View Full Version : The Air Conditioner in The rx8


MarthaStewart
07-09-2004, 08:59 PM
undefinedundefinedundefined

Have a question for all of you. It says in the rx8 manual that avoid using the Air Conditioner as much as you can. Having said that, how many of you rx8 owners actually use the Air Conditioner on a regular basis. I really have used it as little as possible and I'm sure you guys know, that car is like an oven on the inside.

Please give me some feedback.

Thanks.

HiTMaNN
07-09-2004, 09:01 PM
i liek to blast my music and put my windows and moon roof down and ride g style (even tho this is in the wrong spot ill let it slide because people dont like me telling ppl where to post)

mysql101
07-09-2004, 09:05 PM
I haven't yet had a day that I didn't run the AC in mine.

Kel Rx8
07-09-2004, 09:52 PM
i use it when i start to sweat
but if its 75-85 i wont use it.
oh yeah it makes the car a bigger gas guzzler so... :p

poolsidenaz
07-09-2004, 10:17 PM
I use mine every day unless it's 80 or so degrees. It was 110 here yesterday :cool: No problems so far

D MENAC 7
07-09-2004, 10:41 PM
i use it when i start to sweat
but if its 75-85 i wont use it.
oh yeah it makes the car a bigger gas guzzler so... :pKel, I haven't noticed two things about my RX-8 that I have noticed about every other vehicle I have owned with air conditioning. The first is that my gas mileage has not gone down any at all and I am using it just about daily now. Second is there seems to be no loss in power, in my other vehicles, if I turned on the air, you could actually hear the engine bog down a bit. I do not seem to have that effect with my 8. ??

poolsidenaz
07-09-2004, 10:50 PM
I realize you weren't talking to me...but my 2 centavos because I can :D

My mileage is definitely impacted and is lower when running the A/C. With our extreme temps here, A/C is definitely needed


Like you, I notice no loss in power when running the A/C




OK, ok, so I cannot resist even if it is in the wrong forum. You know, Kel, I haven't noticed two things about my RX-8 that I have noticed about every other vehicle I have owned with air conditioning. The first is that my gas mileage has not gone down any at all and I am using it just about daily now. Second is there seems to be no loss in power, in my other vehicles, if I turned on the air, you could actually hear the engine bog down a bit. I do not seem to have that effect with my 8. ??

USAF_RX8
07-10-2004, 09:49 AM
I'm with KEL RX8 I've usually got the windows down, Sunroof open, and radio up, up until about 85 degree's or so. :) Right about then it gets too hot, so I close her all up and run the AC.

Krayzie8
07-10-2004, 10:34 AM
someone needs to gtech it, with AC on, and with it off.


When i race someone (on a closed track, with my seatbelt on, and no passengers or spectators) i always turn my AC off, just in case it does suck a few hp out, even if it isnt a noticable amount.

nosubstitutec4s
07-10-2004, 01:43 PM
the car has a cut out that when you step on the gas more than 65% of the pedal travel, it cuts out the AC so you can have all the power of the car. Of corse none of you are going to notice a decrease in power

NavyDood
07-10-2004, 03:05 PM
In the A/T you can feel a slight power difference if you dont mash it. Not much though. Other cars that I had driven you could really feal the power difference.

The manual says to avoid using it all together? Last I read, I thought it said to minimize the amount of time you use it in recycled air mode.

kristopher_d
07-11-2004, 01:12 AM
AC? What's that? ;)

Kel Rx8
07-11-2004, 01:41 AM
i usually have the a/c off
jersey weather is like gambling out here
ya never know.

but we have to keep the windows down cause
everyone keeps asking us what type of car is it.
anyone else get that ?at traffic lights. :)

wannarace8
07-14-2004, 12:38 PM
A/C...it gets to like 95 here and i still dont run mine...i love the wind blowing and talking to ppl at stop lights :)

Astor
07-14-2004, 12:52 PM
I don't recall anything about not using the A/C, like stated above, it mentions not using it in recycle mode all the time, but that's the only way to really get it cool. My gas mileage is not affected whatsoever, if anything, it seems to have gone up, could be summer gas.
I do however notice as slight power decrease with it on.

