My idle is rock solid...

 

Do you have any intake or exhaust mods on your car?

 

It amazes me that Mazda does not sent a notice to all owners advising to have this done. Why do we have to go to the dealers and complain, or make up some complaint so they will make the PCM right.

 

Mazdaspeed drop in air filter and Mazdaspeed exhaust...

 

Yeah just called him. He said they won't do it unless I complain of a problem or have an issue such as an engine light or something. Or have gotten a letter of some sort. I told him I was gonna bring it in for an oil change and ask the mechanic. He said that was fine. So its sounds like they won't do it for me unless I have an issue. So...anyone know how to create an issue?

 

Tell them your car is hard to start....

 

If I tell them that, will they tell me it is because of my aftermarket exhaust? I am really iffy about asking for this because of my aftermarket exhaust. I'll just bring in the TSB with me and see what they say.

 

Well, to make you feel better, I am going in tomorrow for my 25K service, and I talked to my mechanic, and we both agreed not to flash my car yet. I will stay at M for awhile. He said this flash was meant for the automatic - ?? And for cars that have earlier than M.

You can't go back in flashes, so I am going to wait for awhile.

 

We were joking around about the various flashes, and I told them that I wish I could go back to the original 247HP flash. One guy popped up and said, that would be cool. Maybe we could burn them ALL on a CD for you. He said it would make his life easier if he did not have to keep doing this, and to just let the customer maintain his own tuning...

I told them that I have already replaced the OEM cat, and they did not even flinch over that comment. We even discussed piggyback computers to lean out the AFR in open loop mode. One guy said that would be awesome to see what the engine could really do. I said that the car would pollute less if the AFR was perfect across the power band due to proper tuning. I would be helping the enviorment

 

Go Nemesis! Helping the enviroment! Why didnt I think of that.
OD

 

I just got my car flashed last week while getting my summer tires re-mounted a couple other little warranty things. I have to say I was very skeptical after reading the rave reviews about the 'N' calibration and added power... I started with 'J', felt a difference with 'L', felt no difference with 'M', but I feel the biggest difference with this 'N' revision. I doubt that there is more peak power, but I'm feeling a stronger pull at lower RPM's, especially at partial throttle. I know it's not just a result of the ECU reset, as I've reset it myself several times with the 'M' while doing G-Tech runs with various intake test combinations (https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-aftermarket-performance-modifications-23/custom-green-performance-intake-58939/), so I wasn't expecting anything detectable from the butt-dyno. I've very happy with the latest maps... good job Mazda!

 

You state "N3ZD-18-881B", but the service bulletin from 2/7/05 states N3Z2-18-1881N (M/T) Z1 for the A/T. I just had mine done today(Hopefully it's the right one). I didn't drive it enough to see if there was a diffference.

 

I just got my car back from the dealer for a few services. I told them that I get hards starts once in a blue moon, and they looked into that for me. But they said there weren't any updated flashes for my car. I read on another thread that there should be a "MSP04 campaign" sticker under the hood and depending on what it says, it'll tell the service agents whether or not it has the new flash already. I have an 05', built date is 7/2004, but I don't have that sticker, do I have it already? I wonder because I had an 04' last year and both cars feel about the same to me, my new 05' doesn't feel like it has the significant low end power that others are experiencing with the N flash from M. Any advice?

 

I beleive MSP04 is related to specific VINs that were 2004 models. I would think the 2005s had updated flashed by the time they were produced

 

well i'm on the L flash still so i guess this flash would be a win win for me

 

Going in tomorrow for oil change and dipstick fix. Been debating in my mind about N flash; it's been running great on M. So I stop for gas this morning and about 1/2 mile later waiting to turn left at a light, the rpm drop almost to nothing and it nearly stalls. No cel, gas cap is tight. '04 MT. I haven't had a similar issue in the 6 months I've had it.

Should I go for the N?

