Well I brought my car in today to have the brakes squeal problem looked at again, and to have my A/C problem looked at, and to hopefully have them flash the ECU. Well they said they can't find anything in the TSB to warrent flashing.. I told them it was idling rough in the mornings. I guess I need to come out and say flash it or I will get my car serviced elsewhere. They are also replacing the thermistator (I think that is what he called it) he said it controls the A/C. Mine was cycling on and off. Has anyone else in Houston had problems getting there ECU flashed. They also started to give me a BS story of "the reason the brakes were squealing because the car has such big rotors." I told him my friends Z has big rotors and his don't squeal.

Any Suggestions would be helpful.

Nat

 

The easiest way to force them to reflash is to go in with a Check Engine Light on...

The easiest way to get the CEL on is to leave the gas cap off (or loose). The fastest way to get the CEL on is disconect the o2 sensor and start the car.

If they confront you about forcing the CEL on you can either play dumb or tell them that you wouldn't be forced to do this if they'd just flash the damn car.

Good Luck.

 

Tell them "It is difficult to start sometimes. Last weekend, I cranked it for 8 seconds, it didn't start, cranked another 8 seconds, didn't start, finally on the third crank, it started. I was really getting scared it was flooded."

That will get you the flash.

 

you DO know that they can find out what the CEL is about right?..... they dont just give you the flash because you have the CEL and please for god's sake dont do this... many ppl on this board dislike the honesty of some people by doing things like throwing a CEL on purpose or flooding the car on purpose to get a warranty item done...thats just wrong..

 

If you dont NEED the L Flash, why do you even want it?

 

Because several people have tested it and found it to be much better than the K flash.

 

It is much better........much......like Viagra....
My girlfriend's name is Viagra.

 

Yes, I do know that they will know exactly why the CEL is on. That's why I said "If they confront you about forcing the CEL..."

I would never condone what that one idiot is doing, flooding the car over and over to lemon it. But I firmly believe that Mazda should cover reflashes as a warranty item, especially if it's a MAJOR change, which L seems to be. I don't see the harm done in leaving the gas cap off to throw a CEL.

The reason that I suggested this is that someone else reported it worked for them in another thread. I'm lucky enough (?) to have a real CEL, so I don't have to worry about it.

 

Still nobody from Houston.

 

OK, I'll chime in. I have given all the Houston dealers chances for YEARS (back to an 89 Miata), and have given up with their foolishness. I bought the RX-8, and have ALL recalls, flashes, etc. done in Austin, at the greatest dealership in Texas (maybe the world <insert evil laugh>) - Mazda South. David Johnson (DJ) is the head of the service department.

Contact Information HERE.

Tell them Tim sent you.

Now you have had a response from someone from Houston .

 

There has to be a better way then driving all the way to austin..

Nat

 

Let me know if you find it. I think it all depends on how much c#$%p you feel like putting up with.

Call DJ and talk to him. If you're still not convinced, don't go. Like Dr. Phil says "I don't expect you to substitute my judgement for yours", just giving out my solution...........

 

I am not debating that they are a good dealer. I just don't know when I would find time to take it there.

 

Jeff Haas Mazda has an employee that looks at this forum (RX8seller). You would think that dealerships that see bad things posted about them would actually do something about it. There has been so much bad info about Mazda of Clear Lake on here that I have no idea how they don't know it yet. I was at the Houston Auto Show last night and noticed that alot of the guys at the Mazda booth were from Mazda Clear Lake. I wouldn't even talk to them.

Seriously, how much money does it cost to hook up a plug and load a program? It should only take a few minutes. There are actually some car dealers out there who will go out of their way to help you. Too bad Mazda doesn't have one in Houston. This is the reason why I feel that if you want to buy a car, go to a dealer. If you want to fix it, find someone else to do it. We're about to get some new ecu's to the market soon. It would be much easier for me to spend a little money and just retune the thing myself. I can get better results anyways.

 

Ditto. My story was about on the same lines. I got the flash no problem. Just say hard start and flood in the same sentence.

 

In what way? He isnt having flooding issues.

 

Interesting problem... I had mine reflashed to 'M' the other day no problem at Jeff Haas. I brought it in for a few other issues, and said that while they had it, I'd like them to reflash the ECU. I also said that if they needed a "reason" that it was idling rough.

Incidentally, I also took it in last week for the cupholder insulation and to look at the A/C (cycling) and they told me that it was "operating in spec." I call B.S. but I wasn't dealing with my regular service advisor.

PM me if you want more details.

 

Woooo hoooo They freakin flashed it. I called up and mentioned that I talked with another owner that had his flashed at the dealer the other day and they said they would go ahead and do it. Thank god. They are also claiming they have my brakes fixed..

 

So they fixed the squealing brakes? I didn't know that they'd work on that as an issue. I just figured I'd have to live with it until I had to replace the pads.

 

Well the brakes still squeak. I called today to see if they would install the mazda NAV but Carlos just flat out said no.

Nat

 

There is a new techbulletin outnow that Ithink forcesall dealers to reflash all Rx8s brought in for serviceto M that dont already havethem soit shouldnt be hard to get a reflashdone anymore. Also Iwas interested in getting the factoryNAV installedon my Rx8 severalmonths ago and two differentdealers told me that I had tobuy the car w/factory NAV already installed and that they dont have any way of installing them on carsthat dont come included w/them. Oneof them told me allI could do was get an aftermarket install andthat it wouldnt be the same as the factory one. Its alright b/cI can live fine w/o it here inMiami and Im saving over two grand.

 

Ok, so I'm not as savey as I should be but I bought my car in December; does the VIN number tell me what flash I have? If it's an L, why do I want a K or an M? What is better about the upgrade. Yeah I know someone is going to tell me to do a search and I would but I'm lazy. Is the K (or now apparently the M) flash better on the car? Do you get more horsepower?

BTW bought mine at Jeff Haas but have never had it serviced there. I have my own "oil-change-guy" near where I live and haven't needed anything else done (6,000 miles so far). Don't let em snow you with the rotor-size thing since my 8 and the 8's of a bezillion others on here have no brake-squeal issues.

What's this about cup-holders?

 

Thanks FirstSpin. Yes they still are squeaking. Their free oil change deal by the way is a rip. You only get it if you do all services by them. The services between the oil changes cost $76 IE.. 7500 miles. That easily pays for the so called Free Oil change and the one they preform for the $76. The difference is that at the $76 service they do some visual inspections. I am going to bring it back when I get some time in the next couple days. This will be the 3rd time. Maybe they need to replace every thing. They have turned the rotors 2 times now.

 

wierd, I take my 6 to Jeff Haas for its factory issues used them for years with my protege and I love them, never had an issue, always given the benifit of the doubt, in fact several of the service folks own Rx7's.

I'm surprised your having such issues with them.

 

I took mine in to Joe Haas Mazda last week and asked for the M Flash - they said there was a recall notice and they would do it. After I drove it for a tank and got the identical 13.4 mpg I called and asked speciifcally did they program the M flash. After some talk about the recall is only for hard starts etc. I asked did you do the M flash and was told Yes. Afterward I went out and did the 20 pump test to watch the oil pump gauge, as I had read about in the discussion threads, and the guage doesn't move at all. I do not know what to believe - did I get the run around?