Just bought my an 04 rx8 and found the heater wasn't working. Not something you want to find out in the middle of winter in Canada. Took it back to the dealership and now I'm waiting for a new a/c amplifier to come in. It's been "on its way in" for the last week and I've been driving around in the loaner can longer than I've been in the 8.

I did some searching and found that when there's a prob with the ac amp there are some signs that show up. There wont be any warm air blowing, and everytime you go to turn on the windshield defoger it changes from fresh air to recirc. I can't imagine it would take too long to change it, but it's a matter of the part getting here from where ever it's comming from. But until then I'm stuck driving a civic. Better enjoy the gas millage while I can.

I'm not sure if this is a common prob among the 8's, but all I know it's keeping me away from mine. This is more of a big bitching an moaning rant than a thread with a point to it, so thanks for listening to my complaining.

 

It was an old and long gone problem. But sadly most 04 users has yet to upgrade theirs.

 

Other members have found (myself included. see https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tech-garage-22/heater-blows-only-cold-air-106331/) that when the heater would not function at all, rotating the temperature control **** just a little farther than the normal stop resulted in the heat coming on. That's the case with my fiance's car. There is no middle ground, it's either full heat or no heat. She wasn't able to get any heat and took it to the dealer where she was told she needed to pay $700+ to have a new A/C amplifier installed. I tried rotating the **** further, as recommended, and the heat began to flow.

Right now, I've given her my car to drive and I'm driving the 8 because she still has trouble getting heat consistantly. It seems to me that if playing with the control **** causes the heat to flow, the problem is probably with the control, not the A/C amplifier. Has anyone had an A/C amplifier replaced only to find that the heat still didn't work?

I'm reluctant to spend money on either until I'm sure of the cause of the problem.

 

Dude I had the same exact problem and they replaced the control panel under warranty. Is her car out of warranty.

 

Yes, the car is out of warranty. That's why I want to be certain of where the problem is before throwing a lot of money at it. When the dealer makes a mistake and says it needs a $600 part which is covered by warranty, that's one thing. When the dealer is wrong and it costs US $600 plus labor... I want to be sure.

So your car had the exact same symptoms and they replaced only the control panel, not the A/C amplifier?

 

Does the car have any other problems? Like when you go to change it to windshield defog, does it changes itself from fresh air to recirculating cabin air. That's the talltale sign the a/c amp is gone. Otherwise, I wouldn't get them to change it.