

Regards flash, I normally get between 19 and 21. I wanted the flash because it is supposedly the best update for the CZ Stage 1. My wife had her's flashed last week. I will look at the invoice and see what she got.