More A/C Madness
01-03-2006, 01:04 PM
#1
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More A/C Madness
About two weeks ago, I posted a problem in here. At that time, I had no A/C at all. It was just like someone had switched the "diverter" in the cabin air input from 100% AC to 100% heated air. The consensus was catastrophic coolant loss and there might have been another suggested cause or two. The best advice I got was "take it to the dealer, NOW".
So I did and, I'm pleased to say they arranged a free loaner and repaired the various things wrong with the car (as well some performing some routine maintenance) and returned the car to me in under 36 hours.
I got in and the A/C was blowing and cooling fine. I began a 4 hour road trip after leaving the dealer's lot. I noticed early on that when I would "punch" the engine a bit, the air would breifly go from nice and cold to somewhat "stale" and warm. I have experienced this in the past and figured it was something that I could work around or get accustomed to. As the sun began to receed, I decided to warm the cabin up a notch or two. I turned the temperature control rod clockwise about 3 notches and MY GOD.....it was on full-heat. I turned the control back to full-cool and the system continued to blow full-winter-heating-type air through the vents.
I experimented, reasoning that if moving the temperature contorl **** preceded the change perhaps moving the control **** in a different direction or different pattern might help me regain my a/c. I turned the **** to its hottest setting - hot air - flipped it fairly abruptly back to the coldest setting and .... yep, ice-cold air.
I described most of this to the repair steward at the dealership and he said 'ya know, another guy told me the same kind of story' - SOOOO, I'm bringing it back to the dealer tomorrow.
Why am I writing? Well, I figured if one dealer repair guy had heard of this phenomenon, the mayby 1 (or more) of you have encoutered the same problem and the same temporary "fix". I'd like to know as much as possible about the problem and the fix before I show up and drop off my 8 at the dealer tomorrow. thanks....
So I did and, I'm pleased to say they arranged a free loaner and repaired the various things wrong with the car (as well some performing some routine maintenance) and returned the car to me in under 36 hours.
I got in and the A/C was blowing and cooling fine. I began a 4 hour road trip after leaving the dealer's lot. I noticed early on that when I would "punch" the engine a bit, the air would breifly go from nice and cold to somewhat "stale" and warm. I have experienced this in the past and figured it was something that I could work around or get accustomed to. As the sun began to receed, I decided to warm the cabin up a notch or two. I turned the temperature control rod clockwise about 3 notches and MY GOD.....it was on full-heat. I turned the control back to full-cool and the system continued to blow full-winter-heating-type air through the vents.
I experimented, reasoning that if moving the temperature contorl **** preceded the change perhaps moving the control **** in a different direction or different pattern might help me regain my a/c. I turned the **** to its hottest setting - hot air - flipped it fairly abruptly back to the coldest setting and .... yep, ice-cold air.
I described most of this to the repair steward at the dealership and he said 'ya know, another guy told me the same kind of story' - SOOOO, I'm bringing it back to the dealer tomorrow.
Why am I writing? Well, I figured if one dealer repair guy had heard of this phenomenon, the mayby 1 (or more) of you have encoutered the same problem and the same temporary "fix". I'd like to know as much as possible about the problem and the fix before I show up and drop off my 8 at the dealer tomorrow. thanks....
01-03-2006, 01:34 PM
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This issue I have not heard of. Are you sure the temp **** is making solid contact with the shaft? There were some issues with the ***** coming loose, but then I'm not sure that would cause it either... Hmmmmm.
01-04-2006, 02:57 AM
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I'm actually having the nearly exact same problem right now. My A/C quit a while ago, and the temp fluctuates on it's own all the time. I put it almost all the way on hot, it blows hot for about 1 minute and then goes back to outside air temp. it only stays warm if i leave it full on heat. then, turning the heat down is only posssible by turning it all the way to the cool side.
Let me know how your dealer experience goes. I need to get mine in there in the next couple days myself.
Let me know how your dealer experience goes. I need to get mine in there in the next couple days myself.
