Posessed A/C?
 

Hey,

Sorry if this has posted before, but searching get's too many hits. Anyway, I've noticed that occasionally I'll turn the fan on and the A/C will pop on, even though I never turned it on. I understand that A/C is supposed to come on when the defroster is selected, but I didn't have it selected. Well I did some searching through the manual and apparently if the mode selector is set to foot, the A/C is supposed to come on to defrost the window. WHattttt????? I've never ever encountered this on any other car, it makes no frigging sense at all. If there's a mode specifically for defrost and foot why does the A/C need to come on when only the foot is selected?

This car is so intelligently designed except for this feature. It's quite annoying since I always use the foot setting as a way to keep ventialtion or heat flowing without hitting my face. Yeah I know it's not that huge of deal to just turn the A/C off when it pops on or just leave it on, but psychologically I can't stand having A/C draining power when I don't want it too.

Seems to be a Mazda standard now... my '04 Mazda3 does the same thing.

It's the fact that the AC comes on with the bi-level (foot/face).

The ventilation controls are the one thing on the 8 that I would say truly sucks. Pay attention to the similarly annoying that's-not-what-I-asked-for behavior of the fresh-vs.-recirculate air setting as you change ventilation settings. For instance: put it on foot/face heat with recirculated air. Now, maybe after a while, your windshield starts to fog a bit, so you hit the defrost button. Mode changes to defrost, fresh air. Reasonable enough. Now, windshield clear, you want to go back to your old settings, so you hit the defrost button again. Mode goes back to foot/face... but the idiot thing stays on fresh air. Just looking at the thing sideways makes it go into fresh air. You can't seem to get recirculated air unless you really beg for it. Really, really, annoying. Bad call, Mazda.

By the way, I just have to ask: was the title of this thread a reference to the old Odd Couple episode with the possessed air conditioner? :)

Well, there doesn't seem to be a ryhme or reason as to when the A/C pops on. Had it set to face today and when I turned on the fan, the A/C came on. Is there some kind of humidity sensor that triggers it or is it just random?

Never saw that Odd Couple episdoe, by the way.

I agree with Krankor that there has to be a better way than having the source (fresh/recirc)change depending on what combination you use or even cycle through, and having the AC turn on when the option that does not include the wiindshield (foot-face) is selected. Mine never acts possessed--it always behaves the same way: poorly (but not unpredictably).

I can understand how you might not like the fact that the car "decides" which mode is best for you (though this doesn't bother me). What I don't understand is why you would want "recirc" much anyway. Correct me if I'm wrong, but "fresh" is universally considered the "default" ventilation position in every car I've ever seen. Personally I only use recirc in two situations: 1) when the car has been sitting in the hot sun and I want to cool it off quickly (which takes only a few minutes, after which I switch it to "fresh", and 2) if I'm driving through a dusty area. I probably have it set to recirc a total of maybe 2 to 3 hours a year. The rest of the time it's on "fresh". But hey, maybe that's just me.

Simple. If its hot out, I don't want the AC fighting with fresh hot air. When it's cold out, I don't want the heater fighting with fresh cold air. When I'm stuck in traffic or in a long tunnel, I don't want to be breathing the exhaust of other cars. I would say that 90% of the time, I'd rather have recirculated air. The only time I really want fresh is when the windows are starting to fog.

Thank you for posting. I thought I just had fat fingers and kept bumping the darn thing. It's kinda annoying for me in NH.

"What are you thinking CAR!!! It's @#$@# 5 degrees out!"

-- Mmmm Black MT 8 with an all cow interior.

My wife said, "Can we get 2?"

I'm with you when stuck in traffic or a tunnel. But in ordinary places, fresh air is way better. It's like the difference between fresh-squeezed and canned. I'd pay extra for it. (Must be my Miata upbringing.)

Well, part of it, you have to understand: when I really want fresh air, I go out on the motorcycle. ;)

Amen to that!

I just had my car at the dealer for the very same issue. When the weather was below 20 degrees the AC light would come on for no reason. I would sometimes start the car and it would come on, I would be driving and notice it came on. No rhyme or reason, their is no situation that the AC should come on below 20 degrees. Mazda service said it is normal and don't worry about it, I think it is screwed up and Mazda just doesn’t want to support their product.