Hi all,

I could have posted this to the last PCM reflash thread, but thought it important enough to highlight separately. For more info on current flash levels, refer to this thread:
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...threadid=21879

Just got back from the dealer (Mazda Aspley) - had a 10K service. Mentioned that I thought that idle was a bit rough - may be misfiring. The service manager mentioned that there was an update available for some cars and they would check. (My car is a July 03 Build with an original PCM calibration of "E".)

They did apply an update. When I collected the car the service manager mentioned that they had also applied this update to another car at its 20K service and it was about the same age as mine and the owner had mentioned that he got more power from 3000-5000 RPM.

So on the drive home I gave it a bit of a run to see if I could notice any difference. The tone of the engine is definitely different below 5000RPM and it does seem to have a little more pull at low RPMs. Acceleration seems to be more linear across the rev range. Prior to the flash there was a real jump around 5000RPM where the car became a "little more wild" in its performance. Also seemed to start a little quicker (but have only tried this once - will report more info after a few days).

Now I must hedge all of this information below with the fact that roads are wet today so couldn't really try her out... and I haven't noticed a huge difference in the coightometer.

When I got home tried the pump the brake pedal 20 times in 8 seconds trick - oil gauge responded with a sweep to half way and back again.

Don't know what the exact calibration is - couldn't extract that out of the dealer. Hymee - if you want to read the OBD port - PM me.

Cheers

sco

Edit: No evidence of re-flash in the form of a sticker - either in the engine bay, on the bonnet or on the PCM

 

Sco,

I had mine done a month or so back. It is definitely stronger in the 3,000 to 5,500 rev range. I am not sure whether it keeps going as well from 7,000 up but these things are so subjective.
The old butt dyno is not the most accurate measuring tool!

 

Smoothy, does yours respond to the flea scratch brake pedal test?

 

I just went out and tried the car and no it does not do an oil sweep after hopping on the brake pedal.

Maybe there is a further update that has been released here in Australia?

Curiouser & curiouser!

What about other people here. Do they get the oil sweep thing happening or not?

 

Cheers mate. The plot thickens.

 

Great post sco. Possibly the first "F" re-flash we know about.

And also a good question to Smoothy to try to check his. I haven't got my ODBII reading the CalID yet

I'm there on the way to work Monday

Cheers,
Mark.

 

Hymee... could be a "G" flash - I don't think the factory "F" flash responds to the flea scratch on the brake pedal reset.

I need you to introduce me to your mate at Aspley - can't seem to extract much info out of Aldo. :p

 

The guys behind the desk are far from the coal face. Maybe I should get you to cast your eye over the ODBII specs I have and see if I am doing something wrong on the CalID read

Cheers,
Hymee.

 

Australian vehicles have different calibration ID's to US models. In fact the PCM version numbers are a different format.

 

I'll give it a gander... PM me. Are there vendor specific extensions?

 

wounder why ?? emmission i guess?

 

Emissions is probably one major contributor.

 

Different fuels as well.

 

Sco, excellent info.

My car is a July '03 build and was flashed from "D" to "E" last week during the 10k service.

It would be interesting to confirm your flash level - keep us informed if ya do.

Cheers,

Pappy

 

Pappy,

Could you do the brake pedal test to see what happens? This could give us some info about how recent this latest update is.

Steve

 

Steve,

Tried the brake pedal test but didn't get the oil pressure needle sweep. I'm fairly sure I have the "E" calibration.

Pappy.

 

Went for a drive down to the Gold Coast today. Some more observations:

- Car is running well. Does seem to have more power around 3000 - seems to maintain its speed up a hill at or just under 3000 better - less throttle required.
- Starts quicker - starts instantly - previously it would take about 2 to 3 times longer.
- Seems a little quieter between 3000 to 5000

One other thing I'm not sure about - tacho seems a little different - seems to be a little lower at times for the speed than prior to the flash - especially at 60km/h - no empirical evidence here... so it could just be my imagination.

 

Good info, sco!

 

Damn it - I want your flash version in my RX8 sco!

 

This could all be in my head - except the starts - it definitely starts better 7/7 starts (2 cold, 3 warm, 2 hot) were all very quick.

 

Update. Hymee has confirmed "G" flash. Details on this thread:
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...threadid=21879


Hymee - maybe we should lock this thread and continue discussion on the above thread.

 

Good idea sco. There are fart oo many threads - basically the same. But you were correct in starting a new one. This is now closed, and please post any more info on the main thread sco listed above.

Cheers,
Hymee.