Mazda Reflashed my ECU, Now I Am Not Getting a Black Tailpipe!

[chuci]

The black soot problem you're experiencing is due to your AF ratio being too rich. You're dumping fuel if that's happening.

The exhaust tip on mine looks like a lump of coal... does anyone know if there is an aftermarket tuner in the Austin, TX area? I'm not looking for power as much as a cleaner a/f ratio and better mileage - that damn gas pedal will kill any fuel economy no matter how much you tweak!

That said - who has used any of the tuner black-boxes out there? I've only seen the XEDE on the Protoge' Garage site. Is this worth the expense or will a good re-flash tuner do a better job? (screwy)

 

[camrycev6]

Thats not the point he is trying to make. This is a new model. With that being said, if there is a recall or a reflash all dealers should be notified as well as the buyer to keep the car up to date and running efficiently.

Why would some dealers reflash the system if there is no reason for the reflash. It does not make sense. I have also asked my dealer and they know nothing about a reflash or an update. Their is something very wrong here and this needs to be cleared up. But it seems that this is not going to happen anytime soon. And thats the part that scares me. Now I dont' even know If I should put my turbo back on or wait for the final outcome??? Turbo back is in hand...

You hit the nail on the head my friend. That is EXACTLY the point I was trying to make. The confusion at Mazda's technical level is quite disturbing. Whether or not this is a "minor" upgrade has nothing (and shouldn't) to do with this. There either is an ECU reflash or there isn't. The fact that several of us have talked to several dealers around the country, provided VINs, pissed some people off just by continually asking, and the answer was a solid no -- makes me very frustrated. Here is my solution for my sanity.

Can EVERYONE who has had the upgrade tell me what Mazda dealership did it? I am going to call them and speak them to myself. I will get to the bottom of this.

Please provide a number of the dealer if you can, otherwise I can just Google it.

 

[knowledge007]

I just called mazda usa and they say there is a reflash for the MS6 but nothing for the MS3. wtf...

 

[camrycev6]

I just called mazda usa and they say there is a reflash for the MS6 but nothing for the MS3. wtf...

Yes...I know. I got the same info yesterday. (It was in an earlier post of mine.) For the record, I was told there were 2 reflashes for the MS6, but zero -- and there never has been one -- for the MS3.

As soon as some of the folks who have had the MS3 reflash provide the dealers that did them, I am going to call them and get some specifics...

"We're on a mission from God."
--- Jake and Elwood Blues

This little ECU crap has put me on a mission.

 

[M3_Zoom]

once again, Cedric from the dealership mentioned that in a newsletter from Mazda service central, that there is a reflash to MS3's that complain of this problem. Its not on a TSB yet (I have access to all TSB's, Identifix employee) but it is available to the reflash programmers on the internet, if you know where to look. Its there, but its not documented like others. Its more of a "by request, if you happened to have read about it" deal. If your service tech hasn't read the update, then sure, he/she's got no idea, and thinks you're crazy. Cedric himself said he hadn't heard of one when I called him about it, but by the time I got there for the oil change (next day), he said his research led him to the reflash location, and he did it for me.

If you want to, call 702-567-8000, ask for Mazda service, talk w/ Cedric about it. But don't tell me I got a warm fuzzy for nothing. I don't see things that way, and I have to see or have a difference to notice anything. Thats just me.

Hey camrycev6, this is the only posted phone number so far. I'm getting ready to make a phone call and see if I can come up with anything. What dealer(s) have you dealt with in MD? I know one of the service mechanics at Gaithersburg Mazda races and tests for Mazda. This may or may not be a start.

 

[Barney]

FWIW I get 30 MPG easily on the freeway with mine, the tailpipe is black. I figure it's probably just the nature of the beast. Also noticed after I run the car hard it runs better overall, maybe just me. Also own a 94 Z-28 6 speed that is well modded, heads cam, ect. With a custom computer from Fastchips. Runs rich as hell when cold. Pipes black. Car has 184000 miles on it and puts 340 HP to the rear wheels and easily gets 28 MPG on the freeway. I'm not too worried about the black on the tailpipe. As long as it runs good (which it does) and gets good mileage, I'm not too concerned about it.

 

[M3_Zoom]

FWIW I get 30 MPG easily on the freeway with mine, the tailpipe is black. I figure it's probably just the nature of the beast. Also noticed after I run the car hard it runs better overall, maybe just me. Also own a 94 Z-28 6 speed that is well modded, heads cam, ect. With a custom computer from Fastchips. Runs rich as hell when cold. Pipes black. Car has 184000 miles on it and puts 340 HP to the rear wheels and easily gets 28 MPG on the freeway. I'm not too worried about the black on the tailpipe. As long as it runs good (which it does) and gets good mileage, I'm not too concerned about it.

Barney, I agree. I was the prior owner of a 2004 SRT-4 and although I had many upgrades on it, it also had mass amounts of black soot on the exhaust tips. When I first purchased it, even in stock form and staying out of the pedal it produces allot of soot.

I think the concerns are this, is the so called reflash to adjust the air/fuel ratio etc. thus "minimizing" the black soot or is it a complete remap that's going to allow our cars to run better across the band, bla bla bla........... The soot is caused by excess fuel dump/running very rich and what I'm starting to lean more towards is this. The Mazdaspeed Cold Air Intake installed does not just raise an eyebrow, it opens both eyes wide open. Never in my many years of tuning cars have I seen a four cylinder car make that amount of extra HP with just a CAI added on. The claim is 30HP/30ftlbs so again just a guess, maybe these cars were set up rich knowing that most who purchase this car will add bolt-ons and interestingly enough we have the already produced Mazdaspeed parts to equalize the excess fuel. All that extra air with a CAI would be no good if we did not have the fuel to keep up. Additionally and just as interesting is the fact that there are claims of some gaining up to 20HP with just a K&N drop-in filter. Finally, I do recall reading somewhere here that those who have installed a Mazdaspeed CAI have almost eliminated there soot problem. Just some food for thought.

