Car learns your driving habits?

[SndChsr]

So a while back, I read, or at least I thought I read that the car can learn your driving habits and can adjust it's shift points according to how you drive. At the time I thought it sounded silly but now I think that it may actually be true. Mine is a 2017 CX5 GT and my brothers is a 2018 CX5 GT.

During the break in period I treated the car like a porcelain figure. Was real easy on her to give the engine some time to break her in. My brother however drove it like a normal car. When I drive both cars now, I see that my brother's throttle and shift points are much more responsive. Many car reviewers boast how the car shifts exactly how you would want it to, and always seems to be in the right gear. Mine doesn't however. I have to plant my foot down a lot more than in my brother's car in order to get her to shift down and she always tends to stay in higher gear.

My question is, is there a way to flash the cars ECU or whatever to get it back to factory settings and make it re-learn how I drive as if it were new? Would a dealer be able to do that for me?

Thanks for any info!

 

[Puyapim]

Most modern automatics have had this capability for years. My 2000 Mitsubishi with the Invecs auto was self learning.

In order to reset the learning memory you would have to disconnect the battery for a short period. Check your manual or hopefully someone here will add to this.

Disconnecting the battery means you will lose all your other settings as well.

 

[Carfo]

So a while back, I read, or at least I thought I read that the car can learn your driving habits and can adjust it's shift points according to how you drive. At the time I thought it sounded silly but now I think that it may actually be true. Mine is a 2017 CX5 GT and my brothers is a 2018 CX5 GT.

During the break in period I treated the car like a porcelain figure. Was real easy on her to give the engine some time to break her in. My brother however drove it like a normal car. When I drive both cars now, I see that my brother's throttle and shift points are much more responsive. Many car reviewers boast how the car shifts exactly how you would want it to, and always seems to be in the right gear. Mine doesn't however. I have to plant my foot down a lot more than in my brother's car in order to get her to shift down and she always tends to stay in higher gear.

My question is, is there a way to flash the cars ECU or whatever to get it back to factory settings and make it re-learn how I drive as if it were new? Would a dealer be able to do that for me?

Thanks for any info!

the car's ECU absolutely learns your driving habits and adjusts accordingly. I'm assuming resetting your battery would clear these settings like Puyapim said. Or you could just start driving how you want to drive and over time it will adapt. Also there isn't really much of a break-in period for new cars anymore. Here's what the Mazda manual says in regards to the break-in period for the 2017 CX5:

No special break-in is necessary, but a few precautions in the first 1,000 km (600 miles) may add to the performance, economy, and life of the vehicle.

Do not race the engine.

Do not maintain one constant speed, either slow or fast, for a long period of time.

Do not drive constantly at full-throttle or high engine rpm for extended periods of time.

Avoid unnecessary hard stops.

Avoid full-throttle starts.

Do not tow a trailer.

 

[Puyapim]

I agree. Drive it for a few weeks and see if it adjusts more to your liking.

As good as this transmission is there are times when I want more control such as going up winding hills. In those cases I go into manual mode and that keeps the transmission from upshifting. It does that to improve fuel economy but I sense the engine is bogging down a little which I don’t like. It’s good we have options.

 

[SndChsr]

Thanks guys. Yea, as far as break in period, I just didn't wanna trash on it and kept if off the freeway for a little while. Disconnecting the battery will be a bit of a hassle as I've set my Sirius stations but if that's what it takes, I'll do it.

Thanks for the replies!

 

[Puyapim]

Thanks guys. Yea, as far as break in period, I just didn't wanna trash on it and kept if off the freeway for a little while. Disconnecting the battery will be a bit of a hassle as I've set my Sirius stations but if that's what it takes, I'll do it.

Thanks for the replies!

Sounds good. These engines do like to run so after it’s warmed up go out and wind that motor up. I don’t Redline mine but 4-5k rpms is good on occasion.

 

[SndChsr]

Yea, I don't like to reline mine either. At the same time, I like to drive with fuel cost savings in time...after all I'm in Vancouver where gas prices are pretty much criminal at this point, so I'm easy on the accelerator. I'll have to give the sport mode more attention lol.

 

[Carfo]

I'm not a mechanic but my mechanic friends say it's a good idea to punch your car once a week to "clear" it out. Never knew if this was accurate or not

 

[ColoradoDriver]

I'm not a mechanic but my mechanic friends say it's a good idea to punch your car once a week to "clear" it out. Never knew if this was accurate or not

Italian Tune-up?

 

[shadonoz]

Redlining won't hurt the engine-- that's why it's where it is. You don't want to drive up there for extended periods, but once in awhile is fine. Have you noticed where the tranny shifts when you're floored?
It definitely sucks gas, tho.

 

[ColoradoDriver]

Redlining won't hurt the engine-- that's why it's where it is. You don't want to drive up there for extended periods, but once in awhile is fine. Have you noticed where the tranny shifts when you're floored?
It definitely sucks gas, tho.

I floor all the time, and sometimes where it shifts depends on the incline, but as a general rule, definitely shift close to the redline.

It's fun.

 

[7eregrine]

I gun it pretty frequently after it's warmed up. Hell yea Italian Tune Up! I like that. Being Italian makes it even better.
As has been stated this is nowhere near bad for your car.
Of course gas prices are not criminal here. Paid $2.38 a gallon yesterday.

 

[J.R.]

I'm not a mechanic but my mechanic friends say it's a good idea to punch your car once a week to "clear" it out. Never knew if this was accurate or not

A good hard run once in a while helps burn off built up carbon deposits.

 

[Xeler8ing]

After the 1000km, when you drive more agressively, the control unit(s) will adapt and then you will feel it being more responsive

 

[ColoradoDriver]

See this is why I say to people: Don't granny drive your CX-5.

 

[Xeler8ing]

See this is why I say to people: Don't granny drive your CX-5.

Just mix it up

 

[joydestroy]

See this is why I say to people: Don't granny drive your CX-5.

I'm so guilty of this LUL

 

[ColtX-5]

Yeah. Look up Italian tun-up.

 

[SndChsr]

Thank you!

 

[Adguy21]

I went from a 17 Touring to an 18 Grand Touring. When I first got the 18 sport mode would not hold a lower gear and when not in sport mode the car seemed like it was always in to high of a gear. I just hit 600 miles and have been much harder on the car such as full throttle pulls. The transmission is definitely learning and becoming more responsive just like my 17.