AC Dead CX7

[Longhaul412]

Well, at about 40,000 miles, experienced the first major? promblem with my wife's CX7.
A/C went out was the first thing she noticed. Shortly thereafter, a funny noise from the engine compartment. Shortly thereafter, smoke from the engine compartment.
She got stopped at a Mazda dealer Sunday.
We looked at it, and our amateur diagnosis is either the compressor seized up, causing the pully to stop and smoking the belt
or
the pully (bearings?) seized causing the belt to smoke.
The vehicle has been meticulously maintained, having every oil change done by Mazda, as well as every service done on schedule per Mazda reccomendations.

Awaiting word from the dealer this morning on what the actual problem and fix is. unfortunantly, the dealer at which the vehicle sits is not the dealer where we have all our work done (she was out of town at the time) but we have put them in touch with each other.



Edit:
Just talked to the dealer, a/c compressor seized up.
Parts are on back order.
Says vehicle is out of warranty due to mileage (about 40,000). est 2,000 for parts/labor.


Edit:
Ok, got the car towed back to our regular dealer.
problem is as above but....
They called Mazda corporate, and said they will fix the car under warranty!!!
Good one on Mazda. They took what was perfectly within thier right to deny, and went above and beyond for the sake of goodwill and customer relations. It was the right business decision, and we are appreciative.

On a side note, we gambled with this car, and didn't buy the extended warranty. We knew we were taking a chance when we did it. This time, we gambled and won, although not without some stress.
The service manager is gathering a list for us of companies that deal in extended warraties, and giving us his reccomendations for each. Would have been less painful up-front, as the cost could have been rolled easily into our payments, whereas now we'll have to pay up-front. But I don't like to roll-the dice too many times in a row.

 

[erhayes]

Seems like they could bend the 36,000 mile rule abit since you have all records. Maybe a 50/50 split for good customer relations?

 

[Longhaul412]

The dealer where it is located currently won't.
Talked to our dealer and they said if we can get the car back to them they will try and work with us. We have a good relationship with them, they've done work on all our vehicles for years, and have always been top notch.
I think since we've been a long time customer, and for the sake of customer relations, they will do something, will wait and see.

So, now onto the task of moving the vehicle a few hundred miles back home.
Will update more later as I know..

 

[CX-7owner]

Hmm, get it towed to the other dealer, this one is clearly not the one you want to be at. I'm sure they will fake the ODO reading for you.

 

[astraelraen]

If the compressor seized up you can simply turn the A/C off and it will run fine. As long as the A/C isn't engaged there is no tension at the compressor and there should be no smoke, etc. Now, if you did too much damage to the belts from the friction, thats another story and you should probably have those replaced before you make a long trip.

I've had the A/C compressor go out on a previous car, and assuming you don't replace everything in the a/c system, it shouldn't be more than like 1000 bucks depending on where you go/where you live.

I got a used compressor and had it installed along with some other things for like 750. This was maybe 3 years ago.

 

[Alpha Wolf]

In the old multi belt days like my 77 Trans AM you could take the one belt off that drove the A/C and drive on.

If it is the compressor then leaving the A/C off will work

If it is the pully clutch it won't. If locked up it will smoke the belt.

 

[Longhaul412]

In the old multi belt days like my 77 Trans AM you could take the one belt off that drove the A/C and drive on.

If it is the compressor then leaving the A/C off will work

If it is the pully clutch it won't. If locked up it will smoke the belt.

Sounds like the issue there. Belt smoking even with a/c off.
At our usuall dealer this morning, waiting on word from them.

We initially looked at putting on a shorter belt to bypass the a/c, but with this engine config (and probably most newer cars) it isn't possible. The belt has to go over the a/c pully to clear other engine parts.

 

[vbbuilt01]

That's bad luck. Reminds me of my parents years ago. They drove a Dodge Neon cross country from CA to Missouri and in middle of Nevada, the whole engine froze, out of warranty, of course. They were stranded in this little town for nearly two weeks awaiting a replacement engine to be shipped there.

On a side note, I'm guessing you didn't have an extended warranty? A lot of people think they're a waste of money, but now?

For me, an extended warranty is very much like life insurance. You hope to God you never have to use it, but if the unthinkable happens, it's a blessing.

Good luck!

Vince.

 

[Longhaul412]

On a side note, I'm guessing you didn't have an extended warranty? A lot of people think they're a waste of money, but now?

We didn't get the extended warranty, frankly didn't realize we drove quite that much. knew it was a gamble when we didn't get it, but we've now had 3 mazda's and this is the first major issue.

Dealer called yesterday and said Mazda is going to fix the car under warranty. No legal reason they need to do this, would have been perfectly legit for them to say no. From a customer relations and good-will standpoint, it was the right thing for them to do. They will get great press from me on taking care of us in this fasion.

We did talk to the service manager after he told us the news, and he is putting together a list of companies that offer extended warranties, so I think we will be investing in one shortly. No need to look the devil in the face twice, walking away once is one thing, having it happen twice is just tempting fate.

 

[koala]

Great to hear they're taking care of it for you. Thats a reasonable thing to do so soon after your warranty period.