zoom44

OH RIGHT WORLD DIANOSTIC SYSTEM oops caps. so your saying if they have updates the wds to 30.6 or whatever new update it's supposed to be on they may not be able to do the flash. that would mean they just need to update the wds and do the flash in steps or something, correct?

snap-on

As the article/post I wrote in the 6tech forum tells you..the dealer has to keep up to date on the wekly updates. If they get too far behind it can take hours/days to catch up to the latest.

Some Dealers simply wait for the next "major" (30.xx)

This is not the way the system was designed to work.

BTW the minor and major update rarely tell the dealer what they are addressing or even trying to fix..My dealer pulls cars off the lot and "reverse engineers" the process..
For instance, the service tech can check one of every model in the inventory for availible updates before and after the load the latest software into the WDS and see which vehicles are affected and how. This works in most cases but not all. The module reprogram sceen for each vehicle should change when a update is listed to tell the tech what it addresses but if Mz does't flag the file to show in the WDS screen the tech really doesn't know what it does.

This is alot of investigative work most dealers just simply dont do.
Imagine if you did a MSN update and when it was done you had no idea what you just did.

I posted what my Dealer found in the "M" update if you are interested.

RX8-TX

Eager ears are awaiting!

w2aew

I got the M done today. I called my dealer this morning, and told them about the updated TSB. The service writer said that Mazda likes to see a reason. He asked if I had any instances of hard starting. I have only had two or three instances where its taken a couple of extra seconds. I told him this, and he said that was good enough for Mazda. They were nice enough to get me in on the same day. I was in and out in less than an hour.

snap-on

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...&pagenumber=13

VividRacing.com

I just got the "m" yesterday and it does make a noticable difference. The revs seem to sweep past a little smoother and faster and there is deffinetly a torque in crease (though small) in the lower sectons of the rmps from start to about 4000. Deffinately worth having done. Make sure you visit a dealer that has done a few RX8s already when you have it done. SOme of the smaller dealerships may not give you the service your looking for or even know about the flashes. Make your appointment today, get it done, you won't regret it.

Katchoo

Got the M yesterday...my dealer didn't have a copy of the TSB 'til I tossed it on his desk...had to get a 'scheduled maintenace' done before they would do it however. They also didn't have the 'M' until the mechanic remembered he could download it from the internet.

I also wrote MAZDA USA on this subject and customer satisfaction / potential sales / fixing THIER problem / etc. Got back a 'thanks for your concern...see ya' letter. Oh well.

Just take it in for an oil change and mention a rough idle. That will get it done. Bring the TSB with you when you go.

ELX13

i got the flash on tuesday (4/13) and i agree with pretty much everything everyone has said. to recap:
- i don't know if torque actually increased but it certainly feels that way due to the revs being smoother.
- the 'jolt' at 5K on the highway is pretty much gone again, due to the smoother revving.
- much smoother shifting between gears. the revs wind down slower than before.
- haven't burned a full tank yet (filled up right when i left the dealership) but so far it looks like the gas mileage has increased significantly. with gas prcies here being insane i'll take that any day!

VividRacing.com

So I decided to take the beast in to the dealership for the "M" flash. THe dealer knew of the "L" flash but wasn't up to speed on the newest version so I took over his computer and we paid a small visit to the forum here, did a search and brought up all the threads concerning the "M". He said, "OK, I'll call Mazda and get the proper info to do the work." He was impressed with the forum and the amount of members. Later on that day when I stopped back in to pick up the car I found that it was surrounded by all the salesmen and service techs as they were checking out every inch of the car and all the different things done to it. But the main service guy I had been dealing with was no ware to be seen. I eventually found him at his desk brousing the rx8club forums. He saw me walk in and the first thing he says to me is, "this is cool", then he laughed, " I guess I won't rely on Mazda to give me the newest info on the RX8, I'll just check this site a couple times a week."

First impression getting the car back was, " hey, this feels really good." The acceleration through all gears is smoother and quicker. The RMPs seem to sweep past the numbers quicker and a litte added torque from start to 3500 is noticeable. Also, 6th gear on the freeway cruising at 70 mph, passing seems a little easier while overall throttle responce is more crisp and responsive. Bottom line, this is worth making the appointment at your dealership to have done. You will not regret it.

Also, as a side note, the reflash has had no ill effects on the K&N intake thus far.

grifster

I know this is going to sound stupid, but are the flashed inclusive? What I mean is, if you don't have "L" and go get the "M" do you get the same upgrades as the "L", plus the "M" ones? Thanks.

