Thanks bro i appreciate that...
i just need to get the soldering kit,
but yea i know how to get to the controols and ****.. Imma work on it this weeekend hopefully

 

HAH! what are the freaking odds.. I actually was reading about aftermarket headunits on here when someone in a post deep inside a big thread linked someone to this thread... I rarely use the heat and just a couple weeks ago, I began using the AC and was thinking WTF, as the dial was acting very wacky. Figured something was defective, but wasn't gonna spend 400 bucks to fix it, and for some reason, didn't even bother to search on here for a fix (again, figuring the solution would be to replace some $400 piece :P). I was actually getting either extreme heat or extreme AC, but nothing in between.. so I figured I could live with that. Well, what do ya know.. a little solder and presto!

 

i believe this question is relative. After installing a metra kit with updated firmware the buttons for defrost, rear defrost, AC, mode, and the other button stopped working! Any ideas?? Im replacing the Axxess box but perhaps it could be something else as well?

 

Those of you who have done this fix: how on earth did you get the wiring harnesses for the climate controls disconnected from the back of the radio module??

I just got my RX-8 less than a month ago - a lightly-used 2004 6-speed! - and discovered that it has this problem. After some searching I found this forum thread and decided I could follow the directions listed (normally I'm all thumbs!). However, I got to the point in the radio removal step-by-step where I needed to disconnect the climate-control wiring harnesses, and discovered that I couldn't move 'em.

Is there a trick to it that I haven't found yet? There's just enough room to get my hand (my hands are fairly large) behind there, but not enough room for any leverage to pull the harnesses off.

Or is it just something I need to have a bit more persistence with??

Thanks for any suggestions - I'm really glad I found this forum!!

Phil

 

I just did this yesterday. It's very annoying and is probably the hardest part of this entire DIY. First thing, make sure you are not pulling on the wires.. you don't want to break a wire by accident. On the connectors themselves though, you should be able to feel around for a tiny tab that you can push in to disconnect the harness. It's practically impossible to push it in with your hands.. you need to get a very small flat head or a pick tool. If you get it just right, the connector should disconnect (you should also be pushing on the tab at an angle so that it's also pushing the plug outwards). Oh, I just remembered, I ended up disconnecting all the connectors except the ones to the heat control.. This allowed me to flip over the radio a bit to get a better view of where to push on the connector with my flat head.

ANyways, be patient here.. you don't wanna scratch up the interior or the radio or pull too hard on the radio and pull out a wire by accident. It's also easier to do this if you keep the radio in the dash, pulled out just enough to get to the rest of the wires, before you flip it over to get the heat control harness..

 

Thanks for the response, maverick02 - I thought that might be the answer. I'll just have to try again when I have enough time to fiddle with that problem! At least, I HOPE I won't need heat for a while...

I've got a small set of flat-head screwdrivers, I didn't think to try that. It's difficult to see that tab on the connector from the driver's side of the radio module...

I'll keep at it - thanks again!

Phil

 

my AC button, Right defrost button, and mode buttons dont work since metra kit install any ideas????

 

Try this first, turn your fan on high then push the mode button. Wait about 10 seconds or so then push it again. Repeat this 4 or 5 times. If you hear and feel the air flow change from the defrost to the vent to the floor then all of your buttons work, the lights and display are just stuck due to old firmware on your axxess box from your metra kit. Fix=Upgrade to v1.4

 

firmware = 1.4 and everynow and then the mode button works but NEVER the AC / left defrost buttons

 

Hmmmm strange. Maybe a bad connection somewhere, some loose wires or a bad axxess box. Some of the plugs for the box are the same size and shape, but I'm sure you rechecked everything is hooked up correctly and securely, right? If all else fails, I say to contact metra to swap out the axxess box. I doubt it is a problem with your HVAC controls, but it is a possibility. Also, on the 1.4, did you do the update yourself or was it verified somehow if you didn't do it?

 

I may possibly be the stupidest person on this forum, after a week of no AC and taking apart and putting back the dash 10000000 times I realized today that the reason only the two button were working was because only half the plug was fully in ::hits forhead:: and now they all work. well atleast it was just a simple issue!!!!

And shes a beaut back together :D

 

LOL, at least you got it working now, enjoy.

 

Its a thing of beauty ALL THE LIGHTS lit

 

Hallelujah! I just finished this fix on my month-old used '04, and everything works!!

I'll admit that I'm a bit surprised, because I'm generally fairly inept with DIY-type stuff. Thanks to wingnut for the reasonably detailed instructions - and to maverick02 for the encouragement! - I was able to get some heat for my RX-8. (Good thing, too, because here in Minnesota the temperature's not supposed to reach 60F today...)

Just wanted to say 'Thanks!' for the help...

 

just tested this out in my car and I had been thinking it was my heater control. Car often goes from cold to hot or vice versa...especially after hitting a bump in the road. I'm so glad that there seems to be an easy DIY fix for this. Now if I wasn't so mechanically inept.... =P haha

 

Hey guys, i'm screwed now, I double check two times all connection and still have some issues, First I don't have any display and the second is, all my control for A/C, defrost, etc doesn't work. I can eject cd but not load and can't play music.
All light on the radio are working fine. I just don't know what happen. Hope that I didn't break a wire. need help

 

it's working!! great job!!!

 

I'm now prepared for winter. Thanks, Wingnut!

 

Did this over the weekend, great DIY. Worked like a charm. Just be carefull and follow the steps. Well worth it.

Also i was amazed how bad the factory solder connection was. Almost no solder on the posts at all.

 

question i live in florida..PALM BEACH hotter than a mother ******... ONLY blowing hot air... and i fucked wit ma **** so much that it goes in complete circles... Before i would b able to find a sweet spot to get cold air and i would have to hold it... but my little trick isnt working anymore...any suggestions. is this the same prob that u guys are having

 

tru80sbaby,
Do the "Easy Diagnosis" part and that should reveal all. Yes, I think it is the same problem but the **** spinning around all the way is another issue and may pose more of a problem. You may want to pull the **** straight off and see if the aluminum post spins all the way around or if it is just the plastic **** not securely mounting to the aluminum post.

Good luck.

 

Thank you very much for this write up. Took me about 10min to fix this since the write up was so well done.

 

You either broke the connections on the back or the internal parts of the potentiometer (dial thingy). If the dial still feels connected to the unit than it is likely that you broke the parts on the inside, and if it feels loose, than it is probably the connectors on the back. Either way you are going to have to replace the whole potentiometer. You can still follow the steps to do this repair, but you will have to put a new dial in. You will need the part number, your local Mazda dealer should be able to provide that. Once you have the new part all you have to do is follow the directions, remove the old one, and put the new one in. Should not be difficult at all.

 

I really appreciate both of yall... HOnestly i dnt wanna sound like a *****, but i do NOT wanna go through all this **** to fix ma a/c. I work in the heat all day, but question... do you guys think that if i print out these steps i could take it to a mechanic and have him do it for me?...
Ooo and i just spend 399 at dealership to change 4 coils and install 2 plugs for me, trailing. I had to let them do someting because my boy at the dealership always looks out for me.... if not for that i NEVER get me car fixed at dealership they tried to charge me 41 for each sparkplug

 

I think you could do that maybe. The mechanic might even apriciate it. The hourly rate is going to kill you on this one. The mechanic is prob going to charge you at least three hours @ 70-80 per (210-240 min). 90% of this is done with pretty common tools so you could save yourself a bit of cash, even after buying a soldering iron and solder.