Notices
Series II Technical and Trouble shooting Discuss technical details for the Series II RX-8 and any issues or problems you are facing

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

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 06-05-2010, 05:21 PM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
chris__n's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: LA
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.

Last edited by chris__n; 06-05-2010 at 06:09 PM.
Old 06-05-2010, 05:25 PM
  #2  
I zoom therefore I am.
 
laythor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 4,919
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
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.
Old 06-05-2010, 06:05 PM
  #3  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
chris__n's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: LA
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by laythor
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.
Old 06-05-2010, 06:16 PM
  #4  
Surf Hard, Drive Hard
 
Mazurfer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Indialantic, Florida
Posts: 7,840
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 9 Posts
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.

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?

Last edited by Mazurfer; 06-05-2010 at 06:20 PM.
Old 06-05-2010, 08:31 PM
  #5  
Registered
 
jasonrxeight's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 3,487
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Originally Posted by Mazurfer
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.

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?
what is this for?
Old 06-05-2010, 08:36 PM
  #6  
Surf Hard, Drive Hard
 
Mazurfer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Indialantic, Florida
Posts: 7,840
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 9 Posts
Originally Posted by jasonrxeight
what is this for?
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"

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.

Last edited by Mazurfer; 06-05-2010 at 08:43 PM.
Old 06-05-2010, 10:11 PM
  #7  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
chris__n's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: LA
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
yeah, i have an 09.
Old 06-05-2010, 11:11 PM
  #8  
wankel my wanker
 
plain ole wanker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: indiana
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by chris__n

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.

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.
Old 06-05-2010, 11:20 PM
  #9  
Not an UnRegistered User
 
bhammer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
Old 06-06-2010, 04:04 AM
  #10  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
chris__n's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: LA
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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.
Old 06-06-2010, 11:02 AM
  #11  
hakuna matata!
iTrader: (41)
 
alz0rz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: NYC
Posts: 6,002
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
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 ****
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 **** is positioned at. Make sure it goes through the full range. This was a known problem on all Series I rx8's as the **** and the pcb behind it would separate and there would be no change in the air coming out with the **** full to hot or cold..
Old 06-07-2010, 02:26 AM
  #12  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
chris__n's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: LA
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
al: thanks i'll give that a shot. dope car by the way, love your rims and fitment. (what kind of rims btw?)
Old 06-10-2010, 10:30 PM
  #13  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
chris__n's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: LA
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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!
Old 06-10-2010, 11:16 PM
  #14  
wankel my wanker
 
plain ole wanker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: indiana
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Good news now your beer should stay nice and cold while you drive.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Jaco Greyling
New Member Forum
3
01-06-2019 08:39 AM
9krpmrx8
Series I Trouble Shooting
23
11-05-2015 11:45 PM
dbarber
Series I Trouble Shooting
14
07-25-2015 01:34 PM
Belalnabi
Series I Trouble Shooting
4
07-22-2015 04:50 PM
AussieGray
RX-8's For Sale/Wanted
0
07-16-2015 03:58 AM



You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: it's getting hot out and my car's AC sucks



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:41 AM.