JeRKy 8 Owner

Youknow the tanks in my car never even make 240 miles if I have a little fun inevery drive I take by going to redline everynow and then. The onlyway I get a goodtank is if I baby the Rx8 on each trip. And the low end power definitely feels like itis missing something down there. Sometimes on the highway it really wouldbe nice to not worry about what being in the upper portionof the tachometer when I need to pass a car. I reallywould love to have sollutions to these problemsand the reflash seems like it would answer them. But one thing that I really do not want to lose is that 5000 RPM jolt. That jolt is something that really makes the car funto drive. Everyonehas said that the reflash smoothes everythingout so theres no more jolts or anything. Im not so sure I would like this very much atall. I think theRx8 would lose some of its uniqueness if it lacked thatlittle hiccup that kicks in. I think Imight just live w/the disappointments and forget about the reflash b/c I dont like the idea of losing that boost.

adrian-1

YES.

mikeb

this is good news
I am going tomorrow

RodsterinFL

My dealer too has been reluctant to do anything; however, I just printed the bulletin #01-011/04 Gordon referred to and sure enough it states in the Description note section:

Cars produced before 3/12/04, itis important to update the PCM to at least the "M" calibration... this includes vehicles coming to the dealer for repairs unrelated to the no start concern... normal scheduled maintenance.

So there straight from the MNAO bulletin. At the next oil change, I am requesting it with the highlighted page as evidence.

musclecarconvrt

This formum is just awsome! I've got 4300 miles on mine now and am just really begining to flog it on the backroads. I got a flashing CEL for a few seconds the other day and immeadiatly called the dealer and got 'em to look it up over the phone. I'm getting my "M" flash tomorrow morning. Doesn't sound like I'll have any problem. Definitely taking a copy of the TSB just in case.I can't wait! Hopefuly, I can get the CZ box this summer too!

RodsterinFL

How do you know what flash version is on the car? Is there a way to tell?

elite

well today, after thinking my car is slower a bit (possibly the smoothness but the dealer did do something) i GOT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT which the flash was supposed to fix. Also noticed that the gas milage, which was supposed to get better, is now on its way to possible the worst tank ive had in my 900 miles....im so not happy. have an appt this monday so ill find out more then. also on my way home tonight, just to top things off....i got my *** handed to me by an RX7 from the top of 2nd (60ish which is a good point for our cars) to till i couldnt see him anymore...heavily modded.....was fun for 2 seconds.....damn he was fast!

anyway....i look better hehe, but my car still isnt running 100%...

Mazda Monkey

This service writer is a lazy idiot. Rely on Mazda?, all this information is sent to the dealers, maybe he should take two freaking minutes & open his eyes to find it! Oh well, gotta blame someone else for one's stupidity.

SiMplyBluE

Don't they have quality standards for dealerships? You'd think with Ford having a larger stake they would whip and shape things up a bit.

Jump120MPH

If you open up the hood and look at where the ECU is(just to the left of your battery) it will have a squence of numbers ending with what version you have. Mine originally had C, but I just got updated to L on Monday. Ill be back in next week to get M.

Positron

I just got the M Flash on Friday. I took the care in for its regular oil change and asked if they would do the flash upgrade. When I picked the car up they told me that it took them 3 hours because they had to take the car from its original H version all the way to M.

I have an AT and I have only driven today for 30 or 40 miles, BUT, there is a VERY NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE in the smoothness of the auto shifting and the car seems to pull harder in manual mode. So I am very pleased with the M Flash.

Let's hear it for Rosenthal Mazda of Arlington!

I will post further reports on mileage (too soon to tell, but I am hoping it will help some) and engine performance as I drive more.

Zoom zoom,

mm

Tall Corn

Ok, I found a link last week here to a service bulletin - 01-011/04 issued 04/12/2004 - it states in the description that in your VIN is JM1FE17**40135537 or later you have the "M" flash and do not require a updated calibration.

Well, as it would be, my VIN in below this so since my dealer in Arlington, Texas - Hiley Mazda - is going to do some interior console replacement that got scraped up during final delivery detailing, I might as well have them do the flash while they have the car.

While we're on the topic on VIN - would anybody know where or even if there is a reference site with Mazda that if I were to enter my VIN it would tell me everything about my car - mechanically and otherwise?

That would be really cool - and it would compliment my new manual I just bought, also.

Tall..........

mikeb

got my flash today also

mikeb

I brought the 12 page bulletin with me when I went today and the service said oh thats off the internet and not everyone gets it. Did we mail you a recall for it. And I just went start to the tech and asked him to flash it for me and he did.

Charles R. Hill

iTrader: (7)

My dealer/service techs are very supportive of my performance upgrades and have assured me they will cover me if any legit warranty issues come up. Since I have the only modified 8 they get to see, they want me to bring it by from time to time and take them for rides. I am sure they will do the new flash for me when I take it in this week to show them the R.E. intake, 3" mid-pipe, Borla cat-back, Racing Beat swaybar kit, and S.R. pulley set I recently installed. The cool thoing is that all this stuff can be removed in about 2 hours by myself, if I need to, and restored to stock condition. I hope I experience the same improvements everyone else seems to be enjoying.