Hybrid-RX8

They wouldn't give me JACK at my dealership..said it wasn't applicable..Anyone in TO get a flash and know where to go?

241Commuter

I called up Anaheim Mazda for an appointment. The guy I talked to was pretty clueless about the contents of their TSBs. I read the paragraph about the reflash to prevent no-start conditions being done on all vehicles with earlier programming and the service writer still didn't want to authorize a reflash unless I had a specific complaint. Last I heard he was going to talk to his service manager. He was also clueless about the fix for the flaky AC. When I leave the car there next week I'll leave both TSBs behind. Bet they break the damper on the air-bag campaign too. Good luck wishes are welcome.

Doctor Bob

Guys-My RX 8 was manufactured 9/03. It seems to fire up readily and idles smoothly and go up rpm range smoothly already. Will I gain much with M flash? I never shut engine down cold.

Thanks,

Bob

RX8-TX

Doc, I've got my 8 back in August (ah, just realized: I got it on the 8th month of 2003...good) - The car had zero problems since August until reflash. And now with the M, has had zero problems as well. Only difference that I notice is: when redlining on 2nd or 3rd gear, I used to feel a bump 'roun 6~7K rpm. That feeling is a lot more subtle after M. And it was TOTALY gone immediately after -the reflash- and until the 3rd cold start -ECU relearning somone?

So, I don't know if it fixed something or if it is simply a placebo. It is too soon for me to venture saying it improved MPG. 'til then, I will keep my mouth shut.

Doctor Bob

Dear RX 8-TX,

Thanks for feedback. I think will sit tight till go for oil change in August.

Thanks!

Doc Bob

zoom44

Yes the computer is a "learning" computer in that it "remembers" how you drive and adjusts itself to you. that's a different discussion and i'll dig up some info from previous threads later.

on topic-
i had my flash done today. two things first before my intial impressions. one, the service writer told me that there was an even newer flash than what the tsb said and that they updated their wds( he didn't say wds he said something like "we updated the diagnostic machine and also configured it so that in the future it will always go out and look for and grab the newest update available which to me sounds like it was supposed to be that way already) so that they brought me to the newest flash available. i don't believe this means an "N" flash. i think this means their wds was 1-2 updates behind and now it's up to m. the second thing is the paperwork doesn't show the whole part number- it stops before the E so i can't confirm thru that i actually am on M. i never had L. i will check for the sticker later.

first impression on a very short drive.definetly more oomph down low. no lag before 5k to give the impression of a kick there anymore. it feels stronger all the way through the rpm range. do you remember when we first got our cars and alot of us remarked that we were suprised when we looked down at the speedo how fast we were going ? because it was so smooth? today i was surprised again. it's smoother than ever and i looked down at the speedo when i thought i was going 40ish and i was doing 55. so thumbs up from me so far. we'll see in a week after i check my mileage.

snap-on

If the dealers had never done the "M" before..they may have needed to go and get the file that fit your car.

If you can..please call and ask what level the WDS is on.

Somebody there should know.

kristopher_d

Ahhhh. The next generation of cars will have 802.11z (I know, Z's not spec'd yet) and will automatically download the most current ECU programming. Everyone on the board will be very, very happy, until the damn update back-fires and a damn HONDA out rev's us. Wont that be cool?

KBert

I called my dealer today to ask them about the M flash. I have only had my car for two weeks. He said that this flash does not apply to newer cars and he could check by my serial number of the car. He looked it up and confirmed that I don't need it on my car.

I am questioning whether or not he actually knows what he is talking about. I would hate to miss out on something that can actually improve my car and something that I am entitled to.

Can anyone give me some advice on whether the dealer could be right or should I demand an M flash?

Thank you

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

That "power surge" that people keep yammering on about is no such thing.
What you were actually feeling was a loss of power at 6200 RPM. When you got through that part of te power band that lagged, you get into the torque peak and it suddenly feels like a surge when it is actually coming out of a dip. Your butt is not a dyno.

Sorry to burst any bubbles.

The 6200 dip was one of the problems Canzoomer and I were trying to correct with our tuning solutions. Mazda fixed it for us with the "L" flash.

Jump120MPH

You should have it. You can look under the cover to your ECU. There is a sticker on the ECU that will tell you what version you have. There will be a bunch of numbers and end in a letter "L" or "M".

An8inLAS

Okay I popped the cover on the ecu and this is what I saw. Does this mean there is now an N flas floating around? Help!!!

TimH

Maybe yours is the "F" flash..

