PhineasFellOff - Thx for the clarification. You are correct that the TSB I printed out is NOT explicitly for an L reflash. When I go for my next oil change in early April I will see if I can get them to do the reflash then.

mm

 

I have had several e-mail exchanges with Mazda. Basically asking why the "L" reflash upgrade is good for the new model and not the earlier ones. I also asked what Mazdas policy was.
I received the following reply

"I have spoken to our Technical Department here at Mazda, and they have advised Mazda does not automatically perform ECU updates on the vehicles. The only way an update to the ECU is done would be if you were having a concern with the vehicle and the dealership determined that would fix it.

Again, thank you for contacting Mazda. It has been my pleasure to assist you. Please feel free to reply to this message with any further questions or comments."

Hope this saves a few of you some time. Looks to me like it is dealer's choice.

 

Thanks for the info....I guess I need to find another dealer.

 

Okay, what's a "hard" start?

I have an auto so is this applicable?

I just went to the dealership for my airbag recall and told them about my horrible gas mileage, mentioned the "L" calibration, etc.

They wouldn't do ANY type of ECU flash unless there was something SPECIFIC from Mazda. WTF?

 

I got the same line from Galpin Mazda this morning when I brought it in for the airbag recall. But as I left the dealership I called Mazda Corporate customer service on my cell phone and told them that the dealer wasn't being amenable to doing the L reflash. They put me on hold and called the service manager at Galpin and said they were now more than happy to do the reflash. When all else fails, be the squeaky wheel. Dealers hate when you call corporate customer service. But if it makes them do what you want (and what they should be doing without the prodding) then I say go for it.

 

I can't say I've seen any difference in gas mileage with the "L" ECU code... I've put three tanks through the new ECU so far:

Hard fun driving (lots of time >6k rpms, lots of WOT), I get 14-15mpg (which is what I got prior to the flash) - low gas light at 190-200 miles

Normal driving to/from work etc, (23 miles each way, 90% freeway, OK traffic but occasional traffic jams, I like to get from 0 to speed limit ASAP so I'm heavy on the gas) I get 17-18mpg (same as before) - low gas light at 210-220 miles

Extended highway driving w/cruise, I get 21-22mpg (same as before) - low gas light at 250 miles

Not sure what version I had before, the car is a 5/03 build.

It does idle and pull through the revs a lot smoother now though, but I can't say the gas mileage has been noticeably different.

 

A "hard" start is just having a difficult time starting your car, when it takes a few or several tries to get the engine going.

Don't mention mileage, Simply mention sometimes experiencing "hard" starts and being paranoid about flooding your car like you've heard some RX8 owners have done.

 

Thanks. What really sucks is I've done the "brake test" and my oil needle does NOT sweep but that isn't enough for Santa Monica Mazda to even look into my concerns.

 

tell them you're going to call MNAO and see what they say then. if that doesnt shake them go to another dealer.

 

Just tell the service writer this exactly:

"I keep getting an intermittent oil light at highway speeds and I had a real hard time starting the car over a few days last week. One time, I even had to do the thing in the manual on page 7-20 that says what to do if the car fails to start."

If that still doesn't convince them, tell them you are going to call MNAO and complain that they (the dealership) won't follow the reccomendations of TSB # 01-001/04 from March 11th, 2004.

 

Thanks guys.

What a pain in the *** this whole thing is. I'm getting lousy gas mileage and all I'm getting from Mazda's is "well, there's nothing we can do about it."

 

anyone have the number to mazda corporate?

p/m if possible

 

Mazda North American Operation
7755 Irvine Center Drive Irvine, CA 92618-2922(P. O. Box 19734 Irvine, CA 92623-9734)

1(949)727-1990

 

They just reflashed mine today, All I told them was that I have a rough idle in cold weather. They said 'We'll do the reflash to correct that'.

I applaud them. I told them about my shock sensor going wacky, as it always has, and the're ordering in the sock sensor diode repair kit for me too. Nice guys.

Now, If I can finally get my floor-mat restraint clip from my original dealer, I'll be all set

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