rx8cited

OMG, another clueless service manager that's relying on customer web sources instead of the Mazda tech network!

Does'nt Mazda provide all service managers with the proper training and information or do they just play dumb?

zoom44

my thoughts exactly rx8cited.

KKMmaniac

I hope this wasn't posted before, ('cause I know how annoying that can be) but I found an interesting website:

http://www.motorcraftservice.com/vdi...q&menuIndex=24

Maybe a few WDS questions can be addressed here, and if they are of any use to you, (uninformed dealers take note! - as if you would see this forum anyway) it looks like you can download all the updates.

snap-on

If they were on here...they wouldn't be uninformed

greenline

Well I am finally getting the M-Flash. I had my rx8 in for 1000 mile service and when I ask about the M-flash I got a blank look. I tried to explain what is was but they did not seem to know what I was talking about. Not one to give up I came home and got the information I needed from this web site and called dealer and talked to service manager and gave him the SB#. At first he wantedto say that it covered hard starting until I said read the info on the first page and then he said oh yea. He said when do you want to bring it in, we can do that for you. So all I have to do now is get a free day to take car to dealer and I will get the M-Flash. I am looking forward to see if I can notice any difference. THis site serves a good public service.
ers

An8inLAS

I think that bone head service writer owes you a free hat or something. Making you take another day off work and go back to the dealer, show him the service bulletin, and how to do his job, just to get what MNAO sez you should have in the first place. Maybe he will realize that you are an educated car owner whose requests should be taken seriously.

Topgun

Well I got my M flash today it seems to run the same as my L flash.I did notice a change when I got the L flash. Maybe my gas mpg will get better.I did waste 3 hours waiting for it when they told me it would be about 1 hour. Had it done at Classic Mazda East in Orlando.Not the best service there.I will let you know if the mpgs get better.

RenoIV

I got the M-flash about three weeks ago. I'm getting 1.75 miles per gallon more then before the flash. A mixture of city and Beltway (495) driving. The 8 only has 2300 miles so I expect the mileage will get better .... if not that's fine with me .... didn't buy it for mpg ... 19.2 mpg since the flash ....
It continues to feel smoother thru the gears.

I, Claudius

Just got back from getting my first oil change and recall stuff done at Roger Beasley Mazda North in Austin. It looks as though they actually used 5W/20, they didn't break the damper in the glove box, and nothing fell off on the way home, so I'm a happy guy.

I'm also happy because they did the M flash with no balking or blank looks. The service guy took the TSB, looked it over for a moment, and said, "no problem." The invoice reads, "customer states perform PCM reflash per bulletin." On their copy (not mine) the mechanic wrote by hand something about "problem with start in morning, rough idle," neither of which I had mentioned, but I guess he had his reasons. And now there's a sticker on the inside of the hood. So it's official.

Addendum: After a few days of driving around with the M flash, I'm getting pretty much what other people have reported: more low-end torque (but maybe a little less in the upper band), and maybe - just maybe - a pretty serious bump in MPG. I'll know more about that in a couple of tanks.

Preacher

My 'M' flash's being done AS WE SPEAK.
F'ing dealer pulled some ****,but it's all fixed,after I went to the dealership's uber-management....if I told ya what a buckethead mechanic they let do work the 1st time,you'd shudder....

Charles Cope

Got flashed last week. The service manager came back triumphantly after about a half hour and announced that they didn't have to do anything. I asked to talk to the service tech, who showed me the TSB that "only is available to Mazda dealers". I set him straight - all enthusiastic owners get the TSB's and no, its all cars before the VIN stated in the TSB MUST have the update. They admitted their mistake and did the upgrade. All the improvements I've read here were immediately noted!

I don't think the service tech & manager were trying to skirt the issue, just hope there weren't too many that came in to get the update and left without it!

RX8by

I just finished my second tank 19.99 mpg in mixed driving. Before the flash I got 16.5 to 16.9 now I get 19.2 to 19.99. I didn't get it for the mileage but I am very satisfied with the way it runs now and with the mileage. I bet I can get 26 mpg on a trip (i got 24.2 before).

