---> *EVERYTHING* ECU fix/comments/thoughts

[girth]

I posted this in another thread but figured I'd put it in here so it's "official."

I just got mine done today too! All in all, my view on it is positive and I'm glad I got it.......however (there had to be a catch), mine still hesitates a little bit - or maybe a better way of putting it would be "pulsates" or "lumpy power delivery." It's not nearly as smooth as everyone was saying IMHO. 1st and 2nd feel quite good because they're over with so quickly, but I can notice the "pulsing" fairly often if I stick it in 3rd from a slow roll and put it at 3/4 throttle and stay in 3rd until 5k. The pulsing isn't NEARLY as pronounced as it used to be though, so that's really good. But it's still not the silky smooth power delivery I was hoping for. I even noticed a very brief stumble/hiccup at 1.8k RPM in 3rd a couple of times - but where it used to stumble 3 or 4 times it now only stumbles once. As far as engine braking being smoother, I didn't notice any difference pre and post flash. I also didn't really notice much of a power difference either.

Overall opinion of flash - very good but I was hoping for even better based on the reviews from others. If I were to sum up what to expect of the flash, I'd say the vehicle runs similar to how it used to run from a cold start. Similar power except now it keeps delivering the power even when it's hot and the A/C is on.

 

[YellowMSP4KP]

Girth, that's exactly how my car feels too. Better for sure, but still not 100% right. Not complaining though.

BTW...my car accelerates harder at 1/4-1/2 throttle than it does at full throttle. Is this normal for this car, or is mine just "special"?

 

[hand14me]

Just got back from the dealer! The Flash is amazing, it reminds me of the day i got this car. They also threw in a free oil change and said they were sorry for the inconciences that i have had with this issue. I guess bitching does some stuff sometimes.

Mazda of Kingwood - THUMBS UP

 

[nomahh]

Well, my adventure continues on my third dealer in the Dallas area.

Brought car in for hesitation and specifically stated I wanted the reflash to resolve the problem. They found the coolant leak (usual suspect: hose) and found & replaced some vacuum hoses due to vacuum leaks. What did they NOT do? Yep - flash the f'in car.

I believe some dealers aren't getting the e-mails or may be ignoring them. I'm just tired of dealing with "elite" dealers and Mazdaspeed-labeled dealerships giving me the run-around.

I will say that my service mgr. was very helpful and could tell I was upset with the end result. I was also out of the car for 1 1/2 days to replace a few hoses.

I'm supposed to call back once/week to see if they get notification. The service mgr. and technician were great, so I'm tempted to go back - God knows why.

The idle, however, is now rock-solid all the time. Before the vacuum leak was discovered, I had a very erratic idle at times.

 

[ImANobody]

Well, got my flash this morning at Jeff Haas....All i can say is the difference is very noticeable. I'm happier now....Now I can't wait to get my Injen and see how much of a difference that'll make too!

Mad props to Carlos at Jeff Haas Mazda!!!!!

 

[hand14me]

They do put an authorized modification sticker on the car right? I have looked everywhere in the engine bay and can't find it. Not on the strut tower or anything. Can someone help me?

Thanks

 

[girth]

Girth, that's exactly how my car feels too. Better for sure, but still not 100% right. Not complaining though.

BTW...my car accelerates harder at 1/4-1/2 throttle than it does at full throttle. Is this normal for this car, or is mine just "special"?

Hey thanks for backing me up Yellow. I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one with those results from the flash. About the 1/4-1/2 throttle thing, I wouldn't necessaryly agree with that when it comes to my car -- I would however say that there really doesn't seem to be much difference between 3/4 throttle and full throttle...car seems about the same speed either way. ....and this is after the flash.

But yeah, I'm not complaining either - the car is definitely better than it was, just still not perfect.

 

[oliver2000]

Well bad news for me....I went to the dealer in southern Ontario...who I bugged to get the flash...yup they have it, yes bring your car in..

I did tonight, my car will not accept the update, The computer says you need a newer version of the program in order to update this program.

So maybe mine has a real old PCM program and can't be updated ? I read that someone else had this same problem in one of the 100's of threads......does anyone know what solved it ?

The dealer has a 03.5 yellow in stock and they are going to try and update that one tommorow and see what happens. They are also going to call Mazda canada QA.

Was a bummer really blew a whole night..

