Where do we turn?
Last week we were called out to perform a BSM calibration and post scan on a 2019 Mazda 3 (VIN: JM1BPACM1K1101392). Upon scanning the vehicle with the latest release of Mazda IDS and Mazda VCM2 we found that only the PCM and TCM would communicate. Next, we went through the basics and determined it is likely a tool issue. We tried an aftermarket tool which also had communications with the same modules, but we were unsure if that was due to tool or the vehicle. We then got another current Mazda IDS/VCM2 setup on the car with the same results. After rolling back to the previous release and again having the same results we began to do more research.
It turns out that the 2019 Mazda 3 is not supported by Mazda IDS. Mazda has a new cloud system at their dealers called MDARS. We contacted Mazda about this gap in availability and it was confirmed that it is not available to the aftermarket at this time. When asked for an ETA their response was "at least a couple of months away".
Here is where my question comes into play. Given that we use OE tools on every car we work on we were forced to pass on this job and work towards a solution going forward. I went to file an SIR on the NASTF site and upon completion, received the following error:
Approximately a month ago we received the same error and forwarded the screen shot to NASTF. Ultimately we got our issue resolved and regrettably didn't follow up to see if the NASTF SIR portal has been fixed. The portal appears to be having the same issues it was earlier this month.
The NASTF SIR portal was also down for many months previously as can be seen in the screen shot below.
I will end this by posing my question again. Where do we turn? What do we do when an OE decides not to make tools/software available and the processes in place to govern them are broken?