I went for a long drive on the weekend. All on sealed roads. My air-con stopped working at some stage. I had it checked today, and the condensor (looks like the radiator) is leaking badly. Initial dealer assesment is that this was caused by a stone/rock, and such damage is not covered under warranty

 

I hope I don't get a stone through the engine oil cooler, and the engine lunches itself. I will have to pay for that too. At least it only has 3 moving parts...

 

Hymee,

Where is the condenser in the engine bay? Have you been able to inspect the damage yourself?

sco

 

If you look under the bumper, it is what looks like the radiator. Right at the bottom of it, about 10mm above the line of the stone tray

$810.80 - just got the call.

I am planning to inspect further myself. I guess it needs to be proven or otherwise if it was caused by the impact of some FOD.

Cheers,
Hymee.

 

Hmm.. just went down and looked at mine. To me it looks like the the rock must have flown almost horizontally above the stone tray to hit in this spot...correct?

Would some sort of mesh (say 10mm wire) above the stone tray just behind the black part at the front of the bumper helped to prevent this?

 

HYMEE

Have you got a second opinion on what caused the problem with your condenser ? IT would have to have been a sizeable rock .

$810.00 MAN THAT SUCKS .

 

I'm sure that some form of open mesh like what was on my HSV Clubsport would prevent this from happening, without causing detrimental effects to the cooling...

 

Just like the Miata, the front has a big opening for air-flow, but comes with some sort of grille for protecting the condensor, radiator...

I think one should put a grille over that small air-flow opening to avoid the same accident.

 

I agree. It should be something that Mazda does - even as a precaution.

Cheers,
Hymee.

So far Mazda have not offered any "help".

 

BARGAIN.

Here's Mazda's quote from the FD RX-7 price database:
61-480 CONDENSER $1292.60
This is the 2002 price. As in, before the rx-8 timed price slug. At '03 prices, supplied & fitted you wouldnt get change from double your quote

-pete

 

Hey - whos side are you on

I think they should address the risk of it happening. Prevention is cheaper...

Cheers,
Hymee.

 

More importantly whose side is the ACCC on?

-pete

 

HYMEE

Hopefully mazda will eventually upgrade and protect the condenser by covering the oulet with mesh or plastic as in front of number plate, i believe that they should take responsibility as i would consider this as design fault and as a cost cutting excersize as i 1 oil cooler scenario .(*MAYBE THEY DONT HAVE STONES OR ROCKS ON JAPANESE ROADS).

$810.80 FOR REPLACEMENT CONDENSER ?? THAT SUCKS.

SORRY TO HEAR THE BAD NEWS.

MICHAEL

 

The same thing just happened to me!!!! I was driving down the road and all of a sudden, my A/C stopped blowing cold air. I immediately took it to the Mazda dealership, and they pointed out that there is a hole in my A/C condenser. It will NOT be covered under warranty...... I was PISSED!!!!!! I only owned the car for about 3 weeks now...... Getting madder by the minute!!! There wasn't anyone infront of me when it stopped blowing cold air.......

 

Thanks for the support. I spoke to Mazda Customer non-assistance, and I suggested this was a potential design fault. I was told in no uncertain terms that "...there is nothing wrong with the design. We could put a big steel plate there to stop stones, but that would block the air flow". I was not happy with that response. Do they think I am a ******** or something. A coarse mesh would surely work well.

I am still waiting for a further rsponse from the dealer, althought in many ways it is not techinally their problem, but in many other ways it is.

As a customer I don't not need to be concerned if I am dealing with Mazda "itself", or their "authorised agent".

I have said plenty of good things about Mazda on this forum in the past. Let see if it lasts... The ball is in there court.

Cheers,
Hymee.