AC on the 3s sucks?

[italgal02]

HELP!
Guys (and of course the girls like me).... What is up with the AC? My AC absolutely sucks, i thought at first maybe it was too hot outdoors, but now its getting to me. Is there a way Mazda can fix it or what? Anyone else having this problem! Hope someone got some news about it.... (and the person who answered about it being the compressor or something, can it get fixed ot be colder/stronger or what not?)

[alexlitov]

Did you try visiting your local mazda dealer and asking them about this??

[toucci]

generally little cars have poor AC because the engines don't like to drive heavy equipment for more cooling

unless it's blowing hot air out I think it's normal.

[Sir. SpeedALot]

Sorry Italgal, but this is unfortunately a problem that most Mazda3 owners are having. There is no fix and their probably never will be one. It appears the AC cuts out mainly when you accelorate at high speeds, but it does cut in and out during normal driving, just not as much. I hope you don't have a black car. The best things you can do are, get your windows tinted, park in the shade (when possible), use shade guards, leave windows cracked when parked, etc.

Good luck and hopefully it doesn't ruin your experience with an otherwise great car.

[italgal02]

Problem Fixed... My friend's father is a mechanic and the AC on cold was only about 55-60, when it should be like 40-45.... so he played with it a little and said it wasd a manufacturing error nothing big! AND I THOUGHT I WAS GOIN CRAZY!

[cbzoomin]

What did he do to fix it? Inquiring minds want to know.

[italgal02]

What did he do to fix it? Inquiring minds want to know.

I have no clue, he doesnt speak English well (hes polish) so when he explained all i got was "Too hot" and "Now its perfect" "Manufacturing mistake" "How much u pay" (just kidding)., But i keep total trust in him, hes recognized in CT and has been awarded for alot of crap he does to cars... He builds them too so i trust him.

[goldwing2000]

I have no clue, he doesnt speak English well (hes polish) so when he explained all i got was "Too hot" and "Now its perfect" "Manufacturing mistake" "How much u pay" (just kidding)., But i keep total trust in him, hes recognized in CT and has been awarded for alot of crap he does to cars... He builds them too so i trust him.

Well, do what you can to get some details! If if was that quick and easy, it must be something we can do ourselves.

[italgal02]

Well he checked the temp first..... So check yorus and see if its below 50.... And then he had the whole weekend to do it....
But ill ask tomorrow, who knows he may have replaced something?!?!

[goldwing2000]

Well he checked the temp first..... So check yorus and see if its below 50.... And then he had the whole weekend to do it....
But ill ask tomorrow, who knows he may have replaced something?!?!

It's entirely possible. These old-school mechanics have some weird tricks up their sleeves. :P

[PeteyBoy3K]

I've noticed that mine has gotten a lot better with age.

I'm at about 7250 miles in mine... and before when it used to hit 92 degrees, you'd have to turn on recirculate or things would get start getting too hot. Now, it's been hitting at 98-99 occasionally and I haven't noticed it as much.

It might just be me getting used to being slightly hotter in the car... or it might be some sort of freon-temp sensor controlling compressor engagement that was reading high and got better as the system was used more?

Do A/C systems have break in periods?

[goldwing2000]

I've noticed that mine has gotten a lot better with age.

I'm at about 7250 miles in mine... and before when it used to hit 92 degrees, you'd have to turn on recirculate or things would get start getting too hot. Now, it's been hitting at 98-99 occasionally and I haven't noticed it as much.

It might just be me getting used to being slightly hotter in the car... or it might be some sort of freon-temp sensor controlling compressor engagement that was reading high and got better as the system was used more?

Do A/C systems have break in periods?

Sure. Anything with moving parts has a break-in. An a/c compressor is almost like a little engine. Works on the same principle, just doesn't have combustion. It is definitely conceivable that the compressor has gotten more efficient as the pistons and rings wear in.

[italgal02]

All makes sense.... It is working fine now though! Hopefully itll get even better!

[dannyboy]

mines been ok, but i wouldn't mind if it was cooler. italgal02, keep us posted!

[majic]

I have no clue, he doesnt speak English well (hes polish) so when he explained all i got was "Too hot" and "Now its perfect" "Manufacturing mistake" "How much u pay" (just kidding)., But i keep total trust in him, hes recognized in CT and has been awarded for alot of crap he does to cars... He builds them too so i trust him.

send me a PM - i'll do my best to translate it..
that is if you can get him to write it down for you :D

[italgal02]

send me a PM - i'll do my best to translate it..
that is if you can get him to write it down for you :D

Lol... His daughter translated it for me, but it still makes no sense.... Trying to understand mechanical parts in polish?!?!
Im going to try and find out, She said she think he replaced something because it wasnt cooling my car (because it was only around 50-60 degrees and should be about 40ish)....

