My first problem
 

Okay, I haven't had any of the problems related to the A/C that some have mentioned - heck, I live in FL, the land of heat and humidity - an a/c's nightmare and it has worked great.

Yesterday we were traveling the interstate to a Crackerbarrel and upon entering the highway, my mom said, "better put the windows up." I put the windows up and kicked on the a/c. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr WOW the sound was awful. It started cycling and then I realized it was something to do with the A/C. Visited the dealer today and a mechanic wants the car for a longer period. His thought is that the bearings have gone out in the compressor.

Now for those reading this and shopping for an 8 - it could happen on any car. Don't be alarmed.

For those that own an RX-8, record this as an FYI. As with any mehanical object, it is good to share any problem areas.

sorry to hear that and thanks for the heads up

I dropped my baby off at the dealer tonight with instructions to not wash (zaino applied) and no road tests.

I am hoping that this AC compressor thing is an easy fix. One point, Two weeks ago I had the car in the dealer for an oil change. Since then I noticed the silver nut on the front of the engine has its corners rounded and nicked. I drove by yesterday and questioned a Mazda mechanic who told me that it was the AC compressor adjustment nut. I told them that I believed that someone had tightened the belt noting the nut condition. They said that a lube guy would not mess with that but according to my paperwork he followed a service checkup as well.

My question, could messing with the belt cause teh compressor to make a growling sound?

The mechanic said yes and that it was too tight but he also said that it could be an overcharged system or the bearings. He though it was the bearings.

I get to drive a Sable!!

Yes, it could have had a effect on your bearing. I hate when you bring in a car, they do preventive maintance and the screw up a good thing. I have driven 15 new cars over the years and always do my own maint. where ever possible. My theory is if it an't broke don't fix it. I have never had to change anything other then the spark plugs for a tune up. What the other 200 dollars is for I don't know. I have had very specific jobs done and they have been completed very good.

Dropped by the dealer today in the rental Sable and asked if they found out what was wrong. The advisor said that they ordered a new A/C compressor - bearings shot.

Now, this is what we need to do. Take note. If I am a secluded case then great, bad bearings are possible in any brand of car and/or bearing device (build defect)

BUT

If others start mentioning this issue then we have a situation of design - a worse scenario.

I'm not soured by this. Miss the car but will get it back. Also, The rental car has the under door mirror lights that RX 8's in other countries have (out of US) - a 2003 Sable. It lights up the whole side of the car at night when you press the unlock on the remote.

Yeah, I've seen these on some cars now and am really thinking about doing my own on the 8. Might go mikeb's route and change all my internal lights to red so I might do those outside ones too. Or elave everything ultra white and stick in some ultrabrite LED's. With manual switches so I can freak people out at night :D

Howdy

I had to resurrect this old post. Well, I got my car back today and they replaced the AC compressor AGAIN. This is the 3rd one. Am I the only one out there with this kind of problem?

I don't even use it often. I do in the afternoons in the summer and on those really humid days but I cannot figure out what is going on.

replaced 3 AC compressors! Wow. Maybe they overtightening the belt? Hard to believe that many would be defective. Good luck with it though.

Thats really starting to concern me(I mean about this not being an isolated problem)....3 times, thats 2 too many......

Well, that is why I want to know as well. Initially I thought bad bearings and that could easily happen - a fluke, but now I am beginning to think it is design or something yet, I seem to be the only one with the problem.

maybe you should try another dealer? where in FL are you. I'm in Palm Bay.

Fort Myers. The dealer is not giving any problem. The car is running great now. We will see. My father, a mechanic, has a theory that the switch is not cutting out the compressor at the higher RPM's and it is causing it to ruin the internal compressor pump. Both failures were lableled "compressor failed internally". I drive it pretty easy and mostly in town.

Sound like a over tightend belt to me.

I've never had a problem with the AC..

the latest p flashed moved the cutoff from 5500 rpm to 7500 rpm fyi.