Reflash help needed!

[wannaBgroupB]

I know I read about this already somewhere on the forum, but now I can't find it.

What's the story with the 2003.5 reflash? I'm pretty sure mine hasn't had it. What did it cure, or is it better if I never get it done?

 

[low_psi]

The reflash was a timing adjustment created to "fix" the hesitation most owners felt/feel at 4-4.5Krpms. Mazda tuned our cars VERY rich from the factory, so much so that the motor would choke on fuel and create the hesitating, stumbling.

If you don't experience this, its best not to get the flash. It advances the timing in the problem area instead of trimming fuel correctly. Its a bandaid. It also makes running higher than stock boost more dangerous and troublesome.

 

[wannaBgroupB]

Thanks for the info. I'm planning on eventually increasing boost and also manually adjusting my fuel maps, so I'll skip the whole refash deal. How do I determine if my car's already had it for sure? I do feel that hesitation you spoke about.

Funny, I used to drive a 2nd gen RX-7, and those also tend to have a hesitation at about the same revs, but for a totally different reason. Mazdas are weird....

 

[low_psi]

Your dealer should be able to pull up the work history of your car via VIN number. Some reflashed cars have stickers on the hood or doorjam to confirm the change. Plus, a few owners still have hesitation even with the flash, so there is no surefire way to tell.... unless the Mazda WDS can determine file versions.