[OT] Mazda Software Update "fixes?" Uphill Speed Issue?

I might call them first and see if they test drove the car. Does not make sense that software update would be needed. It could have been a dirty sensor.

Frank <"frank "@frank.net> wrote in news:1043ugn$3ljnl$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me:

The service rep (that roadblock between the mechanic and the customer) said that the mechanic did test drive the car on an incline, and it "seemed" to be fine. I think the problem may be intermittent, although my daughter says it happens all the time, just not on level roadway.

I asked to speak with the mechanic, but the service rep says they do not allow that, and the service rep only communicates with customers via text, which includes questions/answers, authorizing estimates, and final acknowledgement that problem is fixed. I guess we should have said we have no cell phone.

My daughter will probably have to sign saying that the car is fixed before they'll let us take it away to test drive.

Of course, they give a whole list of other serices they wanted her to buy.

The only reason the car was taken to the dealer is because her extented warranty has 400 miles remaining. I normally avoid dealers unless absolutely necessary.

Thanks for listening.

I suspect that the software update is a quick and easy stab in the dark for the dealer to try before investing anything more. It may work, it may not, but the tech won't even get their hands dirty. Do you know if the car has thrown any Diagnostic Codes? In addition to the other suggestions, a clogged catalytic converter can manifest itself as you describe with poor acceleration, especially under load. Good luck.

...

That's a weird thing to ask for, doesn't happen over here. We just sign that we receive the car and accept the payment. And later they phone me to ask if everything is going fine.

Modern cars are computers on wheels. The accelerator is no longer a cable and a lever: the pedal actuates a potentiometer or something, and then the computer decides to inject more gasoline and does so, or decides against it.

Thus, yes, a computer update might fix things. Often they don't update all cars, just those that complain, unless the factory advises to update them all. It takes some time to do.

" Extended Warranty " ? from Mazda, when new ? ... or some sort of 3rd party used-car deal ? The former might be useful ; the latter probably isn't. Someone mentioned what first came to my mind - clogging cat converter - my 2015 Kia had this at 8 years

Guess you will have to ride it out and see what happens.

Sometimes you can go beyond the dealer to the manufacturer.

I once had a head gasket failure on my Subaru out of warranty and Subaru of America ended up paying about a third the cost of repair.

Last year my wife's 2008 Forester accelerated and wife could not stop it. She zig zagged down the road and finally went off road and hit a house. Car was totaled and only damage to house was broken gas meter. There was a class action suit with Subaru over later models. I figure it was a computer error but insurance company did not investigate and just paid total for car along with wife's hospital bills.

I recall decades ago it was said something like, if cars were like computers they would often crash. It appears today that is the case.

Like the 737's MCAS, the Boeing 787's auto-shutdown feature is safe and effective!

Frank <"frank "@frank.net> wrote in news:10465b7$7bvl$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me:

This is my daughter's second Mazda 3. Her first kept wanting to veer off the road when it went around a particular curve in town, so much so that she almost got into an accident. Mazda kept the car for months, saying they were trying to fix it, but couldn't. She finally got it replaced under the Lemon Law.

Pappy snipped-for-privacy@usenot.nil wrote in news:1044rn1$3v5fq$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me:

Don't know yet.

In addition to the other

A clogged catalytic converter was my first thought, but I didn't get involved until after the car was taken to the dealer.

snipped-for-privacy@ccanoemail.com wrote in news:2roc6k9e0i2m3vg4md8p5768c8li8a6idj@

Yes.

I've had two vehicles whose converters went bad. A 2002 Chevy Impala under 100K miles, and fixed under warranty, and a 2010 Nissan Quest, over

Boris snipped-for-privacy@invalid.invalid wrote in news:XnsB31064D91C53FBorisinvalidinvalid@135.181.20.170:

Here's a follow up:

I picked up the car with my daughter yesterday. I spoke with the tech before driving it away about why a software update may (or may not) fix the slow accelaration on inclines. He said that there are as many as 40 different computer (electronic) modules that control the many aspects of a car's functions. He speculated that the transmission module may have 'gone bad', even though no OBDII code was thrown. My daughter's car's symptoms led the tech to test the transmission module, which didn't show any problems, but did show that an update was available. Just like an application driver in a computer can get corrupted, and reinstalling the driver or updating the driver can fix the problem, the same is true of modern car electronics.

Oh, ok. Whatever. I'm still unclear as to how any module can go 'bad', yet not throw a code.

I asked why didn't this car's system, or the dealer via email, notify the driver that an upgrade was needed. He said that he has worked for may different dealers/manufacturers, and very few cars, or dealers, tell the driver that an update is available, other than Tesla.

He owns a 1987 4-Runner, and says he'll keep repairing it himself until parts are no longer available.

Oh, the bottom line is that so far, my daughter's car has been performing normally. Problem fixed...it seems.

This is true. And if you ask for updates, they charge you for doing it.

My son's 2012 Toyota Camry with 162K miles started dying on the highway. The engine would just shut off and you'd have to coast to a stop, hoping there was a place to pull over. After shutting the car off completely, you could actually restart it again like nothing ever happened. This progressively got worse over the course of six months. It never exhibited these symptoms driving around town, only on the highway.

On his way home from college, it happened to him three times within 30 miles. I told him to call a wrecker and that I'd come pick him up. The car was taken to a Toyota dealer and kept for a week but there were no diagnostic codes and they couldn't duplicate the problem.

We drove to the town where the car was and I gave my son my car and took his home. It happened to me four times within 150 miles. I stopped at the Toyota dealer in my town and explained the problem to the service manager who was a friend. He kept the car for five days and they never found or duplicated the problem.

Considering the dealer couldn't troubleshoot the problem and this was a safety issue, I traded it in elsewhere for a 2019 Subaru Forester.

Oh, I forgot the mantra: if it is not broken, don't update it.

Once the mechanic drove my car with a laptop sitting on the copilot seat before he could find the trouble. The trouble reported by the car diagnostic was vague, but the laptop could pinpoint it. Some sensor, but I forget which. I remember that typically it was something, but this time was something different. The first time they replaced the first thing, and when it happened again to me they used the laptop and found the real culprit. Maybe a flaky connection in the sensor connection, the failure was sporadic.

We have a '99 4Runner ... I spent a bit over $4000 to replace the motor when the original developed a crack in one head at 348,000 miles . I was going to junk it until I found out these are selling for up to $11000 with over 200,000 miles . Like your mechanic , I plan to keep this one on the road as long as I can get parts . The newest vehicle we own is a 2009 Harley , and that only because I couldn't find an older one with a trike axle setup .

Yes, both dealer mechanics did the same thing. They drove the car home several times with the laptop attached to the diagnostic port. Neither mechanic found anything wrong. Even the service manager tried it.

This reminds me of time I had a recall on my Subaru Crosstrek to reprogram something regarding the ignition coils. I was not having problems but took the car in. Then a couple of years later I got a recall for them to replace the ignition coils. Hope this does not happen with your transmission. If this happens beyond warranty Mazda should have to pay for it.

Years ago I put my timing light and dwell tack meter in the bag for Goodwill. Now things last longer but when need fixing requires a trip to the repair shop.