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.

That's not true. According to Devilzero they replaced his control panel too.

The feed back I got was; it's the temp sensor.

But why haven't they fixed the 05's ?

We've had some pretty hot days since I got my amplifier replaced - the car is definitely cooling faster, and I usually set it down to 2 or 3 after a few minutes. Used to have to keep it on 4 all the time.

What should the temp be coming out of the a/c vent? Seems I always have the fan on "4" to keep the 8 cool.

Temp.
 

On recirc., the lowest temp setting, postion 4 on fan, the temp should be around 44 degrees. But all cars are different. If it is above 50 you probably have a bad amp.

MDRX8, I know you have been having problems with your A/C but when you say that there is a problem with the temp of the air being over 50 that there is a problem, you have to consider some things. 1) How hot it is outside, the A/C is going to be damn cold when it is only 70 outside, when it is 110 it may not be able to cool below 50. 2) Humidity makes it much harder for the A/C to cool as well. 3) RPM of the engine, the A/C is going to cool better when you have the RPM's up (but not too high that the compressor cuts off to help from blowing it up)

Just to say that if the A/C is above 50 that you have a problem is nonsense, there are alot of factors that goes into it working efficiently, like I said the air coming out of my vents is much colder when the temp outside is lower and the humidity is lower, then when it is very humid and 90+ here, big difference and that is even with recirc on, all small engine cars are like this.

In general
 

When going down down the road if its 80 degrees outside it should be below 50. I have seen two other 8's cooling like a iceburg!!

Brice, maybe you can come and fix my A/C. Cause Mazda can't.

I live in Central Florida and am extremely satisfied with my A/C. Don't even feel the need to tint the windows, and usually have to reduce the fan speed to avoid getting too cold. I would go INSANE if the air didn't work properly. My sympathies to those with crappy, unfixable air.

I am not sure if you are being sarcastic or serious. I was just giving some insight on what I know about A/C's. I hope you find out what is wrong with it soon, I am sure they have made sure your coolant is topped off too? Hell, I would thing they would just start replacing everything on the A/C system at this point.

A/c
 

Brice just kiddin, the major problem is they need permission from Mazda Tech HQ. Say they replace the compressor and it is not bad the dealership has to eat the cost of the part. So now Mazda has told them to replace the evaporator with a larger one and the expansion valve. I have been at the dealer to see my 8 blow 52 degree air while the one next to mine blow 39 degree air. Mazda Tech needs to let the technicians repair the cars without this crap they have to go through. So if today they figure out I need a drier they have to call Mazda and it usally takes a day or two to get back, then I have to wait for shipping. Just venting!

been in the 90's alot in NJ the last 2 weeks. A/C has held up pretty well with the new compressor. but it still oscillates between cold and not so cold every few seconds.

MDRX8, cool I hope they figure it out, is this larger evaporator coming off of another model of car, or is this something Mazda has been making a change to? Keep us up to date on any new parts you might come across.

does anybody have the part number for the a/c amplifier? my car is stuck on heater only and the dealership wanted to charge me $700 just for the part. i think i can find it cheaper myself.

Try this: Mazda Parts - Online Mazda Parts

Try ebay for a cheaper alternative and look for this number on the sticker-177600-651 -(or higher)
However, if it's stuck on heater it's a good chance it's the temp control knob that is bad

I bought a 2004 and I'm not sure the A/C amp has been replaced.

1) The A/C is not really cold (goes cold to cool in cycles)....symptom of the old AC amp
2) I can go through the update process (holding the defrost and air selector....) and the rear defrost blinks three times like it updated. Should only work if it was a new amp.
3) I pulled the amp out and the number was 177300-7242, which apparently precedes the 177600-1651 number given above. Makes me think it is an old amp.

So everything tells me it is an old AC amp that need replacement except that I can successfully reprogram it by holding the buttons. Can anyone confirm if this is normal for an old AC amp?

Before I replaced mine it would not respond in anyway (blinking lights) to the programming process. At the max cold setting of the thermostat, the a/c should switch from fresh air to re-circulation automatically with an updated amp.

I went ahead and replaced it with a 177600-1651 that I picked up on e-bay for 35 bucks. Before it was running about 50 F, now it is sub-40 F, so it fixed the problem. Damn that box is a pain to get to...to remove-replace the three screws. The fact that all three screws were present tells me the old one was probably original.