davefzr

What is that a Lycas reference? That guy is nuts.

Spelling? I dont listen to his show much. (Sorry for the hijack)

fizzer

It should but I don't think it has... There's no service sticker, which doesn't surprise me seeing as how the kPa/psi sticker for the tires wasn't even filled in. But I did the tap the brakes 20 times with the key in the on position and the oil pressure gauge didn't move... has this been tricky for anyone? I've tried 3 times and I'm pretty sure I'm doing it right (full taps coming completely off the brake pedal, about 20 in 5 secs...). I'm hoping that the service department is more knowledgeable than the sales and customer care reps at the dealer, cuz they knew just about nothing.

Ninja

The brake test isn't really tricky, you just have to be sure to do it hard enough fast enough... I'm sure I pumped my brakes more than 20 times before the guage swept - it doesn't take a really hard press I'm guessing just hard enough to engage your brake light should be sufficient. Don't count to 20 and stop, give it maybe up to 30 pumps.

I don't know when the flashes came out, but mine has a build date of April 04 and it had the K flash originally and the dealer flashed it with MSP04 before I even bought it. (Like a good dealer should!)

About the flash - I wouldn't sweat it too much - your car is running now. Hopefully when they get things strait it will run a little better - some people have noticed a difference and some haven't it will likely also depend on what you already have. Until then you can't do too much else except worry but why worry about something you can't change.

zoom44

the temporary halt has been lifted. anyone that had an appointment postponed or who had a cel after the recent flash and anyone who hasnt had the msp04 work done yet can now get the flash.

snap-on

Thanks for the update....all we need to concern ourselves with now is the folks that had the update done at dealers that had no clue what they were doing.



It appears they will need to go back and have it done again...

BE SURE THE DEALER IS AT 34.6 OR HIGHER!!!

zoom44

You're Welcome! Im just happy to be able to pass on the info. clueless dealers are our bane

for the newer folks 34.6 is the current newest calibration level for the service center's WDS machine. The WDS is the computer used to diagnose problems with your car and to to do things like update the car's PCM. the WDS needs to be at this level to do the flash correctly. also - just to recap on pcm flash file names. previous flash files were N3HxEx where the letter after the E was the flash level. now the file names are N3ZxEx. letter after the E is still the flash level. the first Z file was Z/L this debugged version is Z/M. the number after the H or Z tells whether the file is for an AT or MT.

snap-on

I'm glad you figured that out....N3HxEx vs N3ZxEx..sounds like starwars to me.

This should cover the basics on the update thing.

http://forum.mazda6tech.com/viewtopic.php?t=15

zoom44

i have this strange thing about part numbers. i like to know what they mean. im always bugging sales reps when i see a strange part number that doesnt follow the same system that the company used previously.

Pkskull77

I have seen a couple of threads discussing the M flash, and there might be one on point with this one, but I can't find it. So if it exists sorry for the duplication.

I got the M flash about 3 weeks ago, and the other day I got a CEL. From what I had read on this forum I was pretty sure that it was the error caused by my new flash. I took the car in for service and they confirmed my suspicion.

What really burns at me is their solution. They turned off the light, and told me that Mazda was working on a fix, and that they would be in contact when it was completed. I asked for a time table and she said it "looks to be a month or so."

It's pretty sad when you can't get a flash right, it's even more embarrassing when you can't fix your mistakes. I just don't freaking get it? What exactly is the problem here? I don’t want to hear about how high-tec the 8 is, don’t waste my time by writing bad code. I’m sure other car companies have pulled similar stunts, but this is the first I have ever heard.

Does anyone have a better time frame for the new flash?

RX Renesis

thats y the new "M" flash iis on hold from putting onto the other cars...

um btw... what is CEL? i've seen people mention about it releating to the "M" flash.... but what does it mean? or what is it?

Napboy

cel = check engine light

Razz1

First time I heard of this. Never, had a problem with my flash.

rx8cited

Do you have any idea what the difference is (if any) between the "M" flash that came out months ago (old WDS level I guess?) and this new Z-file "M" flash?

Also, am I correctly understanding that if I have the old "M", the dealer should not flash my car with the new Z/M?

Thanks for clearing this up.

samsonite1

Mazda build quality has ruined my enjoyment of the car. Mazda is the only car company that I know about that would mail a letter to owners asking them to get their ecu's flashed AND THEN FIND THAT IS WAS A BAD FLASH. I am just waiting for the second mailing saying I will need to take my car back to the dealer to get another reflash.

My car had no issues like the other owners I got great milage but since the reflash to m2 or n, it has dropped a lot. My damn Ferrari gets better milage. I have been driving that to work for about a week because I am so fed up with the Mazda. I think when the C6 comes I will make that my daily and turn the 8 into a track car. I wish there was a great dealer that will pick up my car for service and fix all the little things that are wrong with it. I am tired of the center console breaking. I am tired of the cupping tires, I am tired of the seat creaking, I am tired of the rough idle, I am tired of pissing cash away on gas when it was fine before, I am tired of the goddamn front door hitting me on the back when I open the rear door (my driveway is at a slant), I am just tired of the car.

