I just got my 8 flashed with 'N' and certainly don't notice any difference to the crank times, exhaust note, or power difference other than the 'learned driving style data' being reset by the flash. These people feel, see, and hear what they want to.

Thanks Rotarygod, and a good day to you.

Could you explain timing advance degrees in laymans terms please? I have no idea what you're talking about.

 

Before you go generalizing about what people see and hear, I can tell you that since my RX-8 got the 'N' flash my mileage went up a bit and the car DEFINITELY has more of a growl to it (sounds real nice) and has MUCH BETTER low end grunt.

Perhaps you dealer screwed up? or perhaps your car has other issues? Do you have an automatic or 6 speed transmission?

 

I Have Not N Flashed Yet...but I Did Have The Cz 1.1 Unit For About 6 Months With The M Flash. I Sold That Unit And Noticed A Devolution Of Power And Smoothness When I Removed It. Horrible After Having The Better Tune With Cz.

My Point Is, I Think That The N Flash May Resemble What The Cz Tune Was Doing.
My Car Had A More Distinctive Growl With The Cz And Smoother Idle. Also, The Mileage Was Better With It On. Also, No Bog From 3rd To 4th Shift.
I Bet The N Flash Mimicks The Cz To Some Degree.

I Will Get The N Flash This Week And Then Install My Turbo Next Week. The E Manage Will Probably Override The N,,,but Well See.

 

I've got a 6-speed with GT package, no appearance options (build date July 2004, which meant I had the M flash initially). Please explain how flashing the ECU could possibly change the exhaust note. Pure junk logic if you ask me, the two aren't even related.

Anyways, I'll try doing some runs to redline in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd tomorrow because I really want to believe you!

 

Whose junk logic..? Yours?
Please explain how is it possible for a cold engined car (pick ANY) to produce one (within a single octave) exhaust note, and change within a couple minutes of being warmed up.

Oh my! Why does it get louder when you step on the right-most pedal? :D
My...there's more: what comes out of your exhaust system? oh boy, its a gas (a mix of several of them!) but, why? Because you have combustion and intake / exhaust pulses, yada yada yada....that maybe (just, maybe!) affected by how rich/lean your mixture is, and any other factor that may alter your timing (duh...didn't just RG said there is a drastic change in advance at part throttle..?)

So.....junk logic would be a wild guess that your new N flash is providing you with more power and 'oomph'. However, a difference in sound? you should be able to tell. I, personally, haven't paid much attention. To me, the only thing that matters is what the computer is seeing. I have my CANScan, and will take readings out of it sometime soon.

 

acc3d just got 0wned!

 

I had an appt. to get my pcm reflashed this morning at capital mazda in Richmond. I told them I was not having problems other than bad gas mileage, around 15-16 lately. They took the car back and about 20 mintes later brought it back saying that I did not need a reflash, that the sticker for the rx-8's on the lot read 15-21 city and 20-28 highway. She also tried to tell me that the computer would not even update my pcm software when they hooked it up b/c it was not needed. I am on the 'M' flash currently. I have not heard that the 'M' flash will keep it from upgrading to the 'N'. Has anyone else run into something like this or should I find a new dealership?

 

I would.

 

Just had my Rx8 re-flashed yesterday, i told them that i had an issue with hard starts and lack of power, and they took care of it. There is definitlly a difference. My car is an AT and there is a noticable improvement in shifting both in AT mode and using the trip-tronic shifting. More torque in the low end, especially between 4k & 5k rpm, as someone else already mentioned. There seems to be better response in 4th gear as well. I just wanted to share my results even tho others have mentioned the same or similar results. It might give some validity to getting the N reflash for those that aren't sure if it is worth it or works. If you experience a dealer thats reluctant or doesn't know what your talking about, print the TSB out and take it with you. Happy driving

 

I agree with you- , the only numbers I'l trust is what my dyno- tells me- there is more power- and I think it is significant- let's let the test speak for themselves-- I hope I'm not the only one to dyno- before and afetr N !

 

I got the "N" flash recently after an engine flooding issue that left me stranded in my driveway (I have always been careful to heat up the engine fully before turning the car off, but after a cold month of not driving the car, I turned it on, it ran, sputtered and then turned off... The rest is history).

Anyhow, about the flash. I do notice a bit more low end power, however, my car seems to idle a bit rough (on and off, approximately 5 seconds apart from vibration to next vibration) and the shift lever shakes a bit more than before.

Also, not that this is a bad thing, but I don't get quite as much black gunk on my exhauset tips as before. After a 100 mile drive, no gunk, usually I will have to wipe the tips to get the crap off after even a 5 mile drive.

Just wordering if I am the only one having these issues with the new flash.

Dave

 

So did you do the after dyno? It sounds here like you're saying you did, but I haven't seen your results, other than seat-of-the-pants impressions. Frankly though...if they didn't change the full throttle maps, you shouldn't have different full-throttle performance, unless something else changed. When they flashed you did they change out anything else?

jds

 

Maybe the airfuel ratio's didn't change at the higher RPM's, but on the service bulletin it states one of the things that is being changed is the amount of oil the oil pump sprays. It states that an inadequate amount of oil was previously being sprayed causing a poor combustion seal. This could be the reason the N flash feels like there is more power above 6k.

I know my power definitely fell off after 6k with the M flash and no longer does. I am not saying the car is making more peak power, but at least that peak is shifted to close to the 9k range where it should be instead of the 6k range. This should correspond to more area under the curve, which after all, is what really matters!

 

i called the mazda dealership and asked if i can get the N flash upgrade. They said it doesn't apply to my VIN #. Can i still get it anyway or would there be no difference since my VIN # doesn't fall in that category?

 

Instead of everyone calling their dealership, what you need to do is becomes friends with the master mechanic that works on your car. When I go in, I ask for the same mechanic, and they say no problem. My relationship with my mechanic is a good one. It also does not hurt to slap some dead presidents in their hands every now and then while the boss is not looking. These guys also like lunch, so bring in some loaded pizzas one day. Trust me, it's all about people doing business with people. When I go for my next oil change, I'll get the flash

 

...which dealer do you go to?

 

Darin, PM me...

 

no the bulletin originally came out with the mflash and has been updated with the new flash numbers. the oil metering was fixed/changed with mflash.

 

it will be interesting to see how a stock cz map stage 2 will react to the n flash.
olddragger

 

Finally posted an avatar! Good job, I knew you could do it.

Are you running an un-modified stage2 map right now on the M flash?

 

Hey old friend,
Yea finally got one of those things. It took a couple people to help me get it posted ,but there I am at Road Atlanta. Look how my stock suspension(except sway bars) is lifting/compressing!
To answer your question yes i have the stock stage 2 map at present with m flash. Im getting N next week and will post results. Im curious about the leading throttle currently present also. I wonder if that will change.
(Waiting on the koni's then Ill put rb springs and the koni's on)

 

I have the same setup - stock stage 2 with M. I'll be interested in your results with N...

 

Wow...I read this whole thread...

Anyway, it does seem that people are "feeling" something while the technical side does not provide the evidence to back it up much.

I'm personally (I got an 05) waiting for the S-Flash or "Speed" flash...along with transformation I hear it adds another .525 HP...lol

 

S flash? When is that supposed to come out?