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what's up with the heater?

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Old 12-04-2006, 01:49 PM
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Well it's the next winter and the temp just hit 15 degrees today and I was reminded that my heater sucks. 20 minutes to blow warm air. When I hard accelerate the air becomes hot but goes back down with normal driving. I'm wondering if I have a stuck open thermostat? Thanks to Mazda's idiot gage for temperature I can't tell what is really going on with the temperature.

Looks like I'll have to set up an appointment after the holidays.
Old 12-04-2006, 02:23 PM
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When it hits 40 or below.......i always go out crank her up, set the heat at 2, turn on the seat warmer and go back inside for a few minutes. Car is usually nice and toasty when I come out. Was 19 this morning, in N AL. did the same thing,,,,,no problems.....
Old 12-04-2006, 02:24 PM
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Originally Posted by abbid
I've had my heater controls replaced twice.

The **** itself doesnt break, rather the pin connected to it does.

Mazdas temp gauge works fine, its the oil pressure gauge that doesnt work.
I have also heard that the temp gauge becomes very numb in the middle and will only show movement under significant temperature change. Ask yourself if you have ever seen the gauge move once the car was warmed up.
Old 12-05-2006, 01:34 PM
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We started having problems with the temp control in our car, so I finally took it in for the recall and that.

According to the work order they replaced the "heater control valve" and all works perfect now.
Old 01-01-2007, 07:12 PM
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Originally Posted by fray
My 8 had this problem, turned out to be a faulty heater control unit. A few other people have had the issue as well.

From my issue (and another persons issue)

CUSTOMER STATES WHEN ADJUSTING THE AIR MIXTURE ONLY SWITCHES TO BOTH EXTREMES-SOP HERE HEATER CONTROL INTERNAL FAULT IN CONTROL HEAD.
REPLACE HEATER CONTROL HEAD.
U0207ARX .6 61/9W

To see if it's the same problem, find the air-mix actuator on the drivers side center console.. basically look at the center tunnel area near the gas pedal but "up" a bit....

with the car running (and the heater fan on).. move the temp ****. The air mix actuator should move following any change you make to the temp. In this particular fault. The actuator will go all the way cold.. and all the way hot.. in the middle it MIGHT jitter a bit.. but only does extremes. (And the dealer diagnostic procedures tell them to check the extremes.. but don't have rules for checking the intermediate range.) So you pretty much have to show them the actuator isn't working right to get it diagnosed.
My fiance's '04 RX8 went into the dealership last week because she couldn't get her heater to work at all. The repair order states:

CUSTOMER STATES HEATER NOT WORKING, COLD AIR ONLY
TEST TESTING/DIAGNOSIS $92.00
SOP WE HAVE SPECIAL ORDERED THE NECESSARY PARTS FOR THIS REPAIR
1 FE04-61-540 AMP.,CONTROL $605.00
DIAGNOSED A/COND AMP FAILURE, ORDERED PART. LABOR TO INSTALL WHEN PART ARRIVES $92.00

Can anyone tell me what the A/C amplifier does and how it would affect the heater?

I tried turning the temperature *** all the way to off and back to full heat and, voila, heat came through the vents. I then crawled under the dash and looked at the air-mix actuator while rotating the temperature **** and indeed it only does extremes. Sometimes I have to rotate the **** back and forth a few times before the actuator moves and the heater begins to flow. Rotating the **** toward cool in any increment, though, always instantly results in a change from hot to cold air.

This seems to me like the same problem fray is talking about. What I'm wondering, though, is why the dealer told my fiance she needs a new A/C amplifier (which they made her pay for it in full up front before ordering it).

This website is great! I wish I had found it before the car was taken in to the dealer.


Thanks for any help/suggestions.

Steve

Last edited by stevej119; 01-01-2007 at 07:14 PM.
Old 02-12-2007, 07:03 AM
  #36  
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Steve, I'm guessing you're out of warranty then with all those $$$ on there.

I just bought my 8 this weekend and it's got the same issue - sometimes the heat works sometimes not. The first time I turned it on I heard a sound like liquid moving around. I'm guessing the AC was coming on. Oh well. Still have another 6 months on the warranty so I'll take her in this week.
Old 02-14-2008, 09:04 AM
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Originally Posted by savedsol
Steve, I'm guessing you're out of warranty then with all those $$$ on there.

I just bought my 8 this weekend and it's got the same issue - sometimes the heat works sometimes not. The first time I turned it on I heard a sound like liquid moving around. I'm guessing the AC was coming on. Oh well. Still have another 6 months on the warranty so I'll take her in this week.
Liquid moving around, that's exactly what I heard a couple of weeks ago. I wondered what it was but didn't pay it much mind. Now the heater is acting up like everyone is describing. It is either 1 of the 2 extremes, hot or cold, and is only hot for a short period then starts blowing cold air. I need some fix it yourself help as I'm not under warranty anymore and don't want to spend $700+ on the heater. Any more ideas?
Old 02-14-2008, 11:32 AM
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Does anyone know if improvements have been made to the HVAC system for the 2009 models?
Old 02-15-2008, 04:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Remyngton
Liquid moving around, that's exactly what I heard a couple of weeks ago. I wondered what it was but didn't pay it much mind. Now the heater is acting up like everyone is describing. It is either 1 of the 2 extremes, hot or cold, and is only hot for a short period then starts blowing cold air. I need some fix it yourself help as I'm not under warranty anymore and don't want to spend $700+ on the heater. Any more ideas?
No help huh? Anyone?
Old 02-17-2008, 11:53 PM
  #41  
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have the same problem; and i think i made it worse. i started having that only super cold/only super hot problem. and the move-from-one-extreme-to-the-other-and-back-and-back etc. to actually get it to change from hot to cold or vice versa. so one day i got really frustrated with it not changing and yanked hard on the ****, not it just spins!! damnit. it's cold now, can't get it to even blow hot air. it'll spin around loosely until i reach a certain point, then it will still spin but with a little more resistance. i broke something, but sounds like i had bigger problems control unit or whatever. bad news is my car is out of warranty now, so i just bundle up if it's cold out!!
Old 02-21-2008, 10:06 AM
  #42  
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Just bought my 8 on Saturday from Austin Infiniti. I havn't taken delivery yet becuase the heater doesn't work. Their techs tried to diagnose it and have installed a new battery as well as a heater control unit and it still doesn't work. I went in yesterday and had the salesperson call Mazda which is a 1/2 mile down the road. The car is a 2004 with 32000 miles and Mazda said it has a 4 year 50000 warranty still, which should be up in September. They are taking the car to Mazda to "figure it out."

I've had the last few days to read alot more about these cars and some things have me worried. Engine problems, oil usage, heat problems etc. Am I getting into a lemon here? I love the car and I want to autocross it this summer. I am an old Honda Tuner but I was sick of front wheel drive.

View car at http://www.austininfiniti.com/preownedinventory.cfm
Click pre owned, mazda, rx8. Thats my silver baby.
Carfax report is here:http://www.carfax.com/cfm/ccc_Displa...FE173040110649

Everything looks good, and I regeisterd with Mazda and it shows no recalls. What should I have the Mazda Dealer look at while it is there?

Oh, Im putting up with the hastle becuase they let me drive an 05 G35 Sedan 6 Speed GT for the time being. Dam nice car but a little heavy.

Any advice for a noob would be appreciated. I love the site and most of you guys seem to know what your talking about.
Old 02-21-2008, 10:50 AM
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Does the mazdausa site list any needed recalls for my vin? I registered it there and it shows non needed but I dont see on the carfax report that any were ever done.

Im thinking I should get that extended warranty that Infiniti wanted to sell me.


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