 

[FunkyCold5]

Hey, I dunno if it's just me. Before the Flash I'd hear the gobble gobble once I pass 3k rpm. Now, I don't hear the gobble...maybe a baby gob....but nothing....I hear the gobble gobble when I accelerate fast pass 3500. Is it because it's requiring lest power to go....or what? The ride is def. smoother and more powerful...just kinda miss the gobble hahahahhahahahah (I was a Hokie for 2 years...that's why) Seriously...the gobble noise sounds like the little turkey call they had out during football games. I'll just drive my speed in the middle of the field and rev that turkey for all to hear.

 

[ARunto]

anyone have the flash with Joe P FPR kit?

 

[YellowMSP4KP]

I unhooked my FPR kit when I took it in to get the flash. I'm going to hook it back up for the ride home from work and I'll let you guys know if I feel any difference.

 

[instylz]

Anyone know of a dealer around the Central Jersey area besides Sansone Rt1 Automall? They only want to schedule me in for a weekday and I can't afford to miss a day of work. I need to flash my baby on a weekend ...Please help!

 

[Dezoris]

Well bad news for me....I went to the dealer in southern Ontario...who I bugged to get the flash...yup they have it, yes bring your car in..

I did tonight, my car will not accept the update, The computer says you need a newer version of the program in order to update this program.

So maybe mine has a real old PCM program and can't be updated ? I read that someone else had this same problem in one of the 100's of threads......does anyone know what solved it ?

The dealer has a 03.5 yellow in stock and they are going to try and update that one tommorow and see what happens. They are also going to call Mazda canada QA.

Was a bummer really blew a whole night..

Read this it is in the previous page
http://www.mazdamp3.com/vbb230/showthread.php?s=&postid=389679#post389679

It is there software that needs updating.
They need the "24/7 WDS Update" to scan for the file and download it onto floppy.

 

[Caffeine]

Can any of my friends in San Diego confirm that they had this upgrade done at John Hine? I called Cush where I bought the car and they were like oh we dont have that yet and the problem hasnt been confirmed. lol

 

[brennan]

Yea I want to know if keeping the fpr is a good thing? Also in the future i'm putting a FMU on through a guy in my area which works so would I remove the FPR in this case?

 

[DaKidd]

Just to claer this up for all those that are having trouble either getting the dealer to get the flash to work at all, or even know what the hell u are talking about... It is NOT a recall, it isnt even a TSB YET. It is so new that they haven't had time to actually write up, and Issue a writen TSB to the dealers. As it stands now, it is only an update with e-mail instructions to them. The official TSB is comming, but not yet. U can still get it done, it just isn't offical yet. Make sure that when u go u tell the dealer the file number, and that they WILL NEED to update their systems to the latest ODB programing software in order for their systems to be able to communicate the new flash to the ECU/PCM... I got this info from Mazda NA direct...
That is all...
Happy flashing!

 

[YellowMSP4KP]

After hooking my FPR back up, the car runs great...maybe a little better than without it, but hard to tell. It definitely didn't hurt the performance or driveability.

 

[Swerny]

Gyro Mazda has the flash, going in for it tomorrow at 8 am. I dealt with Jeremy, nice guy.

Gyro is on Laird just south of Eglinton in T.O.

As per my prior post, they didn't know what i was talking about when i went in last Friday.

To their credit, they took my info, and looked into it.

I will post my opinions of the "fix" some time this weekend.

later

 

[Imissmy3rdgen7]

Are there any other dealers in GA that have the reflash available?

I got mine done at Performance on monday. I purchased the car from Jim Ellis on US-41. As of last week they did not have the software update that allowed them to do it and they would be getting the update CD this week. They said I could get it done this week after they flashed all the cars on the lot. Now, I had been waiting for this flash for awhile so I just went to Performance Mazda.

But Jim Ellis Mazda in Marietta should be able to do it for you.

I don't have the number offhand but enter zip 30068 in the dealer locater on www.mazdausa.com and it will pop up. The service manager is Jim or Tim....

 

[oliver2000]

Read this it is in the previous page
http://www.mazdamp3.com/vbb230/showthread.php?s=&postid=389679#post389679

It is there software that needs updating.
They need the "24/7 WDS Update" to scan for the file and download it onto floppy.

I just spoke with them the WDS machine is at 24/7 and they flashed some 6's with it as well.

They are checking, they have been good so far...fixed my coolant leak last night......now the car smells...I suspect it is just spilled coolant buring off but smells a bit different...like buring rubber/ oil....maybe a hose is near the turbo....car seems to run hotter than it did before.