Strange A/C Fan Problem

[jptrsn]

It's a very odd situation in my 2008 Mazda5: hit the Auto button on the climate control with the A/C turned on, and you can hear the fan crank up to high speed, but there's almost no air coming out of the dash vents.

Any setting without A/C, and the dash vents work fine. All the other vents work fine with the A/C turned on. Now here's the strange part:

When I turn off the recirculate option, the air comes out of the dash vents nice and strong. I've limited it down to something happening when I turn on recirculate with the air on. Actually, now that I think about it, I haven't tried turning on recirc without the a/c - that's on the agenda for tomorrow.

Has anyone heard of this happening? I plan on checking the cabin air filter, but I'm pretty sure it's uninvolved (because the dash vents work). Anyone know how the recirculate system is set up? Could there be a problem with the gate that changes outside to inside air blocking the vents? Is it hard to get in there to check?

Thanks for any help. I've never run into this problem before, so I'm kinda stumped at what could be causing it. Seems illogical to me.

Please post any ideas or potential solutions. I welcome any advice, even if it's just a "Woah. That's weird!" kind of comment.

Thanks! Jptrsn.

 

[mazdadude]

Does it function normal when you take it out of the "AUTO" mode?

 

[jptrsn]

I checked, and the problem occurs in or out of AUTO mode, with A/C on or off, whenever recirculate is on, and the dash vents are selected.

Weird, eh?

 

[flcruising]

Does it blow cold through the other vents? How about the rear?

So the conclusion is that the front vents don't blow in any situation?

 

[jptrsn]

Cold air works through the floor, the rear, and the defrost. It ALSO works through the dash vents, as long as recirculate is OFF.

I've narrowed the problem down more. Every setting works properly, with one exception:

Dash vents don't blow any air whenever recirculate is turned on. Hot, cold, A/C, no A/C, other vents, or no other vents - all settings do not affect the dash vent & recirculate problem.

Does anyone volunteer to test theirs to see if they can replicate the problem?

 

[flcruising]

Replicate the problem? This isn't normal operation.

I'm still unclear as to your problem though. The recirculate only affects the dash vents? Floor vents and defrost blow fine with recirculate turned ON? Dash (and all other) vents blow fine with recirculate turned OFF?

If this is the case, I see no way to investigate fully without dismantling the dash to see if the actuators are functioning. You may also have a blockage.

 

[Martyd]

I'll have to say a blockage is possible as flcruising suggesting. Depends where you live. Today I turned on my fan and a ton of crap from my neighbor's maple tree flowed out the floor vents on to my feet. i fear that there is more in the ducts. Anyway, do you park under a tree that is going through the spring seed mess? It's a possibility.

 

[jptrsn]

I thought it might be blocked, but the strange part is that the car is always parked in a garage, or in our driveway. We live in the suburbs, and the trees in our neighbourhood are all young. There aren't any near the driveway...

Oh well. Looks like I might need to get busy pulling stuff apart.

 

[pwrpf01]

I have a 2009 and have a somewhat similar problem, but it's with my REAR vents. if I have the A/C on (no matter of recirc or fresh), and I turn the REAR vents on, they won't blow. I have to turn the A/C off (not the blower, just the A/C) then hit the REAR vent button - THEN I can get the A/C to work in the REAR.
Let us know what you conclude!!

 

[wayneneely]

I know this is an old thread, but I have the EXACT same problem on my 2012 Maza5. Did you find a solution or what caused it?