G8rboy

You never know- the first time someone turns the key and sees that beautiful dash light up, they could experience a full body spasm from the excitement

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

Because they are engineers, not physical therapists.

310Guy

Thanks for the link.

success07

Have any of you that have had the 'L' reflash had a VIN before *40132647? My dealer told me that because mine was before that number that I couldn't get the 'L' reflash. That the reflash was only for cars after that number as stated on the TSB. Any help is appreciated.

adrian-1

Mine is before and I got it today (verified by the sweeping oil gauge, didn't do it before). I believe the VIN after the *40132647 come with the L already. The TSB http://www.finishlineperformance.co...docs/01-007.htm isn't for a reflash, it's for the eccentric shaft clearing memory and is verified w/ the sweeping oil gauge if you have vin's after those or the L.
My dealer didn't give me any probs. Just said I was getting low mpg and MAZDA NA (800) had told me a reflash wouldn't hurt anything. Also got my psg airbag recall done.
I'd try another dealer.

G8rboy

Success07-

Yes- mine is 40116XXX and I was flashed last week. I'm pretty sure that VIN's after 401326XX are the ones that /don't/ need the flash, as they came from the factory with that PCM calibration.

I saw your post on the TSB thread- I think your dealer has this completely ***-backwards.

-Sean

Ron

I had the two TSB done and asked to have the ecu reflashed. The dealer said that they couldn't do it unless the CEL was on and there were the "right" stored codes. Otherwise they would be in trouble with the federal gov't and Mazda. Are they telling the truth? What have you done to get a recalcitrant dealer to do the reflash?

310Guy

Ron,

That makes absolutely no sense. "Trouble with the fed gov't" ???

Ask them to put that in writing and why they believe that. Then contact Mazda North America (better yet, while at the dealership call Mazda in front of the service people).

From what I hear, to trip a CEL do not tighten the gas cap...

G8rboy

I resemble that remark

RX-GR8

i did the test for the needle sweep and it worked. so i guess it was reflashed to "L". what if they reflashed it to a previous version? would there be another way to check? or would the needle sweep still work? what about if "M" comes out?

Gyro

I dont believe they ever reflash a previous version.

As far as the needle sweep, Its just a way we have been using to show the "L" version now. Its actual purpose is to verify NV RAM clearing, not firmware version. "K" version software did not have this feature.

So if there is a "M" in the future, the needle sweep method will not tell you anything new. Just that you have "L" version or newer.

RX-GR8

ok that makes sense. on my invoice it says Reflashed PCM per Mazda. it doesnt mention the part number "L" thanks.

G8rboy

My invoice didn't either- for whatever reason my dealer uses a dummy ECU code whenever they do flashes. They also didn't put a sticker anywhere under the hood- so if it wasn't for the OPG needle test, I would have been unable to verify they did anything.

RX-GR8

i didnt get a sticker for the reflash but i got them for the recalls.

RXg8tor

WTF?
I just got mine back fron the dealer... Had it in for the recalls. I told the service rep that it idles rough and the gas mileage was poor...around 13 MPG. I mentioned the research I've done on the forum and that there is an "L" reflash available (I even supplied the PN). He agreed to the reflash....
Well, when I read the invoice, I realized that they screwed me... no reflash
It read:
Concern: Vehicle is Idling Rough, Feels like it is going to stall, gas mileage bad, reflash (that was my request)
Cause: Vehicle is functioning as designed
Correction: Inspect, Working as designed
Tech Notes: Customer states vehicle idles rough. Compared to like vehicle and foundvehicles are operating properly. Recommend premium fuel only as per Mazda specifications. There are no PCM updates for rough idle at this timeper Mazda hot line.

??? any ideas on what to do??

shebam

My dealer agreed to do it to address low MPG. No sticker, but the brake test produced the oil gauge sweep (takes 21 taps on mine) and it didn't before. Try another dealer. Or, call the rep and tell him that when the post-service survey comes he will get the marks his response deserves, but he still has a chance to avoid them and establish a good working relationship (you'll be owning the car a long time).

JD32

Showed my dealer the TSB for the reflash and told him sometimes it takes a while to crank. Needle sweep check OK. Had the recalls, oil pan, eng cover grommets and cup holder/hot plate fixed also. They were great and gave me no problems. What parts they didn't have they got overnighted to them and had my car for a total of 2 days. Hope I get service like this all the time. Fingers crossed.

SaVGARX8

Just got mine back, they did both recalls, and reflashed the PCM, I asked if they would, and he did no problems at all, verified it with the brake test....The Mazda Dealer in SAV is GREAT!!


P.S. So far so good!!

Positron

Here's a question. I just printed out the TSB on the reflash. Under the heading applicable models it states - AFTER VIN and then gives the numbers for the AT and the MT versions. Well, my car has a VIN that is BEFORE the listed number. Does that mean I DON'T NEED the reflash? This doesn't seem to make sense to me. And when I do the brake test my oil needle doesn't move at all. Any thoughts/opinions? Thx.

mm

PhineasFellOff

I was confused but I believe I've finally figured things out.

Here's my understanding of the "L" ECU reflash and the two service bulletins. Like many people here, I was totally confused too BUT I think I have finally cleared the whole thing up (if I'm wrong, someone please correct me).

Part of the confusion is that so many people have been referring to some "L" ECU reflash SERVICE BULLETIN, when in fact, there IS NO direct, explicit bulletin for the reflash. Rather, there are two different bulletins that INDIRECTLY mention the "L" reflash. One bulletin has to do with how to clear the eccentric shaft plate profile memory, the other bulletin with how to fix a flooded engine (called "engine crank no start" on the bulletin). These two bulletins are for those two specific PROBLEMS and they mention the "L" reflash as part of the respective REMEDIES.

