If I leave my A/C on the 2nd or greater setting for 30 minutes or more, the A/C actually gets so cold it freezes up the fan. The fan stops blowing, and if I switch to circulate fresh air, it actually blows water vapor because of hot air mixing with the ice. I can feel water droplets coming from the vents as the system thaws. After about 1 minute, the fan is blowing air at normal speeds again. This happen to anyone else? Only A/C work I've had done was the cycling issue. I'm going to have my car serviced today, but was wondering if anyone else had this issue. I don't mind the colder temperatures, but I don't want it to freeze up and damage itself!

 

i've felt the water, but i only use my A/C when it is raining and really humid...kinda wierd...almost too powerful

 

I've had the water vapor looking stuff come from my vents, and my A/C is cold, never had any work done to it. But my blower continues to blow, probably due to how much I heat my engine up.

 

Mine will actually freeze up. It's gradual, and I never notice until I hear a hissing sound and realize the fan is barely blowing despite a setting of 2 or more. But within minutes of switching to fresh air circulation, it blows water vapor, thaws, and starts blowing much harder. Really wierd. My only concern is that it may damage itself.

 

Mine has not done that yet but I will be on the watch, I use my AC all the time because of my lttle one.

 

Keep in mind I've had my A/C serviced for the cycling issue. Whatever they did to fix it may be the cause of the problem. I haven't seen any posts regarding this issue, so my problem is probably unique. But definitely be on the look for it if you have your child in the car.

 

I believe the manual says to NOT use recirculate with the A/C, except for a quick cool off (couple minutes when you first climb in).

I wondered why they said that, as I've always used recirc with A/C in my other cars. Now I know, lol...

They also mention the water vapor thing...

 

Yes, I have to use re-circulate otherwise it will not get cold.

 

The water vapor is OK, I don't mind it and I realize why it happens. I only use re-circulate. I live in Texas and it's hell on earth here (Day before yesterday my temperature guage on the 8 read 107 when I first started the car!). Either way, something is wrong with my A/C, it should never get so cold that it freezes up.

 

Every now and then sounds like its hissing near the floor like a valve is releasing. Has anyone noticed the gas mileage really goes down when the ac is on?

 

Pretty sure that I once read that if the Freon is getting too low, the temp at the evaporator can fall below freezing resulting in ice formation.

Regardless, I suspect that something is amiss in your system. Many systems have a temp probe which would shut the compressor off under this type of situation, but I don't know diddly about Mazda's system.

 

Do you get a large amount of water draining from the evaporator as it thaws? That is a good indicator if you are having icing problems.

 

Is anyone running the A/C with recirculation all day without having icing problems?

 

I haven't checked, but I'm having it serviced today, anyways.

 

Just got my first real taste of the A/C in my 8. Its 94 here in Charlotte and i just ran out at lunch......The A/C is plenty cold as long as I am moving. When i come to a stoplight, it blows mildly cold air at best.....not good, i was freakin in a full sweat at some of the longer stoplights around town.....Its gonna be a long summer.

 

When it's real hot outside (talking 90 and above) I usually always leave it on recirculating. I too get the water vapor coming out of the vents. Maybe I will turn it on outside air. It's nice and cold though...no complaints here

 

Did you get the TSB Replacement part for the A/C?

I am getting mine put in today and picking up the car later....

 

I am not sure if the TSB Replacement part is what they used, I assume it is because it fixed the cycling. The TSB is what prompted me to have the cycling fixed. I don't have the invoice with me, so I can't confirm.

 

as long as i have driven a car i have heard that you never leave it on recirculate for a long period of time. i , for one do not wish to breathe the same air over and over for hours.

 

The reason that the manual states not to use the recirculated air all the time is that it doesn't get any fresh air into the car. My BMW and my wife's Audi have the same warning. They state that if you use recirculated air for long periods of time you take the risk of running the oxygen low in the car. You need to get fresh air regularly. As far as frost building up inside the A/C this is definitely a service issue and so far as I know or have read you have a unique situation just as you stated. Hope this helps.

 

if you look at the TSB it clearly states to set AC to recirculate for best cooling performance.

 

Sure but the manual also states that you should only leave it on recirculate for a few minutes until it's cool. I also use it when I am behind a stinking tail pipe or driving through cattle country.

 

I use outside air when it's in the low 80s, but when it gets in the 90s with major humidity, it is not practical. Now that summer in VA has gotten hot and humid, mine will probably stay on recirc until September. Comfort first. If I start feeling dizzy, I'll open the window for a minute.

By the way, I've also seen the water vapor when it's set to outside air. And when I first got the car last August and set the A/C to recirc, I would hear weird noises from time to time. Like maybe a cracking noise. Then, I'd change to outside air and it would go away. However, since I've been using recirc air this summer, I've not noticed that noise.

I've not had the A/C amp TSB thing done.

 

This is interesting.
People were originally complaining that their A/C wasn't cool enough and now it is too cool for some.

Mine was one of the early models that would only cool for a few seconds out of every minute of operation.
Then I had the A/C amplifier replaced as is indicated in the associated TSB.
Now my A/C is just like every other automotive A/C I've ever experienced - it can get damn cold.

I usually run it in recirc until it is cold then switch over. I have yet to experience condensation (the humidity is usually 85% or above year 'round in my neighborhood) or a loss of conciousness.:p

 

Well the service guy made me feel like an ***. When I explained my symptoms to him, he pointed out the temperature control **** to me. He was dead serious, too. I of course informed him that I knew how to adjust the temperature, but I was concerned that these "freeze ups" might damage the system. He said it would not, so I'm not going to sweat it for now.