European Vs US A/C Knob Controls - can US controls be replaced
 

I have noticed that the US spec AC control knobs mimic the old style controls where you can set fan speed and cold and hot air mixture. The European version has different AC controls which apparently allow you to set a certain temperature and the AC unit will keep it at that temperature. The LCD display (red one) will display fan speed (look closely, the US one has that but it never comes on). I am wondering whether we could replace the US AC controls with the European ones and get the "automatic" AC control based on selected temperature. Correct me if I am wrong but the US version has an AC unit, the European one has a "Climatizer". The latter simply has a more refined automatic control over the temperature. I took the center panel out and it would make sense for mazda to have disabled the feature right where the controls and circuitry are located... I would imagine the AC amp controlling the compressor is identical. Can anyone shed some light?

Check the pic out... don't bother about the red circle... I got this pic from another post.... somewhere I can't recall.

there are a few threads on this topic, all of them point out two things, no you cant swap them and don't worry the auto AC unit is miserable anyway

someone wrote that it is like a young child that never listens

Yes, I'm sure all you need to get automatic climate control is new knobs.

The HU controls what is displayed, The auto controls display different info then manual. The HU would need to be replaced also.

I would imagine that the HU would be the same for all RX8's and that there was a simple way for the HU no know whether to operate in AUTO mode (Euro) or Manual mode (US). The LCD display actually has all the elements used by the AUTO mode. The only component that is evidently different is the control, but if you think of it, the temperature sensor and automatic on/off of the A/C could be controlled by the same circuitry that handles user input from those European style knobs.

I am hoping the system is set up as in my B drawing. The controls only send info to HU so that it can display the right symbols on the LCD, while the actual control goes directly to the AC amplifier. Anyhow even if it were design A it could still be possible that all you need to do is change the control element.

Also I must clarify I call them European style knobs because I know they are used in some if not all European countries (Italy for sure). I think I saw pictures of a Japanese version that has the same controls. I really do not understand why Mazda went through the trouble of the "Manual" A/C on the US spec version?!?!?!?

this is one thing that is better in NA versus foreign, we keep hearing that the auto controls are miserable, many think manual were used since it wasn't as problematic

So what exactly would be involved in swictching out the controls? Does anyone know? How much to be the first guinea pig...lol

No chance.....
 

Give it up.

No chance.

We don't get 'Auto air', and their cars don't have 'cruise'.

Replace all the knobs and all the H/U displays you like, you ain't getting climate control. It is locked out in the ECU. Until someone cracks the program (the whole program, not just the engine management part) and can pick and choose to turn on whatever options are 'turned off', you are SOL.

UK owners are buying the cruise control buttons for their steering wheels, thinking that is all they need....but it ain't gonna happen!

S

Oh well, what do we have here...
I'll give you my climate control, the headlight washers, the rear-view mirror lights, the 'standard' euro lip spoiler
...and maybe you can give me: my $10k back (the price you americans get the 8), the cruise control and the more hp (8-9) you have due to Euro4 emissions regulations.

How about that? :D

I´m sorry to have to say this (or actually i´m not) but you are wrong about the cruise control.
Look here: http://www.r-x-8.de/wbb2/thread.php?...light=tempomat

Anze bought the kabel, followed the wireing back and plugged it in. And it works. No ECU hack whatsoever...
It is likely that he will sell a package with control elements, wireing and tools for self installation her in Germany. I just thinking about it too to buy one. We are just try to clear waht is with the Mazda-Warranty

So maybe a replace of your AC is possible too.

I do not really know / understand what YOU mean under Auto Air. On the european AC you can adjust the Temp and it will holds, and it works fine (for me). Trouble (or let say problems) have the people with an additional possibility of "AUTO" knob. If you turn this on the AC try to reach the given temp as fast as possible ("Full Blast") and concentrate on the head area. If you try to adjust the power or the direction of the "airstorm" the AUTO-mode turns itself off. That is what confuse the people here... but i think they just do not understand what the AC tries to do.

I don't really care much about the "problematic" portion of the auto climate control. I was in Singapore last week and went to the motor show. Alas, they have the auto version in the car. Imagine a car being sold at 2.5 times higher than in US, you would definitely want to have the more upscale auto control than manual.

I have no idea why people in US always get the watered down version. I am so disappointed that none of my Mazdas have auto control. May be not on the P5, but no auto control on two fully loaded vehicles costing more than $30K new? That's ridiculous. My 99 Maxima had auto control.

I wish someone can figure out a retrofit kit (probably just a change of the control unit & the knobs).

I can appreciate your disappointment about not having auto-climate available, but the U.S. doesn't always get the watered down version. Even with the RX8, there are items that we get that most other countries do not.

---jps

I'm glad to have the US version so I don't have those Fugly headlight washers

True, true. At least we are getting the cruise control. :D

I bet Mazda is going to offer the auto control on 2006 model anyway. :rolleyes:

Maybe. I wonder why it wasn't available this year, when it is available in the 2005 Mazda6. It's not something like headlight washers or the TV tuner option, where laws/conditions/liabilities might dictate whether it was included or not.

---jps

Are there any aftermarket Auto Climate control systems that might be able to be chopped into the 8's knobs? Just curious if anyone has seen a product like this..

Anyone ever attempt the manual to auto climate control mod?

used to work. a new pcm flash broke it. now it will not work. same for just about everything else.