310Guy

I think he means "part" as in a physical part. The problem with service departments, in my experience, is they *believe* this is something you physically change, hence a "part" to replace.

To say a flash is a "part" is a bit confusing, it may be technically correct but it's still confusing...

guy321

310guy, have you taken your 8 in for service? just tell them your cel light came on.. they may find something.

Reeko

I asked this elsewhere...
Doesn't a loose gas cap throw a CEL?

Do you think that if I cause a CEL (by the gascap) that the service dept would probably update the flash while checking it?

guy321

It will and They probably will... You dont actually NEED to throw a CEL.. just tell them you did.

310Guy

guy321, no I haven't said anything to the dealership. I'm trying to find out as much as I can before I call a dealership. Plus, I'm changing jobs right now so getting to a dealership for service is going to almost be impossible without some type of loaner car from Mazda.

guy321

If you get the recalls done, you can tell them at the same time that you flashed a code but it went away.. and they should give you a loaner. That's how it worked out for me yesterday. I also paid for them to rotate and balance my tires .

guy321

Also, I dropped my car off in the morning and got it the same afternoon. Just call ahead to the dealership and explain everything and make an appointment. They will tell you if you can get a car for the day.

good luck

islandsoon

Was at the dealer this Am for my appointment to get the air bag recall done and the "L" flash. The Service Manager had arranged for the Mazda rep to be there. He looked over some of the antidotal responses from this forum that I had brought along and promptly okayed the "L" flash even though he claimed he knew nothing about the claims to improve mpg. I am to report back to the Service Manager any improvement in mpg. Before you ask, I can't say if anything is better, my wife has been driving it since.
Tom

brothervoodoo

Just had my reflash done today, I wrote the following letter and gave it to the rep regarding the reflash. I'm sure you can "word smith" it better but I didn't seem to get any flake and they went ahead and did the work. After the procedure, I confirmed by pumping the brake and saw the oil pressure gauge do the "sweep". Here's the letter, fill in the blanks were necessary, Note, I have a manual the automatic reflash is a different number..


================
Updating RX-8 Power train Control Module – (PCM) to the latest “L” calibration (N3H6 18 881L):

I have an early production VIN vehicle; Mazda has come out with 4 updates since the inception of the car. The latest “L” calibration leans out Air/Fuel Ratio in many places in the RPM range, as well as retarding timing to prevent pinging that has been reported to cars in areas that are hot, humid or at sea level. This leaning of the AFR will also improve fuel economy which is my main concern. I have been keeping strict records of all my fill-up’s and over the course of xxxxxx miles and have averaged only xx.x MPG on mixed driving. My car is definitely running pig-rich; exhibits immediate tail pipe carbon build-up and rough idle when cold.

I’m requesting this latest PCM reflash be applied to my car because the mileage is unacceptable given that the EPA has given this car 18-24 MPG rating.

*Attached: The following TSB (Clearing Eccentric Shaft Plate Profile Memory) explains yet another circumstance in which flashing to the “L” calibration is a good idea.

Thanks,
xxxx xxxx
================

my10ae

What is the procedure that can be done to see if the reflash to "L" has been done? I stood over the Mzada tech and watched him (actually watched his tablet pc) do the reflash. I want to try the procedure to make sure it was done 100%. Anyone know?

G8rboy

Insert key, turn key past 'acc' to 'on' position (but don't turn completely to 'ign'). Tap the brake pedal 20+ times within 8 seconds or so- if the oil pressure gauge needle sweeps from low to middle, and back to low, then you have the latest PCM flash (or a new car that came from the factory with the latest calibration).

my10ae

Thanks G8rboy, I'll try it tomorrow before going to work....

310Guy

When I contacted Mazda via e-mail, I had used your letter to "plead" my case about my gas mileage. Here's the response:


--------------------------------------------------------------

"Please understand we do not give out any Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) information directly to our customers. TSBs are simply repair instructions to dealerships to correct a certain condition, should a vehicle happen to experience it.

If there is a TSB to to reflash the PCM that will improve the gas
mileage on your vehicle, I recommend contacting the Service Department of your Mazda dealership."

--------------------------------------------------------------


Translation: You know more than me so contact the dealership.

trinity77

I brought my 8 in for the recalls and just asked for the latest ECU reflash and the dealer said sure.

What was written on my repair ticket was "customer states getting under 15 MPG highway" Reprogrammed PCM with new calibration.

This leads me to believe the reflash is mileage related.

crazy4h20

Just got the reflash, so too early to tell on the milage, but I did notice that the idle is very smooth AND cruising in 6th at 80 mph puts the tach at 4000 rpm instead of 4500. Very cool!

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

Huh ?

Uh, no. That wouldn't be "very cool"

If there is a real change in RPM vs speed (which I doubt), you have a clutch problem.

Not likely.

OverLOAD

Can I get a reflash so that I can cruise at 3000 RPM at 80mph in 6th?

Just kidding..

I think that you'll find a lot of other people here who normally run at 4000 rpm at 80 mph. Perhaps you were going 90 before?

OverLOAD

G8rboy

Over the last 6 weeks prior to the reflash I had been averaging 16.41 mpg with consistent driving habits and distances (pseudo city/rural highway with lost of stoplights). I just completed my first full tank after the 'L' reflash this morning, and came out with 17.97mpg. It's only one datapoint, and statistically not a valid argument yet, but it's a good sign so far... stay tuned

crazy4h20

Funny... after I posted, I realized my error. Thanks in return for the humor.

310Guy

Sorry if this has been explained before, but where did you find this "test"? TSB?

I'm going to the dealership on Monday, 3/15 and I'd like to reference something since I know they will have not idea about any "L" flash or calibration and/or what version my car is at...

Thanks.

G8rboy

Yes- this TSB:
http://www.finishlineperformance.com...ocs/01-007.htm

Note that this TSB has absolutely nothing to do with getting your car reflashed - there seems to be some confusion that I'll bet Mazda regrets even mentioning this test. This TSB simply references a procedure to clear the PCM's NVRAM and indicates using this tap-the-brakes method to determine that the NVRAM clear 'worked'. If you have the 'L' calibration, or a new vehicle that came from the factory with the 'L' code in it's PCM, then the above TSB procedure will give you feedback in the form of the oil needle sweep.

blue flash

stopped by my dealership about reflash and they didn't recommend it unles you are have trouble because getting the reflash could cause trouble you did not have before

G8rboy

That's because they don't get reimbursed by Mazda for doing 'unnecessary' work. However if you come in with valid reasons that might be addressed by the new flash (especially a CEL or stored fault codes), they can at least claim some warranty $$ as diagnostic time and would be much more likely to upgrade you as part of that diagnostic.

derwankel

Just picked up my car following the airbag fix ... also requested the "L" flash and got it (confirmed with the 20 tap/sweep). Mine is an automatic and I was getting 15 mpg in heavy stop and go driving. I'll see how mileage is affected over the next couple of weeks. What I can report is a much more linear accelleration. In the past, below 3750 RPMs the accelleration was strained followed by a big pull above 3750. Now, it is very linear from 1K to 6K.

I spoke with the tech who did the work. He said mine was the second request he'd recv'd. They are telling Mazda that the flash is to address low power. He said the flash is officially "well known" as the "power update" in the service bay, but no TSB (obviously) to back it up. Unofficially, he said it does address fuel (dare I say it) economy issues.

zoom44

btw why 20 times? why not 10? 20 seems excessive for a test. ten would suffice. i doubt anyone would do it 10 times in 8 secs by accident.