ECU Flash voids the warranty???

[Wantmoreboost]

The dealership that tried to screw me is Al Smith Mazda off of Wake Forest Rd. in Raleigh, NC. If anyone wants to call ( of course i'm making the call as I'm typing) and give them hell the number is 800-455-7116. Thanks for your replies and I am hoping to have a flashed protoge within a few days.

 

[Heathen23]

That's where I bought my MSP and this is very disheartening news. I will be sure to take them to task if they continue to give you hell. They are extremely lazy there and I have found that they will claim they have done work but then fail to do so (i'm a fan of a little tape in the right spots to ensure that work is being done that they claim is being done).

Please let us know the outcome. I will call there today or tomorrow.

 

[KyRaceFan]

What are the symptoms for the hesitation problem? Whenever I shift quickly I get what seems to be a large drop in boost and my car bogs down then studders and starts accelerating again.

when you shift, the exhaust gases spooling the turbo sorta stop and the turbo has to respool...
THAT IS NOT HESITATION. Just Turbo lag.

As far as the warranty being voided.
Write a nice letter to MNAO, and tell them about the dealer.

And you can advance timing with a timing gun and the crank angle sensor. Havent looked for it on the MSP yet, But it can be advanced or retarded. Be careful if you do this.. dont wanna advance it too far, or retard it too much.

 

[II-Savy]

So did you get flashed yet? Are they still telling you it voids the warr? If yes I will call for you ASAP. Please let me know also WHO told you this.

 

[ping]

WHOA, guys - it's possible that the dealer heard you say "ECU reflash" or reprogramming and didn't know that the ECU reflash you were talking about was from Mazda.

If you flash the computer with NON-Mazda code (or run an aftermarket engine management system), the dealer is right, it'll void the engine warranty in a heartbeat IF Mazda an prove that the reflash caused the damage (and, chances are, if you're running non-Mazda code you're pushing the engine pretty hard and it certainly WILL void the warranty.). Can't blame Mazda or the dealer for that.

If, however, the dealer had known that the reflash was a Mazda-recommended fix, they probably wouldn't have reacted this way.

It's only if they

(a) know the fix was from Mazda and
(b) still reacted this way

that they're morons and, given what I've seen from some dealers, this is certainly quite possible. Call them again now that the "fix" is better known.

Remember - dealers (and the humans therein) are very accustomed to dealing with angry customers. Most are taken off-guard and can be easily won over (rightfully so) with a calm, reasoned, professional, factual approach.

Oh - and a phone call or letter to MNAO helps sometimes.

 

[boostisgood]

And people wonder why I want to RUN THE **** AWAY from my MSP and MAzda all together.

 

[Heathen23]

WHOA, guys - it's possible that the dealer heard you say "ECU reflash" or reprogramming and didn't know that the ECU reflash you were talking about was from Mazda.

If you flash the computer with NON-Mazda code (or run an aftermarket engine management system), the dealer is right, it'll void the engine warranty in a heartbeat IF Mazda an prove that the reflash caused the damage (and, chances are, if you're running non-Mazda code you're pushing the engine pretty hard and it certainly WILL void the warranty.). Can't blame Mazda or the dealer for that.

If, however, the dealer had known that the reflash was a Mazda-recommended fix, they probably wouldn't have reacted this way.

It's only if they

(a) know the fix was from Mazda and
(b) still reacted this way

that they're morons and, given what I've seen from some dealers, this is certainly quite possible. Call them again now that the "fix" is better known.

Remember - dealers (and the humans therein) are very accustomed to dealing with angry customers. Most are taken off-guard and can be easily won over (rightfully so) with a calm, reasoned, professional, factual approach.

Oh - and a phone call or letter to MNAO helps sometimes.

That is an interesting point. I can see what your saying but at this point service dept.'s should be aware of the issue and be prepared to handle them or at the minimum helpful regarding the matter.

And people wonder why I want to RUN THE **** AWAY from my MSP and MAzda all together.

I think to some degree every manufacturer's service is a joke from what I have experienced myself and gathered from others.

