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Any luck with A/C amplifier?

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Old 04-05-2005, 04:58 PM
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Any luck with A/C amplifier?

I had badly fluctuating AC last summer that forced me to run full blast to stay respectably cool, but didn't get the amplifier put in until November. Today Iit hit 70, so I finally got test out the A/C. It really doesn't seem that much better, although it's still a bit too soon to tell. I'll have to wait until summer to really notice, but it still hits ice cold, then tapers off to room temperature, then ice cold. From what I have noticed so far, the fluctuation seems to be in shorter spurts, whereas last time as much as 10 seconds would go by before i got the cold blast. I'm still disappointed in the a/c, because my STI blows ice cold 100% of the time with no fluctuation. Is there really anything else that can be done, or is this just how the a/c in the rx8 has to be. What have you guys experienced by having the updated implifier installed? Thanks
Old 04-05-2005, 05:23 PM
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I've yet to see a post from someone who had poor AC actually getting it fixed to their satisfaction. The closest was someone who insulated the metal AC lines under the hood to prevent heat soak from warming the refrigerant. They seemed fairly pleased with the results. I'll be doing the same thing soon.
Old 04-05-2005, 05:45 PM
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One thing to try is to make sure the "circulate air" setting is on instead of bringing air in from the outside. The AC is much stronger with this setting on. It took me a while to figure this out, but maybe I'm just dumb
Old 04-05-2005, 06:11 PM
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make sure you get the NEW ac amp...several members got the original one replaced with another original

this one has far better output...in fact is almost fabulous
Old 04-05-2005, 08:20 PM
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I had mine replaced last summer... it made a big difference. It's not ice cold all the time, but it's much better. My original AC amp was fluctuating with a delta of over 30 degrees... cool, warm, cool... now it's cold, cool, cold, etc. If I still lived in South Florida or Arizona, I might not be satisfied, but it's fine for my climate.
Old 04-05-2005, 10:04 PM
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A member took his to the dealer and he said they replaced the whole A/C. They told him it was the sensor in the unit.

This was just last week!

I personnaly wrapped the A/C lines. It still circulates cold to warm but it isn't as warm as before and the cycle is shorter.
Old 04-05-2005, 10:06 PM
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I had mine replaced and it completely solved the fluctuation.
The A/C blows cold to extremely cold air all of the time.
Old 04-05-2005, 10:07 PM
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Originally Posted by MazdaManiac
I had mine replaced and it completely solved the fluctuation.
The A/C blows cold to extremely cold air all of the time.
Ditto
Old 04-05-2005, 10:15 PM
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Got my white 2005 RX-8 in Feb, and tried the AC for the first time today. Cold-warm-cold-warm. It was the same thing in my 2003 Mazda6s, although the temp swing was worse (warmer) than the 8. When I took the 6 in, the dealer had never heard of such a thing . . .
Old 04-06-2005, 10:41 AM
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Originally Posted by khtm
One thing to try is to make sure the "circulate air" setting is on instead of bringing air in from the outside. The AC is much stronger with this setting on. It took me a while to figure this out, but maybe I'm just dumb
this is a workaraound and shouldn't have to be done and won't stop the fluctuating problem. :D
Old 04-06-2005, 12:27 PM
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On my old car you had to push the recirculate button to have MAX A/C, then again if you left it on outside air you would get A/C just not as cold. I have not used the A?C that much yet in my 8 but it seems to cool just fine and mine was built in August of 2003 I think.
Old 04-06-2005, 12:32 PM
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its not really a work around. in every car i've ever driven (foreign and domestic), the ac performs better on circulate than on fresh air. its because it is cooling already cooled and dehumidified air, so it has less to do, so it operates more efficently.

i know i'm new and all, but when is this fluctuating happening. i remember reading someplace (or maybe it was on that rx-8 tech cd) that when the throttle is opened 75% or more, the a/c switches off for about 5 seconds to reduce engine load to increase acceleration. maybe it what everyone is experiencing has something to do with that "feature"...or maybe it could be a malfunctioning TPS that is incorrectly shutting off the a/c because it thinks that it at the trigger point.

that said, i haven't had an issue with my a/c. granted, i've only had it for about 2 weeks, and only used the a/c regularly for one...but i'll definately find out. it getting warmer here, and its also the start of heavy pollen season (maybe i shouldn't have gotten black :D ), so the a/c is going to be working pretty much full time from now until september.
Old 04-06-2005, 12:50 PM
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I tried to get my AC amp replaced by quoting the service bulletin, but my VIN doesn't fall in the correct range so no luck.
Old 04-06-2005, 01:47 PM
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Yea, most 4 cylinder engines today will cut the A/C if you push the throttle hard enough or go over a certain rpm, I am not sure if the 8 has this feature but I have a feeling it does, I doubt the A/C compressor likes running above 4k or 5k.
Old 04-06-2005, 05:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Brice-RX8
Yea, most 4 cylinder engines today will cut the A/C if you push the throttle hard enough or go over a certain rpm, I am not sure if the 8 has this feature but I have a feeling it does, I doubt the A/C compressor likes running above 4k or 5k.
It does, the AC cuts off for a few seconds at something like 65-75% throttle.
Old 04-06-2005, 08:44 PM
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I had my a/c amp replaced the other day and haven't had a chance to run it in the heat of the day (been working overnight). I'll report back tomorrow.
Old 04-06-2005, 11:07 PM
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Originally Posted by brothervoodoo
It does, the AC cuts off for a few seconds at something like 65-75% throttle.
i believe that's what i said

Originally Posted by Glyphon
i remember reading someplace (or maybe it was on that rx-8 tech cd) that when the throttle is opened 75% or more, the a/c switches off for about 5 seconds to reduce engine load to increase acceleration.
and today, i had to turn my a/c down because it got too cold in the car.
evironmental: mid 70s, 65% humidy.
a/c: before: recirculate, coldest, fan speed 2 ||| after recirculate 2 notches from coldest, fan speed 1.

the entire time the the 2 side vents were positioned toward the doors, and the 2 center vents were blowing straight back and angled at the roof. nothin' wrong with the a/c. :p
Old 04-07-2005, 10:07 PM
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Is there a different part number for the amplifier with the new logic control? Mine was replaced but acts no differently. Also, it is rumored that the newer amplifier will automatically switch to recirc mode when the A/C is turned on. Mine never does that.
Old 04-07-2005, 10:12 PM
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WIth the new A/C amp, when i turn the **** to full blast it automatically sets to recirc.
Old 04-08-2005, 02:18 AM
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Originally Posted by MazdaManiac
I had mine replaced and it completely solved the fluctuation.
The A/C blows cold to extremely cold air all of the time.
Amp, or entire AC?
Old 04-08-2005, 09:59 AM
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Here is a photo of what I did, I noticed a pretty big difference when doing so. There is a post when I did this a while ago.
Old 04-14-2005, 10:15 AM
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Originally Posted by Brice-RX8
Yea, most 4 cylinder engines today will cut the A/C if you push the throttle hard enough or go over a certain rpm, I am not sure if the 8 has this feature but I have a feeling it does, I doubt the A/C compressor likes running above 4k or 5k.
that may be true but i got the AC amplifier replaced and it still flucuates between cold and not as cold air every 5 seconds or so and this is at idle no lad on the engine.
Old 04-14-2005, 12:03 PM
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RX-GR8 I see what you are saying I have felt this as well, but I also think it does what I mentioned as well, I am not sure why it cycles the way it does at idle and low rpm's it just seems weird, and if you move the temp **** any like the next click up from all the way cold the air goes much warmer than that cold shoud be.
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