After Reflash, tranny stuttering between 60-70 mph

[Alpha Wolf]

When my car was new I experienced the throttle lag at low rpms which was due to the Fly by wire control of the throttles not giving you full throttle when you floored you car at certain rpms. So I had the reflash of the ECU to help with this. This did help the lower rpm power (still not enough for me) but then I started to have a problem with the tranny. In auto mode in sixth gear going down the road, when I would hit a slight rise requiring just a tiny increase in the gas pedal to keep my speed up, the tranny would start this stuttering. Where it felt like it was going in and out of gear rapidly until either I gave it more gas, put the tranny in manual mode or crested the hill and eased off the throttle.

When my car went in for its 7,500 mile check today I *****ed about this to the service department. The mechanic says that there is another new TCU reflash to deal with tranny issues. He could not replicate my problem as there are no hills like the ones I have the problem on but he wants me to call if it is still doing the shutter thing so he can contact Mazdas Tech Desk for further assistance. Since my wife dropped off the car I will know more when she returns.

But there is a new Transmission Control Unit reflash from Mazda now availble.

[Alpha Wolf]

There is a Transmission Control Unit Reflash available.

They did mine at my insistance at the 7,500 mile service.

Transmission functions much better

The stuttering on the highway is gone

The over rev in 2nd gear easy take offs is gone.

Tranny appears to shift quicker and smoother.

I would recommend you all have this done....

[vroooom]

Thanks for the info...I will look into this, I havent really had this problem, then again I havent been driving my CX-7 because of gas prices....:D

[Raider]

I am sure our dealer is unable to find the TSB information. Do you have any additional information, we have this issue.

There is a Transmission Control Unit Reflash available.

They did mine at my insistance at the 7,500 mile service.

Transmission functions much better

The stuttering on the highway is gone

The over rev in 2nd gear easy take offs is gone.

Tranny appears to shift quicker and smoother.

I would recommend you all have this done....

[erhayes]

Go to www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/tbs/results.cfm This is the government site that logs all TSBs and complaints. If you go to COMPLAINTS for the CX7 you will find the transmission re-flash is availiable, although NO TSB is issued. I do believe that before a TSB is issues, there is a minimum number of complaints required. SO there is a re-flash available for your transmission although no TSB has been issued. Take this www....... information with you when you visit the dealer as they may not be aware of the re-flash. Good driving. Ed

[Raider]

That is awesome! I will call our service manager about this right away.

[Alpha Wolf]

Go to www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/tbs/results.cfm This is the government site that logs all TSBs and complaints. If you go to COMPLAINTS for the CX7 you will find the transmission re-flash is availiable, although NO TSB is issued. I do believe that before a TSB is issues, there is a minimum number of complaints required. SO there is a re-flash available for your transmission although no TSB has been issued. Take this www....... information with you when you visit the dealer as they may not be aware of the re-flash. Good driving. Ed


You are 100% correct...

No TSB on this one. It is to correct "tranmission issues"

[muskielure1]

These upgrades are no charge I assume?

[Raider]

Yessir, they are!

[LOSCOZ]

I went to the link and it redirected me around and I had to refill in the information but i got to the page and the pdf of all the issues that person had.
I printed the summary and next time i go to my dealer i will ask about an updated reflash for the tranny.

Does anyone know what the outcome of that situation was in NC?

[Alpha Wolf]

It definately cured my problems

Yes it was free.

Yes you have to ***** to your dealer to get it done.

;)

[jp45654]

I think this TSB relates to the problem:

Bulletin No 05-012/06
Last Issued 12/14/2006

Subject Surging/Body Vibration During Light Acceleration Or While Cruising.

It applies to all CX-7's manufactured before October 16, 2006 (VIN's lower than JM3ER***7*146808 for 2wd and JM3ER****7*146831 for awd)

It basically involves a reprog of the TCM.

I would post the whole pdf but the 4 pages are too big for this site's limit.

Hope this helps.

[BaconNeggs]

I'm having the TCM upgrade done this thursday. The gas pedal vibrates at 4th and 5th gear.
Anyone notice that the engine rpms are diferent in manual and auto mode?
In manual going steady 45 mph the rpms will be 2200 in 5th gear. In auto it'll be 1800 rpm in same gear and speed. In auto it'll also hunt around 5th and 6th gear going 60mph.

