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A/C disabling
Since most of you all know that your a/c comes in automatically with the defroster setting, defroster/feet setting, and the feet setting.
Has anyone had their dealer or speciality shop modify this setting so that a/c only comes on with the defroster setting and defroster/feet setting? Thanks guys!!:cool: |
I would be VERY interested in a mod that gave ME back full control. **I** know when I need the extra dehumidifying effect of A/C and when I don't.
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I think I found something in another forum, but I haven't tried it myself. Anyway, here's what it said:
There were some posts here about the a/c coming on with 3 of the vent control settings. Well I disabled it. It's a bit of a pain in the a$$ but it can be done. Man I wish I had a digital camera. BTW- my car is a Canadian model. US models may differ. If you do not know how to de-solder DO NOT ATTEMPT. If you do not have a c-clip spreading tool (looks like a pliers with two metal studs on it) DO NOT ATTEMPT. DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT AN INSTRUCTION MANUAL. ONLY A RECOLLECTION OF HOW I DID IT. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE YOU CAUSE TO YOU'RE CAR. 1. You need to take the HVAC controls out of the car. - Unhook the cable control in the driver's footwell - Unhook the cable control in the passenger footwell (crawl in and look up there is a round white plastic "thing" with a post on it, the cable hooks onto it.) - Pull on the fake carbon fiber silver radio surround. It comes out easily (no need to remove radio). - Un-hook the hazard lights switch at the top. - Now unhook the wire harness at the bottom. There are 2 micro switches that the vent control pushes on when turned to certain positions. You need to de-solder the switches to disable the a/c. 2. To get to the micro-switches - Take the module off the carbon fiber/silver bezel.(4 screws) - Take off the knobs on the front. (pull off) - Unclip the black plastic on the front. - Unscrew the orange plastic. - Unscrew the circuit board. (2 screws) DO NOT PULL ON THE BOARD!! - Look at the bottom. - Take the cable off the slider control that goes on top of the black plastic. YOU NEED A CLIP SPREADING TOOL (looks like a pliers with two studs sticking out of it) YOU MUST NOT DAMAGE THE WHITE PLASTIC HOLDER OR THE BLACK RUBBER CASING ON THE CABLE - Unscrew the black plastic. (2 screws) - Carefully take out the circuit board. 4. De-solder the two micro switches. 5. Put it all back together again. |
Thanks Douggie!! Excellent research on your part.
Now that I know it's a huge deal, I wonder if the dealer would do this? The A/C coming on at your feet is stupid. The last time I checked, I could see my sneakers just fine even though they had fogged up on me. LOL!!! Nice job! Let the pondering begin on this topic. |
Thanks for digging that up Douggie, unfortunately,it is WAY over my head skill-wise. :(
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No prob, just trying to help :bt:
And I think that no dealer will consider doing this mod for us because this is the way the car functions from the factory. Messing with this probably voids the warranty on the A/C system. So I guess my feet will be enjoying the extra dehumidifying in the winter until my warranty expires :D |
And dry feet!!!
:D Originally posted by douggie No prob, just trying to help :bt: And I think that no dealer will consider doing this mod for us because this is the way the car functions from the factory. Messing with this probably voids the warranty on the A/C system. So I guess my feet will be enjoying the extra dehumidifying in the winter until my warranty expires :D |
you know, there is a reason that its made to come on with some settings...and settings that are typically used in winter....that is to keep your A/C all lubed up and functional...its not a good thing to have the system sit totally unused for extended periods of time....seals tend to dry out and there goes all your coolant.
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Yeah, I know it's good to have the A/C on once in a while during winter to keep the refrigerant flowing, but I don't need it to be on all the time. :)
Well, I guess this is a "if-you-can't-beat-them,-join-them" kind of thinking :) |
A/C IS useful in the winter
Maybe I got lucky but my A/C only comes on when I push the button or the full defrost is on...not at all when I have it on floor or def/flr. I know because I use the defrost when it's raining out and the windows are fogging (this is the only setting the windows won't fog on unless I push the button!).
