Mazda6 FORScan Coding
This page covers only what’s specific to the Mazda6. The adapter, the AS-Built backup, the checksum recalculation, and the bit-level recipes shared across SkyActiv cars live on the platform pages: see the FORScan overview and the complete mod list. Below is the model delta: which years apply, which mods carry over, and one important caveat about validation.
Back up AS-Built data before writing anything. The recipes in the mod list are validated against the MX-5, CX-5, and Mazda3, not the Mazda6. The 6 uses the same module addresses, but you should diff every recipe against your own backup first. See AS-Built backup and restore. You’ll also need an adapter with MS-CAN support; a generic ELM327 clone won’t see the body modules at all. The adapter buying guide lists tested hardware.
Years and the three dividing lines
Section titled “Years and the three dividing lines”Every 2014-2021 Mazda6 sold in North America is the same third generation, and the model was discontinued after 2021, so there’s no later-platform trap. Three model-year lines matter for FORScan work:
- 2014-2015 (pre-facelift GJ). Early Gen 6 Mazda Connect, manual handbrake lever. RBCM/FBCM/SSU baselines predate the cars most recipes were written against, so read your current values before flipping anything.
- 2016-2017 (facelift GJ). Updated CMU and the switch to the electronic parking brake. The closest match to the documented CX-5/Mazda3 baselines.
- 2018-2021 (GL). Refreshed interior, the 2.5T option, EPB with a documented AUTOHOLD function, and more ADAS hardware spread across trims.
FORScan writes to body control modules over OBD-II; it never touches the CMU. Changes survive firmware updates, factory resets, and battery disconnects. For head-unit changes (boot time, disclaimer, themes), see tweaks instead.
Module map
Section titled “Module map”The Mazda6 shares the SkyActiv body-control architecture, so the module addresses match the MX-5, CX-5, and Mazda3:
| Module | Address | Controls |
|---|---|---|
| RBCM | 0x7B7 | Door locks, lighting timers, Find My Car, mirrors |
| FBCM | 0x726 | DRL, headlights, fog lights, ESS |
| SSU | 0x731 | i-Stop, keyless entry |
| IC | 0x720 | Gauge cluster, ADAS display |
All four sit on the MS-CAN bus (125 kbit/s). Switch the adapter to MS-CAN mode or they won’t appear in the scan.
What carries over from the mod list
Section titled “What carries over from the mod list”These changes from the complete mod list use hardware every Mazda6 has, so they’re the safe starting set:
| Mod | Module | Notes for the Mazda6 |
|---|---|---|
| Auto door lock/unlock | RBCM | Locks at speed, unlocks at ignition off. New options appear under CMU Settings > Car > Lock; 2016 Mazda6 owners report the same RBCM recipe working as on the Mazda3. |
| Find My Car (horn on double-lock) | RBCM | Same single bit as the rest of the platform. |
| Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) | FBCM | Rapid hazard flash under hard braking. Uses existing hazard hardware on every trim. |
| DRL configuration | FBCM | Parking lights, low beams, or turn-signal lamps as the DRL source. LED-headlight trims (common on 2018+ Grand Touring and above) may baseline differently than halogen cars; read before writing. |
Hardware-gated mods need a check first:
- Fog lights with high beams only applies if your trim has fog lights.
- Auto-fold mirrors on lock only works with power-fold motors. Look for a fold button on the driver’s door switch pack; no button means no motors, and the write does nothing. Power-fold hardware is common on JDM and Australian Mazda6s and rare on North American cars.
i-Stop: a market caveat, not a mod
Section titled “i-Stop: a market caveat, not a mod”The i-Stop default-OFF change is the most popular FORScan mod on the platform, but North American Mazda6s never shipped with i-Stop, so there’s nothing to default off. The SSU address (731-01-01) exists on every car; the bit only matters in markets that got the feature (Europe, Australia, Japan). If your dash has no i-Stop button, skip this one.
Auto Hold on EPB cars
Section titled “Auto Hold on EPB cars”2016+ Mazda6s have the electronic parking brake, and the GL’s AUTOHOLD function is documented in the 2018 owner’s manual: it resets to OFF at every start. The Auto Hold default-ON change from the mod list targets the EPB module, and the bit position varies by model year even on the CX-5 it was documented against. Confirm your car has the Auto Hold button, back up the EPB module, and compare against community documentation before writing. 2014-2015 cars have a manual handbrake and no EPB module.
ADAS: check the trim first
Section titled “ADAS: check the trim first”The Mazda6 carried real ADAS hardware on upper trims (BSM rear radar, forward-sensing camera, front radar for MRCC), and i-ACTIVSENSE spread down the trim ladder through the 2018-2021 run. The rule is the same as on the CX-5: IC display bits are safe to enable only if the sensor is physically present. Check your window sticker or trim sheet; enabling an ADAS display option without the hardware throws persistent dashboard warnings and DTCs.
Validate against your own car
Section titled “Validate against your own car”The byte recipes on this site are validated against the ND MX-5, CX-5 KF, and Mazda3 BM/BN. The Mazda6 community confirms most of them carry over, but the deepest references are the FORScan forum SkyActiv ASBuilt thread and the Mazda6club forums, which include Mazda6-specific confirmations by model year. Read your current value, diff it against the documented stock value, and write only when they agree on what the surrounding bits mean.
Related
Section titled “Related”- FORScan overview — workflow, checksums, safety boundaries
- Complete mod list — exact module addresses and bytes
- AS-Built backup and restore — back up before any change
- Adapter buying guide — which OBD-II adapter to buy
- Mazda6 common complaints — what owners report by year
- Mazda6 infotainment overview — screens, CarPlay, firmware