I havn't had the anti-lag upgrade done, i don't know if it would fix this.

[Dingusboy]

There is also a tranny flash. Make sure they do that also!

[Alpha Wolf]

I'm having the TCM upgrade done this thursday. The gas pedal vibrates at 4th and 5th gear.
Anyone notice that the engine rpms are diferent in manual and auto mode?
In manual going steady 45 mph the rpms will be 2200 in 5th gear. In auto it'll be 1800 rpm in same gear and speed. In auto it'll also hunt around 5th and 6th gear going 60mph.

I havn't had the anti-lag upgrade done, i don't know if it would fix this.


Don't know about peddle vibration but the TCU Transmission Control Unit Re-flash eliminated the hunting around 60-70. It will not affect the normal down shifting it does due both 5th and 6th being over drives. It will down shift still but it will do so without the in/out stuttering I experienced.

[ottoblotto]

damnit... how many flashes do i have to get to have this car running right?

[Alpha Wolf]

damnit... how many flashes do i have to get to have this car running right?


That is a good question. One no one yet seems to have an answer to.

[Raider]

We found for it to be 2. TCM and PCM. All is well, and we are making sad RDX owners cry when we dust them in their soul-less cars.

[satz]

hi all

thinking of getting the ECM flash done that's meant to improve the response below 2000rpm

Two queries I have:

1. does doing this upgrade then cause the problem with transmission stuttering (or was that a problem that was already there with early build vehicles and perhaps masked by the throttle response problem)?.... ie I don't want to cause a problem that's not already there

2. does the ECM flash help with smoother throttle response below 2000rpm in 3rd or 4th gear? I notice now that there is slight lag when I'm accelerating out of a corner. Could that just be real turbo lag or related to this throttle control mapping?

I can't get much advice from the dealers here as they've hardly sold any CX7s and have only done the throttle mod to 3 cars!

I'm keen to hear your experiences/advice

many thanks

Satz

[erhayes]

It would be useful to have you post your VIN# so we can compare to ours before, we climb on the service managers back.

[rexercx7]

I have the most wonderful dealer, my selling dealer, and they're always doing the nicest things for my CX-7, albeit mine's a bit of a "showpiece" for them. Raider sent me an email, telling me that he'd had his 20K service done, and that there were TSB's for TCM and PCM, and that I should have mine checked out.

So, I called my Service Advisor buddy Justin, and he told me "No problem...we'll check your CX-7's TCM and PCM...you could wait for it if you're busy, shouldn't take more than an hour or two, but my standing offer still goes: if you want to leave it all day, I'll get it detailed for you, no charge." Funny guy, Justin is. I had an oil-change and Mazda Full Circle Service just done last month at 4475 miles, and left the CX-7 there all day, and sure enough when I got it back it was fully detailed and shined like a newly minted coin...and here he is offering me another detail if I can leave it all day.

Bottom line: I've got a pretty busy 7/27 planned, and I wait for it. Turns out Raider's advisory about the TCM applied to my CX-7, so they flashed it with new code; but my PCM was up to date, no flash there needed. "Every CX-7 is different," Justin tells me. "We never know until one is hooked up to the diagnostic computer whether it needs any updates...it's all done wirelessly by the way." Interesting! The TCM flash is indeed a brand new program for the CX-7 transmission, and mine certainly drives *major differently* after the update. It now upshifts very rapidly into 4th gear compared to before, in automatic mode, where before it would seem to 'hang' a little in each gear. I like the difference a lot!

Additionally, the transmission doesn't 'hang' in 4th gear like it used to do previous to the update. The whole shift sequence now is "smarter" and more logical, in automatic mode, and it does not "search" in 5th and 6th gears on the freeway in automatic mode, though I usually drive in manual mode on the freeway in any case. Subjectively, after the TCM update, the CX-7 transmission seems to be operating smoother, it shifts faster into more of a "sequential pattern" rather than "hanging" in the various gears, especially 4th gear, and it just seems "smarter" than it was before the update. I hope that this is the last update for awhile, as it seems that Mazda is very serious about getting our CX-7's to drive better. Certainly mine is vastly different than when it was new in terms of the various flashes and updates that have been done this year!