 

[$inCitySpeed3]

no it doesn't stop the soot problem

 

[knowledge007]

no it doesn't stop the soot problem

3

How do you know, aren't you a 'bone stock hatch of death'?

 

[M3_Zoom]

no it doesn't stop the soot problem

Are you saying you have the Mazdaspeed CAI and still have the soot problem?

 

[major error]

FWIW, carbon/soot is the byproduct of any combustion process.

The way I see it, it's a good thing that it's coming out the tailpipe! Would you rather it all stayed in the engine?

 

[camrycev6]

Hey camrycev6, this is the only posted phone number so far. I'm getting ready to make a phone call and see if I can come up with anything. What dealer(s) have you dealt with in MD? I know one of the service mechanics at Gaithersburg Mazda races and tests for Mazda. This may or may not be a start.

I have talked to Russel Mazda of Rt. 40. (Near Ellicott City.) I have also talked to Heritage Mazda of Bel Air, and Rich Morton Mazda in Pasedena. All of them are Speed dealers. None of them has heard of this upgrade (or any reflashes at all) of MS3. All of them knew about the ones for the MS6.

 

[M3_Zoom]

I have talked to Russel Mazda of Rt. 40. (Near Ellicott City.) I have also talked to Heritage Mazda of Bel Air, and Rich Morton Mazda in Pasedena. All of them are Speed dealers. None of them has heard of this upgrade (or any reflashes at all) of MS3. All of them knew about the ones for the MS6.

Bill Britt Mazda of Fredricksburg states they only have the one for the p2006 Cel and they are a Mazdaspeed dealer. Let me call Gaithersburg Mazda and see what they have to say. Again, Gaithersburg Mazda, MD is a Mazdaspeed Dealer and one of there mechanics is a Mazdaspeed racer and test driver for there various events. I'm almost starting to believe those that are recieving the "re-flash" are indeed recieving the p2006 re-flash. If Gaithersburg has no news then I'm going to give the one previous mentioned dealer in CA a call.

 

[camrycev6]

P2007 Cel...Is that for the MS3? I just want to be sure.

 

[$inCitySpeed3]

3

How do you know, aren't you a 'bone stock hatch of death'?

well thats for me to know, and you to find out....it does not stop it the car still runs rich

 

[M3_Zoom]

P2006 Cel...Is that for the MS3? I just want to be sure.

Yes it is. What is does, I really do not know. Some MS3's trip a Cel light and it stays on while others will have it come on for a day and it goes out on it's own. The dealers clear it and is it linked to a re-flash? I can't answer that either. Just like this so called re-flash we can't seem to get a strait answer on. I do know that Josh from Tonkin has posted a little bit about the p2006 but I have yet to speak to him directly.

*I just called Gaithersburg Mazda and they are looking it up. As soon as I hear back from them I will submit a post.

 

[M3_Zoom]

well thats for me to know, and you to find out....it does not stop it the car still runs rich

Nice signature!!! Anyhow, again I'm with you. I could care less about the soot myself but if there is a re-flash and it overall makes the car run better (which some are claiming) across the entire band then like most, I want it. But if there is no such animal, I think others like a few of us are doing need to do there homework before they start passing bad word. I mean no harm to anyone but at my age and experience with cars there is no need to read BS, just tell it how it is.

(drinks)

 

[M3_Zoom]

If you want to, call 702-567-8000, ask for Mazda service, talk w/ Cedric about it. But don't tell me I got a warm fuzzy for nothing. I don't see things that way, and I have to see or have a difference to notice anything. Thats just me.

OK Folks, I just called Courtesy Imports and I'm here on the East Cost. Cedric is on vacation but I was happily assisted by a different service employee. I supplied him with my VIN# and there are no re-flashes HOWEVER, he did state that does not mean there is no update and the only way to find that out is to hook your car up to the machine. Will your dealer hook your car up just because, I highly doubt it because if nothing is found they have no reference to put on there paperwork and in turn they do not get paid.

 

[clos561]

If you have on recirc then no.

yea its running recirc..i ran it vta for 2 days and i was getting back fires, and in between shifts it was difficult to get it dirinvg normal with shakin between shifts..it was really wierd but now with recirc i can hear my turbo spool louder for some reason

 

[camrycev6]

OK Folks, I just called Courtesy Imports and I'm here on the East Cost. Cedric is on vacation but I was happily assisted by a different service employee. I supplied him with my VIN# and there are no re-flashes HOWEVER, he did state that does not mean there is no update and the only way to find that out is to hook your car up to the machine. Will your dealer hook your car up just because, I highly doubt it because if nothing is found they have no reference to put on there paperwork and in turn they do not get paid.

This is just plain crazy.

a) The dealers don't know about upgrades until the specific car is acutally connected to a machine? What kind of 1970s technology is that?
b) Assuming the updates are dated / have a version # (like 99% of all software out there), surely it would be only a question of model, year, and factory release date. A 2007 MS3 that came from the factory in Feb. should be at the same version as every other one at that time. If there were 5000 made, someone knows if they have a damn upgrade for them or not.
c) It comes down to a money issue? What if I was willing to pay for it?

This is hurting my head.