General Steamy Windows

[Redcar_500]

Ever since we had had our 500, which is approx 3 months now, we have to ALWAYS have have the air con on, otherwise the windows are constantly filled with condensation.

Am I doing something wrong or is it a common 'fault'?

Desperate to get a happy medium with it, but its a pain either having to have a window down, or have the air con on all the time.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Nuova500]

What setting do you have the air circulation on? It should be on continuous fresh air, if you have it on recirculating old air, it will always mist up. Look in your handbook to see how to do this if not sure.

 

[Jake_in_notts]

I notice if you demist the car with the aircon and then stop when you restart the car it missed up really quickly. To stop this I allow the car to clear its self using the AAC defrost/demist setting then once clear turn off the air con and leave it just blowing hot. That way when you restart it doesnt mist up instanly. I dont use recirc.

 

[John R Smith]

My 500 is just about the most mist-free car I have ever had. Just has never been a problem, even on really wet days. Are you sure that you do not have a hidden leak in the car somewhere?

John

 

[Nuova500]

Same for me John, misting is usually caused by the recirculation setting... a leak would also do it, but check the easy bit first!

 

[Lloyd71]

Don't all cars do this because of the difference in temperature between the outside and the inside?

Keeping the air con on will keep the glass at the same temperature as the outside (equal temperature, no condensation), but if you put the heater on and let it run for a while it will heat the window up to the same temperature as the inside (equal temperature, no condensation)

It's nothing to do with the 500, it's the way the world works.

 

[white 500]

My 500 is just about the most mist-free car I have ever had. Just has never been a problem, even on really wet days.
John

Same here

 

[Redcar_500]

My Audi does nothing of the kind though.

Will check the settings as suggested above.

Hopefully that will cure it.

 

[306maxi]

I notice if you demist the car with the aircon and then stop when you restart the car it missed up really quickly. To stop this I allow the car to clear its self using the AAC defrost/demist setting then once clear turn off the air con and leave it just blowing hot. That way when you restart it doesnt mist up instanly. I dont use recirc.

Yeah I think when you leave your air con on and then turn the car off you get condensation building up on the evaporator which then gets in the car and mists the window up. Happens on my 406 as well.

 

[RobW]

yes turn the aircon on to help it de-mist

all cars are the same

 

[OldPopwithNewPop]

Most manufacturers recommend the air con being left on all the time, just adjust your temp to suit.
Our 500 doesn't have air-con and we don't suffer from condensation.

All our previous cars that had air con always misted up if the air con was switched on and off when we needed it, leaving it on all time helps.

Cheers

 

[306maxi]

Most manufacturers recommend the air con being left on all the time, just adjust your temp to suit.
Our 500 doesn't have air-con and we don't suffer from condensation.

All our previous cars that had air con always misted up if the air con was switched on and off when we needed it, leaving it on all time helps.

Cheers

That would decrease your fuel efficiency greatly. As I said before you will get a little bit of condensation if you switch your air con off but a heater will quickly sort this out and won't sap power.

 

[Nuova500]

It will also more importantly decrease your performance, and on a 1.2 thats not what you need
It has to be a problem specific to your own car, either a fault or your recirculation... Fiats in general dont mist up anymore than anything else.

 

[StevenRB45]

Don't all cars do this because of the difference in temperature between the outside and the inside?

Keeping the air con on will keep the glass at the same temperature as the outside (equal temperature, no condensation), but if you put the heater on and let it run for a while it will heat the window up to the same temperature as the inside (equal temperature, no condensation)

It's nothing to do with the 500, it's the way the world works.

I thought the way aircon cleared the windows was by removing the moisture content of incoming air to the car so that when it gets to the cold window their is no moisture to condense on the glass, you can run the aircon with the heater set to hot and it still demists the windows.

 

[306maxi]

I thought the way aircon cleared the windows was by removing the moisture content of incoming air to the car so that when it gets to the cold window their is no moisture to condense on the glass, you can run the aircon with the heater set to hot and it still demists the windows.

That's how I understood it to work. Reduced humidity meant the screen demists almost instantly.

 

[Lloyd71]

I thought the way aircon cleared the windows was by removing the moisture content of incoming air to the car so that when it gets to the cold window their is no moisture to condense on the glass, you can run the aircon with the heater set to hot and it still demists the windows.

Yup, I'm pretty sure that's how it works but I've had a lot less trouble by not using the air con at all.

 

[udtrev]

Right,

I am going to throw an alternate view on this.

I have a 1.2 Panda without Aircon, I always drive it with fresh air set rather than recirc.

My drivers door seems to steam up when damp/wet with the exception of the bit where you see the wing mirror - phew



Trev

 

[306maxi]

I have a 1.2 Panda without Aircon

I think that's the key with your steaming up

 

[OrangeSport]

Not had a problem with misting in the 500 with or without the aircon on. In fact, the screen clears pretty quickly with just unconditioned air. One tip I can give is that when you turn the air setting to clear the screen, shut the vents off. That way you get maximum air to the screen.

 

[brimbling]

I've found that the aircon will demist the screen very quickly, however, in the recent very cold weather it seems the windows are much colder and they take longer to clear. Last week with four people in the car and below freezing outside, the side windows didn't demist for an hour (although the windscreen did stay clear).

Usually the screen clears within minutes though, I should add I have climate control and this adjusts temp, selects the appropriate vents and sets the fan speed so no cold air in your face and it puts warm air to the screen as a priority. I wouldn't say there's a problem with the 500, in fact it's better than my old Volvo V50 at demisting the screen.