Mazda is no help. All I get from the dealer is "that's normal" or "No problem found".

People use to ask "how do you like your car?" and I would say I loved it. Now I say you can have it for $50 and a box of ho-ho's


Here's the thread BTW

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=45330

w0rm

*gets out wallet.

EpRAnGia

Is M flash the latest flash out for RX8?
Does it still have flooding problem like older flash?
How do I check if the 8's in M or older flash?
Do dealers flash ECU if mine's running on older flash for free of charge?
Ok... prolly got some more questions but that's all for now.
Thanks in advance.

arattle

To start off, let me mention that I've been busy and haven't read the forum in a few weeks, so if this has been discussed, I apologize. Ok, a couple weeks ago I got a letter in the mail encouraging me to get the M-flash to alleviate flooding and cold-weather start problems. I've had neither in the past, but figured that I'd feel stupid if my car didn't start one day after I was warned about the possibility. So I called Pacifico Mazda in Philly on Monday, told them exactly what I needed done, and they made an appointment for 8am Wednesday. I get there, tell them what I'm there for, they take my car and drive it into the shop. As I walk to the service desk, and tell the guy why I brought my car in, he informs me that they put a hold on M-flashes for a while, because they cause the CEL to come on. Mazda is working on N-flash to alleviate that.

!#@#$$!@#!!! Why couldn't they tell me that on the phone two days earlier, or would that be too convenient? Fine, I only lost 20 minutes of my time, and I really didn't feel like I needed the PCM flashed (I think I have the original configuration, my car is a Sep. 03 build, no flashes done). They bring it back around, I hop in in the pouring rain, and start to drive off, as I hear a clunking in the back, like something is stuck in the tire! GREAT!!! Turn around, pull back up to the shop, and ask them if they put a nail in my tire? They put it on the lift, and sure enough, there's a screw sitting in the tread. Luckily, no puncture, but quite a conundrum nonetheless. Anyway, no M-flash for me for the foreseeable future, and hopefully no more screws in the tire either.

-arattle

EpRAnGia

It's been freaking FOUR days now since the car went to dealer for flooding problem and it is STILL not ready!!!!!
Is this normal taking this long to de-flood?

Haze

In the Tech section of the forum, you will find most of your answers already written. Give it a look.

Mugatu

iTrader: (1)

jsh1120

This might help you understand the issue. On 06/02/04 Mazda issued a service bulletin mandating that all vehicles produced prior to (approximately) April, 2004 be "reflashed" to the "M" level. This reflash of the PCM was designed ostensibly to deal with engine flooding and other starting problems.

(Apparently some other issues may have been dealt with in the same "reflash" since Mazda mandated that all cars that had not had the "M" level flash have the procedure performed whether or not the owner had experienced flooding/starting/rough engine while cold conditions.)

On 11/04/04 Mazda "superceded" the previous service bulletin with another TSB mandating, again, that all cars (covered by the previous TSB) be reflashed. Along with the TSB, Mazda provided a new CD with (apparently) modified firmware to resolve the continuing issues with flooding/non-starting/etc.

Approximately 2 weeks later Mazda informed all dealers to STOP performing the reflash mandated in the 11/04/04 TSB, indicating that the most recent version of the firmware had bugs. Dealers are now awaiting new CD's with revised firmware before they can perform the (now famous) "M" flash.

Dealers are still awaiting the CD. According to a dealer I spoke to on Monday, it is doubtful that the revised version will be available until after 01/01/05 since "nothing much happens at Mazda during December."

I suspect that the dealer is awaiting the new firmware before fixing the problem with flooding your car has experienced. That would explain why it remains sitting at the dealer with no discernible effort being made to fix it.

BTW, I pieced this explanation together from reading the TSB's (available on the Rosenthal Mazda site) and discussing the issue with service managers at two Mazda dealers. Any errors are likely mine.

My newly purchased '04 requires the "M" flash. Unfortunately, I purchased it the day after Mazda halted all "M" flashes. My car is running fine, but I obviously would like to have the most recent version of the PCM firmware.

EpRAnGia

Thanks for the explanation.
Reading extremely long tech forum threads on flashes WHILE working... starting from... Jan of 2004. Couldn't tell if they fixed bugs on M or not... but now cleared.
So I have to wait until next year for new version of flash to come out huh.... great... just great.
I was having little problems with my R32 and now RX8's giving me more headaches...
$30k cars shouldn't be doing this!!!

Pkskull77

I am in the process of writing a very stern complaint letter about the 8's reliabilty. I'm not sure that anything will come of it, but I am convienced that someone needs to feel my pain. So I will make the letter very long.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

I also have a Sept 03 build date car. I picked it up June 30th. One week later I got a check engine light and the dealer installed the M flash. The M flash was to eliminate the flooding/starting problems of earler releases. Drivablity of the car increased as there was more power lower in the powerband. When you got the letter from Mazda, which we all got, they had a revised M flash (M ver.2 ?). This was causing problems so they halted installing that flash. I would rather have the slight inconvience of not getting the flash than being stranded somewhere, waiting for a tow truck, because the car wouldn't start.

samsonite1

You can add my name to it as well.