[Aleksander_t]

I have no clue, he doesnt speak English well (hes polish) so when he explained all i got was "Too hot" and "Now its perfect" "Manufacturing mistake" "How much u pay" (just kidding)., But i keep total trust in him, hes recognized in CT and has been awarded for alot of crap he does to cars... He builds them too so i trust him.

Typical Poles.
You hav problem?
I phix for you.
Give 10 minutes and bottle of vodka.

[blizz81]

Typical Poles.
You hav problem?
I phix for you.
Give 10 minutes and bottle of vodka.


and it had better be potato vodka, too.

[krstofer]

Ever find out exactly what was done? I wouldn't mine having mine colder also...

[crossbow]

The rx8 had a similar problem. Alot of the features on the 3/6/8 are designed to cut off at higher rpm's, allowing for more "umf".

What happened on the 8, was that the AC was cutting off around 4500 rpm. Now normally this would be fine, but the rx8's redline is 9000!!!! So over 60% of the time, the AC was cutting off driving around town.

Its possible that the 3's AC is similar in its cutoff range, and may need to be adjusted by mazda (so maybe it only cuts off at 5,000). Only user complaints will bring about such an update.

[blizz81]

The rx8 had a similar problem. Alot of the features on the 3/6/8 are designed to cut off at higher rpm's, allowing for more "umf".

What happened on the 8, was that the AC was cutting off around 4500 rpm. Now normally this would be fine, but the rx8's redline is 9000!!!! So over 60% of the time, the AC was cutting off driving around town.

Its possible that the 3's AC is similar in its cutoff range, and may need to be adjusted by mazda (so maybe it only cuts off at 5,000). Only user complaints will bring about such an update.

Didn't the 8s compressor cycle too much for people's tastes at idle too? I thought that was one of the big AC complaints.

[MarkSpecV/M3S]

My Fiance complains it doesn't get very cold...

[fascin8d1]

My AC was cycling off and on at cruising speeds (consitently 60 mph). I could feel it get really cold 5 secs and then shut off (not warm, but not as cold) 5 secs. It was like if I just turned off the AC, but left everything else set. Explained that to the dealer. Thought they would look into the RX8 TSB and replace the AC amplifier. They told me that it was half-charged and did a leak test. No leak. However, the car is still doing the on/off thing, but now when it is on it is much colder (fogged my glasses on a hot humid day when I got out of the car)...

I really think we will see the same TSB as the RX8 for the Mazda 3 soon...

[Euro3]

Hey, have his daughter just e-mail me what he fixed.... or maybe I can give the guy a call.... I was born and raised in Poland and have no problems translating parts....

[goldwing2000]

My AC was cycling off and on at cruising speeds (consitently 60 mph). I could feel it get really cold 5 secs and then shut off (not warm, but not as cold) 5 secs. It was like if I just turned off the AC, but left everything else set. Explained that to the dealer. Thought they would look into the RX8 TSB and replace the AC amplifier. They told me that it was half-charged and did a leak test. No leak. However, the car is still doing the on/off thing, but now when it is on it is much colder (fogged my glasses on a hot humid day when I got out of the car)...

I really think we will see the same TSB as the RX8 for the Mazda 3 soon...

That's just the way cycling clutch A/C systems work. (shrug)

[PeteyBoy3K]

Yea, I got laid off of my job July 1st, and I have since found a new job that has me working in a high rise, thus I get to park in the parking garage. My first job had me parking in a wide open lot with no shade.

when pulling out of the garage, The A/C is too cold, even in the mid-90's atlanta heat... I have to sometimes turn the temp knob up (warmer) a few ticks.

I am now pretty sure that 3/4's of the A/C suckage has to do with letting your car bake in the sun and letting the all black dash and interior heat up to cookie-baking temperature. Thus, if you think the A/C sucks you need to find a place that is shaded or just get windshield reflectors/window tinting, or just realize that the first 10 minutes will be triage to get all of the extra heat out of your car and cooling down the dash (windows open, recirculating, full blast cold).

Also, the car is pretty well insulated. Usually I don't even drive with the a/c on anymore since the car remains pretty cool on work-commute trips if I use the tilt on the sunroof.

[italgal02]

Hey, have his daughter just e-mail me what he fixed.... or maybe I can give the guy a call.... I was born and raised in Poland and have no problems translating parts....

