So what's the news from the Mazda ECU flash????

Maurice?

Dave??

Come on men, throw us a bone!

 

I guess Maurice got too busy to post yet. Maybe he's getting a dyno run done. I'll let out some things he mentioned to me.
Mazda did change the fuel map. They appear to be trying to improve the mileage, so they leaned it out between 5000 to 7000 or so. Then they richened it even more. They also leaned it out down low, so much so we wonder how many stock cars operated near sea level are going to trip the detonation sensing system (which works very well, BTW).

Sooo, Maurice and the rest of the tuning team have managed to remove the dips in power. I think we are going to Stage 1.1 with timing mods. as well as fuel. Upgrades will be at minimal cost. I'm finishing a PCB we will add to all units (it's actually designed for stage 2, but as I've said, stage 2 just adds some "stuff" to the stage 1 hardware and requires exhaust mods.).

What would you think if an RX-8 passed you going 180 km/hr, then slowed down. Passed you again at 130, then slowed down to 80, etc. etc. at 2 in the morning on the major Calgary/Edmonton highway .

 

I'd think... Kewl! :D

Thanks for the tidbit, Dave.

 

SO are we going to have to ship our stage 1's in to get the upgrades? Or will it be something the enterprising can manage at home?

 

Hi RX-Friend,

Please excuse me, but I'm a little confused. Can you please clarify?

"Mazda leaned it out...and then richened it even more..."

I know you said there is no initial, apparant impact to Stage 1. Do you think there might be some impact down the road?

 

Sorry, I just reread that and what I should have said was "and then richened it even more above that RPM".

The units will have to be sent in to have the extra bits added and the program flashed. This will be in a month or so, I would guess. Hopefully, we will be very busy starting tomorrow!

Eventually Mazda will mess up the map enough that the first Stage 1 boxes will have to be reprogrammed. We're not there yet. As I said, this will be done at minimal cost. I think you'll like the changes! It will also mean moving up to Stage 2 will be less expensive, as it will just be a map flash and exhaust work. The exhaust work can by done by the owner. You "just" unbolt the cat and bolt in the replacement. I put the 'just' in quotes because exhaust bolts are notorious for needing great persuasion.

 

i missed this when did this mazda reflash come out? is it part of a tsb or one of the other backdoor to dealer info routes?

 

Thanks for the clarification Dave.

I guess we just keep our eyes open for now and wait for words from you and/or Maurice.

 

So, sorry if I can't read between the lines, or the lines themselves, but can we assume that any units that have not already gone out are going to be upgraded before they are shipped? If not, can it be requested? Thanks

 

Yeah.. I would like to know that too.. When did the reflash get issued and is our Mazda dealership supposed to contact us?

Thankx, David..

 

I thought I read on a post somewhere that Stage 1 should not be used with a K&N Typhoon Intake but I can't find the post again. Is this correct? If so, is the problem being worked on?

 

Okay RX* Friend... Don't leave us hanging here. You dangled some interesting stuff in your last post.

Snip>>>>>>>>>>
I guess Maurice got too busy to post yet. Maybe he's getting a dyno run done. I'll let out some things he mentioned to me.
Mazda did change the fuel map. They appear to be trying to improve the mileage, so they leaned it out between 5000 to 7000 or so. Then they richened it even more. They also leaned it out down low, so much so we wonder how many stock cars operated near sea level are going to trip the detonation sensing system (which works very well, BTW).

Sooo, Maurice and the rest of the tuning team have managed to remove the dips in power. I think we are going to Stage 1.1 with timing mods. as well as fuel. Upgrades will be at minimal cost. I'm finishing a PCB we will add to all units (it's actually designed for stage 2, but as I've said, stage 2 just adds some "stuff" to the stage 1 hardware and requires exhaust mods.).
END of Snip>>>>>>>>>>>

When did Mazda change the fuel map and when / how do you think the STAGE 1 will handle it? And will unshipped stage 1 units be corrected to stage 1.1 before getting sent out?

Tom

 

Ya, and could you potentailly get this change if you take your car into Mazda for service, unbeknownst to you???

 

I think the reflash is for the CEL related to the cat, it includes the fuel map reflash, I deduced this from info I read on this forum. If this is the case then you would need to have gotten a CEL to get a reflash. I have never gotten a CEL but I kinda want one now.

 

I got my reflash when I said I was getting a false check oil light... my dealer didn't seem to care if it was the right light or not. I also complained of crappy mileage. (so far it seems to work.....)

 

So are you getting better gas mileage?

 

So far I seem to be. I will have a solid # when I fill up next. I plan on posting my findings in this thread in the next week or so. I can't attribute all of the improvement to the reflash, since I had my plugs replaced due to fouling... but the combination is definitely an improvement.

I'm anxious to hear in greater detail what CZ & co. have found out about the reflash.

 

Mazda uses the Worldwide Diagnostics System, the same as Ford does. This system gets software updates about every month or two and with each WDS update they can also attach an update for the car software database. Also they post updates on the net for dealers to log on and download them. The minor updates usually dont reflect in TSB-s so there is no way of knowing if there is any new software available for you or not. The easyest way is just attaching WDS system to your car and checking for new calibration. At least thats how it works here in Europe.. I hope this answers some q-s about the software updates.
Now I have a question: Could you make your comp also reflashable over the web? I have some friends here in Europe that would like to get some more power out of their cars but sending the comp back every couple of months is unacceptable for them. Technically it shouldnt be that difficult to handle??

Thx

 

Hey Estonia!

Home of Markko Martin.

 

Good idea, MrBungle. But I suspect the software is proprietary, and pretty well protected...

 

I talked with Maurice, and you will be able to flash the unit yourself with new maps he creates. I belive the cost of the software is $75- not sure if that includes a wire that may or may not be needed. For about $150 he said he will also sell the full version of the software that will allow you to fully tune and create your own maps, if you are so inclined and have the gear for testing. Great news- and I certainly hope they continue to develop the fuel maps for even better performance and compatibility with Mazda's new ECU flashes - I can't wait.