OK, I was really talking in the context of flash in PCs.
Flash memory for PCs (for system BIOS) all have a protected Boot Block. It is the first address that gets fetched by a CPU on reset.

Correct that not all flash has this, but flash that is used for a processor to boot from generally does. Application flash (add in cards etc, don't).

 

Regarding firmware updates- I have a MOmitsu v880 DVD player from China that upconverts to High definition and plays out digitally through DVI. The company (Manowa) updates it's firmware what seems like every month- they add features, compatibility- fix probelms with DVD titles skipping, etc. You just download, burn on a CDR and boot up in the player and flash. If anyone has a projector or plasma with DVI in I high suggest this unit- DVD's look very close to Hi def once they are upscaled.

 

Not all PC's work this way. I have a Laptop PC and the power system is controlled by the BIOS. The power button, battery, charging system and related are all somehow controlled by the BIOS. So this one time I was reflashing it to the latest version and bad luck hit in the form of a power shortage. Now nothing worked on the PC since not even the power button would respond and to top it off the BIOS chip wasn't removable so I had to send the complete motherboard in for repairs. They had to remove the old chip and SOLDER a new one in place.

 

I just got back from having my oil pan replaced, and got a reflash to the current version. Pretty neat how its done, takes about 10 minutes using the newest dealer firmware that just came out.

I had 3 'issues' with mine that were noted after the update. the oil pan sensor, the AC cycling, and something to do with temp sensors for the thermostat, and even something to do with power that he hadn't seen before.

He also said that many service depts may be intimidated to do the updates, or just plain lazy to keep up with them weekly. His take on it is if it can help prevent us from having problems why not do it. And furthermore, if Mazda spent the time and money to make the updates, do it, thats what they are for!!!!

If anybody want a dealer that actually is looking out after our best interest, pm me and I'll give you his name and #.

Oh yea, he also gave me a 'gift' that I'll take a pic of and post in the photo section.

 

I got the reflash update with no problem..just shy of 100,000. Maybe it was no problem because they have had my car for everything under the sun!

 

dude ... check the date of your last post b4 you making your next post.

 

Seriously, what's the deal with all of the thread revivals recently?

 

noobs

 

I think its a Chick

 

I had the same problem at a dealer here in orlando. One day my car was running like pure shi* I just moved from pa and thought maybe it was the heat so i went tothe dealer and wanted my reflash he saide it had to b throwing a code (CEL) to do anytibng. I was pissed luckily i figured out it was water in my gas (damn race trac gas) but they said it had to have a cel to deo anyting

 

Is there a term for female ? I mean ... Dude ...

 

Holy thread revival Batman

 

holy thread necropsy ftl.

 

I also was denied this part when I asked the dealer specifically to perform the latest flash, they only did the vacuum check of the TSB that the flash update is a part of. I specifically wanted it because, so far as I can tell, the last flash update my car got was on 8 October, 2005. I wanted to get the improvement on the MOP settings that the latest flash is supposed to have.

Also, does anyone know what this Mazda part number is for: N320-18881-R

 

for any noobs out there who can't get a flash under warranty - look into getting the accessport from mazdamaniac. The maps he supplies are with the latest flash from mazda, so you will get the new settings, plus higher omp flow, better power, etc.

 

you guys are too much. if they'd created a new thread there would've been an onslaught of GO SEARCH N00B responses!

Short of genius n00bs simply can't win here.

Now my 2 cents on topic. It's my understanding that the eprom in our ECU is only good for about 100 or so flashes so I could see why Mazda would limit flashing. In today's high-tech flash savy world I find this hard to believe, but you never know with the propreitary way in which car makers string stuff together.

Fortunately, we've got the AP that gets around that limitation I say ditch Mazda, buy an AP, wait for Street Tuner, and/or find a good tuner like Jeff (MazdaManaic).

 

+1 on getting Jeff to inject his magic into your car. You get enough guys together and you can dyno and tune your car for under 200 bucks.. not counting the cost of the AP. A pretty sweet deal for something that makes the single biggest improvement to any 8.

 

How do you figure the AP gets around the EPROM flashing limitation ??

What do you think it's flashing......

OH...and a hundred flash limit is unlikely.....

Could be 10 or 1000... sorta an electronics crapshoot

 

There is no reason for the dealer to deny you this. I went down to my dealer here in OKC and asked him to check and see if I had the latest flash, since rumour has it that Canada (where I bought the car) didn't get the last one.

Absolutely no problem. He just plugged in his laptop and confirmed my suspicion, flashed the memory and sent me on my merry way. 5 minutes for the whole operation tops. I was literally standing there watching him do it.

I'm not sure on the technical details of the RX-8 in this regard, but if I were working for Mazda designing these things I would use EEPROM for the updateable firmware (like any other electronic device) and keep a backup block of ROM(not programmable in any way) with the factory settings so that retarded dealers couldn't go around bricking people's cars and have everyone get mad, or in the rare event that a flash fails you can always just try again. That would be the smart thing to do. In computing many motherboard companies now do this to keep overclocking enthusiasts from destroying their motherboards. Is it what Mazda has done? I don't know.

If it's not, and there's literally only the one EEPROM, then I could see why the dealer would be reluctant. 20 bucks says your dealer is just a retarded jerk.

 

I'm well over 300 at this point, including several intentional brickings. I don't think anyone out there is going to need to hit it that many times, so the issue is moot.

 

The maps get flashed to different area of the ECU, like NOVRAM or some such. It's well documented, as is Mazda's claim of the 100 or so flash limitation.

 

ShellDude:


I hate to tell you...but the flash Mazda does...and the AP flash are flashing the same area.......the data is different...but the area is the same..hence the same limits.

Flsh limits are very arbitrary...depending on the criteria chosen in the testing used.

MM is correct...it is basically a moot point in this application......

 

Weren't the last couple of flashes mandatory for all? Next to last (4206f) was a recall. If I recall correctly, the latest (MSP16) was somewhere between a recall and a TSB that said "Dealer, if you get your hooks on an RX-8, reflash it."

So why would any policy of no free reflashes still be in effect?

Ken

 

Why would you hate to tell me? It's not like you're letting me down or anything. Switching maps via my AP is definitely a different process than flashing my ECU -- from a time and functional perspective, period.

I recognize a lot of what we read is marketing, but "limitless" flashes is one of its selling points, and was heralded as a break-through.

I hate to say that we've taken this thread OT. How about that? Not that it really matters though as it was probably 50 pages back a week ago

 

I think it has something to do with "Mazda's typical bullshit"

What kind of Flash memory these days can only flash 100 times?

ok fine Lets assume that the ECU EPROM came from 2002. but even EPROMs in 2002 can rewrite itself over 10000 times without errors. Unless they're using EPRoms from 1998 or something, then yeah its about 100 times.