wickediii

Would someone PLEASE tell me how to get the dealer to install the latest flash? I've had her for bout 1 1/2 yrs. 2nd time I drove her she cut off on me in traffic for no reason and I had to get plugs, wires, coils changed plus some other things they said were wrong. I have flooded her twice and both of those times, you guessed it, everything was changed again. I had no idea what a rotary engine was or that I even had one. I have since changed them 2 more times myself (Thank you Thank you) and did the seafoam treatment. I've been to 2 different dealers and both tell me that they just need to change my plugs, coils, wires and charge me. First one said I needed the J flash but they would have to charge me in addition to changing everything. I had just done all that myself less than 100 miles earlier. I love my car, everyone here has REALLY saved me cause I now do all the work on her myself, but I know the flash would help. I live near Charlotte, NC and any advise would be awesome. I don't have much time left at least I don't think I do. I'm the 2nd owner, only know I don't have the J cause of what the dealer said and I'm almost at 100,000. Yall have saved me big $$ from everything I've learned and hoping you can again. Thanks in advance and I really hope I have posted in the correct area. Except for here I don't "chat" at all.

RX8RX7

It's just sad to see that some dealerships are so bad that they just have no idea wtf they're doing. they just hope that keep replacing parts will cure the problem ...

Have u got the MSP16 recall done yet? I mean there were 2-3 new flashes came AFTER the MSP16. but if u never got MSP16 done, they have to do it for free, and you will get the one that's newer than MSP16. To check, call MNAO and give them your VIN number.

ken-x8

Exactly. In fact, they're supposed to check any RX-8 that comes in for any kind of service and do the update if it has not yet been done.

Print out the service bulletin for this (all the TSBs are here, in a sticky at the top of one of the fora) so you can see the exact wording, and bring it with you to the next dealer you try.

Consider posting the names of those two dealers in the good guy/bad guy forum.

Ken

wickediii

I thought about doing that but my experience has always been when you tell someone what they are supposed to do, no matter how correct you are or how much proof you have, they do everything possible to prove you wrong. Don't know if it's cause I'm a female or not since I've never tried it as a man. lol I will try again tho. Gotta go to my tire place tomorrow and convince them to replace my tpms since they kept putting on different valve stem caps and everyone knows the result of that. I think they were trying to be nice (but for all I know they could have lost the ones I had on) but now 1 tire will not hold air! Gonna approach them as if inform you replacing valve covers on RX8 result in this and could cost you $$ the least you can do is fix your screw up. Hope it works but if anyone has a better idea and/or advice PLEASE let me know. Thanks

oltmann

To add to what is stated above, one of the flashes is mandated by the EPA because of potential damage to the catalytic converter.

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/cert/recall/420b07003.pdf

I don't think you can even sell a car in my state (California) until all emissions recall work has been done.

Of course you could try telling them the people at the stealership that they need to comply with federal law, but I imagine that half of the people who work there are already convicted felons.

Better to use your gender as an asset. Flirt with them, and if that fails, start crying.

ken-x8

Wrong tire valve caps will not cause you to lose air, so they need to test for the actual leak. Wrong caps can, however, damage the TPMS sensor. There's a service bulletin on that. You might print that one out to bring along to the tire place.

IMHO, getting the service guys to realize you're knowledgable works better than crying. For mind games, moving an argument with a service writer onto the showroom floor, in front of potential new car customers, does have its moments.

Ken

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

The TPMS sensors have intricate seals that leak if they are not installed correctly

You likely have a leak between one of them and the wheel

wickediii

The problem with the tpms is because they switched valve stem caps. The metal in the caps reacted with aluminum of the tpms and they stuck together. Trying to get them off broke the tpms and now they leak. TSB 02-003-11 I already paid $80 for rebuild kits and didn't discover this until a couple days later.

Highspeed

iTrader: (2)

How can I see what flash my ECU has? Even if out of warranty, does Mazda still have to perform the flash for free?

Lord ET

iTrader: (1)

they have to do it, warranty or not

Highspeed

iTrader: (2)

Awesome...ok...so how do I know what my current flash is...and if it is not current...what the most current flash they have to do for free is???

wickediii

Great questions! I would love to know this also.

