pcm reflash

[jred321]

NOt a bad idea however....how may independant shops have the $ to train their techs to the extent that they have to be here PLUS buy the over $400,000 worth of equiptment need to do all this stuff?? These guys go to school about 4 weeks a year just to stay current.

techs go to school before working at a shop to learn the basics, so it takes a lot of the burden off the shop to train. many schools will prepare you to take ase's before getting out, or even have you take some while in school, and even though you need 2 years experience before actually getting certified, some schools count the year in school as a year towards ase's, so dealerships don't do that much training if they hire the right people.
and going to school 4 weeks a year to stay current doesn't seem to be doing the job. i think a lot of dealer techs are just sick of seeing the same thing day in and day out and are sick of what they do. they see the same cars, every day, same issues, every day, and just get burned out. they've lost their enthusiasm for cars and become burned out, which is why if i were a mechanic i would never work at a dealer and want to see the same cars every day.

 

[dealerpersonel]

so what do you drive???

daily driver is a chevy tahoe

 

[dealerpersonel]

S trust me guys when i say i understand about some dealers....... at 18000 miles i had a lifter go bad....i thought what the hell i don't feel like doing it I'll take it back where i bought it........the service manager said to me about the obnoxious ticking......."i don't know......i just can't get too excited about that noise." I said thank you for your time, left, wrote the GM of the store and told him who i was (by the way I am a service manager aswell) and told him how i felt and that i would NOT be comming back........since we also have a GM franchise I proceeded to order the parts, replace the lifters, and charge it all to warranty.
I feel your pain

 

[dealerpersonel]

techs go to school before working at a shop to learn the basics, so it takes a lot of the burden off the shop to train. many schools will prepare you to take ase's before getting out, or even have you take some while in school, and even though you need 2 years experience before actually getting certified, some schools count the year in school as a year towards ase's, so dealerships don't do that much training if they hire the right people.
and going to school 4 weeks a year to stay current doesn't seem to be doing the job. i think a lot of dealer techs are just sick of seeing the same thing day in and day out and are sick of what they do. they see the same cars, every day, same issues, every day, and just get burned out. they've lost their enthusiasm for cars and become burned out, which is why if i were a mechanic i would never work at a dealer and want to see the same cars every day.

the tough part about that is that in this area dealership tech make about 35% more then independant techs turning the same hours

 

[jred321]

the tough part about that is that in this area dealership tech make about 35% more then independant techs turning the same hours

absolutely, but with the new communist warranty policy, everyone would get paid the same!

 

[dealerpersonel]

absolutely, but with the new communist warranty policy, everyone would get paid the same!

how do you figure.....it depends on their hourly rate that you pay each tech...i have guys i pay $14.00 per flat rate hour and some i pay $26.00 per flat rate hour depending on skill level and how long they have been here.

 

[jred321]

communist=everyone gets the same amount of money, it was a joke.
and $26/flat rate hour? to do not very difficult work? damn...

 

[dealerpersonel]

communist=everyone gets the same amount of money, it was a joke.
and $26/flat rate hour? to do not very difficult work? damn...

you would be supprised some of the diagnosis these guys have to do you can throw the pcm thing up but for the most part......they are pretty amazing.....besides....not very difficult???When was the last time you looked under the hood of a Millenia S?

 

[CarlM2]

communist=everyone gets the same amount of money, it was a joke.
and $26/flat rate hour? to do not very difficult work? damn...

Anyone who says this doesn't know anything about car repair... sorry dude but, 'not very difficult' is complete BS.

Some techs take their job seriously and it shows. People are people... they have good days and bad days just like everyone else...

Remember this, the tech's have to deal with the dealership too... and it's not a lot better from the other side. (from what I've heard) Between that and the technical part of their job (actually fixing cars) I'd say they have plenty of difficulty. I'd like to see jred321 fix a radiator problem on that Millenia S. LOL!

 

[dealerpersonel]

Anyone who says this doesn't know anything about car repair... sorry dude but, 'not very difficult' is complete BS.

Some techs take their job seriously and it shows. People are people... they have good days and bad days just like everyone else...

Remember this, the tech's have to deal with the dealership too... and it's not a lot better from the other side. (from what I've heard) Between that and the technical part of their job (actually fixing cars) I'd say they have plenty of difficulty. I'd like to see jred321 fix a radiator problem on that Millenia S. LOL!

not to gang up on the guy....thats his opinion, how about a vacuum leak on a S car?

