m82492

Just got back from an appointment at the dealer. I've had my 8 for 2-3 weeks and have a check engine light on. After looking at it they told me they cleared the code ( never did tell me what the code was ) and said that it needs the latest flash which Mazda just released for the 05. He said they don't have it yet but it will be there in 2-3 days. He also said that the 04's had a few flash updates ( which I alread knew ) but he said the 04 flash won't work on the 05. So what flash would this be that he is supposedly getting in 2-3 days?

MI_FamilyMan

My guess is that they aren't able to pinpoint why the CEL is on in your car, and that they are going to flash it with the latest software just as a precautionary measure. Shouldn't hurt anything if you already have some kind of issue, but if there is something wrong unrelated to the flash, you may continue getting CELs, or your issue might identify itself eventually.

JM1FE

There was a version 'M' flash in summer 2004. It was fine.

Fall 2004, the dealers got a corrupted file in of the 'M' flash, and cars that got flashed with it had repeated check-engine lights.

Now there is a version 'N' of the flash that solves the problem of the later, bad, 'M' version.

All of this has been discussed to death in the "Tech Garage" forum on this site, in the "Known Issues" subform.

m82492

Yea I know the flashes have been discussed but I don't see any flashes discussed for 2005 models. Especially since this service guy said the 2004 flash wouldn't work on 2005's.

sferrett

I noticed different part numbers for the flashes for '05 and '04 cars in one of the more recent tsb postings on the finishline site - so it's possible there's some difference in ECU or something after some certain vin number and we now have two different versions going.

Air Force RX8

I believe Snap-on said that there were no new files for the 8 on the new WDS 36.1 software release, maybe I misunderstood him in how he was explaining it. I was given the same have to wait for the new software when I went to get my 04 flashed the week before last.

snap-on

The 36.1 release only added the Mazda5 to the WDS as far as we are concerned.

It doesn't matter if you car is yellow (04) or white (05) the PCM's are the same and the program is the same.

If your dealer is at least at 35.7 he has the latest and greatest.

Can someone at the local tell you what level the WDS is on?

sferrett

I was basing my supposition on the following document:
http://www.finishlineperformance.com...07-05-1432.pdf


It seems to list different PCM calibration part numbers for 2004 and 2005-federal and 2005-california. (on the bottom of page 2)

snap-on

But those files were posted and listed on the 35.5 update. That was at least a 4-6 weeks ago. Since then we have gone to 35.7/35.9 then 36.1.

sferrett

OK cool - thanks for clearing it up. I'm obviously not as familiar with the intricacies of the system as yourself.

Cheers,
Simon.

snap-on

If you didn't live 42000 miles from me I could show you...

I have several customers on this site and I walked them through it.

They shook thier heads as I spoke so I assume the get it.

I know the "assume" joke.

Go48

Huh?

allmotorRX8

if mazda recalls your vehicle, lets say they needed to flash it, then for the loaner, would you have to pay for it, in other words, with your auto insurance? or would mazda cover the costs?

m82492

Snap on you seem to be knowledgeable on this whole subject. So from what you have said I should expect to get 35.7 when I take it up there. Anything less would not be the most up to date. They could load 36.1 but it would be no different than 35.7. So if I called them and they said they have 35.7 and are waiting for 36.1 they have no friggin idea what they are doing because I'm waiting on an update that has nothing to do with my car? Believe me I was not very comfortable with the service tech I met with. I felt like I was talking to the backwoods version of my 80 year old grandfather. Thanks for the input guys. I just want to know what they plan on doing with my vehicle. It's 40 miles each way to the dealer. That's where I got the best deal when I bought it but I'm paying the price having to drive that distance for service.

m82492

Allmotorrx8 - I get a free rental if the car is there overnight. They also said they'd give me one if I was really in a pinch ( even if it was a 1 day appointment). It's was no big deal to them to hook me up.

snap-on

If your dealer is at 35.7 they already have every file available for your car.

The numbers change almost on a weekly basis but remember that this machine is Fords global format and hundreds of files might be added before we actually see one for an RX-8.