I drove from home to Santa Barbara last evening to visit a sick friend, about a 60-mile trip one-way, and for the 1st time in a long time I left the transmission in automatic mode for most of the trip, though I did have a few moments where I used manual mode for some "spirited driving", truly letting the horses out of the barn when there was no traffic to get in my way. And I can honestly report that this latest TCM re-flash is a good thing! So, don't be afraid of it, and since it is a new thing, chances are unless your CX-7 has been in for service in the past couple of weeks it hasn't had it done to it yet.
If you have a good relationship with your dealer, get the TCM flash done right away, is my recommendation...don't wait for the next service to ask for it, simply request that your CX-7 is checked out for the newest TCM update, because I think this is a good update, one we should all be enjoying.

Kindest regards,
rexercx7:cool:

[satz]

hi rexercx7
many, many thanks for the detailed reply...

Reading that has put my mind at ease :-)


I wish my mazda techs were as well informed as yours seem to be. I guess living in a smallish city means that these guys don't have much experience :-(

So yours already had the 'hesitation below 2000rpm' flash done previously? I guess you then didn't have the lag problems from standing start?

The service guys here know about the hesitation fix, don't know of the Transmission one...


best wishes


Satz

[rexercx7]

hi rexercx7
many, many thanks for the detailed reply...

Reading that has put my mind at ease :-)


I wish my mazda techs were as well informed as yours seem to be. I guess living in a smallish city means that these guys don't have much experience :-(

So yours already had the 'hesitation below 2000rpm' flash done previously? I guess you then didn't have the lag problems from standing start?

The service guys here know about the hesitation fix, don't know of the Transmission one...


best wishes


Satz

My CX-7 has had the "hesitation" flash done previously, but before you condemn your local Mazda shop, you should understand that this TCM flash is a brand new thing, apparently just popping up on the Service Radar Systems (my description of it) in the past couple of weeks here in the States. It may have not even reached Down Under's service system yet, for all I know. But it is definitely a really important, and extremely beneficial TCM flash that changes the way the transmission acts/behaves/shifts completely...at least in my experience thus far, and I've only had it just done. So if I notice it as much as I have, since it was done just this past Friday 7/27, then it must be a new thing that should work fantastic for all CX-7's.

Let's face it, the 6-speed Mazda-Aisin manu-matic tranny is not the brightest star on the block, when you compare our transmission to some of the "smarter" transmissions out there like on the BMW X3, or Audi's, or even the Acura RDX 5-speed "CRX-based tranny" that's been thoroughly worked over by the nice folks at Acura, it having shift paddles, an enhanced software curve etc. So anything is a blessing IMHO when it comes to our Aisin 6-speed tranny, and the new TCM flash for it that we have here in the States totally changes the programming of the system, and I think you'll like it a lot if/when you can get it done to your CX-7.

I don't mean to seem too verbose about it, or hype it up too much, but the new TCM flash is a pretty dramatic change from the way the tranny USED to shift, trust me on this, it's a big difference!

The service department at my selling dealer is surely one of the more progressive dealers in the area here in SoCalifornia; I mean, just read in my signature all that I've done to my CX-7, and they just LOVE IT so much, they treat me with xtra special care, even though I've modified my intake system 100% from OEM, and have a big 'ol TurboSmart Ultimate BOV Dual-Port system instead of the crappy plastic OEM Mazda BOV, and will soon have a new 80mm T304 Stainless Steel exhaust system to boot. I can assure you that there are very, very few CX-7's running around here with 22" C-2 wheels and Kumho ECSTA STX tires on them also...perhaps mine's the only one like it. So there you go...everything's relative is it not?

Here you are Down Under, and perhaps they haven't even migrated the new TCM flash your way just yet, right? It may be just too new for your Australian service system as yet, but rest assured it will eventually get there because it's a real deal here in the USA.

