---> *EVERYTHING* ECU fix/comments/thoughts
- Thread starter changedman
- Start date
FLASH - no question. The additional smoothness and the ability to get reliable power (i.e. not worry about bogging) is great. Power delivery is smoother but still not quite the turbine-like smoothness of a BMW6 or a VW 1.8T - so it still has "personality", it's just not the obnoxious personality it once had!
BTW - why come to the forum if my favorite beef has been taken care of?
Oh yeah - there's still the clunk...
BTW - why come to the forum if my favorite beef has been taken care of?
Oh yeah - there's still the clunk...
so I had mine "flashed" last friday... picked it up after everyone in the service dept left. At first I was like "WHOA!!" this thing rules!! But then I got to thinking... maybe it's only because I was driving a Mercury Sable all day. Next thing you know I'm reading up on it... seems like Britt (and perhaps others) got a sticker under their hood stating it was flashed. I have no sticker. Not only that but, objectionably, I don't necessarily think the car feels any different. My question is... how can I verify I got the RIGHT flash??? I'm going to call them tomorrow of course but... what the hell can I possibly say? Is there a code or something? Is it possibe they just reflashed my car with the code it already had?
CHICO2003 said:
As this thread states a page or 2 ago, check your driver's side door jam for the sticker. That's the "official" place it's supposed to go. Although the sticker doesn't really prove anything -- anybody can put a sticker on, so I'm not sure what you can do to prove that you have the "real" flash. Just note though that not everyone has experienced a great power difference in the flash -- mine feels about the same as it used to when it was cold. Noticably improved in the hot though. The smoothness is better, but still not perfect. And some people (me included) still feel an occasional stumble. One thing the flash definitely seems to have fixed though is the problem when you gas it and the RPM needle just sits there - I haven't had that problem any more.
03BlkMicaSPD
Quality Literature...
- :
- 2003 MazdaSpeed
Got the flash today at Capitol Lincoln Mercury Mazda, in Cary, NC. The car is alot different, for the better. Do reccomend getting this done if you have not.
(mspb)
(mspb)
GI- said:
I got mine done at Morrie's Chippewa Valley Mazda in Chippewa Falls (near Eau Claire). They have a real nice service department crew - a guy named Ben works the desk and he was nice and liked talking about the car. I'm stock for now but I don't think they'd have a problem with modded MSPs because Ben said that "every one we've seen has had its own little tweaks." He also volunteered information to me that he's had to replace a lot of blown subwoofers and that the rear suspension makes a lot of noise - so that's promising that they won't just try to simply deny that problems exist with this car.
"Emode" went to Concour's in Milwaukee I believe but I had a heck of a time dealing with them over the phone and in email so I'd treat them as a last resort. They DO know about the flash though because they finally offered me an appointment after I had mine done elsewhere - they may force you to "prove" you need the flash though - I already chewed them out once for that though so maybe they've came around.
I wish I could say this flash makes my car faster... but I just feel it's all in your heads guys. I know I know!! the dyno charts right??? not much I can say to that... other than you can basically prove (or disprove) anything you want in life. I've only seen 1 dyno chart and the guy had a few mods. I'm not saying that makes a big difference... but you never know! What I do know is... people's minds are very powerful. Perception is everything. Most of you guys, including myself, were toolin' in slow ass loaner cars the dealership gave you while they flashed your car. I had a 4 cylinder mercury sable! Christ, it felt like I was driving a lamborghini when I got into my MSP!! All I'm saying is.. maybe we should look at this in an objectionable manner. Everyone was gushing over this thing... if it doesn't prove to be the savior we all hope it is, we'll just be setting ourselves up for even greater dissapointment.
then again... this thing could be for real in which case our cars are even more nasty than ever!! yeah... I like that one better myself!! Later!
then again... this thing could be for real in which case our cars are even more nasty than ever!! yeah... I like that one better myself!! Later!