Aratinga
07-14-2004, 02:28 PM
This is weird. One the one hand, the manual apparently states (according to you guys, at least - I haven't checked) that you're NOT supposed to run the AC in the recirc mode all the time. On the other hand, the TSB issued by Mazda in response to the warm/cool/warm cycling problem lots of us have experienced with our AC units specifically states:

"Make sure the customer is aware that maximum cooling efficiency is achieved by setting temperature blend dial to MAX cool and FRESH/RECIRC mode to RECIRC".

Link: http://www.finishlineperformance.com/rx8/docs/07-002-04.html

So which is it? Since the TSB probably is more recent than the owner's manual, I'm guessing it's OK to run in RECIRC mode whenever the AC is on.

Atacdad
07-16-2004, 12:24 AM
A/C everyday, all day...its Hot here yall

skc
07-16-2004, 12:41 AM
I was told by a air cond specialist that it is a good idea to use your air con at least a couple of times a week to keep the seals lubricated.

You can cause damage by not using it!!!

Dr. Rx
07-16-2004, 12:44 AM
I use the A/C here in Chicago whenever it's hot and humid out. I haven't noticed any loss of power with the A/C and my gas mileage isn't affected at all. I get 20 miles to the gallon on every fill, with city and highway and redlining it once and a while.

Turbine_pwr
07-16-2004, 01:37 AM
Like Poolside, I live in the true sunshine state (Arizona). When the weather get's into the 100+ range... and especially during the monsoons (read that as higher humidity) you will all run the AC. If you don't you're likely to melt into the seat and sear yourself to the steering wheel. So... I run my AC all the time and feel no guilt doin it.

Doctor Bob
07-16-2004, 11:10 AM
Guys-if it is bad to run AC on recirc all the time why does the updated AC amplifier that many of us have had installed always start the AC on recirc? Probably only a problem in very humid conditions? It does cool better with new amplifier though.

Bob

romulus
07-16-2004, 12:21 PM
So far my AC is running ok... my VIN was just a few hundred off from the TSB. There are time that the A/C does not seems to cool enough but the majority of the time it cools fairly good. As for leaving the A/C in recirc mode all the time, you can do it with no problem. The only thing you should do once in a while is that when cool enough (at night?) run your system (vent only) without the A/C and fresh air mode. This way it will dry your cooling core from any moisture to prevent bacteria buildup. If you don't do that your system will stink like hell until you turn the A/C on. Some people run A/C all the time thinking is the best way in getting rid of the smell, but they don't realize is that they are encouraging more the moisture build up=more bacteria.. and endless cycle.

RotaMotion
07-17-2004, 04:17 AM
Romulus, I couldn’t agree with you more. I always turn my A/C off and put the HVAC fan on high for about 3 minutes before the car is going to be parked for more than a few hours. I started that practice with my last car, which is now 13 years old, and I've never had that nasty musty humid smell come out of my HVAC vents.

I've even got family and friends doing this. Yeah, it's definitely nice not getting a face-full of nasty air when starting my 8 in the morning :D

So I’m hoping there is a way to turn off the A/C when the heater is switched to the floor vent. Otherwise, when it gets cold and rainy around here it’s going to be hard to keep things dry in the HVAC system. Words can’t express how annoyed I am over not having complete control over when the A/C turns on. I mean there’s an A/C button on the dash and it should have complete on/off power over the A/C. Grrrrr… :mad:

Nubo
07-17-2004, 06:28 AM
Shouldn't be too big of a mod to run a switch to disable power to whatever relay controls the clutch for the AC. Compute this big brother :D

JSE RX-8
07-17-2004, 10:39 PM
i have an Auto rx-8 and i have noticed a small difference in power when ther A/C is on but it happens every now and then but nothing significant

RotaMotion
07-18-2004, 02:01 PM
Nubo Wrote:
Shouldn't be too big of a mod to run a switch to disable power to whatever relay controls the clutch for the AC.

I hope so, but something tells me that A/C is heavily integrated into the cars computer and this is more of a programming issue than a wire cutting issue. So even if I find the right wire to cut--help is there an Electrical Engineer out there who knows which wire to cut :D --I wonder if I would still end up with an elevated idle and a CEL when the computer tried to turn on the disabled A/C. :confused:

ezrider55
07-20-2004, 09:04 PM
;) I used AC in recirculate for whole trip. Houston-Orlando-Houston. Worked fine as I had AC Amp replaced B4 trip. The highest outside temp I remember was 96. ;)