Kindest regards,
rexercx7:cool:

[ottoblotto]

i get jealous when i read some of the things you guys have done to your cars... i will eventually get there. but with a new baby and a two year old... priorities. anyways, that just a side note. im going to call my dealership today and see if they can do the service and flash the tranny. i was just wondering what its called. i heard tsb, and now tcm and other things. let me know so i dont sound like a lump when i talk to my service rep. thanks!

[satz]

hi rexercx7

thanks again for the info....

Would you be able to tell me the build date of your car? Mine's May 07.

My transmission appears to be working fine at present. It seems to change reasonably progressively from 1 - 6. It's the throttle response I'm keen to get fixed, but I guess what I'm worried about is whether that fix could then cause the transmission problems?

I think that's what happened to one of the earlier posters on this thread?

your car sounds great from the description of all your add-ons!!

[Raider]

It shifts smooth as silk now in ours. I drove it last night, totally new car!

Ours we bought last July.

[drivenhard]

Anyone experience this: just recently had the car at 70mph and had to brake fairly hard (not panic) down to about 10mph on the freeway. When applying the throttle afterward the car was not in gear and did kind of a neutral drop into 2nd gear. This has happened 3 times recently.

[ottoblotto]

ok so i got the service done. the tech there is a good guy. but they said that they checked the software and that its current. he said that when i took it in to get the engine flash back in march/april that they did it then. does that sound correct? everyone here is saying that this tcm flash is relatively new? and i know some are saying you have to fight to get them to do it... sigh... he said about 9 other people have bought the cx and havent had any issues. any thoughts?

[Raider]

The TCM is only a few weeks old I believe. Only 9 were sold at your dealer? You might want to try a more mainstream one. The transmission will shift smooth as silk when done.

[BaconNeggs]

I would say if you don't have a noticeable problem then don't get the upgrade. I had the reflash done and now the engine doesn't have overdrive mode from what I can tell. I'm doing 60mph and the tach is at 2500 rpm sucking up gas. Pre upgrade I could go over 70 mph at under 2000 rpm. I just got back from the dealer arguing with them that theres something wrong, but they say thats normal operating condition.

[erhayes]

Obviously something was not done correctly or reconnected. My CX7 when running at 60 mph (level road, very light throttle) in 6 gear with the converter locked up is running ~ 1,900 rpm. If your having a problem with your dealer not knowing what to do, and it sounds like it, I would find another dealer or contact your factory service rep for your area. They, meaning Mazda will fix this. Ed

[satz]

from reading the various posts it seems to be a mixed response to getting the throttle reprogramming done...


Yes, I do get annoyed by the lack of response from standstill, and have nearly been hit by cars when crossing main roads!

However, is there a high risk of getting the transmission problems because of the throttle upgrade? Or were these transmission problems perhaps there before, and somehow masked by the throttle problem? My transmission appears to be working fine at present (except for the problem from standing start...ie changing to 2nd gear too quickly)

DOes anyone know the TSB number for the very recent transmission TCM update?

I guess it's not the one that came out ages ago about the shuddering at cruising speed?

cheers


Satz

[erhayes]

Go to the start of this thread and read what I found out about AT issues. At that time there was NO TSB issued but, there is an upgraded software fix to address certain conditions. You will need to search the government site for the fix. If what they describe is the issue you have then copy the document and take it to your dealer. Most dealers it seems, are not aware of complaints when there is no TSB issued. Ed Hayes

[ottoblotto]

The TCM is only a few weeks old I believe. Only 9 were sold at your dealer? You might want to try a more mainstream one. The transmission will shift smooth as silk when done.


its the main dealership in savannah. actually the only mazda for about 25+ miles. i think he maybe mistaken. they had quite a few models out there when i purchased mine... i think the point is they said my software was up to date and that it didnt need it. so okey dokey. im tired of arguing with them.

[Raider]

The Service Manager should be able to look up reflashes available by entering the VIN. If not, road trip!

[ottoblotto]

right on... i think i wanna go up there and see their selection anyways.

[satz]

After much deliberation decided to have the throttle flash done at the 1000km service

The dealer was nice and after I asked many times, they first did it to their demo vehicle and let me have a drive.