 

[girth]

The automotive center at Sears has around $400,000 worth of equipment... techs supply their own tools... they train at least 4 weeks/yr and they only do the basics... oil, tires, alignment, etc.

So, I don't see a problem with the direct route... good idea. Shops will choose which cars they specialize in, get a good reputation, and everyone's happy!!!

That is absolutely right. It solves the biggest problem of today's system, because the way it is now the service depts have NO incentive to help you out and have NO competition. I'd be happy even if we could just change the system so we can choose
A). Do you want a warrenty or not. If not, repairs are out of your own pocket.
B). If you choose to have the warranty, then Mazda would have 2 plans available. 1 called an "independent plan" where you can choose any service department you wish (including a genuine Mazda dealership if you wish). The other plan could be called the "Mazda plan" which requires you to get warranty work done at a certified Mazda service department (similar to today). If you choose the independent plan Mazda will pay $X/hr for repair to the service department of your choice. They could even stipulate like health insurance companies do that certain jobs should fall within a "fair and reasonable" fee to repair and if they don't, then the buyer pays the excess. If the buyer buys a rare car with few independent service shops, that's his problem to worry about regarding how far he'll have to drive to get to them (just like in today's world with buying a rare car).

I'm not saying this would be easy to implement but it IS possible. And it would be a HUGE improvement because service departments would actually compete with eachother and care how you are treated. They'll want your business - and it avoids "mechanic burnout" from seeing the same car/problems day in and day out.

Now I know this idea will never come to fruition because it makes too much sense.

 

[dealerpersonel]

Well guys we made it through another day without killing any one ....BUt i believe it is beer thirty once again ! Have a great weekend!

 

[ping]

you too, dp!

Time to knock it off a while...

 

[girth]

Well guys we made it through another day without killing any one ....BUt i believe it is beer thirty once again ! Have a great weekend!

LOL, it is amazing isn't it?!

 

[dealerpersonel]

LOL, it is amazing isn't it?!

i"LL DRINK TO THAT!

 

[jred321]

Anyone who says this doesn't know anything about car repair... sorry dude but, 'not very difficult' is complete BS.

Some techs take their job seriously and it shows. People are people... they have good days and bad days just like everyone else...

Remember this, the tech's have to deal with the dealership too... and it's not a lot better from the other side. (from what I've heard) Between that and the technical part of their job (actually fixing cars) I'd say they have plenty of difficulty. I'd like to see jred321 fix a radiator problem on that Millenia S. LOL!

if all you do for 8 hours a day is fix engines, it isn't difficult. and yes, car repair does come easy to me, so i don't find it difficult. everything has a cause and effect, and everything fits together, it's just a matter of figuring out what goes where, why something is acting how it is, etc... all stock parts are used, brought back to stock spec, not insanely hard. it does require experience, but it isn't super difficult. if you understand the whole system, things are much easier. that kind of thing is easy for me, so i don't find it difficult, especially since half the time you can plug in a thing that tells you what is wrong. some may, and there are aspects of it that are difficult, but for the most part they are doing things they have done every day for the past however many years day in and day out.
the millenia s is a completley different beast altogether, and i wouldn't try to tackle that without doing my research first. since i don't know much about a miller cycle engine, i wouldn't **** with things until i did.

 

[jrodhotrod]

Hey dealerpersonel,

Just wanted to say thanks for coming to the forum, fielding our questions and sharing a dealers perspective. Like the other guys said, I hope you stick around and can somehow help us all be it through advice here or reporting back to Mazda.

Thanks!

Jared

 

[Apexi]

But what happen to people that lives like in a place where they bought a rare car, that no shop around him specialize in his car. Does he have to pay a penalty for choosing such a special car?

yes he does! and mazda created a car like that, the rx7! (drive)

 

[YuYuRena]

My meaning of rare car is not about lambo, ferrari. My meaning of rare cars are cars like KIA, DAEWOO, SAAB, and other manufactors that doesn't have a commanding share of auto market. My reason is that it's going to force smaller car companies to be merged with larger car makers and all you'll see in a couple of years, there will only be like 6 brands of cars to choose from.

 

[dealerpersonel]

.........another day.....another..............do- er- 10 cents