New FD owner needs HELP with auto climate control/HVAC and parts!

[rdrr]

Hi all
I recently fell for an immaculate 1994 fd body RX7.  The car is a Japanese import and started life as an auto (now with a 400+ bhp V8 and a 6 speed manual drivetrain...but that's another story...).  The car came as standard with what appears to be the very rare automatic climate control with aircon (identified by the AUTO button on the dashboard next to the OFF button. 

The whole HVAC system has become non-functional and appears to be unfixable - we have even had all the joints on the circuit boards re-floated, and no parts seem to be available for this super-rare system, new or 2nd hand.  The only way forward seems to be to retrofit the standard manual HVAC controls into the car that the vast majority of all RX7 FDs in the UK have.  Where to get the parts though?  Being new to the Mazda/Japanese scene I need some advice...can you help?  We think we need the following...

1. Heater blower box (may not be needed if its the same as in my car)
2. Dash loom
3. Heater switch pack with dash panel

Any advice will be greatly received!

Roy

PS. Full details of the monster build to follow!

[clive]

First up 

We have had lots of Auto cars over here so there's a good chance Tim at RXMotors may be able to help

[rdrr]

Thanks Clive... both for the warm welcome and the info 

[Casey]

Welcome to the club 

Yep, Tim White at RX Motors down in Salisbury is a good call. I hope he can help you fix the problem.

[rdrr]

Thanks all - I've made contact with Tim and got a plan!  I'll post an update when we have it sorted.

[clive]

 Excellent news

[rdrr]

Hi all, thanks again for the assistance.  Tim has sorted it... great to drive the car with a heater again 

[rdrr]

Hi all
I thought I would resurrect this post, firstly to give an update and secondly to once again ask for help!

So Tim at RX Motors did indeed manage to source several 2nd hand parts, fit them and get the climate control working.  But after a short while on long runs it would once again become unresponsive - basically keeping blower levels, heating etc at the same level regardless of what was done to the dials.  Now even when starting there is nothing until an aggressive left-right-left twist on the blower control.  Sometimes even this does not work resulting in zero heat in the cold and no demisting, and a brilliant car that cannot be relied on in our UK weather.  So back to square 1   

Just to be clear the system I have is rare and only fitted to JDM touring versions I believe.  The circuit board is showing signs of corrosion on several of the legs of the main chip on the PCB - much like the one that Tim previously replaced.  (Will attach photos if I can work out how!)

So options...

1. I could get the PCB worked on by, say a micro electronics expert but he won't be able to test it easily and could prob only just refloat the solder on the legs. Chance of success is probably low I would say.

2. I would obviously like to source another PCB, maybe I will try Tim again. But again another 2nd hand part and one which is notorious for failure so I would prob just be set to fail again in the near future.  It is also compounded by the fact that I can't seem to identify the part number of the PCB, or any sites/orgs in Japan who may be able to supply (surely they must have loads in circulation over there!). Any thoughts on this people?

3. Retrofit the whole standard system in place of the dodgy auto climate control that I have in my motor.  Parts are not obviously interchangeable with non-auto climate control versions although I believe the blower motor may be the same.  As ever detailed and correct information is very hard to come by but I think a full dash-out wiring and harness replacement and retrofit of the manual heating (i.e. hot/cold rather than temp) is required.

Thoughts, information, advice as ever greatly appreciated!

[Casey]

That PCB doesn't look too bad. A clean up with iso-pro alcohol and some reflowing of the dodgy looking solder pins with a heat gun would help. Given the board is rare, and without cct diagram, testing won't be possible, so visual and continuity tests only I'm afraid.

I could do that for just postal costs in the New Year if you like. Let me  know.

[boosted]

I reckon Caseys the main man for this..defo worth a try cleaning this up.

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

[rdrr]

Thanks a lot guys.  @Casey - I will be in touch!
R

[Casey]