 

ZGlide, I mentioned the lack of sticker to my dealer. He said they had definatly flashed it. But they didn't have enough stickers to apply to all of the cars.

(My interpretation is they were too lazy to write out the sticker and affix it to the car.)

--Mark

 

[QUOTE=fray]ZGlide, I mentioned the lack of sticker to my dealer. He said they had definatly flashed it. But they didn't have enough stickers to apply to all of the cars.

Besides not finding a sticker, my service agent said there just wasn't any updates for my car. I guess my question whether or not my car has it already...build date is 7/2004. From all the search, I should be on N already. But driving feel wise, it does not feel any different from my old rx-8 which was on M.

 

Just got the "N" flash from "M"....took it out for a while after I picked it up from the dealer just to put it thorugh it's paces a bit.

Idle is much smoother and quieter....

Acceleration from dead stop is smoother, although not necessarily "faster"

Butt dyno says there's a bit more of a power surge from 3K to 5.5K, once again as from a dead start, feels smoother.

Unfortunately, did not solve my "marbles in a can" issue when pushing the accelerator from low RPM's, nor did it solve my throttle whistle when taking the foot off the accelerator at crusing speeds.

Didn't even solve my transmission thump from neutral to 1st (oh yeah, that's a different part of the car :D )

Anyway, overall the car feels smoother, not necessarily faster so it is an improvement over the M IMHO.

 

I got the "N" flash two days ago, at an oil change/tire rotate and I agree with most here that the car is more responsive in lower RPM range. Now I'm gonna have to relearn smooth low power shifts again. That was one complaint I had on the 8 when I got it last March, it was not as responsive when first hitting the throttle shifting up at normal rates. I found I was always "late" on the throttle for velvet smooth shifts. Well. I got used to it and now the added response............................but I'm not bitching, it definitely is sweeter running and much more torquey at almost zero throttle. It's like you can't be light enough on the go pedal when all these no drivin', slow poke, no good, a**hole people are in front of you, which is just all the damn time!!

 

I went to the dealer, and had them change the air filter and give me the new flash at the same time.
I drove it around for awhile, and it felt better. More responsive, and quicker at the lower rpm's. Just like many people are saying.

The day before the getting the 'N', I video taped myself running at different gears.
1st gear - 10-41mph
2nd gear - 25-65mph
3rd gear - 25-89mph
Then I did the same after the 'N' flash.

I know this isn't the most scientific testing method, but it's something.
Anyways, my conclusion, the 'N' flash is a Placebo.
It didn't 'really' go faster or sound different.
I'm hoping the dealer lied, and didn't actually update to the 'N'.
But, if they did, it didn't make my car any faster.

Just my $.02!!

- Cesar -

Here's the video - http://www.cesaralaniz.com/RX8/M-Fla...%20N-Flash.zip

 

Sticker is stupid. I had the M Flash and pulled the sticker off from under my hood. Now I had the N flash and they mounted the sticker inside my door jam. I pulled that one off also.

EDIT - I did however put the sticker on my warranty manual for future reference and in case of resale.

 

The dealership reflashed my ECU to the N and so far my gas mileage has taken a drastic hit. I am on pace to get about 200 miles out of this tank and on the previous flash I was getting between 260 and 280 a tank. Has anyone else experienced a similar drop in mileage? I think that its going to be a couple of tanks of gas to get a good baseline but so far I am not impressed.

 

I know my car feels quicker (I assume I have N... it just came back from the dealer yesterday..) Of course it could just be the new catalytic converter..

Hehe almost spun out the other day (at low rpms 2k-3k). Feels like it has a LOT more power then I had before.. (bought the car 3 weeks ago.. so I suspect the cat was clogged then.)

Anyway, for me it's a definate surprise.. (And now hopefully my MPG will go over 12..)

 

i think i got the N flash today but the invoice only says found updated PCM recalibration. completed updated reflash. there seems to be more responsive at lower RPM's than before. have only driven it a few miles so far. will listen for different exhaust note and rougher or smoother idle.