Then I decided to get it done on mine. Seems to make a little difference to the 'headsnapping after pause' that used to happen from standstill.

There's still lag, but not the sudden and quick change to 2nd gear.

Doesn't seem to have affected anything else in the transmission change patterns.

The dealer initially told me that this flash was only done if the customer requested it. Now they tell me it will get done automatically at service time anyway!

No sticker was put on the car to indicate this was done. So I think it is done as a matter of course anyway.

They're not aware of any other transmission related flash.

cheers

Satz

[rexercx7]

That's not right about Bacn'Eggs transmission. There's no way that the Aisin tranny should be doing 2500RPM @ 60MPH...that's slightly off! Like a TON! That is NOT "normal operation" by any definition. The Service Consultant at my selling dealer told me it was a new software update. It had to be, because they check my car every time that it's in there for any possible updates, and at 4475 miles it had a Mazda Full Circle Oil Change & Service, and this update didn't show up then...that was in late June.

I'll back up Raider's contention that the Aisin transmission is a completely different mechanism after the software update. It behaves very "German" if I could be so frank, ie it upshifts very positively, and quickly up into the higher gears...it would NEVER do that before this TCM update. I really think that it's something that should be done to every CX-7, and unless the service department you're dealing with tells you that they found a new software update for the TCM specifically, then they're not checking your CX-7 out properly. This is definitely a brand new TCM update, one that's only come out within the last month or so, and there's no way that CX-7's had this update done in months past! This is NEW!

As for the build month of my CX-7, it was 11/2006....for whomever asked about that, if that helps you any.

Kindest regards,
rexercx7:cool:

[erhayes]

I have also read that there is a sequence of steps when reflashing the ECM or TCM. The read stated that THE SEQUENCE MUST MUST BE FOLLOWED IN ORDER TO SUCCESSFUL UPDATE THE MODULES. I wonder if some service technicians? doing the updates are really doing it correctly? Service people who don't following instructions may be the reason some owners are having issues after the updates/reflashes.

[erhayes]

rexercx7: Could you point us to the code number or date or other information on the latest TCM update you are alluding to? Thank you. Ed

[rexercx7]

rexercx7: Could you point us to the code number or date or other information on the latest TCM update you are alluding to? Thank you. Ed

I'd be happy to...however, some bad news regarding my CX-7. But I'll try to call my Service Consultant and get the exact code/number/whatever that was done to mine, and also Raider's car. Unfortunately, my CX-7 is in the body shop for up to 2 weeks, and if that wasn't enough...I just had my right knee 'scoped today @ 6AM (no connnection with the car, just something that had to be done), and I'm going to be laid up for a couple of weeks myself.

Thus, both the driver and the CX-7 are pretty much "unavailable" currently, and all my paperwork for service is kept in the owner's packet in the glove box. I had the extreme misfortune last Monday night, at 11:45PM, to literally run into 2 "stoned/drunk out of their minds" (according to the Sheriffs here) skateboarders, and my front bumper and fog light assembly on the left side are both history. Lucky for the skateboarders, it was me driving, too. All my track training from when I worked for BMW came into play, as my body reacted before my mind had a chance to think about the situation that resulted in the accident, and I just clipped one of them, left front corner of the CX-7, at full ABS lockup, swerving hard to the right from 50MPH to 0MPH. They were literally riding down the middle of a very dark street, in black/dark clothing, no street lights, a very unfortunate situation to be put in, when I happened to be driving by.

The Sheriffs cited them for drunk in public, being under the influence of narcotics, and something else that I can't disclose right now because the police report isn't available for me to read yet. I was in shock from the incident, and they made me sit in one of their patrol cars for about 1/2 an hour after the accident...I was "pale like a ghost" according to one of the Deputy's, really an emotional wreck after such a thing happening. I mean, I came within a couple feet of killing two crazy, stoned kids outright, and I was really shook up about the whole thing and still am. They are so lucky to be alive! Anyway, enough about that, and please forgive me for giving the sordid details, but after surgery today I've had a lot of time to really think out what happened, and though it was not in any way my fault, I am still very shaky about even driving at all...and probably will be for awhile to come.