Lord ET

iTrader: (1)

You should be able to just go in to a dealership and ask them to read it for you to make sure you are on the most recent flash. They should do it for free, but will probably try to charge you the $99 charge for inspection. You can tell them there was a TSB you ran across, MAZDA SPECIAL PROGRAM (MSP16) - ENGINE LACK OF POWER - PCM REFLASH Added 03/14/08 , and you want them to make sure you have the latest flash.

There should also be a sticker under your hood that has what flash you are on, if the tech put it there.

Highspeed

iTrader: (2)

ET, thanks man! I will be checking this in the next day or two. May I ask what the flash is intended to fix? Wonder if I am not on the most current flash and maybe that is why my car for the first 7 months I had it went through 5 engines and I am currently running on my 6th engine right now.

cornholio135

iTrader: (2)

here ya go...

MAZDA SPECIAL PROGRAM (MSP16) - ENGINE LACK OF POWER - PCM REFLASH
Bulletin No: 01-013/08
Last Issued: 03/14/2008
Service Bulletin Mazda North American Operations
Irvine, CA 92618-2922
2004-2008 RX-8 - MAZDA SPECIAL PROGRAM (MSP16) - ENGINE LACK OF POWER - PCM REFLASH
APPLICABLE MODEL(S)/VINS
2004-2008 RX-8 vehicles, produced from April 10, 2003 through November 9, 2007
• VIN Range: JM1 FE17** 40100053 - 80215462
DESCRIPTION
Some 2004-2008 RX-8 vehicles may experience a lack of engine power and/or low/rough engine idle speed in
high ambient temperatures. A revised PCM calibration is available which increases metering oil lubrication amount during engine start and changes ignition timing control during high ambient air temperature conditions.

python021

Sorry to inform you all, but the "recall" states that they only have to check the car once, now let's say you bought an '04 in 2010 like I did, the recall was appearantly "done already", years ago. Years ago just like today, they took short cuts to do as little as possible, meaning giving the car a clean bill of health without even checking it. Then they don't have to flash it or replace spark plugs or engine ever again after that.
My local stealership tried to charge me for test driving my car and doing the tests involved in the "free" recall, but the cleared the car as no issues, even though I had no cat, a melted o2 harness, runs so rich one can barely breath around it, and stalls out all the time.
So... once cleared under the recall the first time, your vin get cleared off the list even if you have the exact issues the volantary emissions recall concerns

i3oots

I need to check my VIN and see if mine falls into this category because when I drive for long periods of time I get that low/rough engine idle. Then it started happenig a random times.

Highspeed

iTrader: (2)

Took mine in today for this. Was told by the dealership once you are out of warranty, its up to the service manager at that dealership as to whether they will do it or not for free. If they say, then you are stuck paying for the reflash. I chose not to do it. They also told me that they are not required to put a sticker under the hood showing the reflash has been done. I hate the dealership here in Tulsa. And what sucks is that they are the only Mazda dealership here in Tulsa.

Lord ET

iTrader: (1)

You should make an appointment with Classic Mazda in Denton and stop by on your way down. They have always treated me well, and Creto also uses them.

Highspeed

iTrader: (2)

LordET...do you think they would still do the flash being out of warranty? I am being told that is why no one will do it.

Lord ET

iTrader: (1)

I can't speak for them, but they have always been good about honoring tsb's for me and I haven't been screwed by them on anything. Either them or Town North. Those are the best 2 in NTX, in my experience.

python021

Yes, any dealership will do the flash, but most will make you pay an hours labor, otherwise they aren't interested on looking at your car for free

AreAxeAte

iTrader: (1)

So can only dealerships read what flash you are currently using? Has any 3rd party software and equipment been released for someone to do it themselves? That would be nice. Cut the Stealerships right out.

gfailure

I was going to make the same question, but since it has been asked in this thread, I'll make my post here. Assuming that for whatever reason, the dealership won't install the flash or want to charge insane money for it voiding the option of relying on them for it.

Is there a 3rd party way of finding out what flash you are currently running on, getting their flash or even getting a custom flash that might be considered good, equal or better?

oltmann

Any good* indepent shop should be able to do this for you. You can even do it yourself it you buy a J2534 interface.
http://www.mazdaserviceinfo.com/PCM.aspx

The hardware standard for reflashing is mandated by govm't regulation, you have to buy the software from the manufacturer, but Mazda doesn't charge too much.

http://www.drewtech.com/technician/i...4-history.html

*There are sadly few.