A/C Amplifier questions
 

Yesterday I took my car to the dealer to have its second oil change and first tire rotation done. I also requested them to do the A/C Amplifier conversion while it was there. On the invoice it stated that the customer had complaints about the A/C and that the reprogram was completed according to F-M (or something like this, I do not currently have the invoice with me) but it did not have FEY2-61-540 listed anywhere on the invoice. The service guy said that it wouldn't be listed that way because the other number stood for it. Well, I got in my car and left and figured I would try out the A/C. It did seem a little colder in the full on position (it was also about 50 degrees outside) but about half way down the blue it was still blowing heat. I opened my hood when I got to the gas station to see if I could notice anything new or different. I didn't. I also told them that I knew the amplifier would cause the vent to change to recirculate rather than fresh air when the A/C button was pushed and my doesn't do that yet. So my question is does anyone have a picture they can share of what this amplifier looks like? Also at which point on the dial does the A/C start blowing cool air once the dial is in the blue area after the amplifier is added? As of now mine starts blowing cool air at about 4 clicks up or at the top of the second to last blue dash. Do you guys think they are trying to blow smoke up my ass or is that how the A/C works even after the new amplifier?
Thanks,
WES

Amp........
 

The original complaint that the a/c was inadequate, was that the system would cycle every 20-30 second, between warm and cold. If you don't have that problem, maybe the amp won't help.

The amp is physically located on the heater blower, underdash. It is fairly easy to recognize, it by the top of the throttle system, and it is black, with two wiring connectors. The rest of the heater is white plastic. That kind of black plastic attracts dust, so a new one would be nice and clean.... ;)

S

If it doesn't automatically shift to Recirc. mode when you push the AC button...they didn't replace the Amplifier...simple as that!! :(

Regards, Art

You mean Mazda still has not gotten the a/c fixed after the car has been out almost 18 months?

I don't think Mazda every got it right b/c I got my AMP replaced, 'supposely', but it didn't help a bit.

Is this comment really true? I had my A/C amplifier replaced, and pressing the A/C button does not illuminate the Recirc mode light. I would really like to know for sure before I make a fuss at the dealership. I have a good relationship with them so far.

Me too, gotta bring that shit back to another dealership.

I had my a/c amplifier upgraded the last time I took my 8 in for service. I find that at the coldest temperature setting, the a/c seems to blow colder, with no cold/hot/cold/hot cycling as it did before. My service ticket mentions that after they replaced the amplifier, it did not solve the problem. After checking with the Mazda help line, they also replaced the evaporator and the expansion valve. That seemed to do the trick.
I have also noticed that the only time the a/c switches automatically to the recirc mode, the temperature setting has to be on the coldest setting, otherwise it stays in the fresh air intake mode.
Good luck with it.

The only way I can get my recirc to light up is to press the button. So, I either got a 'pre-update' A/C amplifier as a replacement, or they never did replace it?

I have noticed that the recirc light behavior did change when I got the A/C Amp replaced. However, I have yet to figure out the rules. Most of the time when I switch to AC it flips to RECIRC also, but not always. Its like turning off the car resets it back to RECIRC but turning the fan off/on does not.

Anyone taken time to figure how Mazda intended the new A/C Amp to work?

FYI - the new A/C Amp helped (it does cycle less and blows colder) but it is still not great.

2nd Amp as still not worth a crap
 

Well it has been 2 amps now..... Now they say its the control head, the switch that adjust the temp. I think they are just guessing. On the way home it was blowing frost out then all of sudden the temp shot uo to 55 degrees. What a piece of crap!

My car is in for service, and I complained that the new amplifier made no difference. Today they said they are ordering a 'newer' version.

A/c
 

Sometimes I think they just asume it the amp. and don't check other things that could cause the problem. They did not even check the freon level in my car till I ask them to do so. I know I am on the low side of the correct pressure because I checked it myself with a A/C gauge. Keep on them!!

I sure that happens alot. Lazy ass techs think they know it all & skip steps.

Newer amp is in. Here's the operational difference that I noticed. If the mode is set to fresh air and you then put the fan speed on max, then turning the temp control knob to full cool switches to recirc mode. Backing off of the full cool setting cause it to switch back to fresh air. This is definitely a different behavior than my old logic amp had.

BTW, it does seem cooler than before.

A/C still not working...Mazda HQ not any help either!!
 

Well 2 amps now and the control switch replaced and the a/c still not working worth a crap. Called Mazda HQ twice. The dealer is doing everything in there power to get some guidance from Mazda where to go from here. HQ will not let me talk to a tech or anyone beside the "customer rep"... Mazda has really dropped the ball!!

My a/c sucks,too,and the amp was,supposedly,replaced.
Imo the a/c is CRAP,and Mazda really went face-down on it,100%.
I love my 8,but imo the design team released the car with far too many kinks to be acceptable for the kind of coin they cost.
The 2004 8's had,what,a DOZEN reflashes and the ECU's still a piece of crap-and the 2005 8's have already had four!
If I wanted this kind of garbage,I would have bought a Ford.
Oh,wait,mabye I DID....

Oh,and when I have the controls on 'fresh' and turn the fan on,the a/c also turns on.
I went to the dealership and got in a new 2005 8.
Guess what?
It does the same damn thing.
Junk a/c,imo.
Shame on Mazda,unless they turn it around,this will be my last experience with their products-and I bought my first RX,a gold 1980 GS,twenty years ago (and never had any problems with it!)

Sme here, the A/C is crap! ECU flash after flash. My first was A RX-7 , 1980 I beleive and it was the best car I ever owned. And through the years I have owned a lot. Truimph TR8, Mustang, Maximia sp, ford and chevy pickups, avelon sp, lexus, tahoe. But the RX 7 was my favorite.

Mazda get it together!

Maybe I'm just jaded by my other vehicles. The AC in my 8 seems adequate (S. Florida, so it gets plenty hot) although not great. It doesn't really seem any worse than my Volvo SUV (oops another Ford) and its a whole lot better than the one I had in my FD (even after I replaced the evaporator three times and the compressor twice). I don't even know if I have the upgraded amplifier or not. What cars are you comparing it to? We had a 4-Runner that was almost TOO cold.

jds

It's been 90+ here for a few days this week, and when I got the car last August it was very hot....Point is I feel the AC is colder than when I first got it, and no my dealship would not do ANYTHING without me asking. I feel the AC is very adequate, I had a spec-v sentra prior to the 8 and that AC blew and not cold air.

same here on my 2005, as long as the A/C air inlet is selected for recirculate I get plenty of cold air, it's been mid-90s lately here in TX, no issue so far

witht he correct ac amplifier if you select a/c and mazx cold temp plus go over 1 or 2 it will automatically go to recirculate

Maybe you're set to defrost. The A/C would then come on if the fan is turned on.
Or, if the car was last in A/C mode before it was shut off, it will remember that and turn on the A/C when you turn the fan on. This is supposed to be a convenience, so you don't have to press the A/C button whenever you get in the car.

there have only been 4 total flashes since the release of the car. the ecu is doing quite nicely since M. and people are very happy with their N and P flashes.

MY RX8 - lotto tickets
 

It was told to me take my RX8 is the only one in the USA that has had the amp and control panel replaced and did not cure my A/C problems. I going to buy some lotto tickets.