01-04-2006, 10:02 AM
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This sounds like a problem that I, and some others have had.
If it is, look for the air mixing actuator and check that it's working properly and not moving around on it's own.
Basically turn the temp all the way hot or cold.. look at the tunnel from the drivers side, up above the area of the gas pedal. With the car running, turn the temp control **** (or have someone else do it
) and you should see the air mix valve/actuator change smoothly to mimic the turning of the ****.
In the case of my car, the actuator would go all the way cold, and all the way hot. But the middle ranges were "twitchy". Sometimes it would work, other times it wouldn't. The Mazda tech diagnostic procedures only tell them to check the 100% cold and 100% hot settings, but nothing in between.
If you do see this, you can easily point it out to them, and it makes it a LOT easier to get the problem fixed. I had complained a few times, but they could never find anything wrong. Once I showed them the air mix actuator, it was fixed the next day. (If this is the problem you are having, I have part information from my service record.. PM me or search for similar posts from me, I had previously posted this info.)
If it is, look for the air mixing actuator and check that it's working properly and not moving around on it's own.
Basically turn the temp all the way hot or cold.. look at the tunnel from the drivers side, up above the area of the gas pedal. With the car running, turn the temp control **** (or have someone else do it
) and you should see the air mix valve/actuator change smoothly to mimic the turning of the ****.In the case of my car, the actuator would go all the way cold, and all the way hot. But the middle ranges were "twitchy". Sometimes it would work, other times it wouldn't. The Mazda tech diagnostic procedures only tell them to check the 100% cold and 100% hot settings, but nothing in between.
If you do see this, you can easily point it out to them, and it makes it a LOT easier to get the problem fixed. I had complained a few times, but they could never find anything wrong. Once I showed them the air mix actuator, it was fixed the next day. (If this is the problem you are having, I have part information from my service record.. PM me or search for similar posts from me, I had previously posted this info.)
01-08-2006, 02:28 PM
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The first fix, the one that didn't work; leading to my post above, was the dealer replaced the A/C Amplifier Controler (Part #FEY2-61-540). Since that had zero effect, I probably got that done for free for no good reason.
Second time, immediately after the above post, they determined that it was indeed the Actuator. Here's a quote from the service receipt "CUSTOMER STATES HEATER COMES ON WHILE USING A/C. FOUND TEMP CONTROL ACTUATOR GOING FROM HOT TO COLD INTERMITTENTLY. DETERMINED CLIMATE CONTROL ASSEMBLY IS FAILING. REPLACED ASSEMBLY AND VERIFIED REPAIR. U0207ARX 0.6" Part number was not listed unless that U0207ARX 0.6 was some reference to the part.
I figured this might help some poor soul who is having or might come to have the same problem as me. What was encouraging was the level of interest/professionalism/skill that was involved in this warranty work. I fully expected to get a 9-way run-around when I took it back the second time. I got a comp'd rental both times. They even painted my hubs to stop the rusty ring that develops (and that was they're offer to do so, I would never have thought to ask.) No hesitance to re-flash either. I was impressed by this dealer and their warranty work....
Second time, immediately after the above post, they determined that it was indeed the Actuator. Here's a quote from the service receipt "CUSTOMER STATES HEATER COMES ON WHILE USING A/C. FOUND TEMP CONTROL ACTUATOR GOING FROM HOT TO COLD INTERMITTENTLY. DETERMINED CLIMATE CONTROL ASSEMBLY IS FAILING. REPLACED ASSEMBLY AND VERIFIED REPAIR. U0207ARX 0.6" Part number was not listed unless that U0207ARX 0.6 was some reference to the part.
I figured this might help some poor soul who is having or might come to have the same problem as me. What was encouraging was the level of interest/professionalism/skill that was involved in this warranty work. I fully expected to get a 9-way run-around when I took it back the second time. I got a comp'd rental both times. They even painted my hubs to stop the rusty ring that develops (and that was they're offer to do so, I would never have thought to ask.) No hesitance to re-flash either. I was impressed by this dealer and their warranty work....
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