Hard 8

Interesting. I guess that answers my questions. I still want N, though, because I'm always a ***** for the latest tech. I bet they give it to me, since they said they would and I'm not wasting hours dropping it off to have nothing done. They know I already have the M; they were the ones who did it.

Hard 8

How often do you clear your PCM? I hadn't heard of it before. I have heard that on a WRX a reset often actually takes away a lot of power, as the ECU normally pulls a lot of timing by default, and only gradually advances the timing as it learns.

zoom44

right but what they didnt do before was close the msp04 issue in your computer records so as far as mazda is concerned they didnt do it.

Hard 8

OK; thanks. I wonder why they wouldn't have closed it?

zoom44

i just started doing it on the last 3- now 4 - tanks. to see if the remarks about it increasing mpg wer true. it appears to be so for mine. i just went and looked at the mileage i got on the last/4th tank. that had about 80% in town runs with 20% higway runs to the airport and the beach( my sister was in town for a visit) 264.1 miles on 13.5 gallons of gas = 19.5 mpg. id say that for me it is definetly working.

zoom44

because they probably weren't doing the flash because of MSP04 but because you asked. which is one of the reasons mazda is hot on this- they want the dealers to be pro-active about getting the cars done instead of waiting for the customer tyo ask.

Hard 8

I suspect I'm ignoring a wealth of prior postings on this issue, but I guess I missed them. Oh, well. It just seems to me that clearing the PCM means you're clearing all the learning it's done, and maybe it had learned to run richer and pull the timing to avoid detonation, so when you clear it, you run leaner and more advanced for a while, but only until the PCM learns to be more conservative again. Not necessarily terrible for the engine, but it seems like you're just fighting some inevitable creep. I think I'll start doing it too, though; just for the heck of it.

Hard 8

Makes sense. I think I did ask that time.

socalightning

Maybe Mazda feels that the flash upgrade on every 8 might just lower the overall warranty claims for the 8 and save money in the long run. ...Preventive medicine?

I think I want the "N" now too. My cars going to the dealer next week so we'll see.

Hard 8

I'm sure that's it. There is probably a small number of owners with repeated flooding problems who require a lot of roadside and warranty service, and an even smaller number who "lemon out" their cars.

Plus, of course, the RX-8's reputation, and that of the Renesis and the brand in general, may suffer from such complaints. I suspect Mazda would like to miminize these problems as much as possible.

NgoRX8

iTrader: (1)

Since my car was built after the date stated, does this mean I am suppose to stick to the M?

KKMmaniac

NgoRX8: it looks like if your car doesn't fall into the VIN range, you aren't eligible for a reflash. If you have any specific problems, you could probably ask about it though.

Recall? I received a notice from MNAO last November, called a “product update” that explains a hard start scenario, and states “While this is not a recall, Mazda recommends making an appointment with your dealer to have your vehicle updated as soon as possible.” In my case, I already had the “M” flash done (but not by the dealer I bought my car at) when I took my car in the previous May for recall work. I requested the flash be done as per a previous TSB that said the flash should be done even if the car was in for other service. The sticker on the door jamb noted the N3H6EM filename.

Anyway, this winter I took my car to the dealer that did the “M” flash to find out why it was idling at such a high RPM when started when air temperatures were around 0 Deg. F. After they kept my car for a day, I was told they reflashed the PCM to solve the issue, but the receipt showed no specific calibration number. (I forgot to mention the notice, but figured they would check the computer records) This was during the time of the buggy reflash code, but I still haven’t ever gotten a CEL.

I was then a bit baffled to get a notice from the dealer I bought my car from, explaining MNAO requested they inform me I have an applicable recall on my car and should bring it in to be reflashed for “engine no start, lack of power”.

So, I called yet another local dealer (I suspected the dealer who said they did the last reflash really didn’t do a reflash) to make an appointment for the above “recall” notice even though I wasn’t having problems. The service advisor found a record of a reflash done at port, and one done last May, but nothing in the last few months. He also said the campaign was closed, and I wouldn’t have to bring the car in again.

Now, I’m wondering if I should (or could for that matter) bring my car in to have the “N” flash done. No problems, but I have recently noticed that “clack” noise, as I accelerate WOT through about 6500 RPM. (auxiliary ports snapping open, or…?)

C-Mac 18

quick question... what is N Flash?? do u mind to elaborate? just for me to understand it fully.. big thanks...

Go48

Go to this link and read:
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/j-k-l-m-flash-explanations-50119/

That will take you up through 'M', and 'N' is apparently a repackaging of 'M'.

In case you are looking for more basic information on what a flash is, it is a reprogramming of the Powertrain Control Module, the on-board computer that controls functioning of the car. Usually, this is done to correct problems encountered with operation of the car.

Vertigo-1

iTrader: (3)

Don't suppose there's a TSB for this, is there? This sounds like something I wouldn't mind having done, except I think my dealer most likely wouldn't bother doing it short of me shoving an official paper in their face regarding the N flash. I get some very nasty hard starts every so often, and I'm on M at the moment...hoping this N could fix the problem.

Razz1

My friend works in the service department.

The N flash is just to get rid of those people that got the M flash through dealers that ad a corrupted file in the M flash.

That's why the M flash in new 05's are the same.

Hard 8

I got my N flash yesterday (previously, I had the non-corrupt M). Not sure I can tell the difference, but under wide-open throttle I think maybe it feels a bit quicker. I really don't trust myself to detect slight differences in power output, though. So often it's purely a placebo effect.