I have driven a stock car w/ flash immediately after driving my car (see mods) w/o the flash. Ths was in an autocross situation...believe me, it's a hell of a lot different. The power delivery was smoother and faster. There was so much more torque and power available that it completely threw me off balance. It *is* a different beast with the flash. When I get mine done later this week, I will cry it from the mountain top if it's not. But, thusfar my experience has proved positively exhilerating..
first things first... I see you're from CT. where do you autoX??? sounds fun!! secondly... you're gonna do what from a mountain top???? anyway.... I guess I'm just not as observant. I don't know... trust me, I hope you guys are right!! why the hell not??? but... so far... I just haven't noticed a thing. but I'm about to go install my injen CAI so.... that might make a difference. (it better for 200 bucks!!)
Chico, as I've stated already I also didn't notice much power difference. I went from my un-flashed MSP to driving my flashed MSP 1 hour later and it felt pretty close power-wise. I'd say there was a 'small' power increase but certainly not this huge feeling of improvement that so many others have had. I have noticed however that it seems to be feeling slightly MORE powerful as I put miles on post-flash. I'm not sure if I should contribute that to the slightly colder weather though or not.(dunno) I wonder if the people that saw the big power increase had their ECU's reset during the reflash. Mine was not and the few others that I know that said they didn't notice much power increase also said their ECU wasn't reset. Maybe that's why it might be getting better with more miles (over 500 now).
Beats me --- I do know it's at least a small improvement though, that's for sure. So it's a step in the right direction.
Beats me --- I do know it's at least a small improvement though, that's for sure. So it's a step in the right direction.
I definitely noticed a difference mid-range and at part (50-75%) throttle. Smoother throttle response and more power (insert favorite Tim Allen ugh ugh ugh here). Minimal hesitation at part throttle when cold. Minimal hesitation at 3-4000 RPM going up the long upgrades here where the car used to feel choked.
Oh - and it's even better in the evening at 60 degrees, the thing feels GREAT. It's no v-8 muscle car, but it's much quicker and smoother now.
Oh - and it's even better in the evening at 60 degrees, the thing feels GREAT. It's no v-8 muscle car, but it's much quicker and smoother now.
OrangeAppeal
Member
- :
- '03 MSP - #729 - '90 CRX Si
I picked up my car yesterday after having the bushings fixed yet again (nothing new by the way) and having the reflash done. I don't know if there is any power difference, but I can say that the power delivery is MUCH smoother now. I feel a (for lack of a better description) "hiccup" every once in a while, but overall, I'm very satisfied with the change. I don't lurch forward any more as I accelerate, and I'm not waiting for the car to "kick-in" at 5500 rpms anymore.
I can still feel room for some improvement, but it's nothing I would expect Mazda to take care of...and IF i decide to take care of it, it would be in the form of a E6K or something along those lines.
Now, keep in mind when you go to get your flash, that some were experiencing the hesitation worse than others. Those who were not experiencing it as bad will probably feel less of a difference than those that were getting it bad to begin with...why such the difference in the first place, I don't know. I have a feeling that's why Girth and others say it's not much different, when for them it isn't much different. Others may be blowing it out of proportion, because they fantasize that it's better than it really is. For anyone who isn't sure if they want to do this flash, drive a car that has it done first....chances are that when your local dealership is aware of the flash, they will flash the cars on the lot, and you can ask them to take it for a test drive.
I can still feel room for some improvement, but it's nothing I would expect Mazda to take care of...and IF i decide to take care of it, it would be in the form of a E6K or something along those lines.
Now, keep in mind when you go to get your flash, that some were experiencing the hesitation worse than others. Those who were not experiencing it as bad will probably feel less of a difference than those that were getting it bad to begin with...why such the difference in the first place, I don't know. I have a feeling that's why Girth and others say it's not much different, when for them it isn't much different. Others may be blowing it out of proportion, because they fantasize that it's better than it really is. For anyone who isn't sure if they want to do this flash, drive a car that has it done first....chances are that when your local dealership is aware of the flash, they will flash the cars on the lot, and you can ask them to take it for a test drive.