An8inLAS

Thats what I think also. Unless, the tech never bothered to put a new sticker on that indicates I've got the M. But since the oil press. needle doesn't sweep, it looks like back to the dealer to and put the headlock on them to get the M flash done.

Jump120MPH

I got the "M" , but they never put a new sticker on mine.

thew

i got the m today, i think . No sticker.. and the break pumping thing does not do anything !!.. However.. I did indeed feel the diffrance in the way the car responds. Excatly as others have said it is smother.. I dont think it has anymore power.. even maybe a bit less..but i have not driven it long enough to notice any gas milage change. There is no sticker on the ECU either.. I dont think many dealers are really marking the cars like Mazda says to. They keep all that info in their computers so they dont really need the sticker. :9

At the same time i told them MY A/C was not working right. Just like the TSB says. My service Tech said np. They will replace it but the have to order the part and that will take a week. !! Well I throw down the TSB and say why dont you have this A/C part that fits in the rx8, the mx3, and mx6? he says theres no TSB about it so they dont have to stock it!! Realize hes now holding the TSB ! . He says " oh yea this is the one about the A/C amp.. we know about this one" !!! and gives it back !! OMG !!! the guy is really saying that my A/C is not really important enough to give me one of the at least 3 they are holding for non-warrenty repairs. Or just to keep there own Stock up !!! WTF ..

Anyway back to the ECU. I have no paper work yet because they are keeping the ticket open untill the A/C is fixed. Then I will get to read it and see what Flash they did do. if any.. !!


Really.. the car had some lvl of flash because it ides smother, and revs through the gears smother!! I dont really like it but.. ill get over it.. it 's still just as fun to drive ..

thew

Does the break pumping thing really work with the "m" flash or just the "L"

rx8miami

both

thew

really!! you can do it on yours and you have the m ? cause that would mean i dont even have the L ...
or could it be that it just does not do that anymore ?

bla this suxs if i dont really have m

Kewl

I had both the 'M' flash installed and the A/C TSB work done today. Only 80 here today, but the AC worked much, much better. More like what I expect. As for the 'M' flash of the PCM, I don't see much change. I had the 'L' version installed about a month ago and with that one I saw a very positive improvement in engine performance, but not much change in mileage. I was near empty when 'M' was installed and filled up just after getting the car from the dealer. Last tank got 18.7 mpg. This is in line with what I have been getting on in town driving. We will see if 'M' did anything for mileage.

rx8miami

yes sir. got m last friday and the sweep does occur!

Tony Orlando

Just to clarify for people joining this thread late; The brake pumping is a procedure to clear the eccentric shaft plate memory. It just happens that the new flashes include the oil pressure gauge sweep as a way for Mazda's techs to visually identify that the memory has been cleared.

rx8miami

Doing this say 2 or 3 times will cause no damage? Some? What's the deal cause I have done it a few times since the flash. The first time I did it was to insure that they didn't lie to me and I checke dit. The second and third time I did it cause it was cool to show to my friends because they didn't believe me. What ya think?

Mitch Strickler

Both my selling dealer and another had refused to do a reflash on my low-VIN (and low gas mileage) car, saying that the Mazda tech people wouldn't authorize it because I hadn't reported flooding or hard starting. Today I took the car in the for console insulation pad, squeaky brakes and a rattle, then jokingly told the service manager that I was still waiting for Mazda to do something about low mileage. When I picked up the car, he said they had done the M flash for mileage. Weekend after next I'll be on a 275 mile one-way trip, and get a first read on mileage. The best I did on the same route before the flash was 21.5, driving moderately fast.

BTW, the "bill" for all the work was $164, all chalked up to warranty. Good thing I wasn't paying: They said they blew out dust from the brakes, but they squeak just the same, and they tightened the latching mechanism on the passenger door, but the sort of hollow knocking sound, most noticeable when idling, is still there.

This is par for the course for my dealer -- not too sharp, but heart in the right place. For now, I'm sticking with them. (Sort of...when I saw a Dentworks guy who does work for them, I had a private conversation and took his card, and a quote lower than what the shop mentioned for a couple of parking lot dings.)

thew

" I took the car in the for console insulation pad "

can i get that part number for the console pad .. My dealer says it does not exist ! :0

and as for my "m" flash ... let me make sure i got it right.. I need to turn the key to on, pump the break pedal 20 times in 8 seconds, and my oil pressure guage should do a sweep of the dial ?


this is what i have tried and it did nothing. but made my leg tired. :P

please clue me in if iam being a dumbass.