So, I bought this RX-8 a couple months ago. The temp control works. Sometimes. Sometimes it will be stuck on cold, sometimes on hot. Or it works. A couple days ago I was driving around, and it was working fine. Had it on cold, AC compressor was kicking in and out as necessary. Temp control working. I hit the mode button, and got it back to just top vents. Then it started blowing hot air, and I haven't gotten it back to cold.

I've tried reprogramming the AC, but that doesn't seem to help. I'll try again in the morning... But it's been wonky since day 1. Everything else works like a charm. I;m wondering if the potentiometer in the temp control is bad?

 

Ridiculously common issue.

Do some searches on "temperature control ****".

If you can solder fine, you can fix it free. New parts from the dealer are costly.

 

I have to admit, I just looked at the front page. Yes, I can solder no problem. It's a part of what I do... Haha. I did find a wire that popped out when I was poking around the other day. I didn't see where it came from.

I'll be popping the metra kit out later and figuring it out soon. I take it the car defaults to hot?

 

Nope. It defaults to the season preference that you aren't in. Hot in warm weather, cold in cold weather.

My theory is that it's because the last range of usage is usually where you need it, and it can't stay there any more. Like it's not as "broken" if it will point to where you want it. As the connection weakens, it gets pushed off the needed spot. A matter of where it ends up not being corrected from rather than any system default.


I had a feeling you would be up to the self repairs, given your use of "potentiometer"

 

yea the rx8 tendts to b a hot ride!!!

 

Hahaha Yeah, I got the sense that that's how it worked. Every morning when it was cold, it would blow cold. Driving home, it would stay nice and hot, when I wanted cool air.


I take it the wire just needs to get soldered back on to the post?

 

I don't know the details. Mine broke while it was still under bumper to bumper, so the dealer replaced everything. There is a DIY thread on it though.


Mine broke during the middle of the winter, ~10F temps outside and it was stuck on cold. Spent 3 days driving it like that waiting for the parts to get into the dealer.