Automatic Climate Control - is not automatic

[CX-5-2013]

I have a 2013 CX5 with Automatic temperature Control.

It can be 90 degrees outside, probably 110 inside of the car.
I set the temperature to 65 Degrees. The fan runs at 3/4 speed for about 4 minuets and then the fan goes to 2 bars before the cabin is cool.
The internal temperature in the car is much hotter then 65 degrees.
I just choose 65 as an extreme to get the car cool, I probably would set it in low 70's if it worked.
Even at a setting of 61 the outcome is the same. At a setting of 60 degrees this must be "Full Blast, Manual setting" fan will run at a high speed for extended time.
If I turn the temperature slowly to 80 degrees the fan speed barely changes



I would expect with the temperature set at 65 degrees and an outside temperature of 90 degrees the fan would run at a high speed and then throttle back from close to full speed
as the temperature get closer to the set temperature.

The only way to get the fan to go faster while still in the "AUTO" mode is to turn the temperature to 60 Degrees (Not 61 Degrees).

If I open the windows the fan still is at 2 bars.
I would expect the fan speed to increase in speed to attempt to reach the set temperature.

The AC never goes out of the "Recycled Air" setting.
The air coming from vents is cold but there is not enough air flowing to cool the interior

To maintain the inside temperature I need to set the fan manually

The dealer had another CX5 on the lot and it appeared to be pretty much the same.

I have had other cars and they all would maintain the cabin temperature by varying the fan speed and switch from "recycling" the air to letting the outside air in.


Does anyone else have this concern and a possible fix?

 

[jabba]

That seems to be normal, you're basically describing how the AC works in our CX-9 and Mazdaspeed 3: it goes on recycled air in order to be more efficient, and blows hard for a few minutes before settling down and cooling more slowly to reach the desired temperature. Sometimes it'll stay on recycled for quite a while, I think the computer determines that it is more efficient to recycle the already-cooled air than try to cool hot air from outside.

I think Mazda programmed it that way so that you don't get a loud, full blast of air for long periods of time, it does get annoying, and as well it doesn't want to overshoot, so it throttles back the fan early. My Audi was like that too, set it to 60 F and it will keep blowing cold air, but it won't do it at 61 F. As well it would throttle the fan early so that you "gently" get to your desired temperature.

 

[rmac]

If it's too hot in the cabin I usually just set it to the coldest temperature until I feel comfortable then I'll set the desired temperature.

 

[MikeM.]

Does anyone else have this concern and a possible fix?

I have the fully manual climate control so I can't offer specific advice. But it might make you feel better to know that the fully automatic control on my top of the line Volvo isn't fully automatic either. It has always suffered from rather severe temperature drift caused by engine heat eventually making the car think the cabin is warmer than it is. So, I have to keep turning the setting higher to avoid being frozen by the air conditioner as the trip progresses.

My CX-5 with manual controls is much easier. I leave the fan on 1 or 2 and turn the other knob right or left depending on whether I want to feel warmer or cooler. Works well.

Maybe a trip to the dealer would fix it?

 

[CX-5-2013]

The dealer did not think it was a problem and another CX5 was pretty much the same.

All my previous car (Non -Mazda) (Fords, Nissan) , all would cool the interior quickly and then the fan would slow down in steps.
The heat worked the same.
Maybe if I set the fan speed at a medium speed the temperature portion of "Auto" may regulate the temperature.

Other than this problem/Concern I love my CX5 with the Touring and Tech Package.
I like how it shifts and getting 30 MPG is a big plus.

 

[atitus]

Part of the issue may be the temperature sensor. It seems to take a while to update. Note that it looks at both the exterior and interior temperature and then decides what to do. I some hot days recently the only time I noticed the AC didn't seem to keep up was when I was leaving from the garage and it was because the exterior temp sensor was taking a while to "catch up" to the 90 degree outside temp.

 

[CX-5-2013]

I sent my concerns to Mazda.
I did a test were it was 80F, Car was in the garage so the interior was 80F.
Set the climate control to 62F, Auto.
Drove for 20 minutes and the cabin got as low as 77F in 20 minutes.
Drove the car with the temperature set at 62F, fan set at full speed. Car was 67F in 15 minutes.
Either mode the car never went out of recycle mode.
I would assume if I turn the fan speed control to a high speed the car would still regulate the temperature since if the temperature is set to 61F I get cold air and at 78F the vent change to the floor and the air is warm.

I covered the small vent low on the dash to see if that would have any effect, it did not

 

[CX-5-2013]

Mazda called and explained this is how it works.
I am very dissatisfied with the answer of course. I feel that the system is manual. I would like set it to 70F leave it on auto and forget about it.
Currently I have to adjust the fan speed to maintain the correct temperature and turn the system off until the engine warms up when it is cold out to prevent cold air from blowing on me in the winter.
Maybe I am the only person that feels this operation is very annoying.

 

[brianlees]

I have the exact same issues. An automatic system should be automatic. I should not have to manually adjust the temp down to 60 to get it to kick in. The algorithm the automatic climate control uses is just plain wrong. Unfortunately, it sounds like Mazd says this is normal. I have a 2003 Nissan Maxima and the automatic temp works exactly as expected. It runs very high to quickly get down to temp...way better than my decade newer cx-5. And, I NEVER have to adjust it manually unless that temp is hotter or colder to me on that particular day - depends on clothes, attitude, etc.

People don't care if it is loud for a short time. Mazda's logic is wrong. 5 min of high fan to cool down is better than 30 min of misery just so it was quieter.

 

[CX-5-2013]

At Least two people feel they being screwed by Mazda. Only way to get full power in automatic mode is 60F (61F two bars) or 90F.

 

[gner]

I have 2014 CX5 GT with 3K miles. AC work as good as any i have had and with temperatures in the 90-s here
in DE and high humidity, i have yet to see any water come from the car. It is parked in the garage when
we get home. I have felt the front floor boards and all is dry. Is there anything i can look for?

 

[biking4jesus]

this isnt exclusive to the CX family. my new 6 operates the same way. i live in the phoenix area, so it's HOT in the car after work. I've been setting the car to 70 or 71 and on auto mode. The only thing i've found that works is to crack the windows 3-4 inches and switch the mode from recycle, to outside air. If you switch the mode fast enough after starting, it will stay in auto mode. Mine will blow at 4 of 5 bars, but havent seen it go 5/5 automatically. I can get the inside down from 120 to 70s in just 15 minutes or less. I eventually switch it to recirc mode and things handle itself from there.

 

[cwstnsko]

The auto climate control was one feature that I wanted. I was disappointed that it only came as part of the tech package and that the tech package, in turn, required the Moon-roof package. I didn't want the Moon-roof. I was intrigued to see that in the Mazda 6, the auto climate control came in the Touring trim without having to buy all the packages.

After reading this, it sounds like the auto climate control would require nearly as much fiddling with as the manual control does.

I loved the auto climate control in my Chrysler, and I am similarly, very happy with it in our Nissan. I will investigate this feature carefully before buying in future Mazda purchases.