it's getting hot out and my car's AC sucks
 

ok i heard the rx8's AC sucked, but i didn't think it sucked this bad. on hot days the air it blows is straight WARM! dial all the way to COLD, fan level high.

on cold days, the AC will get cold, but that doesn't help for obvious reasons

my question is: is this really how it is, or should i take my car in? it's unbearable especially where i live. (inland empire)

I bought this car in the fall, and i made sure to test the AC (it worked). but the weather was cold! now it's hot and i see that this thing can't handle!

just 6,000 miles, i hate to have this thing in the shop so soon.

start with the easy stuff (i know these might seem stupid, but better to ask)

Do you have the air on recirc?
Are the controls set to blow the air from the dash only? When you split the stream it really changes how cool the air comes out
Have you had the AC system checked to see if it's full?
Have you replaced the in cabin air filter? Those things can get pretty clogged pretty fast.

thanks for the questions:

have tried with recirc on and off, it makes no difference.
i have tried splitting, no difference.
i haven't had the AC system checked because it only has 6,000 miles.
i haven't replaced the cabin air filter, again, 6,000 miles.

I'm taking it down to the dealer end of this week, but i wanted to get some input. no working AC is a dealbreaker for me. i wouldn't mind a weak AC, but it doesn't even blow cold.

Chris...................is this an 09?

Okay.......you could need a recharge, or worse...........but.............just for the heck of it.....try the following and then after a couple of days report back on any results you see or feel. I have no idea if it will work on an 09 or not. :dunno:

1.) Hold the Front Defrost button and the Air Intake Selector button at the same time. Don't let them go until step 4.

2.) Turn the key to "ACC" for three seconds.

3.) Turn the key to "ON" for three seconds.

4.) The rear defrost button will flash 3 times. You can now let go of the buttons in step one and turn the key back to off.

NOTE: If vehicle's battery dies or cables are removed, the programming will not be retained and must be performed again.



No promises, but what do you have to lose? :fingersx:

what is this for?:sad:

Jason, it's a very old A/C reset of sorts. It probably won't work for him, but what the hell.

https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...54&postcount=8

I also heard at one time that..........

"components can get out of synch with each other. It sort of resets which allows for the a/c components and all other components in the car to be synched back together":dunno:

I do know this.........mine is colder after this as others have also reported it helps a lot. It's not so much the re-circ part, but it does something else for sure. I redo this after every time I unhook the battery. :icon_tup:

yeah, i have an 09.

This sounds like your best option being under warranty and all. It should be blowing cold it is hot and humid here and on mine I must turn it down after bout 10 minutes because gets so cold. I was expecting the AC to weak from all things I have read here about RX AC but, I've found just the opposite.

I would stop by the dealer and have them check it out. I have an 09 as well in DFW Texas. Even today at 102 and high humidity, it cools off pretty quick. A heat soaked car is comfortable in less than 10 minutes. I generally crack the moon roof and turn on fresh air for about a minute as the outside air is cooler than inside. then I switch to recirc and close the roof.

I generally have one vent that will hit my hand and I have to move the vent as it is too cold.

wow based on what you guys say, i definitely have a problem with my AC.

i've driven for at least 30 minutes constantly on a freeway hoping it would eventually get cold. i finally had to open a window because it was still blowing hot air!!!

completely ridiculous.

1. With the audio power on, press the ‘POWER’ button and simultaneously press the ‘SCAN-UP’ button for approximately 1 second
2. “A/C TEMP” should appear on the left side of the LCD display and a number from 0 to 16 on the right.
3. The number advances in increments of 1 as you turn the temperature control knob
4. Turn the audio off or the ignition switch to the ‘LOCK’ position to stop the diagnostic assist function.

That will show the temp range depending on where the knob is positioned at. Make sure it goes through the full range. This was a known problem on all Series I rx8's as the knob and the pcb behind it would separate and there would be no change in the air coming out with the knob full to hot or cold..

al: thanks i'll give that a shot. dope car by the way, love your rims and fitment. (what kind of rims btw?)

update: verified by the always outstanding tustin mazda in orange county

the that runs along the drivers side from the compressor was leaking. could be a leaky weld, could be the hardline, or could be the softline.

anyway, this will be done under warranty --i sure am glad i'll be able to drive this car in the summer!

Good news now your beer should stay nice and cold while you drive.:beer05:;)