jfirko

I have a '93 base and I was wondering if there is anyway to easily tell whether I have dealer installed or factory installed a/c. I called mazda with my vin and they didn't have a clue. I want to purchase a new drier and want to make sure I get the right part.

JM1FD

iTrader: (1)

The Nippondenso unit has the sight glass directly on top of the dryer. The MANA unit has the sight glass in a cubic aluminum casting on the high pressure line, very near the dryer, but not on it.

This isn't a hard and fast rule, but it *should hold true. The ND unit will also probably have an unpainted aluminum dryer, whereas the MANA unit will have a black one.

See this thread....

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...threadid=93985

The line art drawing of the dryer is a ND unit....the photo is a MANA dryer.

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

the 93 and early 94 tourings are about the only ones with the nd system. the base and r1/2's should all have the mana

mike

turbojeff

iTrader: (30)

JM1FD is right but I think the terminology isn't really correct.

I really don't think any a/c was installed at the dealer or the "port". Since I wasn't at the dealer or the "port" I can't be positive. Installing a/c in the FD would be no easy task once the car is assembled.

It seems like only the Tourings have the different type of a/c.

Jeff
owned:
3 93 Tourings
5 93 R1s
1 93 base
1 94 PEG

Jeff

jfirko

Thanks for the input guys. I ordered a drier from the dealer for $81 which I thought was a decent price. My car does have the black drier with the sight glass on the side, the mana one. Thanks again. Jason

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

well the nd one is put in at hiroshima. i don't know where the mana system in the fd's were put in. i do know that the 99+ miata system is installed at the port. they have a large workshop space, i do remember reading that they can put the ac in a miata in 30 minutes. so much for a facotry original car huh?

mike

turbojeff

iTrader: (30)

OK, maybe port but not the dealer right?

To install ac in a FD you have to remove the battery, IC and airbox along with the belly pan and possibly the dash. I've pulled a few a/c cores and IIRC you have to loosen the heater core section to R+R the a/c evaporator.

I can envision 30 min in a Miata, I imagine it taking a few hours in a FD, maybe 2-3 once you get it down.

Jeff

JM1FD

iTrader: (1)

It makes economic sense, if you're already putting A/C in some cars as they roll down the line to just do it to all of them (espescially if its as complicated to put A/C in as on the FD). Why on earth would they want to expend the extra effort of disassembling and reassembling to add a/c when they could've done it in the first place as it was happening? Do some Miatas have factory A/C, or are they all a/c-less?



Forrest
http://www.***-internet.com/fd3systems

jfirko

Well, if anyone else is looking for a replacement drier for their FD, and you have the black receiver drier then the part you are looking for is # FD01-61-500B and I got it at a local dealer for $81.32. It says right on the part that it is compatible with both r12 and r134 and that it's made in canada, go figure.

m_snoby

Hey everyone. I am the guy that started the thread meantioned above. It's kind of strange, I have the Black dryer and (according to the dealer) it has a Nippon Dinson compressor. At this point (because it's f%@king hot as hell) I have a few questions and would love to have ya'lls input.
1.) I heard a rumor that I have to replace the dryer if I open up the system. That being true means that I have to replace the compressor and the dryer unit. TRUE?
2.) Should I just bite the bullet and let a professional do this? Besides the warrenty issue maybe it's for the best? I replaced the engine and the transmission in my car all by myself. But I could really use some advise here.

Thanks guys,

jfirko

Well, I replaced the drier and fixed the hole in my high pressure line with some stuff called braze perfect (great stuff). Then I took it to the local Pepboys and had them leak check and charge the system with r12. Now it is cold as ice :-) and works at all fan speeds which is good since I have a PFC and a base model '93. It cost me $160 plus the $83 for the new drier. Oh, and $15 bucks for the braze perfect stuff.

In reference to your question m_snoby, replacing the dryer doesn't necesitate replacement of the compressor. The drier doesn't need to be replaced if the system hasn't been leaking long, if it hasn't completely evacuated, only dropped below the pressure limit. It does need to be replaced if you have a large hole, and/or it has been left completely empty for some time. This means that it was open to atmosphere and the stuff in the drier will have already absorbed all of the moisture it can hold. Therefore if you simply recharge the system there will be some moisture present which reduces efficiency, and I believe could damage the compressor.

Hope this helps. Jason

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

thats the wierd part of the whole ac deal, is that the expensive part (the compressor) is the same for both systems. the comdensor, lines and evaporator are different. we know a couple of things. 1) the mana ac is cheaper. 2) the miatas all come with evaporators, maybe the fd's all came with compressors?.
mazda usa can order the car equiped any way they want to, its possible they do the mana ac (the miatas, 89-98mpv's, have it too) to save either money on the parts, or maybe its cheaper to import tax wise?

mike