SHOWOFF

WTF??? Took my 8 in today to get re-cal on the PCM. Gave my Advisor the TSB. I work at a Ford Dealer and our dealership and this dealership have a good working relationship so they treat me pretty well.

I get a call from my advisor and she tells me that the tech would not do the recal b/c I have not had any starting concerns.

Now what I can't seem to see what he didn't understand about the section of the TSB that states that this needs to be done regardless of why the customer is at the dealership.

This is free money for them. Oh well, this is the 3rd time they have jacked me around, I guess I will have to start spending my money at Sunflower.

snap-on

If you work at a Ford dealer why bother going to the Mz dealer?

Your WDS has the Mz updates.

I continue to read these horror stories about dealers. Why not just call and find one that will fulfill your needs and start a relationship there?

zoom44

i wondered that myself. but basically because he didn't understand the whole WDS thing. maybe a new thread to explain it. i'll work on that later if no one else does it.

msrecant

I have run through two tanks of gas since the "M Flash" of my RX-8. I am averaging 16-17 mpg where previously it was 14.5 to 15.5. Performance is still substantially smoother than the way the car originally came.

Note that my RX-8 was one of the first batch to arrive in the US and this is my first re-flash.

dknv

On my copy of a service worksheet, the item for the M Flash clearly shows "Reprogrammed PCM. Bulletin 01-011/04 Procedure A+B+C". This is the current bulletin for the M Flash.

snap-on

If your car wasn't flooded they just ripped Mz for 1.5 when the reflash only pays .3

dknv

Oh, I had other stuff done too, not just the flash. I had to get the oilpan replacement, plus I had another problem that maybe this will help --
I was driving up Mt. Rose, about 8500 ft elevation, when I lost power even thru downshifiting down to 2nd. I thought the car was going to die on the road, but the power eventually picked back up, and finished the rest of the climb ok. Service wasn't able to see any exception codes, and I asked them to keep looking.

snap-on

But the oil pan has a bulletin and labor op codes of it's own.

dknv

Right - my service worksheet had 4 or 5 different items on it. I was just pointing out one of them, for those who kept asking how you could tell whether you got the M flash, when there was no sticker on the car. Hopefully most service depts. are including this information on their service paperwork.

DSPeeper

Got the reflash along with the 2 recalls - no hassles at all.

1st tank got 16 mpg - never more than 13.5 before.

pkwa

I must be lucky with my Dealer. I called them up Monday morning, said I heard about an "M" Flash for my ECU and I wanted to get it loaded. They told me to bring in the car and they flashed it while I waited. No questions or interrogations.
It runs smoother, and feels like more torque down low. I do not know about mileage yet.

oh my dealer is http://www.dougs.com
if you are in the Seattle Area I highly Recommend them. Excellent Service and they put up with me asking for cryptic parts.

InuYasha

For those of you who are brave enough to attempt such a thing yourself, I ran accross these sites while researching the subject.

PCM Reprogramming Codes


Vehicle Network Interface


Its a bit pricey fore a home mechanic setup, but I like to tinker!

boyer_tom

I don't know if this has happened to anyone, but I was hoping the M flash would solve this problem and it didn't. I've had my RX-8 for about 2 months and during the last 2 or 3 weeks I have had trouble with the car starting. This made it real easy to get the M flash from the dearlership because I had a very valid reason. Unfortunately, I have continued to have starting problems and I'm beginning to wonder if it's an electrical problem and not a computer problem. So my question is how have others' cars reacted when they've had trouble starting. For me, I turn the key and the car makes some clicking noises and all the needles on the dash go crazy for a couple seconds. This generally happens a couple times before the car will even begin to even try to crank over. Eventually I get the car to start but it's been real frustrating at times. I know this car is supposed to have time to warm up before shutting off in order to avoid this, but it's happened to me at times where I had driven a considerable amount of time with the car completely warmed up. I'm beginning to think it might be a wiring problem or starter problem, I just was wondering if anyone has experienced anything similiar and if so what you did to fix it.