rcatala

My RX-8 has 75,000 miles on it and the A/C has worked fine until a few days ago. I noticed it took a long time to get cold and never really got cold like just a week ago. I also noticed that the air is noticeably warmer on the driver side vent and the left side of the center vent. It is much cooler on the passenger vent and the right side of the center vent. I had the car checked for leaks and there are none. The system has a full charge. The compressor clutch is engaged and spinning. I'm thinking either some water from the heater is warming the air or perhaps I have a bad expansion valve. I have read here that the A/C was a problem on the 2004 models, but mine is a 2005. Any help would be appreciated.

EDZRIDE

iTrader: (1)

The expansion valve could be the problem but any reputable A/C shop should be able to diagnose and repair your system. Have you put any gauges on it? What are the readings?

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

its a known issue, it has been answered before. Search ~

Tine1025

Is this the flushing solution? Any luck with this? I have the same problem and have had bad experiences at the dealership (unless you suppose getting a new engine after 45k miles is a good experience...I'd have rather avoided the whole situation).

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Go to your local autoparts store and buy refrigerant with gauges. If you do search you will find many other AC issues and people saying it is a "venting" issue or teh AC amplifier but on my car and on another member here who recently posted we found that both cars were just low on freon.


I was about to buy an AC amplifier (what I was told was out) when a friend suggested I try and charge it. We charged it a couple months back and it has blown cold since (100+F here in Texas now). the other member charged his as my recommendation and all is well with his as well.

I'm not saying it might not be something else but the symptoms are the same as me and the other members were and for $30.00 why not try.

Tine1025

Thanks for the quick reply. Going to take the Freon route tomorrow with a coworker. Dealer says $100 an hour. Last time I was there I ended up with a $700 starter and two weeks later they decided the whole engine needed to be replaced.

Am I allowed to ask off topic about flooded tail lights? If not I'll hunt around for another thread for that ghetto mess. :o)

Thank you!!

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Flooded tail lights have been covered but basically cover (like a lot) the factory black gasket in black RTV silicone and reinstall. After rinsing out the tail lights with purified water and letting them dry out of course. now get used to using the search function

VashGS

Make sure your drain is not clogged. I was able to reach it putting my had in on drivers side up and over oil filter .. keep going and it's on the middle firewall above the transmission. There is a pic in a thread here.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Hmmm, my AC is working fine now but i will have to check that drain just to make sure its clean. Gotta pic?

Smurfy

I have some what of the same problem I guess. I just had my engine replaced, but I just do not know what the dealership worker include in the process. Anyway, its summer and hot in texas and I have notice that my A/C is not giving out enough cold air, I mean it is, but not cold-cold like it should with the in cylce. Could this mean that I am running low on R134a? I don't know if the dealership put in fresh R134a with the new engine. I mean, come'on I'm pretty sure the dealership doesn't include everything new.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

You shouldn't loose any AC performance at all. if you do. that means the dealership "messed" something up. probably made a small crack somewhere.

You should get ur A/C leak test first.

Smurfy

I'm sure of it. I'll take to an A/C inspector today. Yesterday was 105 degrees, now I don't know if it was mother nature or THE possible a/c leak; my a/c was going in and out of cold air.

Abbott

A low charge will cause an insufficient pressure on the high side thus the refrigerant temp will be too low for ambient air to remove the excess heat (subcooling). Also, the pressure drop across the txv or orifice tube will be insufficient in dropping refrigerant temp enough to cool the evap and remove heat(superheating) from air entering the cabin. If the air conditioning system could produce cold air for the driver's side, there's no reason it couldn't do it for the passenger side. If you have seen one side blow cold and the other warm many times, it's because blend doors and baffles get stuck commonly.

superROB23

Well warm air is coming from my 08 and its causing my car to over heat when the AC is on. Once I turn it off it goes to normal level. I did change the thermostat and adding freon worked for a bit but eventually it would through warm air and in time over heat the car.

04Green

iTrader: (1)

Several possible things here come to mind.

First, look at the congrats thread below for the foam around radiator mod. Second, fans on low, at least for the summer.

This will get air always flowing across the condesor and radiator, and get heat out of the engine compartment better.

Then look at pressures.

Staykota

My question is does an 04 rx8 use an orifice tube? Or is it just the expansion valve? I can't fine anything on an orifice tube being used in an rx8 ac condenser but i would think it uses one like most vehicles.