Steaming up!!

[Fr2013]

Anyone else have issues with steaming up when first getting into the car?

The Mrs has just swapped her Mini Countryman Cooper D for a (new) Leon 1.4 EcoTSI. The last few mornings we've had frosts and I've not heard the end of 'My old car never used to do this' and 'This car is crap I need a demister pad otherwise i'll be here forever' etc etc!

Incidentally, this is also a bug bear I've had with my last two Ibiza FR's. Only two weeks ago I swapped out my (carbon) cabin filter for a new (carbon) cabin filter to see if that would alleviate my issues. It didn't.

Scraped all the frost off this morning, inside looked fine. Once I opened the door, got in and started the engine, a little mist appeared. 'Fine', I thought, 'It'll get rid in a sec...' and I drive off. Not even at the end of the road and I literally can't see a thing so have to pull over and wait 10 mins.

A point to note is I've tried pointing the blower at the feet with blower turned off, then starting the engine. Still happens. I've also tried at full blast pointing the air at the windscreen. Still happens!

Carpet in both cars is dry and no sign of any leaks.

Any ideas?! Reading up a little VW group cars do seem notoriously bad for this so I won't hold my breath (or maybe that would sort my issue? )

 

[Red ibiza]

Yep they are bad, that's why from now on till spring I have a window vac in the car works great as your not smearing the water on the screen.

 

[Orguss]

Every VAG car i've owned has had the same issue and my wifes new Polo GTi has it too. The only "fix"/workaround i've found it to buy dehumidifying pads (bean bags basically) and leaving them in the car over night.

 

[italianjob]

I've got a '17 1.4 EcoTSI, it was very frosty this morning but the window demist function seems to work really well. Can't really fault it to be honest, it doesn't happen instantly but it is effective.

 

[NotSoSimple]

I use these bags:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pingi-Dehu...=1510130552&sr=8-7&keywords=dehumidifier+bags

They work really well and just leave 1 or 2 in the car all the time. You just have to throw it in the microwave every so often once the indicator changes colour.

I have two dogs who go everywhere in the car so there is plenty of moisture in the air so fogged up windows is something that i would struggle with without these things.

 

[j.owen]

My 66 plate Ibiza Cupra suffers from this too, however it gets rid of it quickly with the little windscreen button which blasts the windscreen with hot a/c air

 

[SRGTD]

Op; do you have the air con on? I keep mine on 24/7 and have done in all the VAG cars I’ve owned and haven’t had any issues with interior condensation. Apart from the normal function of A/C (to cool the car in warm weather), it also helps to dehumidify the air in the car, irrespective of what you have the temp set to.

 

[KXL]

In most cases the window blowers + AC on cleared it within 5 seconds. As you know, with a manual AC controls, this is a pain...needing to turn 90 degrees dials (I'm sure this will break soon if I continue).

Sometimes however, I notice that the outside of the glass starts misting up where the blowers + AC blow on to the glass, then I just use a single sweep of the wipers to clear it. Strange huh?

Usually when it's raining it mists up. and it does so very quickly when there is more than 2 ppl in the car.

Even cleaning it with a microfibre cloth doesn't really help things. I may need to bring back my demister cloth...it did work for awhile...

 

[zeffania]

Op; do you have the air con on? I keep mine on 24/7 and have done in all the VAG cars I’ve owned and haven’t had any issues with interior condensation. Apart from the normal function of A/C (to cool the car in warm weather), it also helps to dehumidify the air in the car, irrespective of what you have the temp set to.

Same here, Fabia VRS, Octavia estate and now the FR. Also keeping your AC on means it is less likely to break when you finally switch it on in hot weather

 

[Red ibiza]

So does the Aircon still work when it's frosty? Thought it stopped working at something like 3*c?

 

[Fr2013]

A.C. turned on in both cars but has no effect in -1c temperatures at 6am
We don't have steaming up problems at any other time. Literally just on frosty/very cold mornings on first start up.

 

[SRGTD]

So does the Aircon still work when it's frosty? Thought it stopped working at something like 3*c?

I think it does stop working at very low temperatures. Even if it does, my personal experience of leaving the A/C button pressed ‘on’ all year round is that I’ve not had any issues with interior condensation.

Another factor that seems to help the interior of your windows mist-free is keeping the inside of your glass spotlessly clean.