If its blowing cold air sometimes:

If its blowing cold air sometimes, sometimes the switch just doesnt work, I dont think you need new refrigerant, you need a new blower motor relay. I'm in the process of replacing mine as well.



Assuming you need new refrigerant:

If you dont evacuate the system first, you wont solve the problem....You will either overpressurize the system, and/or introduce moisture into the system. Either/both of these actions will destroy your compressor, a $300+ part.

You need to have it legally evacuated at a shop, then you can evacuate (create a vacuum in the lines) and THEN fill it with NO MORE than 21oz of R-134. Dont forget that you need a total 7 oz. of PAG oil as well for the compressor.

Trust me, if you dont do this correctly, it will cause expensive problems later. I know this from experience.

 

Everyone needs to go back and read input from "haneyalp." This is a very well documented problem on these cars and Haneyalp is giving you the solution.

 

...AND ksteele38.

To reinforce what both users have said: This has nothing to do with recharging.

 

Just got to tackling this since it is getting warm again. Tried the resistor and switch. Switch worked, Resistor did not.

 

The switch pretty much fixed it for me, I have to redo some of the wiring down the road since I noticed one of the wires melted a little bit from a new head unit I installed on top of it. But it works much better. GL.

 

Haneyalp does not have the right answer to this problem. The resistor block did not fix the problem. The resistor block usually only needs to be replaced when the fan does not work, period, at certain speed settings or doesn't work at all.
I took my car to a garage and they claimed to put in a new switch, which seemed to work for a short while. The problem is back again so I am going to try installing a new switch myself. If this does not fix it then I will go to the dealership as I think I may have a larger electrical problem.
Does anyone else have new information regarding this problem?

 

Well, I have now installed a switch and also a resistor and there is still a problem. I am now going to upgrade the wires coming from the switch to the resistor and then to the motor. It seems as though the motor is over current, and has burnt the plug on the back of the switch. Hopefully going to a large wire will solve the problem.

 

what switch did you replace the ac one? the fan speed switch? I have the same problem, Mazda should've recalled this part.

 

Talked to the guys at Mazda and they are telling me I have to replace the whole Climate Control Unit on my 02 Protege 5.
They want almost 400 bucks to do it. I have all the schematics to do it myself if I can find the part.
Can anyone confirm I have to replace the whole unit or just a switch?
And where would I go to get one besides Mazda.

 

I have now replaced the blower switch and the resistor. Still doing it, so my next step is to rewire the controls out, because it seems as though there is an over current that has melted the plug that controls the blower speeds. May also try to find new unit on ebay while im at it too.