Greg

Ok guys. I've taken my 8 to the dealer 3 times to get the A/C fixed. Mine cycles every 5 seconds.
-1st time the "fix" was that they couldn't "hear" the A/C compressor cycling any more than the other rx8 that they pulled up beside it from their lot (i guess thats what the TSB says to do right? NO?).
-2nd time they replaced the amplifier/logic from another 8 on the lot. (???)
-3rd time they said well maybe the one that we used from the lot was also defective so they ordered a new one. Still no fix.
I am in the army and have now been stationed in California and took it to a new dealership. Told them the problem and that it had already been repaired according to the TSB. Its been 2 weeks now and they supposedly want me to bring it in so that a mazda engineer can help them through it since mazda doesn't want them to replace the amp/logic again.
So the problem is...lemon law. Should I pursue this? I haven't seen anyone else whose car wasn't fixed by the TSB. I'm tired of this.

MDRX8

You haven't been following my adventure. I have complained ever since I got my 8 a year ago .... 4 weeks ago replace amp..... 3 weeks ago another amp and added 1/10 lb freon. 2 weeks ago replaced the control board.... now they are going to replace the evaporator and expansion valve thursday. They can not do anything with Mazda Tech HQ approval. THEY TAKE DAYS TO GET BACK TO DEALER. DEALER CAN NOT DO ANYTHING WITH OUT THERE PERMISSION. I have called the service line 1-800 number in the manual at least 10 times with no help. So what are they there for??? Everyone knows me at HQ customer service. Everyone knows me at the dealership. This A/C is a POS. Sorry to put it that way. I am getting ready to park the car on the front steps of the dealship and tell them they can have it and my lawyer will take over things for me. Maybe if I ride around town with lemons hanging off it. ANY MAZDA PEOPLE READ THIS I DARE YOU TO GET IT TOUCH WITH ME. I have even thried to talk to the TECH LINE people myself. impossible customer service says.......

greddylfe

Interesting! I'm curious as to what will come of this. I recently noticed that with the A/C on and the fan speed set to 1, the compressor will cycle about every 5 seconds as you're experiencing. Prior to that, I just did not really pay close attention to it so it could have been happening all along. Now I did a little experimenting and I noticed that with the fan speed set to 4, the compressor will run constantly without cycling. Now I'm not sure if that is the way the system is designed to operate or if I also have a problem on my hand! The only thing I can think of is with the fan speed at 1, the compressor cycles often so that the evaporator won't end up turning into ice due to inadequate airflow. But that's just a logical guess of mine since I am no expert on air-conditioning.

Also - I did have the A/C amp replaced last summer.

Mugatu

iTrader: (1)

I did the A/C TSB, and it seemed to help. Though I never have the A/C on without having it cranked to 4.....since anything under doesn't seem to do much.

bxb40

I agree, changing the amplifier on the A/C helps. The air is still not as cold as on other cars but is better than before the change. I'll try and insulate that pipe next... some people claim it helps some more. Clearly, we need all the help we can get to get through this hot summer

Hunter

What I've noticed, and maybe I'm just imagining things, but the warmer it is outside the better it works.

When I bought the car it was in the low 70s. Thought I'd try out the A/C. Did not get very cool in that car. Now that we've had it in the 90s a couple of times, it does seem to eventually get the car cool enough.

The odd thing is that my '93 Miata gets things nice and cold. I would have thought this would have been better.

What's the "amp" thing mentioned?

Hunter

Greg

ok i never complained that the A/C wasn't cold enough. Its just inefficient because it only cools for a few seconds then blasts lukewarm air. I didn't mention that its actually worse than that. Sometimes for no reason at all the A/C becomes full on heat and the only way I can get it to go back to A/C is if i turn the temp dial all the way to heat and then back to cold. I can trick it too. My wife came out and saw how I can get heat to blast when the dial is on cold and A/C to blast when its on heat. Also this is at full fan speed so thats not an issue.

MDRX8

New larger evaporator and expansion valve. Suppose to be the fix. NOT.... Still 50 degrees coming from vents recic. on all the way cold fan on four. The service manual clearly states in should be blowing 44 deg air. So I have taken it to another dealership. (The first one said they were doing me a favor since I did not buy it there).... Gave me a Toyota Camary to drive. Now your taking about a car with a good A/C. Had to cut it down to lowest fan speed and raise the temp gauge. Mazda can you learn something from Toyota? MAD!!!

JeRKy 8 Owner

I can only feel the cycling when I have it set to 4. I can't tell if it's cycling on any other setting. The air still comes out cold...but on 4 I can feel a 2 second FREEZING blast followed by regular cold air. Does mine have this problem that you guys are talking about or is mine okay?

zoom44

havent they replaced everything now?

