7.0

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$650
Average Mileage:
94,200 miles
Total Complaints:
2 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (1 reports)
  2. replaced compressor, thermostat and fuse (1 reports)
2002 Mazda Protege AC / heater problems

AC / heater problem

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2002 Mazda Protege Owner Comments

problem #2

Jul 012008

Protege 5 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,565 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

In the 6th year of owning the car, the AC performance drops off considerably, but still cooling somewhat. By the following year it stopped cooling completely. Bought the quick-fix kit with the gauge and lubricant and refrigerant refill. When I checked the pressure it was OK, so first I purged some of the existing refrigerant and topped up with the new one, but that didn't fix it. Then I purged it again and topped it up with the lubricant, this time it started to cool again. I let the lubricant circulate for a while and then I purged it a little and topped up with fresh refrigerant, the cooling improved even more to the point that it was once again usable. It lasted couple of summers until it failed completely. Now it leaks, because I could smell the refrigerant/lubricant inside of the car. Maybe I'll try using the leak-stop fluid this time using the quick-fix method.

- zeniu17, Waterloo, Ontario, canada

problem #1

Aug 092010

Protege LX 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 113,800 miles

I pay lots of attention to my car even though it's a used car. And this car didn't give me any mechanical problem since I bought it from a private seller this Jan. However, I performed a transmission flush and radiator flush from mechanics, then I felt AC may not be working fine. I asked the mechanics and he told me AC compressor is weak after a test and it needs to be replaced. OK. I am not afraid of spenting money on it even though it costs over $400. After AC compressor's replaced, it worked for a while, maybe 10 mins and then it's down again. Then I understood it may not be AC compressor's problem. The guy started checking the fuse system and finally told me it's probably fuse problem. OK. After he did something which I was too exhause to watch, AC's icy cold. Great! I paid $120 for the labor and get ready to stay cool in hot TX. Sh*t happened in 1 hour. AC's not working well again. It's not totally down yet. I came back to the guy and he told me thermostat needs to be replace after the test. The reason? He told me since AC compressor's new and it generates more heat than the old one. The consequence of this is thermostat can't take so much load it used to take, therefore fails. In terms of fuse, he didn't know what happened and only told me it has an unknow electrical problem. I am doubtful to that. Anyway, AC's working well now and we will see.

- Dong L., Arlinton, TX, US

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