just to be certain here, so the only way i can find out what flash i have is to have the dealer check? if this is an annoying question, forgive me.

 

Look in the drivers front door area for the build date of your car-Anything after april of 04-you should be ok.

 

manufactured sept. 2003. any idea on the flash i might have?

 

rofl rx8bydocabe.

oh, Zoom, even so, i've read the stickies. still don't know what a Pflash does? i might have skipped over it, but i only found that Hymee program that they were talking about using a palm OS or linux vs windows. (cool by the way, check it out if you haven't).

even if mine IS built post april 04, should i get a pflash?

 

no the only real reason to get a flash is if you have a problem. the only thing we are CERTAIN that P does over N is change the way the aircon works. N may or may not cchange the way the car performs over M. but you have at least M so your all good. the next time you have a regular service you can ask them to update it. by then we might be on Q or R etc.

 

bydoc- you should have them make sure you are on M. just have them run your vin to make sure MSP04 is CLOSED for your car. If not they HAVE to do it according to Mazda.

 

word. perfect answer. i love these forums now. was flustered at the responses when i thread jacked this last guy's post. but dang man, i was a new user...as in, NOT familiar with these forums. thanx for the help zoom44.

 

The WDS screen will display which concerns are being addressed with the latest flash level but it doesn't say HOW those concerns/issues are being handled. I saw about a dozen concerns when my mechanic showed me the screen but I can't remember most of what it said.

CRH

 

you can flash yourself with the passthru equipment and a 1 day membership on mazdatech.com ($20)

 

charles i would bet that what you were seeing is all of the changes since the first flash level.

 

I can't believe I just read all 15 pages of this **** and the only thing I got out of it was that the AC gets disabled 1500 RPM later than normal with this new flash. You would think that this would hurt (and not help) maximum performance.

 

I am really satisfied with the n flash. I may just stay here until something really better is available
olddragger

 

it wasnt done for maximum performance it was done to help alleviate some of the poor ac cooling complaints

 

I thought they fixed ac issues with some amplifier. Regardless, this is another reason why I sure as hell don't want or need this flash.

 

I think that posts by Marietta8 and CRH tend to lend a little bit more to this flash than just the A/C cutoff. I myself noticed a change from M to N and then from N to P... My car has never felt faster, and definately more power in the low/mid range. I drive the N in the city, and a 600 mile road trip, and the same with P...it felt diffferent. At this point, with my feeling of increased performance, I am beginning to let go if my mileage concerns.

My car was previously suffer more from the power drop at about 6000-7000, and now it feels as though it continues to build power through to 7000, and starts to drop then....also, it seems to only do this in 1st and 2nd gears. I hit 3rd, and it pulls strong to redline.

Obviously, I cant confirm what the actual changes in the P flash are, but I feel there is more to it.

Anyone able to find out specifically what else the flash does?

 

Umm... I'm getting a DYNO on the 18th. Before an install of a flywheel.

Maybe I should get the P flash and then get another dyno to see the results.

You guys have to convince me first that it is worth while updating.

 

I have read at least one story mentioning that the author experienced a change after a few hundred miles and the engne began to run better. This story has been told by new owners who regarded it as a PCM programming that allowed for break-in time. This same story has been told by someone who recently had flash upgrades done. Now, my own engine is running better and I can't figure out why(?). After all that trouble, now the car just hauls off with 13.9's!. The nitrous doesn't have quite the punch that it did before but it doesn't make the scary noises it used to, either. I think I'll still have the MOP mod done but I am also wondering what the Hell is going on with my car. Taking a ride in Rotary IT's car was a good reminder of where my car is, in terms of performance, and where it has come from. I am now wondering if I have just been taking my own car for granted and getting used to it. I dunno.

CRH

 

I took my car to Mazda of Oakland to get the N to P flash (& get the scratched front seatbacks fixed), and they told me they did it.

Well, my handy CanScan tells me that they were lying...I still have the N flash.

When I confronted my 'service advisor' about their fib, he said 'we can't flash the PCM unless there is a specific customer complaint that it addresses'. It must take all of, what, 2 minutes of a mechanic's time to do the PCM update? This tells me what customer satisfaction (and honesty) is worth to this sad lot.

Given that I don't like being lied to, AND think I'm entitled to get the most Mazda can give me from my 8, it is time to shop for a new dealership.

I think this question was already asked, but WHAT IS THE MAGIC COMPLAINT THAT WILL MAKE THE MAZDA DEALER COUGH UP THE CODE?

 

There are several but the best one is loss of power above 6,000 rpm's. That one is specifically listed in the MSP04 TSB.

CRH

 

yep, i hit em with a loss of power and they gave it to me like it was going out of style.

to add to the discussion, yes i have definitely felt more power in the 3-4k range in 5th and 6th gears, and the car seems much more willing to let loose. yesterday i chirped it into second with the dsc on, and i wasnt trying to, i did shift at redline, but mine never does that usually. i have noticed several smaller areas where there seems to be some gains in power, but nothing thats going to snap my neck with speed. the car seems a lot more fun to drive after the last flash.

anyone dynoed it yet?

 

Yup, see results in sig below. Dyno sheet is posted around here somewhere.

 

"bydoc- you should have them make sure you are on M. just have them run your vin to make sure MSP04 is CLOSED for your car. If not they HAVE to do it according to Mazda." by zoom 44

thanx zoom. just a couple of questions regarding this. what do you mean by having them make sure MSP04 is "CLOSED"? your caps are making me think i should be alarmed. and do you know if i can just have them do this over the phone? run my vin and be able to tell me that is.

 

MSP04 included mandatory flashing to at least M level. Mazda wants all 8s to at least this level. they were quite unhappy with the dealerships a little while ago when they realized they only had 60% completion. If they run your vin it will show them MSP04 along with the recalls etc. It will eitehr say open or closed. if its closed then you are at least on M and "okay". If it is open they have to flash your car to M or newer and since they will have updated their WDS recently then you will almost assuredly get N and if they are a good place you will get P.

you should be alarmed if you arent on M. after the first "round" when they reassessed their completion rate Dealers were given explicit instructions to contact folks who needed updating still and get them in. For your car not to have been done is complete lazyness or incompetence of the part of your regular service center.

 

excellent, im glad i wasnt just imagining those power gains stashed like easter eggs in the powerband. that dyno shows a very consistant trim in the A/F ratio.

thanks marietta!

 

Marietta your dyno's were done with aftermarket wheel/tire combo correct?