Had my dealer check out the AC as it gave no cool air. They told me they found stone damage to the AC condenser causing a loss of AC gas. The replacement will cost around £300 as this damage is not covered under warranty. However, it seems a poor design feature to have the (very large) AC condenser set behind the large chin air inlet without any road debris protection. Having taken a look there are a lot of 'dings' on the condenser and the small radiators (?) behind the front side inlets. Anyone else had this happen or am I just extremely unlucky?

 

That's what the air condenser screen is for... many people have a mesh installed to protect it and the oil coolers as well. Racing Beat sell them in a kit - a great investment. If you want, you can buy wire mesh in a hardware / home improvement store and do it yourself. Search for pics, there are quite a few out there.

Imagine what would have happened if the rock hits an oil cooler (the small "radiators" on both sides) while driving - you could be looking at a new engine now instead of a new AC condenser

 

My first 'mod' was screens for the a/c - who the hell designed THAT?
Plus disposable plastic screens for the oil coolers.

S

 

Sorry to hear about your misfortune re: the condenser damage. You are not the first I've heard that had this happen. I put screens in mine and it was really easy to do. Highly recommended.

 

Lost my ac condenser after a couple of months to a stone too. I spoke to my service guy well before this hapened as a design fault, he agreed. I since installed the platic mesh over the oil coolers and only removed the bottom plastic tray and front plastic wheel wells to get at the front opening to put in black galvanized gutter guard on. I didn't have to remove the bumper like many do. Just had to put the car up on my ramps and go to work.

 

ER, what screen? There is no screen between the 'outside world' and my condenser. Just a big space enclosed by the floor pan and sides of the nose of the car. The intake at the front seems to act as a funnel to any debris that is flicked up from the road in front. I am intrigued by your comment about the screen.

 

Thanks guys for your comments. Can anyone point me in the direction of where to get these screens you all mention? I live in the UK so hopefully someone sells them over here. I have written to Mazda UK to tell them I am unimpressed by the design but I guess that will probably fall on deaf ears!

 

Aftermarket screens. Hymee was the first forum member to suffer the same damage as you. He then designed and now markets screens you can buy.

http://www.mazdaparts.com/CategoryPr...arage:Exterior

Racing Beat make some too.

 

That "little condenser" is NOT A/C condenser, is the Oil Cooler for your Car. and its WAY more important than the "BIG condenser", which is the A/C condenser.

You'll need something like this.

http://www.racingbeat.com/resultset....r=SCREEN%20SET

Im not sure if they ship internationally, but something like this is a MUST for all Rx-8 owners (I agree its a design fault, just like most of the people)

 

Oh, I missed you were in the UK. Hymee has a European distributor. Fabrice is the guy you want.

http://www.enginepsd.com/Hymee/HymeePrices.htm

 

I just installed Hymee's screens on my car...they are awesome...great fit, easy install.

They also look great! They give the lower grill opening a nice look!

Definitely a must have Mod :D

 

This is my next mod. A good investment in my opinion.

 

you know the more I think about it, the more i wonder why mazda shouldnt do something about this design problem. It is a design problem. And a LOT of people are having things to occur with stones,big *** bugs etc damaging the oil coolers and a/c codenser. Mazda are you listening?
olddragger

 

Maybe we could start a letter writing campaign to MNAO. With over 20,000 members here I'm sure we could get someones attention on the issue. :D
If not to change the design at least get it covered under warranty.

 

or they could provide some screens. they can be made cheaply.
od

 

Fair dinkum?? Hymee screens were my first mod. Screens should be everyones first mod. I didn't think there was a long term forum member without a set, we've seen enough threads on it... :p

 

After looking at the two alternatives..the Hymee screens were best for me....The racing Beat ones won't work if you have a turbo ( won't protect the IC ) or any other mods like an aftermarket oil cooler.......the Hymee screens work so well...and are so simple to install...can't loose for the price :D Get them from thew at Mazdaparts...and support your local vendor

 

busted :o I admit I have procrastinated on this one :o. I just caught a glimpse of my passenger side cooler a few days ago so now I committed on getting the screens installed :D. I promise

 

By change the design I meant they could have had screens installed in the first place. Aren't there screw holes there anyway? Next to the fog lights I believe. I think somebody thought of it but for whatever reason they didn't end up on the finished product.

 

I think a more appropriate analogy would be getting hit in the forehead by a rock in a car that *didn't* have a windshield.

 

WOW!!

I did not realize how "EXPOSED" the coolers & condenser were. These screens are a must. I got lucky this time and had no charge for the repair of my condenser. Next time they will be protected. Its amazing Mazda does not add this to the car in the first place. It actually looks really cool.

 

Yes, there are screw holes already around those openings. I also think that this was thought of but never finished.
These screens should definitely be standard equipment.

 

In my opinion, it's not only the exposure, for the condenser, it's a combination of lowness to the ground and the fact that it sits directly atop the large flat plastic floorpan. Stray rocks that enter that space are basically funnelled back into the coils. All the damage pictures I've seen have the hole very near the bottom of the stack.

 

I'm still concerned about the warranty issue when installing these shields for the oil coolers and AC condensor.. let's say if I should develop an overheating problems similar to those in these forums, are there any conflicts with my Mazda warranty due to the (however minor) oil cooler screen mods?? Can they argue that, for example, air flow restrictions from the screens resulted in the damage, and thereby void any warrant work? Don't know how strict car companies are on warranties these days (warranty manual basically discourages any mods).

 

Just thought that you all should know that the mazdaspeed bumper comes with grills so if you are planning to get that bumper then don't waste your money on the screens.