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Mazda3 Maintenance & Repair

4991 messages,  Last post on Jan 21, 2013 at 9:58 PM

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Messages Page 252 of 500

#2504 of 4991 AC system - by z71bill

Oct 07, 2005 (3:14 pm)

I have about 16K miles on my Mazda3 - the last few weeks have been very hot - and my AC has actually WORKED PRETTY WELL. At first I thought it was just all in my head - but a few times I actually turned the fan speed down from 3 to 2 (3 actually cools better than 4). My wife also noticed - she ask me if I had done something to FIX IT.
 
I recall reading a post from someone who claimed that after a year their AC started working better - I though they must have just gotten use to the weak system.
 
Not sure why - or how - an AC system can actually get better over time - but I really think mine has. I would still not say that my AC is great - it still takes too long to cool off the car - but it is a BIG improvement over where it was at the start of the summer.
 
I also found a new TSB on grinding brakes (6/17/2005) so things are looking up.
 
If Mazda would just come out with a fix for the harsh 1-2 shift I could have all of my issues solved - before it is time to trade cars!

#2505 of 4991 Re: Well, here ya go. When there's a problem, Mazda solves it. [mdaffron] by ex_tdier

Oct 08, 2005 (3:05 am)

Replying to: mdaffron (Sep 29, 2005 10:52 am)
When there is a life and death problem, Mazda MUST solve it!! There is a difference.

#2506 of 4991 Re: AC system - [z71bill] by ex_tdier

Oct 08, 2005 (3:15 am)

Replying to: z71bill (Oct 07, 2005 3:14 pm)
z71bill, looks like you will be a happy camper soon. There is a fix for the harsh shifting. I have it. It's a software update. It smoothes it out big time. Almost 100% (depends how picky you are. Unfortunately, not all dealers around town have it. The update is that new. I had mine done on Sep 23.
 
I dont have 16,000 KM on mine. But here is some interesting info. My girlfriend is in Taiwan right now. Her brother has a 2005 Mazda3, bought in November 2004. I specifically asked her to check out the A/C. The temp over there is around 33C or 90F. The A/C apparently works just fine at speed 1. At speed 2, the fan is too loud . Also, the compressor doesnt shut off and on as frequent as ours does. There is CONSTANT airflow unlike with ours

#2507 of 4991 ex_tdier by z71bill

Oct 08, 2005 (7:52 am)

I called my dealer last week - no TSB on the harsh shifting tranny yet -
 
I will need an oil change in about a month and hope that they have an update by then.
 
I have noticed that my radiator cooling fan seems to run more that it did before. This fan also pulls air through the AC condenser - so it can impact the AC performance.
 
It is a little strange - after I shut off the engine & get out of the car - the fan is still running - for 10 seconds - or so. Last summer it did this a few times - but now it does this all the time. Not sure why the change - or if it even has anything to do with my AC improvement - but it sure is nice to have a car that actually blows some cool air. I just hope it lasts.

#2508 of 4991 Finally figured this out - 6 months later by ikeedum

Oct 10, 2005 (12:13 pm)

I finally think I figured this out, though it's been a while since I posted my original question. I was wondering what sort of buzzing would keep clicking on and off every 30 seconds. My first thought, and one someone immediately brought up was : does it do it when you have the A/C on? Seeing as it was Feb/March time, the answer was no - it does it even without it, which confused me.
 
It seemed intermittent, and I hadn't thought about it for a while, but I think what's now happening is that if you have the fan position in either of the window defrost settings, it automatically will turn the compressor on for you intermittently - but NOT light up the AC button. Can anyone else confirm this to be the case?

#2509 of 4991 Re: Finally figured this out - 6 months later [ikeedum] by pepperfritz

Oct 10, 2005 (9:38 pm)

Replying to: ikeedum (Oct 10, 2005 12:13 pm)
I don't know from experience but the owners manual does state on page 6-8 the following----"In the (symbol for the two defrost positions), air conditioning is automatically turned on to defrost the windshield quickly (however, the indicator light does not illuminate) and the (symbol for outside air intake) position is automatically selected. The air intake selector switch cannot be changed to the recirculate position."

#2511 of 4991 Re: ex_tdier [z71bill] by mdaffron

Oct 11, 2005 (4:47 am)

Replying to: z71bill (Oct 08, 2005 7:52 am)
It is a little strange - after I shut off the engine & get out of the car - the fan is still running - for 10 seconds - or so. Last summer it did this a few times - but now it does this all the time. Not sure why the change - or if it even has anything to do with my AC improvement - but it sure is nice to have a car that actually blows some cool air. I just hope it lasts.
 
Hmmm! This may be a clue. My '05 has always done the 10-second run after engine shutdown ...
 
(Don't hit that "delete" key too fast there, Mr. Host! Only trying to help here! After all, this is the "Problems & Solutions" discussion, FCOL!)
 
Meade

#2512 of 4991 10-second run by z71bill

Oct 11, 2005 (6:39 am)

The question is why?
 
When the engine is "hot" the fan should turn on - so why is my engine running hotter now than it did last summer?
 
The only thing I can come up with is -
 
Since I seem to be getting more cool air than before I am guessing the AC is not cycling on & off as fast / so the compressor is running longer - the extra load on the engine is making it run hotter - so the fan runs more.
 
So the radiator fan running more is not a solution to the problem - but the result of my AC (& engine) working harder.
 
The other reason for the AC improvement could be I am getting low on refrigerant - a system that is a little bit low can actually produce colder air than one that is fully charged - sounds backwards - but its true.
 
Now that the "cold" front has hit Houston (temp at 7:30 AM today was a frigid 68 degrees) my AC really kicks out the cold air - its fun to drive again!

#2513 of 4991 pricing for 15,000-mile service by kmh2468

Oct 14, 2005 (2:53 pm)

My '04 3 sedan is coming up to 15,000 miles so I called to a few dealerships in the area to get price quotes for the service. I was surprised to see a high end of over $300 being quoted. The lowest was about $130. When I check the online maintenance schedule at Mazda's website, all it called for, it seemed, was basically an oil change and the other stuff was merely inspections. So I thought I wouldn't be paying more than $30 for service. Not the case apparently.
 
The dealerships were quoting me prices that included the oil change but also things like tire rotation and fuel injector cleaning as well.
 
What experience and pricing did you have for the 15,000-mile service? Should I go ahead or merely get an oil change? BTW, the car's running fine with no glaring issues.
 
Thanks.

Messages Page 252 of 500

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