 

[boostisgood]

It runs much deeper then that Heathen. I have had the most HORRIBLE expierience with my dealer, and now MNAO is pretty much turning thier heads on it. Ohhh well, Guess Im stuck with this damn ******* car till at least next year.

 

[1sty]

It runs much deeper then that Heathen. I have had the most HORRIBLE expierience with my dealer, and now MNAO is pretty much turning thier heads on it. Ohhh well, Guess Im stuck with this damn ******* car till at least next year.

I think its time to share with the group (thumb)

 

[Heathen23]

I think its time to share with the group (thumb)

As do I 1st. Give it up boost! Do tell.

 

[boostisgood]

Well, A document sent to me, was in a pile of paperwork, on my [passenger seat. It was all held together with a black spring clip. This document was something sent to me by a friend, containing some info about the "ecu fix" It was about 4 pages into this packet of papers.

THE ******* TECH WENT THROUGH MY PAPERWORK, AND ******* FAXED THIS INFO TO MNAO, AND GOT ME INTROUBLE FOR HAVING IT.

The fucktard SAID I handed it to him. Im not THAT ******* stupid to do something like that. So, I now have a formal complaint with the BBB, MNAO, and also contacted the local papers, and news about this. See how ******* long this assclown of a dealership keeps it Elete status.

 

[Heathen23]

Well, A document sent to me, was in a pile of paperwork, on my [passenger seat. It was all held together with a black spring clip. This document was something sent to me by a friend, containing some info about the "ecu fix" It was about 4 pages into this packet of papers.

THE ******* TECH WENT THROUGH MY PAPERWORK, AND ******* FAXED THIS INFO TO MNAO, AND GOT ME INTROUBLE FOR HAVING IT.

The fucktard SAID I handed it to him. Im not THAT ******* stupid to do something like that. So, I now have a formal complaint with the BBB, MNAO, and also contacted the local papers, and news about this. See how ******* long this assclown of a dealership keeps it Elete status.

Not to jack this thread further but what was the content and why would it be a bad thing for MNAO to see?

 

[1sty]

TO be honest I am getting real sick of this "Your not allowed to know this", bulls***!

As far as I am concerned as a consumer you are allowed to know god damn everything about the car you have purchased and about everything mazda has done to it.

This goes for th ECU fix and the clunk.
I say they didn't think you should have it then fine, FAX IT TO CAR AND DRIVER, POST IT HERE AND I WILL PUT IT ON EVERY DAMN CAR BOARD ON THE NET.

 

[GI-]

Yeah Boost, do tell...

 

[boostisgood]

Lets just say it was an "official" email document, from MNAO.

 

[Heathen23]

I don't see how that is a problem. Explain why that would create an issue if you can.

 

[Dexter]

oh cmon the drama here is too much, just spill the beans or im gonna edit your sig or some s***

 

[TheMAN]

and why do we leave all of our important crap inside the car when we bring it in for service?

Well, A document sent to me, was in a pile of paperwork, on my [passenger seat. It was all held together with a black spring clip. This document was something sent to me by a friend, containing some info about the "ecu fix" It was about 4 pages into this packet of papers.

THE ******* TECH WENT THROUGH MY PAPERWORK, AND ******* FAXED THIS INFO TO MNAO, AND GOT ME INTROUBLE FOR HAVING IT.

The fucktard SAID I handed it to him. Im not THAT ******* stupid to do something like that. So, I now have a formal complaint with the BBB, MNAO, and also contacted the local papers, and news about this. See how ******* long this assclown of a dealership keeps it Elete status.

 

[ping]

Aah - a friend at MNAO - industrial espoinage sort of thing? Well, boostisgood, with all your efforts on the ECU fix you've certainly earned the right to some privacy here on the boards, so I'm not asking questions...

 

[girth]

and why do we leave all of our important crap inside the car when we bring it in for service?

That's a somewhat valid point but, come on, what are the chances that the tech is going to
A. Go through the STACK of papers.
B. After going through said stack, FAX them to Mazda.

Sounds like this tech thinks he's a little more important than he actually is. In theory you should be able to leave a $100 bill on your passenger seat without the risk of them even TOUCHING it. Sadly that's probably not the case since they're called "stealers" for a reason.