But about the TCM software update, I'll be talking to my Service Adviser Justin in the next day or two, and I'll be more than pleased to tell the Forum here what, exactly are the codes and procedures that were done to my CX-7 that improved my transmission response so dramatically...no problem at all for me to get the members here that info.

Seriously though, the tranny is a different animal than it was before this update, It operates completely differently than before, and I mean that in a very positive way.

Kindest regards,
rexercx7:cool:

[rexercx7]

Even in my incapacitated state, I managed to get an email to my Service Consultant at my selling dealer, and he provided me with the following:

BULLETIN NOTE

This bulletin supersedes the previous bulletin issued on 11/01/06. The REPAIR PROCEDURE has been revised.

APPLICABLE MODEL(S)/VINS

2007 CX-7 FWD vehicles with VINs lower than JM3ER****7*146808 ( produced before Oct. 16, 2006)

2007 CX-7 AWD vehicles with VINs lower than JM3ER****7*146831 ( produced before Oct. 16, 2006)

DESCRIPTION

Some vehicles may experience surging/body vibration during light acceleration or while cruising in 4th, 5th, or 6th gear lock-up. Torque fluctuation generated by the engine may be transmitted to the drivetrain, then amplified to the body. The Transmission Control Module (TCM) calibration has been modified to improve driving feel.
CALIBRATION INFORMATION

Spec.

New TCM Calibration Part Number

File Name

FWD

AW30-F

SW-AW30TF000

AWD

AW31-F

SW-AW31TF000

Please note that the affected vehicles are for those produced before October 16, 2006...so those of you with later production vehicles are NOT affected by this update, ie if you just purchased your CX-7 and its production date code is later than the above, you will NOT NEED THE UPDATE!

There are a significant number of members of this Forum who the update will benefit, and armed with the above information, you should be able to "convince" your Mazda dealer that your vehicle needs the update. For those of you who have CX-7's made later than 12/2006, this TCM Re-Flash will not apply. This explains why some of you have been to your dealers and have been told that your CX-7 does not need an updated TCM module.

For CX-7's produced before Oct. 2006, this update will change many things about the operation of your transmission. I have described the effects that I felt and experienced in my CX-7 in a prior post, so no need to repeat that again.

I hope that the above information clears up any controversy about the TCM Re-Flash/software update that I had done to my CX-7. My vehicle has a production date of 11/06, however, so there apparently is an over-lapping of CX-7's that need the update since the information from my dealership specifically says that the cutoff date is 10/16/2006. If your CX-7 was made in 11/2006, I'd have it checked out anyway.

Kindest regards
rexercx7:cool:

[erhayes]

Thank you so much rexercx7 for the TSB information. So sorry to hear about your knee and car. I guess we can be greatfull for your driving skills that no one was killed. I used to race my old Porsche 356 on the ice in Wis. Our club used to plow out a race track on a frozed lake. We only raced against the clock but, so much fun. That education saved me several times in avoiding acccidents when driving on snow & ice. Recover well rexercx7. Ed

[rexercx7]

Thank you so much rexercx7 for the TSB information. So sorry to hear about your knee and car. I guess we can be greatfull for your driving skills that no one was killed. I used to race my old Porsche 356 on the ice in Wis. Our club used to plow out a race track on a frozed lake. We only raced against the clock but, so much fun. That education saved me several times in avoiding acccidents when driving on snow & ice. Recover well rexercx7. Ed

No problem, really, to provide the info...it was my pleasure. While I'm lying here in bed with my knee propped up by a couple plush couch pillows, I do have a nice Apple PowerBook to keep me in touch with the world. I should be "crutch-mobile" about this time next week, if all goes well, and then I can get back downstairs to my studio full of Macs and production equipment and maybe even knock out some videos and films that are on ice right now.

About the accident that I had...yes, we can thank my driving skills, but I don't think I've mentioned the fantastic ABS braking system of my CX-7, and how it helped me be at full ABS-lockup and yet turn away from the skateboarders successfully, just clipping one of them with the left front bumper. I believe that the road tests of the CX-7 give it a 60 to 0MPH stopping distance of 112 or 114 feet, can't remember which is accurate...nevertheless, it's an excellent brake system and it surely saved those two young mens' lives.

