mysql101

If I'm in a traffic light, the ac isn't all that great, but when I'm driving down the road, at times the AC can get so cold I have to not only turn it down to "1", but raise the temperature setting. This usually only happens in the evenings though. During daylight hours the front window lets in enough heat to prevent things from turning subzero. I usually have the AC set to "1" or "2", I've yet to use a higher setting unless I am just getting into the car and it needs to cool off.

I'm also an advocate for getting the windows tinted. I feel no heat from the side windows, only the front.

tripwire

Just replaced my A/C Amplifier and it works great! I'm happy. There are a few minor issues with it just very slightly cutting out when I'm redlining it or drving like a maniac, but I can deal with that. And I'm sure some of it has to do with my pulse rate increasing with the Zoom-Zoom factor.

BasenjiGuy

Guys, I think most of us have properly functioning AC. Mine blows a ton of cold air.

However, there are some aspects of the 8's design that make it a hot car to be in.

1) High exhaust temps from the rotor motor. Generates a lot of heat.

2) Low overall height of the car with the front mid engine location and catalytic converter heat soaking right into the under body's central tunnel by the occupants' bodies. The engine is partly under the front cowl or A pillar at the windshield. That's pretty close to the occupants. A lot closer than a conventional engine mounting design.

3) Even with the AC update, the ECU/AC seems to cycle the AC constantly during in town driving.

In the summer, if the car sits outside, it gets pretty damn hot inside. If I get in and drive it thru town at stop/start pace from block to block, it takes a while cool down. If I go straight to an on ramp and get on the highway, the car cools down quik and I end up with the AC on the lowest fan setting, even with temps in the upper 90's.

Maybe Mazda has the AC cycle so much in low rev/stop start driving in order to save gas/keep emissions in check. Don't know for sure.

I'll also add that I really appreciate the cloth interior that I have during these summer months. Leather owners must have some moist backs and legs with these cars...

Kwullen

I'm in Jacksonville, Florida area and though it isn't a deep freezer, the ac works fine in mine. It sits in the sun all day at my shop and others have been right about the heat coming from the dash, but all in all it cools the car down as quickly as the CL did. The Acura was black on black and my 8 is Nordic Green/black cloth, so not much difference there. The CL had tint and the 8 doesn't.....yet. The ac is better than the wifes Civic and beats the crap out of my daughters SVT Contour (POS). We've been havin 90 deg. plus days for most of the last month and typical Florida humidity.

snap-on

I do see that the second fan cycles along with the A/C cycle. I wonder how much more efficient the system would be if the condensor had constant airflow?

srm858

I have had the cycling problem on my 8 since I picked it up last August. I'm still waiting for the amp and getting a little impatient, summer is here and the car simply does not get cool, let alone cold. Recirculating the air does nothing. It is fun getting the puff of moisture coming out every few seconds as it cycles. Compressors always cycle, but not every 5 seconds.

It sounds like the amp has fixed some of the cars. I have had bad luck with dealers, so I would be suspicious of the dealers not actually installing the part and telling you they did. Maybe that is why some have not had good luck.

My dealer has been pretty good so far, they just don't have the part yet. It may be time for me to call Mazda and put a little heat on them.

RENE

Mine sucks too......hopefully the amplifier works for me.......RENE

rx8cited

Finally - the new A/C amplifier arrived and got installed after waiting three months. Cooling is much better and the cold-cool-cold.... cycling is gone.

While at traffic lights with the A/C on, I noticed the idle changing from smooth to rough - I don't recall this with the old amplifier.

People reporting cycling with the new amplifiers makes me also wonder if their dealers really replaced the old amplifier with the revised new one.

rx8cited