Obviously so were they.... I think I already put what he replaced. He said it was a bad part IN my car, so i doubt you have the same problems. What most of you guys have is that its not Cold ENOUGH or shuts off too quickly, Mine just didnt turn into AC at all. My car was always on lik 60 degrees give or take... Now its back to normal. I even went to the dealer and tried other cars and it works just like those. I can ask him again, but hes so busy i really dont want to ask him for this favor cus when i really need one ill feel like i ask him for too much!

[Mikey444]

Typical Poles.
You hav problem?
I phix for you.
Give 10 minutes and bottle of vodka.
LMFAO, that's a riot.

[hi-perf]

apparently mazda must think we must not be very smart.

if i want the extra umph, i would turn off my A/C myself. plain and simple.

[PeteyBoy3K]

apparently mazda must think we must not be very smart.

if i want the extra umph, i would turn off my A/C myself. plain and simple.

I think the "click off A/C when car is floored" is just a car convention nowadays.

it was on my '88 camry, so it's not that new of a feature (I miss the camry's A/C - econ option tho... it actually would run the compressor for longer if you had the "a/c" button pressed in versus the "econ" button... THAT was cold A/C (and no, it didn't just turn on recirculate like I think ford/gm's "max A/C" switches did... )

Also, the compressor kickoff at max throttle is probably something they can put under the "safety through performance" column. making it so there is a consistant amount of "oomph" available when you floor it so you aren't all the sudden feeling the a/c lag when actually have to speed up for whatever reason (or worse, have to go searching for the smooth, tiny, near-flush button when you're already doing something panicky)

Might also be a "we don't want the compressor running when the engine is going faster than..."

[N-Dr-Lo-R]

My AC was cycling off and on at cruising speeds (consitently 60 mph). I could feel it get really cold 5 secs and then shut off (not warm, but not as cold) 5 secs. It was like if I just turned off the AC, but left everything else set.
I gave this phenomenon a name back when factory units started using the cycling clutch in the late 70's--call them "muggy lapses". At the center of even the most sophisticated system today lives the heart of a '59 Frigiking hang-down--the cycling compressor. From mid-50's to mid-70's, the compressor ran all the time when the system was on and cooling was kept constant through a system of valving, but the result was you had an unbroken supply of cold, dehumidified air. They started cycling the compressors in the late 70's because it was cheaper and simpler to be blunt about it, and it has endured ever since. I bought an '04 VW New Beetle TDI, but only discovered after about two years that it had a relatively new AC development, a VDC (variable displacement compressor)--I noticed it never cycled when on and tho't maybe something was wrong with it and the dealer told me about this. What was accomplished earlier with valving is now done through the device of limiting the "wobble" of the swash plate such that the compressor is still turning, but the piston travel can be reduced to almost zero to full stroke depending upon cooling requirement--usually done by computerized temp sensors. I was looking at new cars and was impressed with the Mazadaspeed 3, so I drove one. I loved the way it performed, but sitting on the dealer's lot last September in about 80 deg. weather, the compressor was cycling on and off like a fiend and it completely turned me off--no pun intended. Next I heard about the availability of the continuously variable transmission in the Nissan Altima and drove one with a 3.5 V-6. I loved it, but I made sure its compressor didn't cycle--I have a phobia about these things--and sure 'nuf, even in 45 deg. temps, the compressor continues to run all the time and you simply turn the dial to raise the temperature inside, but get dehumidified air all the time. The VDC is actually a Nissan development, so I guess it makes sense it would be used in their own cars. During a recent trip, I rented a Ford Fusion and noticed its compressor did not cycle, either, so this application must be enjoying wider and wider use.

I've always liked Mazda, 'tho, and would have enjoyed one--think they make one of the best cars on the market. I loved the first rotary back in the early 70's--I think it was called RX-2--and wanted one. I always wisht they'd used the rotary in wider applications like the sedans. I remember driving a brand new Cosmo in about 1975 and ran out of gas in it because it only had about a teaspoonfull from the new-car delivery.

[CaSHMeRe]

mine is GREAT !!!

[fourthmeal]

Living in Vegas in July, I can tell you I'd be all about finding a secret to improving the A/C operation of this car. When I first got it, I took a can of A/C booster at the parts store, and carefully added a small amount until I got to the "max safe" pressure point. That helped tremendously, but I'd be happy to know what else works. Also, window tint is a good thing.

[mcspeed]

My 07 MS3 air gets way cold. One of the better cars I've owned from a cold air perspective (and others).

