Yeah.. I am running way rich now too. Popping on almost every gear shift above 5,000. I have a CANScan unit and was logging 11's throughout the rev range.. yikes.

 

Does the CANScan read the CEL?

 

Yup. P0003, which I still have yet to hear what that means, and a P0100 (MAF Sensor Related).

 

Last night I took mine hard (to 9k) through 1,2,3, and hard into 4 three times in a row. I did not notice the slight lag I thought I felt on the way back from the dealer (above 7,000 rpm) nor did I get a CEL. I'm guessing mine might be OK and for once my service rep wasn't BSing me.

 

I'll try that test on mine as well. So far so good, but I haven't specifically done that.

jds

 

How do I know IF I have the M FLASH? Is there a way I can check? Please email me with any answers...... joeoh89@yahoo.com

 

Just got my car reflashed yesterday morning because of poor gas mileage (9-10mpg). They could not tell me what flash level I got, but said the WDS version was 34.9. and I had the original "M" back in May.

Anyone know what flash is on 34.9?

BTW, 2 weeks earlier I had a CEL with code PO456 and they replaced the gas cap.

Either way, I don't have any mileage numbers yet, but I do know that I got 50 miles on the first 1/4 tank whereas before I would only get 69 miles out of a 1/2 tank. I guess that means that it is better unless the next 19 miles take it down to 1/2.

 

maybe the flash just changed the way the needle moves....

 

I only have two numbers on my car. Guess I cant get the file name that they used.

N3H6-18881-M

SW-N3H60M000 I think..

 

If we ask, can they tell us the file name they used to make the update?

 

have you read my posts about the changing of the file names? hopefully you have so you understand what i say next- the newest wds level is now 34.10- remember that is used ford parent company wide so not every new wds update has anything to do with a mazda product or the rx8 specifically. so the wds level that had the msp04 flash had the file named N3HxEM or M flash. after that files are N3ZxEx. Z-EL was the known buggy flash and Z-EM is the supposedly unbugged flash. 34.10 still has the Z-EM and nothing newer. so that means 34.9 also had the Z-EM file and nothing newer.

 

i gave a long answer in the other thread
short answer Z-EM or the supposedly unbugged file

 

So it's a matter of the WDS level? is 34.9 related to WDS? I thought that was just the diagnostic tool..

No flaming please

Be kind haha....

***Just saw your other post....*** Looks like it's related...

 

the first is the part number for a flash with the last digit being the level

second is the actual file name except after H6 it should be an E. letter after the E is flash level. that number is for the original Mflash. new part number and file names have replaced the H with a Z and the number after the H for auto/manual has changed.

 

So are we to trust the file name on the sticker or can they verify it somehow using the WDS..

 

I dont know how you keep all this straight..

Thankx for relaying all this good information to us.

 

its either a gift or a curse....

 

i would tend to believe the sticker since they had to take the time to do it. if you have had nothign since then you are on the original H-EM flash. i wouldnt worry about getting anything newer until you had a problem described in a future TSB. im not.

 

I have read what you said about the file names and thank you for that explaqnation. That means that I had "M" from back in May and they just reflashed with Z-EM yesterday from WDS 34.9 which they thought was the latest WDS, in an effort to cure my mileage woes.

That was the reason they did the "M" flash back in May, to fix my mileage. Funny thing is I was getting 13-14mpg before the "M" flash and after it went up to 17-19 during learning mode. Then over the course of 4 months it dropped down to 10-12. Then after another 3 months it dropped as low as 9-10. Now I get the Z-EM flash and mileage and overall performance seem to be better right off the bat on the first 1/4 tank I have used. Part throttle response is definitly better.

So what will happen now over the next 3 months? Why does it appear that it runs better when it is in learning mode right after a reflash or battery disconnect as it did when they reset my P0456 CEL?

I will definitly keep a close eye on the mileage again.

 

I am getting a P0100 but it's not listed on the TSB.. Maybe I should try getting the new flash... Thankx for the info.

 

The pesimist in me wants to agree but the optimist in me wants to say who cares as long as it will pass a gas station.

 

Thank you I got both. Did you see my question about mileage being higher when the car in is mearning mode in the other thread? That is something I am concerned about since it would actually point to something else being the root cause for my poor mileage. Maybe the current on the MAF or O2 sensor is different during learn mode on my car and one or both the sensors or the ECU or wiring harness needs R&R.

Is there any way to determine how long learn mode is actually in operation?

I also read somewhere that not all MAF sensors used in the 8 are accurate or may just barely be within operational specs. Is there a way the MAF can be checked independently of the ECU?

 

Well I got my car back on Jan 4. The dealer service order says "Incorrect PCM Software. Remove PCM Send to Mazda for Reprograming, Reingstall 6X 9J (PCM PNMC)"

Yesterday, the car seemed OK, no check engine lights or anything...but then again the last flash took a couple of days before problems showed up. Then today I start the car tonight (ambient temp 20F) and it starts quick revs up to about 2200 RPM sits there for 30 sec and then drops down to 1000RPM. After about a minute of idling, the RPM drops down to about 750RPM. The whole car starts shaking, the steering wheel starts vibrating violently, and after about 10 seconds of this, I think I need to get the revs back up a bit. I barely tap the throttle and the car just stalls. When I start the car back up it starts up instantly revs to about 2000, drops to 1000 and is fine.

This is about the same problem I was having the right after I got the car flashed originally a couple weeks ago, but before it the engine would stutter, then stall under a light load. This time I was just waiting for the car to warm up, so it was sitting in neutral.

I guess it is time for another call to the dealer.

jgv999

 

let it learn a little before you jump on them. it could be the new ecu needs a couple of start cycles to really settle in. see if it clears up over the next day or 2

 

Thanks for the advice, I will give it a bit of time, and see what happens over the weekend. I just filled up the gas (after this occured), so if it was "bad gas", it shouldn't happen again.

jgv999