sable

took mt 8 in for ECU M-FLASH yesterday - it has started idling really rough and seems to "misfire" constantly....

anyway - picked it up last night after service dept closed and the paperwork says they did a PCM flash (powertrain control module) and the car still idles exactly the same.

did they flash the wrong thing???? I specifically asked for the ECU flash

please help

Positron

Sable - The paper work will say PCM usually, not ECU. Drive it a while and see if the idle smoothes out. If it doesn't take it back and have them look at it again.

mm

Zoom49

PCM and ECU are the same thing, Hope your idle gets better after driving awhile.

sable

thanks guys -- yeah, I hope the idle gets better too.

kidcas

i got the m flash the other day, but have not been able to do get the brake test to work to see if i really have it..... i turn the ignition to "on", pump my brakes up to 30 times and nothing happens... in the "on" position the brake just barely moves too, so i'm hardly pressing....

mngpao

sable: does your 8 have the new hot plugs? If not, have the dealer install them - they will help smooth out a rough idle.

As to the brakepump/oil guage test, I think you need to press the brake pedal 20+ times within 8 seconds and keep your eye on the oil guage.

sable

mngpao--

If the idle doesnt get better in a few days and I do carry it back in, if I ask for the hot plugs is there a TSB on this or will they do it under warranty? They already tried to give me a hard time on ECU flash, but since it was idling rough they went ahead and did it -- nonsense about mazda wont pay them if the car is OK without the flash, etc. yeah whatever -- we all know they can write it up any way they want to get paid for it and still please the customer. got flack also from them cause we dont get our maintenance done there but we want them to work on our car for FREE without letting them do an oil change while its there....

just let me know about the plugs how I need to handle it to get them free. -- thanks

G8rboy

If I don't wind my 8 out every once in a while, it develops a slightly rough idle. A few redline runs to blow the carbon buildup out and it's fine... so make sure you're driving it like it was meant to be driven.