A/C Compressor Cycling?

Have any of you guys had this problem:

When the A/C button is in the OFF position (and not lit), and the air-position selector is on FLOOR or FACE setting, fan speed on any setting, the A/C compressor cycles on and off. I know it's the A/C compressor because it "sweats" underneath and because of that under-hood click and the change to RPMs when it engages.

They told me it's supposed to go on when the selector is on 'defrost' (well, DUH, really?)...when I continued to insist that it's when the selector is on FLOOR or FACE and the A/C button is OFF that it's happening, they just say 'ok, we'll look at it'...then when the service is done they write it up as normal.

I had it on my service request the last 2 times it was at the dealer and both times it came back as "works as designed". They even went so far as to tell me it was in my owner's manual. If it's supposed to ALWAYS run the A/C, (which it WOULDN'T), then why have an A/C button in the first friggin place?

Next time I think I'm going to have to demand that the tech go for a ride with me to show him. Since they don't drive them any more, they just take them in and hook them up to the computer and if it doesn't duplicate the situation, they don't see it... I wonder how that's gonna go over.

I'm getting ready to call the 800#. I did get the survey call and forgot to mention it because I was so pissed they were going to charge me to reprogram the keyless entry system and I had to fight that one. Car is 18 MO old with only 15K miles...the keyless shouldn't crap out. One transmitter worked, one stopped. They were going to charge me $38 (1/2 hr labor) to fix it! I wasn't going to leave there paying for that one and they knew it. They took that charge off right quick.

Anyone else having this particular A/C problem? If my A/C is always running even when it's not supposed to, that's doing nothing but wearing out my A/C compressor, alternator, serpentine belt, AND giving me lower gas milage...:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

(bluep5) (bang) (p5blue) (shrug)

i have had similar things from my p5, but i never knew what it was. i though it was just the fan going on and off, but i definitely notice when it kicks on and off, as the engine suddenly becomes sluggish ,and the click, on off sound that accompagnies it
never thought it to be a problem though, oh well
find out please, very interesting

My new mp5 does this similar thing, I now know its cause I have the defrost selected. I'll let you know if it continues on my car. Try taking it to a different Mazda dealership if you can. Also try taking out the fuse for the ac and see if you still have the problems. This will help isolate it for the dealership.

The same thing occurs on my P5 and my Miata (well, when the AC worked). It also happened on my old Escort. I'm quite sure it's normal, heh.

Yes!!!

CentralPAZoom,

Yes!! This happens to me too....I thought it was my imagination but I knew something was going on.

I also notice that it does not happen all the time, however I did not know that it was due to the directional setting. I will check that next time I'm in the car.

kcbhiw says that it is normal - which completely blows my mind. But I now remember having an argument with my GF about putting on the A/C everytime she needs to defrost the windshield. She told me the dealer told her to do that.....I thought they were pulling her leg. Now I am not so sure.

Thanks for taking the lead and confronting your dealer.

SpookyP5

well... I am glad that this happens to other people than me?!
I set the A/C button off and not on Defrost it still clicks on and off. I may have to ask Mazda Dealer about it next time. I even checked the button to see if I screwed it up while installing the stereo. If anybody finds out something before me, please post.

I thought I heard mine come on and off today after I changed my oil. But I was putting my tools away, and just thought it was my fan. Ill have to check on that, cause you can hear it click on and off when youre at a stop.

If "Recirculate" is selected, the compressor will always run so as to keep your windows from fogging in humid climates. If you're running it on recirc. all the time, you're kiling a bunch of good horsepower. Don't race anybody like that!

If "Outside Air" is selected with the A/C switch off, turn the vent selector to face, or face and feet, and the compressor will not run unless you force it to with the A/C switch. If you turn the selector to feet, the compressor runs. That's stupid.

Of course it should run with any combinations of defrost selected.

I have never had a car that ran the compressor with feet only selected. Steals power and gas. That sucks.

My thoughts exactly...im tempted to figure out a kill switch for the ac and do a right up on here for everyone. I'll do some research tomorrow while I paint the valve color. My head will be under the hood might as well do some looking around.

theres already a writeup on how to disable it when it is in the feet only position. Its a pita, and requires removal of the radio trim, and soldering.

Pita?

pain in the a$$

Yep, it's NORMAL. It's a "feature", whether you like it or not.

Like MikeBlue said, you can bypass this "feature", but it's a pita (Pain In The @ss).

So just learn to live with it.

Besides, it's "supposed" to be good to run your A/C once in a while, even during winter, to keep the seals lubricated so that they don't crack and leak refrigerant.

Me Too!!

I just leave it on the vent position and off in the summer.

I find that if it isnt really warm in the summer having the defrost on level one seems to not be as cold as "ON"

Douggie said:

Yep, it's NORMAL. It's a "feature", whether you like it or not.

Like MikeBlue said, you can bypass this "feature", but it's a pita (Pain In The @ss).

So just learn to live with it.

Besides, it's "supposed" to be good to run your A/C once in a while, even during winter, to keep the seals lubricated so that they don't crack and leak refrigerant.

Click to expand...

====================
Yeah thats true, but the defroster takes care of that already. At least here in humid SC where I live, I have to defog every morning if I park outside.

Wow, I'm glad I searched and found this thread. Here I was pulling my hair out looking for a fix and now I find out that it is completely normal !!!!!

Now to find this disable mod so I can deal with this once and for all............

is this for climate control models only as mine does not have this problem but has no climate control just the lever for fresh or recirc. i was considering going to climate control but sounds like more trouble then it's worth.

You have to set your vent control to upper and lower.... That stops the AC from kicking on. It is for defogging