Now with A/C...you should use it periodically to keep it lubed up...this is true...but did you know what A/C does? As the air flows into your heater plenum, it passes through the A/C evaporator. This cooles the air down, causing it to loose the condensation (sp?) hence the term "Air Conditioning". Then it passes through the heater core and warms up and on into your car. Now your asking WTF this guy is on...Think of this...In the winter (northern regions) the gov't uses f**king salt on the roads (political outrage in progress) because the population dosen't understand that they have to slow down and drive according to the weather. This salt and water combo gets on our boots and shoes and into the car as we get in and drive. If you run just the heat setting you are blowing warm wet air onto you high-buck leather shoes and onto your carpet. As this water sits in the carpet it soaks into the underpadding and to the floor causing the rust spot commonly found under the gas pedal on most cars! So, the moral of the story is...invest in "Pant saver" rubber floor mats, they work to hold all the water from your feet (my uncle also informs me they also hold a full bottle of beer if need be), put your A/C button on and to the floor setting, and crack a window (invest in Vent visors so you don't get hosed in the face when you use your washer fluid). The other benifit...you wont get that wet dog smell in your car in the spring! Working to keep all the Pro-family cars nice for the next generation! |
And so I dig up an old thread... :D
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Lol...I have to use my A/C all the time to clean up the windows, even when cold...I used to use it all the time but I realized I can get away without it most times. I'm glad the switch on mine is totally seperate from the rest of the controls. :)
Maxx, the guys on the rx-7club found the real assclown (the guy in your avatar). :) |
My compressor only comes on during the full defrost setting, not on the defrost/floor or floor only as several people had stated.
Whats up? Are you guys mistaken? |
Originally posted by Mach 1 My compressor only comes on during the full defrost setting, not on the defrost/floor or floor only as several people had stated. Whats up? Are you guys mistaken? |
I got a P5 in 2002 in Canada. The aircon only comes on when I turn it on, that is pressing the button. Any other settings will not activate it.
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Originally posted by leungwingkei I got a P5 in 2002 in Canada. The aircon only comes on when I turn it on, that is pressing the button. Any other settings will not activate it. Mazda has it designed that way for some stupid reason. |
it's not for a stupid resason, it's because if you have some snow where your foots stands and you put the defrost/foot position then the humidity will make some frost in your windows. That's why they put the A/C when the defrost/foot position is selected ..
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Yup... By golly, you're right. Revs drop & then come back up whenever the switch is in the last 3 positions.
That explains my lousy gas mileage...My AC's been on all winter long! I wonder why the owner's manual doesn't mention anything about this?:( |
Originally posted by Mark_02DX I wonder why the owner's manual doesn't mention anything about this?:( It is actually a good thing for the most part. It will eliminate humidity from the interior, and keep the a/c system lubed up year round. Only negative is slightly worse mileage. |
Originally posted by Mach 1 ...Only negative is slightly worse mileage. |
Friggin dumb as hell
I noticed this yesterday! Going home, it's 82 and I want cool feet. I flip it to floor, set the knob to coldest and turn the fan to #1. WTF the air's ice cold! I'm thinking this can't be, I didn't turn on the air. Get home, pop the hood and sure enough, the refrigerant lines are ice cold.
So I read the owners manual. There it is in black and white. I understand the lube part but, why not have it come on in DEFROST mode only the mode most used in winter??? I figured out how to buy the damn car, let me adjust the climate controls how I want! (Honda also has this system but it only comes on with defrost and there's a way to over-ride it.) Anyway, I have a guy checking it out at Mazda R&D. Stoooooooopid! :wtf: |
Re: Friggin dumb as hell
Originally posted by funkalicious (Honda also has this system but it only comes on with defrost and there's a way to over-ride it.) Anyway, I have a guy checking it out at Mazda R&D. Stoooooooopid! :wtf: To overide the system in defrost would be stupid, as it does that for the reason previously explained. I am surprised at the current mazda set up (my 2000 doesnt come on, only in defrost) but I wouldnt lose sleep over it. If its too cold for you, turn the temperature adjustment knob up to a warmer setting. |
Since i have read this post, i have metion this "problem" to my father, and one of my friend, we have read their manuals and got the same anwser: when the defrost is set up then the A/C will come on ... their cars is: a Chrysler Cebring and a Nissan X-Terra ! so it's not just our protege that have this settup !
