a week or two ago when i turned the temp **** on my dash to hot it didn't warm up. so i turned it back and forth several times real quick and it started heating up. when i took it in for the last oil change i asked about it and they told me it was a common problem with the RX-8's and that it would be a $400 fix! i started setting some money aside so i could get it done. but now it won't work at all! i tried pushing it up and right (the service tech at Mazda suggested that), twisting it back and forth rapidly, and this morning when it was about 25 degrees outside and my window was fogged up, i hit it repeatedly... still won't heat up!

anybody know if i can take it apart and replace the potentiometer or do i absolutely have to spend $400 for them to replace the console?

 

The pot that controls the heat/cool has cold solder connections. If you can solder, you can fix it in less than an hour. There is a DIY for removing the radio. That gets you 90% of the way there.

 

and if you can't solder...take it all apart and bring it to a Radioshack, i'm sure someone will help ya out. It only takes 4 small drops of solder to fix, but better safe than sorry if you aren't sure.

 

Searching will fix your heater..

Here's that last 10% you need.
Linky

Search next time or some people might get angry

 

thanks

 

have you actually pulled the **** off to make sure its not just a stripped ****? my fan speed control **** stripped the other day but im living with it for now as I got it back on and working even though it doesnt point the right direction currently

 

i pulled the **** off the other day to look at it and it looked fine. after looking at the link atwood 101 gave me i figured it out. as of right now i have a toothpick wedged in next to the **** to keep it on warm until i get a chance to tear the dash apart and solder it back together.

 

Had the same problem here with no heat...sucks ballz. Luckily I was still under warranty years ago!

 

Yeah it sucks bad! I found out the other day when i went to get in my car after a below freezing night lol.