There is no service bulletin out there for the "L" reflash per se, period. There is also no service bulletin out there for "gas mileage fix" or "HP fix" or "rough idle fix." I had been searching for these four fixes and I couldn't find any bulletins! Now I understand.

So how can those two bulletins mentioned above help us at all? First and foremost, they simply allow us to conclude that some "L" ECU reflash DOES EXIST. And service writers who are clueless or deceiving us, if shown printouts of those two bulletins, will then HAVE TO acknowledge the existence of an "L" reflash! Am I right, guys?

Once we get the service writer to acknowledge the existence of the reflash, we are then faced with a second challenge: convincing the service writer to ok the reflash procedure. With this task, the "engine crank no start" bulletin may be able to help (the "eccentric shaft memory" bulletin is more esoteric and seems to be something for service techs to be on the look-out for, not the owners). How? Well, we could tell the service writer- truthfully or fictionally- that we sometimes have had a hard time starting the engine ("hard" starts), maybe for example when it's colder in the mornings, and we've been very concerned because we've heard all the talk about some owners flooding their engines. Merely complaining about poor gas mileage, depending on the dealership, may or may not get you the ok.

So you guys, do I have this right or not?

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

Upon a casual poll of the local dealers this week, they are installing the "L" calibration on every RX-8 that comes in since there are several other incremental fixes contained therein.
You probably don't even need to ask for it now, but simply mentioning that you have flooded it or had hard starts will be sufficient.

PhineasFellOff

See, Positron, you TOO called it the "technical service bulletin (TSB) on the reflash"! That phrasing had me confused for a long time.

I believe you are referring to the TSB for "clearing the eccentric shaft plate profile memory from PCM." Part of the fix involves upgrading to the "L" reflash, if you don't already have it. The bulletin is trying to tell you that newer cars already have the "L" straight from the manufacturer. Which newer cars? Cars with VIN's higher than those listed in the TSB (case A).

Then what about cars with lower VIN's? Well, these "lower VIN" cars fall into two categories: (1) those "lower VIN" cars already sold to an owner BEFORE the TSB and "L" reflash ever came out (case B) and (2) those "lower VIN" cars that haven't yet been sold and are sitting on a dealership lot (case C; dealerships are required to update these cars to the "L" reflash BEFORE selling).

It doesn't matter which of the three cases your car falls under. If you're supposed to already have the "L" (whether for fixing the "eccentric shaft memory" thing or for whatever other reason, it doesn't matter), how can you verify you have it? Just the same, if you supposedly still don't have the "L," how can you verify you don't have it?

The answer to both is to do a "verfication procedure" that requires you to put the key to the "ON" position (read the words on the side of the ignition key hole) and then feverishly pump your brake pedal 20 times in 8 seconds. After you do the brake pumping, if the oil pressure needle moves from low to half and back to low, then you HAVE the "L." On the other hand, if the oil pressure needle does not move, then you DO NOT HAVE the "L" (which means you need to convince your service writer to have it done, in which case please see my previous post for possible assistance).

Positron, I believe you have a case B car and you have NOT yet had the "L" reflash done (so please see my previous post for possible assistance).

I hope this helps.

PhineasFellOff

WHAT I SAID TO THE SERVICE WRITER:

I want to report that I got my "L" reflash today (and I verified it, too). I fibbed and told the service writer that I had several difficult or "hard" starts where I thought I may have flooded the engine but got lucky and didn't. I said I have heard about some owners flooding their engines and that this is a current concern with the RX8, that I'm constantly paranoid about it happening to my RX8 and that's not a good feeling, that I've heard about some "L" ECU reflash that is supposed to help fix the issue. As a strictly secondary afterthought, I added a concern over low gas mileage without ever stating an actual mileage figure. The service writer typed in ONLY the "hard" start issue.

Yep, focus on the "hard" start. It's all you need. It can not be rejected.





WHAT THE "L" IS DOING FOR MY MILEAGE SO FAR:

I have filled up my tank right after the "L" reflash and have driven ~ 100 miles on the tank. Judging from the gas gauge, it looks like I'm headed for over 23 mpg! Unbelievable, although still too early to tell for sure.

This tank: Shell, 89 octane (somehow I accidentally selected 89 instead of 91 octane). Mostly freeway but also some city. Los Angeles. Averaging between 65 and 70 mph. 11,900 miles on odometer. DSC off/TCS off.

Previous tanks: all other tanks used 91 octane. Every tank documented. First half of the 11,900 miles averaged 20.6 mpg. Second half, averaged 21.0 mpg. Los Angeles mostly freeway between 65 and 70 mph with DSC off/TCS off has netted an average of 21.5 mpg with highs of 22.7, 22.7, and 22.5 mpg. A long distance trip nonstop on freeway netted 23.6 mpg with DSC on/TCS on, my all-time high so far.





THE "L" AND ENGINE CHARACTERISTICS:

My engine seems to accelerate more smoothly and strongly. The shifts are easier to make and smoother. To better describe, when I accelerate at moderate throttle, between-shft transitions and during-shift acceleration seem to feel more substantial and more stable, whatever the hell this means. The difference is THAT noticeable, despite that this is my first tank after the "L" reflash.

Could it be partly due to the 89 octane? Maybe. I'm going back to 91 after this tank, so will get more data in time.

The damn car just simply feels better during acceleration. There is no doubt.

mmmdowning

My dealer said they don't even have the new reflash, and if they did I would have to have a CEL or something to justufy it. My argument with them is isn't it better to have done preventive maintenance then to have an angry customer! I'm calling MNAO today for 2 reasons, 1- why my dealership doesn't have the reflash and 2- why the hell can't I get something that will help the car, instead of having to wait till it's broke.

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

If they are an authorized Mazda dealership, then they get it automatically when they update their WDS.