mx5cartalk.com

Trying to get to the root of my AC issues, being that the AC is next to useless when the motor is warm and car is stationary. I've just noticed that my AC condenser fan is blowing engine bay air through the radiator, not sucking air through.

Stupid question I guess, but is it meant to be that way?

It should draw air from the front through the radiator and the aircon condenser as otherwise it will have to fight against the airflow when the car is moving.

Aah yeah. Sounds so obvious when it is said like that

Well, after spending over $300 on regassing over the past few years, I'm pleased that I've found the problem. It's disappointing that the crowd (prominent forum sponsors) that installed the AC kit, didn't pick up on this.

where is the extra fan?!?! I left some dead weight behind!!

If than fan is blowing rather than sucking then it's also blowing toasty warm air from the hot radiator onto the A/C condensor which sort of defeats the purpose of having the fan in the first place. Once you get the fan sucking you will noticed a marked improvement in your A/C performance, especially when stationary. I'm surprised the guys that regassed it didn't pick it up. One of the first things that the guy that regassed mine did was check the airflow through the condensor.

Something else to look at after fixing the fan.

Appears the seal between the engine bay and the cowl can become compressed over time and allows hot air to flow into the cowl which is then drawn in by the air vents.

There is a fix Here which I have applied and noticed a small improvement.

This has the opposite effect to raising the rear of the bonnet to increase airflow around the engine

Garry - funnily enough I discovered the fan thing after reading some of your posts regarding the missing pieces of foam after a radiator replacement. I was trying to feel for vacuum in the gaps when I felt warm air forced out of the small gaps between the condenser fan and radiator. That prompted me to check the fan direction.

The more I think about it the more I am extremely annoyed that Mania didn't install the fan correctly. I'm lucky it didn't affect the cooling of the motor

de Bounce: Thanks for that. Just checked mine and it is sealing fine.

brenno wrote:Garry - funnily enough I discovered the fan thing after reading some of your posts regarding the missing pieces of foam after a radiator replacement. I was trying to feel for vacuum in the gaps when I felt warm air forced out of the small gaps between the condenser fan and radiator. That prompted me to check the fan direction.

The more I think about it the more I am extremely annoyed that Mania didn't install the fan correctly. I'm lucky it didn't affect the cooling of the motor

de Bounce: Thanks for that. Just checked mine and it is sealing fine.

Hi there, I have the same problem as what you have posted in here. just noticed that from my condenser fan this morning. will check everything tom, Have you already resolved that problem? What have you did?

Hi there,

I took my car to an Auto Elec who cut the Mazda OEM connectors and rewired it with generic connectors. Took about 5 minutes to do.

The air con is brilliant now. For three years and multiple regasses I put up with aircon that was totally ineffective when the car was stationary. It made hot city traffic absolute hell.

brenno wrote:Hi there,

I took my car to an Auto Elec who cut the Mazda OEM connectors and rewired it with generic connectors. Took about 5 minutes to do.

The air con is brilliant now. For three years and multiple regasses I put up with aircon that was totally ineffective when the car was stationary. It made hot city traffic absolute hell.

How about the a/c condenser fan? I bought new one just today and planning to replace that one. I hope this was also a good idea.