ECU reflash at Mazda

Just came back from the dealers... I got DENIED (due to mods)!!!!!
Service lady said due to my mods they could not do it...she said I could return the car to stock and they'll be happy to do it... I just said that ain't gonna happen...to far into mods now.

Then she said we would have to charge you... I said go ahead, whatever you have to do...

She spoke with the tech and he said there were no updates for my PCM/ECU...

I am wondering if I got shafted and blown off...????? According to the TSB, my VIN and build date is affected.
 
well i just got flashed, and yes my car did have some stutters and hiccups in the cols (not fuel cut). well the car actually seems to idle smoother. it sounds weak now. i used to have a little gurgle sound, now it just purrs. it drives 100% the same i feel nothing different. as for my AFR's, i actually seem to be more rich now ! i usually have AFR's in the low11-high10's i now run mid-low 10's. i have even seen high 9's. my car NEVER dipped into the 9's pre-flash.
 
I just got mine back about an hour ago from the dealership. I had intermittent power hesitations and occasional rough idle, no CELs. They test drove it (read "joy ride") and could not replicate anything, which the service writer and I thought was going to happen. This time the dealer surprised me and did the reflash.

Sitting at the light outside the dealership, the car was too smooth to where I had to turn down the radio to figure out if the car was still running. The powerband is much smoother now, as well. It is cut down on the puff of black smoke when I drop from 5th to 3rd and pound on it.
 
same here after the reflash...

idle is noticeably smoother (even my wife commented on this!). no more stumbles when col. throttle response is better. car seems to pull harder. and I haven't seen the usual puff of black smoke when punching it.

i'm very happy with the car post-flash.
 
I had an appointment for this morning. Brought it in and they checked the fuel pump and decided that should be replaced also. The service manager said that it is a two piece job. They have to do the flash and the pump at the same time or Mazda corporate will give them a hard time, so would I mind bringing it back. I expected to have to bring it back for the pump (I doubted they keep them in stock) so I am fine with that. I'm thinking they can swap the pump while the ecu gets reflashed so they want to do them at the same time, and I'm fine with that too. The service manager offered me a loaner for while the car is there, so all is good. I'll let you know if I see any difference.
In my case, I have inconsistent power output and an occasional bout of rough idle, so I complained about the intermittent power issues, which is part of the tsb but doesn't throw a cel, so they can't claim it isn't true. If they drive it and they don't experience it, well, I did say it was intermittent, didn't I? It probably helps that my car falls into the period that the tsb is written for for both the flash and the pump.
 
How bad is yalls idle...? (huh)

How much are the RPMs varying...? Mine vary about +/- 200 RPMs (seems smooth)...

Please describe!!!! Has this been happening all along or just recently?
 
AutoXRacer said:
How bad is yalls idle...? (huh)

How much are the RPMs varying...? Mine vary about +/- 200 RPMs (seems smooth)...

Please describe!!!! Has this been happening all along or just recently?
Click to expand...

I get the "hunting" idle a lot. I actually consider that pretty normal on a car like ours with lots of electronics and emissions crap on it, at least until it is fully warmed up. When I say rough idle, it actually bucks a little and feels like it might stall.
 
the reflash sucks.....my AFR's are more rich and i get fueul cut in the uppergears from a roll on. PITA this car is.
 
i called mazda today to make an appointment for the tsb for fuel pump. i told the guy my build date was june 2006. he asked his manager and came back to me and said that i dont need it if i dont have a cel. my car dont idle rough, no smoking, i have tbe, i had boost /fuel cut when i just installed it but it doesnt happen anymore...i think my ecu has adjusted. anyways...is it true that u cant have the tsb unless u have cel or rough idle or any problem associated with fuel pump and reflash even though your build date is before the affected build date?
 
I got the re-flash about a week ago. Runs the same, guess I didn't really need it. I was hell bent on getting it done because some people were claiming massive power gains from it. Claims of 350whp and 12 sec 1/4's weren't uncommon so I figured I better jump on this s*** :( I'm still stuck with a high 13 sec car...
 
Last edited:
blacksheepms3 said:
i called mazda today to make an appointment for the tsb for fuel pump. i told the guy my build date was june 2006. he asked his manager and came back to me and said that i dont need it if i dont have a cel. my car dont idle rough, no smoking, i have tbe, i had boost /fuel cut when i just installed it but it doesnt happen anymore...i think my ecu has adjusted. anyways...is it true that u cant have the tsb unless u have cel or rough idle or any problem associated with fuel pump and reflash even though your build date is before the affected build date?
Click to expand...

I don't think so. I very calmly but firmly made it clear to the service guy I spoke to that I had read the bulletin and knew full well that a complaint of rough idle or intermittent power loss (neither of which will necessarily cause a cel) is sufficient to warrant the reflash and if qualified by manufacture date, a replacement fuel pump. I made clear that I have the power issues and that because it was intermittent them test driving it was pointless. I must have a really good service guy, because he only made a token effort to dissuade me then made the appointment. They checked the dates and told me that the pump needed to be replaced as well and asked if I could come back and get it all done at the same time. He claims they have to do both at the same time if the car qualifies for both, but I think he just wanted to do both jobs at the same time. I let him get by with that without an argument, because it isn't going to hurt me to help him out by letting him bill Mazda for the two jobs when they are getting done at the same time. I know they don't make shop rate on warranty work, but every little bit helps.
 
Mid_Life_Crisis said:
I don't think so. I very calmly but firmly made it clear to the service guy I spoke to that I had read the bulletin and knew full well that a complaint of rough idle or intermittent power loss (neither of which will necessarily cause a cel) is sufficient to warrant the reflash and if qualified by manufacture date, a replacement fuel pump. I made clear that I have the power issues and that because it was intermittent them test driving it was pointless. I must have a really good service guy, because he only made a token effort to dissuade me then made the appointment. They checked the dates and told me that the pump needed to be replaced as well and asked if I could come back and get it all done at the same time. He claims they have to do both at the same time if the car qualifies for both, but I think he just wanted to do both jobs at the same time. I let him get by with that without an argument, because it isn't going to hurt me to help him out by letting him bill Mazda for the two jobs when they are getting done at the same time. I know they don't make shop rate on warranty work, but every little bit helps.
Click to expand...

Thanks, i will call again and tell them they need to check again to see if they need to replace my fuel pump based on the tsb manufactured date requirement.
 
blacksheepms3 said:
Thanks, i will call again and tell them they need to check again to see if they need to replace my fuel pump based on the tsb manufactured date requirement.
Click to expand...

You need to remember that the date for the reflash is the date the car was built, but the date for the pump is the date it was built, which they need the car in the shop to check. Your build date may be after the pump cutoff date, but the pump could have been built earlier.
 
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