RX-GR8

thats what mine does. and i had the amp replaced.

Slims8

I have had mine for over a year and haven't had any complaints yet. Lemon Law is not the way to go. It must be a serious issue, not the A/C.

Keep on them. You really need to speak to the person in between the Service Manager and the POS Tech line they have. If you can get in touch with the district rep you might have some luck. Good Luck.

MDRX8

Sounds like the amp. But who knows? With mine its the ??????????????????

Mad as HELP!

Dinhx8

I don't have problems quite as severe as above, but (pardon if you've tried this already), noticed it gets quite cold in recirculate. I normally have mine on fresh air (for defrosting, etc), but the other day, after some luke ac, cranked it to 4, and put on recirc (make sure it has been on fresh for a bit, so its not recirculating hot air inside the car), but once i put it on recirc, it literally was freezing. I was surprised. Not your normal difference in temp, i would call it significant...not sure if this willhelp, but worth a shot.
good luck

MDRX8

But no setting works to bring the temp down to the spec level for the car. Mazda Tech Hotline knows my car by heart. And tommorrow they will here from my dealer again. TO BAD I CAN'T TALK WITH THEM BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT WORDS WOULD COME OUT MY MOUTH,,,,

Razz1

Gee, I sure wish I could get mine fixed too.

With the AMP and A/C line covered it's almost normal.

The good thing is you can crack open the sun roof or open it completely.

You know something? I just checked my wifes car at 84 degrees. The RX8 is now colder than her's.

Problem is: the consistent cycling problem and the heat from the rotary coming through the fire wall and transmission makes it impossible for the A/C to cool the car comfortably like a normal car.

6speed8

Actually I think one of the main problems is the amount of heat coming through the windows, in particular the windshield. I think Mazda is using very thin glass (probably to save weight). I live (and drive in Florida) and the A/C works pretty good ( I have the amplifier), but just two days ago, it was 93 degrees outside (per the in-car thermometer) but it was very overcast outside and the car got uncomfortably cold inside. I had to turn the temp dial up past the first break in the blue on the left.

On a sunny 93 degree day, the A/C is just adequate, even though cold air blows from the vent.

To verify this theory, check how your A/C works on a hot summer night.

wcs

iTrader: (2)

Wow it's nice to know that I'm not the only person having probs with the A/C, however I'm quite relieved that it is not as severe as I'm reading in this thread.

I purchased my 8 in Feb 2005 (I live in Canada so I didn't really get to use the A/C till May'ish) and I noticed that it did cycle quite often (I haven't timed it) and everytime it cycles I get a squeal'n sound. Obviously I determine the belt is loose, therefore I have the Mazda shop tighten the belt, however it still continues to squeal????

I guess compared to the problems I've read here I'll be happy to just keep the radio loud
Oh and my my A/C never really gets freez'n cold, not like some cars I've been in (just say'n)

zoomalot

I noticed that after the TSB service for the a/c amp, the system always comes on in recirc by default. That may be half of Mazda's answer to the problem, but that's pretty lame. I think the cooling capacity may have been designed for the interior volume and glass area of the car, but not to handle the added heat coming through from the engine bay and exhaust system.

cleoent

looking for an update here. My car went in today for a/c problem (they replaced the amp two weeks ago) and they had to order some parts and it will be there for a few days

Is there any chance the problem will be fixed?

BaronVonBigmeat

I was driving the other day and noticed that it feels almost like there's a hot air leak around the steering column. Maybe it's my imagination...but it sure felt like a persistent cloud of hot air right in front of my chest. I recognized the feeling because I used to have a '57 chevy with a firewall that had been butchered for a late model steering column, and there was a nice big gap around the column. (Then again, my car used to be plenty cold...would a firewall seal just go bad or something?)

Has anyone else noticed it?

RotaMotion

I had the amp replaced a month ago and while it's better, it's still cycling every few seconds. Seems to me that this will kill the A/C compressor clutch right after it's out of warranty which will be a nice little pile of $$

Then there is the whole issue of the d@mn thing turning on when the heat is on and set to blow out the floor ducts only--annoying, stupid, aggravating, etc Rant! Rant! Rant!

Rotary Rasp

iTrader: (2)

I was AZ last week, it was 117. AC worked just fine. Maybe I got lucky?

cleoent

my car is still in there... getting it back tomorrow. 3 days for a stupid a/c problem, and then on top of that i'm gunna have to take it back for the recall. GAY.

Stalker

Had my ac amp replaced yesterday. I didn't notice any difference. I still get the sub zero blast followed by the lukewarm. Its just very inconsistant but it cools better than my stang....no a/c