[lebox97]

mine sucks too...
dealer said it's working as designed!
(flame)

has anyone confirmed the compressor clutch/RPM thing on the MS3? (I too had it on another car - but it only disengaged AC clutch at WOT)

It would be nice to verify this and know at what RPM the compressor clutch is disengaging... or supposed to

[uncletime]

My AC was cycling off and on at cruising speeds (consitently 60 mph). I could feel it get really cold 5 secs and then shut off (not warm, but not as cold) 5 secs. It was like if I just turned off the AC, but left everything else set. Explained that to the dealer. Thought they would look into the RX8 TSB and replace the AC amplifier. They told me that it was half-charged and did a leak test. No leak. However, the car is still doing the on/off thing, but now when it is on it is much colder (fogged my glasses on a hot humid day when I got out of the car)...

I really think we will see the same TSB as the RX8 for the Mazda 3 soon...

Are you cruising or hitting WOT? most cars these days the AC shuts off automatically during WOT. maybe a thought. you are probably not staying in WOT but maybe you hit it when you floor it to pass?


italgal02 where in ct are you? im in dabury/oxford

[whitey4311]

You know what I was just down in my car and checked my AC and it doesnt suck however the thing really blows.(sssh)

[uncletime]

You know what I was just down in my car and checked my AC and it doesnt suck however the thing really blows.(sssh)
HA!

[lebox97]

well then that's why mine sucks - cuz it blows (non-cold air)?
(rlaugh)


so let's rephrase the question -
is it a throttle position or a certain RPM that causes the AC clutch to disengage - and what is it? (ie. full throttle, or 5,500 RPM?)
if we knew what is was we could work with it instead of against it


You know what I was just down in my car and checked my AC and it doesnt suck however the thing really blows.(sssh)

[uncletime]

well then that's why mine sucks - cuz it blows (non-cold air)?
(rlaugh)


so let's rephrase the question -
is it a throttle position or a certain RPM that causes the AC clutch to disengage - and what is it? (ie. full throttle, or 5,500 RPM?)
if we knew what is was we could work with it instead of against it


Wide Open Throttle.... if you have you foot to the floor its wide open..

[lebox97]

ayyayyay
ummmm - I understand what WOT means - have driven/owned high perf vehicles for 35 yrs (rofl2)

my question is related to:
when does the computer switch the AC clutch off???
The pedal is connected to the computer not the throttle (drive-by-wire right?) - soooooooooo, 1/2, 3/4, full pedal equal no AC?

I guess I can just tap into the AC clutch wire and add a light to figure this out myself... (to see at what throttle or RPM setting the light/AC clutch is switched off)

thought someone would have already figured this out (dunno)



Wide Open Throttle.... if you have you foot to the floor its wide open..

[uncletime]

ayyayyay
ummmm - I understand what WOT means - have driven/owned high perf vehicles for 35 yrs (rofl2)

my question is related to:
when does the computer switch the AC clutch off???
The pedal is connected to the computer not the throttle (drive-by-wire right?) - soooooooooo, 1/2, 3/4, full pedal equal no AC?

I guess I can just tap into the AC clutch wire and add a light to figure this out myself... (to see at what throttle or RPM setting the light/AC clutch is switched off)

thought someone would have already figured this out (dunno)

well the only reason i replied with that was bc your post made it seem like you were asking what rpm full throttle is... maybe i read it wrong if i did i apologize.
but i dunno the answer to your question. if you find out let us know. im interested in finding out

[racerboy777]

Had my car for little over a year, first owner. Got it with 0 Miles and now she has 23.5K yeah i drive alot, but my AC is still good, even in this hot FL weather, you know that takes a toll on cars. Humidity+ Stop and go traffic dont make it easy on ur AC or motor oil. But my AC blows as cold as it always has.

[billyrohm]

Had my MS3 for a couple of weeks now. I've seen some 90 plus days and the A/C seems to work great. I've yet to get the windows tinted but I do put a sunshade in the front windows, helps a lot. Even without it I just drive a little with the windows down and then roll them up, presto, car gets too cool

[BHOUST528]

I checked my ac here at my shop whitch im at now my ac system was not fully charged meaning i did not have the proper amount of freon in the system so i caused it to cycle on and off to frequently...you can by a re-charge kit at walmart, autozone,etc just make sure you dont go over the recommended amount for the vehicle there is a tag under that hood that will tell you in lbs how much it should have in it...just check the gauge on the charge kit and it will give you the amount that you have in there at the moment and then just add as ness....

[Tronix102]

when I bought my car new the AC sucked and I was gonna bring it back but now with 5000 miles on my car the AC is cold and I gotta raise the temp sometimes even when its 90 out it cools down pretty quick