Hi all,
I wanted to ask if this is normal for everybody. In my '8 I've noticed that even when the air conditioning control is set to "0" (off), there is a LOT of airflow that comes out at the same temperature as the temperature dial is set to. It doesn't blow quite as hard as when the control is set to 1, but hard enough that a piece of paper would get blown back, and you can DEFINITELY feel it. I'd say it blows at an approximate "0.5".

This is really irritating because if the temperature dial is set to the beginning of the red zone, it blows really hot air, and the whole car gets hot. So then I have to turn the temperature **** down a bit, so then it blows cold air...and if it is cold outside, then I get really cold. So I turn it back up, and get hot again. The entire drive I sit there fiddling with the temperature **** every few minutes!! Does it sound like the amount of airflow I am getting when I don't want any is abnormal and should be looked into?

Thanks!

 

If you want it off, click the very bottom button to set the airflow to "recirculate". This keeps outside air from pushing through the vents.

Usually, though, you won't feel too much airflow unless you have a window or the sunroof cracked?

 

Thanks man. I'll give that a shot. Why is it that with outside air the air pushes through the vents? They don't close when you set the dial to 0? (answer: apparently not!)

 

Are you sure you're not going thru menopause?

 

Yeah, I think you've just been getting air from outside because the a/c system is not on the 'recirulate air' setting.

 

you need to buy a sweater or something.... just set the dial to the middle.... and change the vents to defrost

 

Sometimes it's best to set the temperature control to a "neutral" setting and then choose "defrost" mode so that the air is less likely to blow on you directly. This keeps the windows from fogging up.

This "air blowing even if fan is off" condition has been true in many cars I've owned... Not just the RX-8 -- although I agree, the RX-8 seems to have this issue more than the others.

 

It's not an "issue" unless you are going through menopause or if you sit with your face in front of the vent.

The manual states to always keep the fan on at least one to keep the windows from fogging up.

 

Nope, they don't close. That just shuts the fan off so it isn't being forced through. It will however contine to flow through whatever hidden openings there are throughout the car... Maybe through the drains/seals around the doors, or something? I've always wondered exactly where all that incoming air goes.

 

If you open your trunk and remove the inside corner fascias, you will see light-weight one-way flapper valves that bleed out into the rear fender wells. This is one place where air can escape, and all cars must have a way to vent incoming positive pressure somplace...

-C