Another one with no A/C
 

I'm having issues. AC will not blow cold. First of all it's not the solder fix in the control unit. I did the diagnosis and the temp dial goes from 0-16 OK. Model year is 2006 if that makes a difference.

When I turn on the A/C i can hear the typical relay click, but I am pretty sure the compressor never turns on. I don't hear it and the idle doesn't change like it normally would.

From here I'm not sure what to do. Will probably just take it to the dealer unless there are some other simple things you suggest I check.

Anyone have a better option for a local (socal) mechanic besides Browning Mazda? The only other place I'm confident going to is Mazdatrix, but they aren't cheap either and they probably have better things to do than fix an AC unit anyway haha

A/C is 99.9% the same on all cars. I would look for an independent garage that works on A/C and have them look at it. It sounds like it may just be low on R134a. An A/C shop should be able to tell you whats going on by simply hooking up the Cooltech (A/C machine) to your car.

Thanks Easy. I assumed with the notoriously crappy 8 AC I'd be better of with someone who knows it, but i'll just find a reputable AC place.

I forgot to post a description of when i think it broke. It was winter so i was never using AC, but one day i was waiting at a red light in traffic and when i moved the car it i heard a lot of rattling. It sounded like i was dragging a tree branch under me or something. I got out and checked and never found anything. The intensity of the sound matched the engine speed, but it slowly subsided over the next couple days. Car never drove any different but I discovered the AC didn't work about a week later. Might be totally unrelated though. I assumed my cat was toast but I swapped midpipes a while later and it was fine.

Get someone to look at it.. But, AC is not crappy, maybe misunderstood, but not crappy. I can sit in 100 degree traffic and be cold.

There are airflow issues under the hood that hose the AC. I also found a rock through the evaporator will shut it down as well. Check the radiator foam mod on the First $100 thread link in my sig for how to deal with the air flow. There are a few others there that will help once you get it fixed.

+1 on what Easy said.

Same here. Six years, no issues.

Got it fixed. The belt was gone so the mechanic put a new belt on and performed general AC service. AC is running again just in time. Thanks for the help.