So, I took my 8 in for the thermal recall work, last week.

They had the car for a day, and called me around 4pm to say it was done.
A day to two later, I decided that I would try the rpm limiting of the new flash.
Because I am naturally skeptical of work performed a the dealer. Well the rpm's
didn't return to idle after the designated time. So they didn't do the reflash, ok I will call them on it when I get free time. (no big deal)

So today, I had the car up and I wanted to see the thermal blanket, wrapped around the tank. There was NO blanket. WTH?? What did they do to the car all day (except add 8 miles to the odometer)

Other than driving over the the dealership, and asking the service manager to verify the work done, what should I do? Is there any recourse for my wasted time and miles driving to the dealership.

 

Definitely call Mazda North America customer service at the 800 number in your owners manual and tell them about your experience with that dealer. Have THEM contact the dealer to arrange for the recall work. Or, you can write MNAO a letter and send a copy to the NHTSA. That will get their attention and ensure that the work will be done correctly. There is a legal aspect to an official recall and Mazda cannot afford to be put in jeopardy by their sometimes incompetent dealer network.

 

I just supposedly had this done to mine as well. Now are you supposed to be able to see it if your looking under the car? Or do you need to raise the car up and drop the tank. I told the tech that supposedly did, that I wanted to see it, and he said to see it you would have to drop the tank. Is this right?

 

Yes, to see it you would need to remove the exhaust and drop the tank a few inches.

 

Ok i just got mine done last friday I watched them take out some bolt put in some blanket. I did not see them take off the tank though. Granted every ten minutes or so I walked away (i can't sit still). I thought it was just putting the thermal blanket on the straps that hold the tank not the entire tank, but that would still justify taking out the entire tank i guess i have to get underneath the car tomorrow afterwork.

 

Update:

The following is not a complaint, just an observation.

The staff of the dealership was professional, and honored my every request without
hesitation...

I took the 8 back in to have the interior sliding console replaced. The dealer had ordered it when I first brought the car in for the recall. They called me back last week and told me the part was in, scheduled a Monday PM appointment.

I phoned the service manager, early Monday expressing my concern about the recall work done. He asked why I thought the the work was not done.

I stated, I can't see or feel the thermal blanket, that is supposed to be tucked between the tank and the metal heat shield. He said that is very difficult to see because it is just a pad that is sandwiched between the tank and the body.

Also I wanted to check to make sure the reflash was done, when I rev the engine to 8500 rpm plus for 10 or more seconds the engine doesn't return to idle. He said he was unaware of this feature, but he would check with his tech.

When I got to the dealer, the service manager said he would be happy to put the car on a lift and confirm that the work had been done. And they would confirm the latest pcm update. He also said that he had spoken with the tech and learned that the "idle control mode" may not happen, depending if the car is in closed or open loop.

Again, this staff was very professional and helpful.

So, about 5 minutes after the tech drives the car to the bay, (out of my sight)
he comes back in a gets the service manager. They are gone for about 20 -30 minutes and they come and get me.

He shows me the blanket tucked neatly between the metal insulator and tank,
I say OK, no problem,

They plug the PCM computer in and show me the current flash ending in R
I say OK, I really appreciate you confirming this for me.

I wish I had taken a photo of the blanket before, because this is my theory.
The blanket was installed, but incorrectly and they quickly pulled it into place.

Here is a quick illustration
the top pic is of what I saw and could feel with my fingers before I brought it in.
and the bottom pic is what they showed me after.

The red dots are where I tapped the tank and did not feel any pad, just hard plastic.

Also, when I got home and held the rpm at redline for ten seconds, it cut right back to idle. Hmmm.

It's all straight now, except for the fact that they where missing a piece of the new console and had to reorder the part. They will call me when it is in...

 

If it is installed correctly, you don't have to drop the tank to see the pad.

The image I drew in the last post, shows the front part of the tank,

while looking towards the rear of the car.

(Your head should be somewhere approximately below the front seats looking back at the tank. )

You should be able to see the metal heat shield with the hump recess for the exhaust pipe. The blanket should be tucked under the top most part of that metal shield and continuing up where the tank meets the body.

as in the lower illustration.

 

What is the rpm limitation for the R flash again? I was wanting to test this out on my own car.

 

over 8500 for ten seconds
3000-8500 for 2 minutes
1300-3000 for 5 minutes

 

Thanks...the R flash didn't show on my work order, so I'm guessing they did it, but my car feels exactly the same. I've read where some people have commented on a better idle or more power, but I'm placing those as placebo effect. One day I'll try one of those to see.

 

From what I have been told, if you had the N flash, the R won't make any difference except to the high-rev cutoff at idle.

If you had the "M".. it _MIGHT_ make a different.. below the M level, it should make a huge difference.

 

I agree, I noticed a marked difference from L to N,
but nothing from N to R so far anyway.

 

i had to take the car in 3 times, finaly on the 3rd time the dealer did the work they said they were doing the whole time.

i just cant belive they said they did the recall 2 times on my car and it wasnt done.

 

^^ Underlining my general lack of confidence with service people...

 

I have a 2005 model, and just had mine done last week. I have noticed (placebo affect??), that the car is less responsive from a dead stop to car movement. Anybody else noticed this??

Also, should I take the car back to "verify" that the recall was done properly?? I have read that the recall will ONLY address tanks that are slightly warped, to either shield it or replace it, but if they do not notice any damages, that it isn't required?? Anybody know for sure on this?? Please let me know ASAP, since I plan on dropping it off on Friday of this week to have my front lens replace...thanks!!

 

I too have a 2005 and I notice the opposite. In the low RPM range (~sub-5000 RPM) I now get better responsiveness and possibly better power. I'm also now getting at least 20 miles more per tank though I was only getting 180 before. I also haven't had a tank that I've used in my normal pattern since the recall (I've done a bit more stop and go / city driving) and I'm still getting better mileage.

If you read the TSB you will find that every car that the recall applies to will have the thermal blanket installed. Those cars built after the dates for the recall already have the thermal blanket installed at the factory.

The tank will only be replaced if it is damaged. How much damage will cause the replacement I don't know - there haven't been many reports of tank replacement on the board (maybe 1?).

 

Does anyone know what the rev limit cutoff is on an automatic? I just picked my car up from having the recall done and I am a little skeptical about the work performed.