I took my 8 in last week to get the recalls checked and all the service stuff looked over. I had squealing from the front when braking, snapping when turning at low speeds, the A/C wasnt working right, and maybe the rotor hubs painted. They have had it for the week and I just got a call today saying that the control module for the A/c wont be in til Monday. So who knows how long before they get that put in. I was told they will have it done on Monday, but I HIGHLY DOUBT IT.

 

Let us know the cause of that snapping at low speeds thing. Mine has been doing that for about 3k miles. I thought it wasn't anything important so I was just going to wait until the next oil change 3k miles later, which coincides w/the 30k mile service... Anyway, let us know!

 

I get the low speed snapping noise only during the initial take off after the car has been sitting for awhile. The dealer told me it was normal. I had this issue since it was new, currently have 28K on her.

 

The snapping is due to a coating that is between the rotor hub and the wheel. They have to sand it off of the hub and wheel then everything is all good. Here is a list of the recalls and service bulletins for the 8. http://www.finishlineperformance.com...ins_index.html Everything on this page is a link so that you can click on it and see what work needs to be done.

This is the link for the service bulletin on the snapping noise so that you can get an idea of what they have to do.
http://www.finishlineperformance.com...2-04-1301b.pdf

 

Was your climate control doing what mine is doing?

For example. Without the AC turned on and the temp control on heat. If I move the temp control just a few degrees up from full heat it will blow straight cold air. If you move it back to full heat, still cold air. You have to move it all the way to full cold, and back to full heat to get it working again.

Same thing occurs if on full cold (will blow full heat if adjusted) and if the AC button is pushed in.

I took it to the dealer and they tried to blame my XM radio wires on interfering with the AC logic computer. After explaining that 2 little wires almost a foot away won't interfer they are going to contact Mazda to see what needs to be done. Even printed and showed the TSB but the guy didn't think that was it.

What year is your 8, since the TSB mostly only covers 03's.

 

I've never had the AC problem. That's a weird one.

The snapping noise never occurred until my last oil change which leads me to believe the dealership screwed something up, which honestly, wouldn't surprise me one bit. It happens almost every time I drive and keeps going even after I'm done turning. It doesn't matter if the car has been sitting or not. I'm going to my trusty dealership next week.

 

The snapping sound is normal especially when moisture dried up after you parked your car overnight with the e-brake. The calipers sort of stuck on the rotor and when you take off, they go "THUNK... (ringing)". Otherwise it could be the TSB issue that occurs at low speed turning.

 

My car is an '04 and the air problem that I have noticed is just when the AC is on. I live in Michigan and its been cool up here since Ive had the car and never needed the AC. Just the other day it was in the 80's and I turned on the AC just to notice that it blew hot air and then it would give a short burst of cold air and return to hot air. The snapping at low speeds is due to a material that was put on between the rotor hub and rim. As that material wears out and dries up it causes the snapping.