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No one is saying that it's stupid for the A/C to come on while in defrost mode.
I am saying it is stupid for it to come on in floor mode. The air isn't too cold, I just don't want the extra load on the engine. The A/C saps 10-15 HP and it kills MPG. I know it isn't the end of the world, I just think it's a dumb "feature" and would like to change it if I can. |
I agree with you, but dont think it uses that much power (maybe 5 hp or less) and I dont think its worth the trouble to modify your new cars electrial system.
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Yeah, you're right, probably more like 5-7 HP. But, depending on driving conditions, that could be around 10-15% of your HP.
I wouldn't rewire anything. If there is an easy fix, I'll go that route. Basically, I just wanted to rant a bit. |
Originally posted by funkalicious Yeah, you're right, probably more like 5-7 HP. But, depending on driving conditions, that could be around 10-15% of your HP. I wouldn't rewire anything. If there is an easy fix, I'll go that route. Basically, I just wanted to rant a bit. |
A/C Fix
Try this fix that I whipped up. Much easier to do than messing with circuit boards. Not sure what car you are doing it to, but it should work the same on any car.
http://community.webshots.com/album/410888634bzFimz -Dax Clark |
Here is a very simple solution for the winter months: Simply remove the A/C fuse from the fuse block in the Engine compartment. According to the owner's manual for a Canadian 2006 Mazda 3, this is fuse #26. When summer comes back, just put the fuse back in. SIMPLE.
There is also an A/C fuse in the fuse block on the passenger side (#76), but it is labeled "Air Conditioner / Heater Control Unit" . If you remove this one you might not have any heat. Try both and see what happens. The effect is as if you blew a fuse, and since it is easily reversible , I don't see any harm that this will do. Just put the fuse back if you don't like the results. |
Originally Posted by leungwingkei
I got a P5 in 2002 in Canada. The aircon only comes on when I turn it on, that is pressing the button. Any other settings will not activate it.
Yeap, pullin out those two little swtiches does the trick, I did that with in the first month of ownin my P5 back on 2002, I hated the ac commin on when mazda felt it should, rainy days and getting in and out of the car makes you have to sit an way a couple of minutes for your windows to go through an anoying cycle of fogin up from the mosture on the evaporator and dry up so you can see. stop the ac from commin on and you've stoped that issue. Hey, that 02 P5 wasn't from Pacific mazda in Victoria was it() if it is you may have my old silver P5:P). |
Disable the A/C for freezing rain type weather
Today I followed by own advice and pulled out the under-hood fuse #26: IT WORKS! Now no more stupid A/C when my wife is trying to warm up the windshield with the defroster setting. You see, the Mazda 3 is my wife's car. I borrowed it during a light freezing rain and after about 10 minutes of driving the ice was really accumulating at the bottom of the windshield.
I thought to myself "THIS IS STUPID, I'M GOING BLIND HERE!" Another 10 minutes and soon the ice would be all over the windshield and I would have to pull over and scrape the stuff off with an ice scraper. Turning on the heat full blast on the defroster setting didn't seem to give enough heat to melt the ice because the stupid A/C was cooling off the air blast coming out of the defroster so that it had no heating effect on the glass. I pulled into a local Zehrs (Food store), looked at the fuse arrangement in the owner's manual, identified fuse #26 as the A/C fuse, popped open the hood, opened up the under-hood fuse box and was surprised that fuse #26 was all by iself. The fuses above and below #26 were not even there (as shown in the user's manual). I removed the fuse puller from the inside of the fuse box cover and pulled out fuse #26. I put the puller back into the cover, put the cover back on the fuse box, and put the 10-Amp fuse into that small box in the dashboard just under and slightly to the left of the steering wheel. I started the engine and took off again. I didn't bother scraping off the ice. Within 5 minutes the ice disappeared and the car is now 100% safer to drive in freezing rain weather! I feel good that my wife is so much safer now when she drives during freezing rain weather in the winter (which happens a lot in Canada). When spring comes, I'll put that #26 , 10-amp fuse back in so that my wife has her A/C back. |
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