Kindest regards,
rexercx7:cool:

[1 bad 7]

This is awesome! I'm having the same problem. Took it to the dealer and they re-flashed the ECU but I don't see anything on the ticket about the transmission firmware being updated.

I will be stopping by with this info in-hand tomorrow... and with fingers crossed! I'm fairly confident this is the root of my problem as when I was driving around this afternoon the problem seemed to go away as soon as I shifted into manual mode.

[1 bad 7]

I'll post this here as well...


As noted above I had to take mine back even after having the flash update. I ended up having to leave it all day and they had to work with Mazda to fix the issue. Even though my symptoms were exactly as outlined above, they had to "tweak a bunch of settings" in the ECU.

It runs perfectly now although I have noticed a fair drop in fuel economy, which I was more or less expecting. Of course, I've also been driving it pretty hard to enjoy the smoother power band! I go on my first interstate trip for work for the first time since getting back from vacation so we'll see where things stand after that. Whereas I was getting 24+ MPG every take, my last two have been 22+ and just over 20.

[rexercx7]

I'll post this here as well...


As noted above I had to take mine back even after having the flash update. I ended up having to leave it all day and they had to work with Mazda to fix the issue. Even though my symptoms were exactly as outlined above, they had to "tweak a bunch of settings" in the ECU.

It runs perfectly now although I have noticed a fair drop in fuel economy, which I was more or less expecting. Of course, I've also been driving it pretty hard to enjoy the smoother power band! I go on my first interstate trip for work for the first time since getting back from vacation so we'll see where things stand after that. Whereas I was getting 24+ MPG every take, my last two have been 22+ and just over 20.

You're getting very commendable, and acceptable gas mileage...I'm lucky if I get 20 with my 22"'s and the large footprint Kuhmo tires on my CX-7, and around town where I do most of my driving I get between 16 and 18MPG depending on the right foot.:)

Say what did they do to your 7 to get it right, now? ECU? Did you just get the latest calibration for the PCM (ECU/ECM)? It's been out for almost a month now, mine getting it when it was in for the 2 Recalls for emission system issues, ie replace the VSSV actuator, and program the PCM to enable some feedback loop that was disabled...plus the new PCM calibration, of course.

I can't comment too much about the new calibration because I only ran about 1/2 a tank of gas through my CX-7 before I had to reset it this last weekend--I installed the CP-E Exhaust system, so the PCM is re-learning everything right now. I had to drive to LA today on business, and I got 18.97MPG going 80-85MPH both coming, and going, with a few sprints up to 100+MPH. Just breaking in the new systems!:D

I should be back to normal after another tank of fuel runs through it, and hopefully it will be doing better in the MPG department after the PCM finishes its new "learning curve". One thing's for sure though, I've got MORE POWER on tap with the new exhaust system installed.

The transmission is performing just perfect, ever since the July re-flash...that's a constant though, not any issues with it whatsoever. Right now I'm just driving it as hard as I feel like, which is pretty fast and hard, because I want the PCM to finish its learning curve and get "broke-in" to the new equipment and start running optimally.

I'll report on it later in the week after this fresh tank of Shell V-Power premium runs through it.;)

Kindest regards,
rexercx7:cool:

[1 bad 7]

Well, I drive about 3000-4000 miles a month, 85%+ of which is interstate so I expect my mileage to be pretty darn good! :)

I'm not a crazy driver - only ticket I've ever had was for a burnt out headlight several years ago. I don't have the desire to deal with paying jacked up insurance or trying to get the ticket fixed. Plus, my driving record is reviewed annually by my employer as they provide a sizable reimbursement payment each month for our vehicles.

But that's neither here nor there... If I at least get 22 MPG I'll be happy as that's what I was expecting to begin with. 24+ was just a very nice bonus!

As for what they did, the service tech swore the PCM flash was already updated from the first time I had it in. The guy that actually worked on it wasn't there by the time I got back to pick it up, so other than "tweaked a bunch of settings" I don't really know what they did. He claimed they had to work with Mazda HQ to determine what was causing the issue. Who knows?