Hey Gang!! Happy Holiday's!!

I just wanted to share with everyone a letter I received from Mazda Canada. It addresses the hard start in cold weather problem.

They want me to set up an appointment with my dealer to get the lastest PCM flash, it's supposed to help with hard starting. At that time the dealer will go over how to start a flooded engine. They also supplied me with a label outlining, step by step how to start a flooded engine. I will place this in my owners manual.

It's nice to see that Mazda Canada is finally addressing the hard start in cold weather problem. I will be making an appointment within the next two weeks. I will keep everyone posted on the outcome.

 

hmm. I haven't had any problems with mine yet....could be a conundrum depending on what the solution does to my mileage as it appears it has done to some here when changing the computer version....

 

First, headlight washers and now tutorials for cold starting...You Canadians sure get special treatment. Of course, it may simply be you need special help.

 

Troll...get out of Canada (forum) :D

 

you also forgot about daytime running lights.

 

samyv2 I got the PCM update two weeks ago, didn't help. My car flooded again Xmas eve. Had to tow it to the dealer. It's there at this moment. They've changed the plugs and say that they're baffled because the PCM flash was supposed to fix the problem. Hope you have better luck.

I left the car for three days (had to because of Xmas) and it still wouldn't start. I don't know about this car, but in previous cars I've owned, the gas that floods the engine dries out in a couple of minutes or maybe an hour. This baby...no luck.

 

Please don't say that. We blue state Americans hold Canada as our last hope. :D

 

sure glad I haven't had any starting/flooding problems yet...sorry to hear about all your problems guys

 

Is it a mileage issue? I know some of these cars have been around for more than a year, maybe this is showing up in higher mileage vehicles.

 

I have never had a flooding issue, I have 33k on my car. However I have had hard starts hopefully I will have better luck with the reflash.

 

I almost flooded mine a month ago...the wife started it...moved it out of the driveway....started it an hour later and moved it back.....the next AM, I cranked it over....and it sounded like a whirring.....no compression. I put my foot to the floor and cranked it for 2-3 min.....didn't even burp. I thought...oh ****!. I let it sit for 5 min.......foot to floor again...........2-3min more....burped once......burped twice.........and started (sorta:D)....it spewed smoke and flames for about 5 minutes. Took it to the dealer, and they checked it out, and put in hot plugs. It has been great ever since. It really idles better with new plugs for a while. The only problem is that I will need to go back to cooler plugs in the summer with the e-manage, or it's going to ping....oh well 5 months to save up fo new plugs!

 

Can anyone confirm whether this is just the M flash for those of us who don't have it already? I've got 9k on my car and have never flooded or had any particularly hard starts. I do have terrible mileage in the city though and would love to know whether I should get this flash.

Thank. J

 

I have had the M flash...they sent me seperate letters for M and for this new whatever?

So I expect that it is different

 

Hmmm I think this is the "updated" M flash that everybody's been talking about (version 3 or something). the last one (in Nov) apparently had bugs in it and this is the corrected one. According to the RX8 gurus such as Zoom44, it's still M flash.

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...8&page=1&pp=15

Anybody have it done yet (other than Zedcaster) or talked to the dealer?

EDIT: just saw this thread ... https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=48622
apparently Mazda is telling the dealerships to stop flashing. Zoom44 said something about it being buggy.

 

Yes, I read that too. I have an appointment to see the dealer on Monday. As usual they had no clue what I was talking about. After reading the above tread I will be calling Mazda Canada prior to then to see what the scope is. I may put it off for a few weeks to ensure I get it done right.

 

Wow, just what I needed - a sticker for my manual telling me how to unflood the car!

I thought I needed a block heater, but the geniuses at MazCan know better.

S

 

Has anyone been to the dealer yet to find out if it is really a new flash? I phoned mine, but they said that they would not know without hooking it up to the WDS.

 

I called Mazda Canada this morning regarding the new Flash. They claim the flash they have on the computer is the lastest. The guy said it would be removed or marked as void if it wasn't. I am going to bring my car into the dealer on Monday to get it done. I will provide an update once completed.

 

Samyv, please try to find out what version of WDS your dealer is using as well. The new flashes for all the Mazda vehicles come with updates to WDS - it's easier to ask a dealer what version of WDS they have than what version of RX-8 flash (or Mazda6 or Mazda3) they've got...

Regards,
Gordon

 

Gord96BRG, Is there a WDS version that the dealer should be using?

 

I got the letter in the mail yesterday too. I've had the orginal "M" flash done with more mid-range. So unless the new one is tuned differently to give more power then it's not going to the dealer.

Thanks for the sticker Mazda!

 

I am on the page that if they have software fixes for the ECU, then I want them. Mazda has made good improvements over the year, and I am glad they are still working on the 2004...

 

Hey Gang!! So I got the service done on Monday. The WDS number was 34.6. They also placed a process label under my hood it read "SSP61", which stands for special service program #61. This is what they call the winter weather PCM reflash.
So far the car seems to start a little easier and idle from start at a lower RPM. However we have had some milder weather lately. So it has yet to be tested. I also find that it has a little more power in the higher RPM's. However having not dyno'ed the car before and after I can't really say. It maybe just in my head.
If I do encounter any problems I will let everyone know.

 

Thanks very much for the info! My car is due for it's 24K km service, so I'll phone tomorrow to book it and request the ssp #61.

Regards,
Gordon

 

How is it one knows (or can find out) what Flash version a vehicle is running with?