Windscreen steaming up/pollen filter

[Matt_Cardiff]

Having some issues with the windscreen steaming up. On an anything other than a sunny day, unless I drive with the air con on, the window constantly steams up.

Recently moved into a house where I had to park under a massive tree and it was continually shedding leaves and seeds into the vents by the bonnet - I’m talking hundreds! Had to scoop them out with my hand each day!

Anyways, the tree has gone now - but I’m wondering if potentially the pollen filter is clogged up. Does anyone know where this is located so I can check?

 

[andycupra]

i'd want to open the bonnet and check to see if the drain holes are blocked, the pollen filter may well have got wet so yes worth a check,

 

[Matt_Cardiff]

Bit of a late reply to this because it hasn't rained for a while! But....the rain is back, and straight away my windscreen is steaming up.

When you say drain holes, are you able to advise where they are located so I can check? I've opened the bonnet and had a little scout around, nothing obvious blocked with leaves (without taking bits off?).

 

[Tell]

It's good practice not to switch the aircon off in any case to keep fungus down else it causes respiratory problem when turned on and you breath the spores in. Also they need to be run to keep them working year round. Some people think they are seasonal in use. Keeps the humidity down in the car which prevents steaming up in colder spells.

As Andy says above condensation is often related to blocked drainage or the pollen filter being incorrectly fitted...

I'd get your dealer to inspect it if you can't find anything.

 

[Matt_Cardiff]

Thanks for the reply. I suffer a bit with dry eyes so tend not to like running the AC too much - I could just try it on the lowest setting though and see how that goes. Whenever my AC is running the stop/start system doesn't seem to activate - i.e it keeps the engine running constantly - is that one of the draw backs?

I don't suppose anyone can point me in the direction of where the drains/pollen filters are located so I can check myself in case it's something glaringly obvious?

 

[Tell]

Thanks for the reply. I suffer a bit with dry eyes so tend not to like running the AC too much - I could just try it on the lowest setting though and see how that goes. Whenever my AC is running the stop/start system doesn't seem to activate - i.e it keeps the engine running constantly - is that one of the draw backs?

I don't suppose anyone can point me in the direction of where the drains/pollen filters are located so I can check myself in case it's something glaringly obvious?

On the latter let someone else reply to that one. Ateca the pollen filter is behind the drop down glove box... remove the dampners to descend it. It's those that are said not to be correctly fitted then you get condensation. Why it's back to the dealer to be checked. You probably wouldn't want to drop the glove box, fiddly in itself if it sits there.

Dry eye, I get that if the jet of air is in my face, strategically point the driver one away. You really need the windscreen vents in any case which should be fine, shouldn't blast you directly in the eye. Other than that it's liquid tears ?.

AC and stop start. That's preserving your battery charge. When it's deemed your battery holds sufficient charge it will enable stop start again. That's if it's working correctly. That's one of the deployed methods used to frig SS not to work in previous models by altering that criteria via VCDS. Yours shouldn't be altered so probably low battery. Keeping the engine running till the battery is in a better charge state. AC puts a drain on the battery so the engine is kept running.

 

[Matt_Cardiff]

My glove box is broken anyways (one of the clasps always stays in so it drops down when driving!!) so they could do a 2 in 1 there!

So stop/start should work even when AC is on. There is an 'outstanding campaign' on my vehicle due to battery error messages, so I can only assume the car thinks the battery is low when it isn't....or maybe it is! The joys of teething problems in a new car!

 

[Tell]

May well be related to the battery message. Stop start won't be triggered on to save the battery if it thinks the battery is low. Running AC can create a drain so if the battery is low SS will be suspended. SS can also be suspended when the engine is cold / just started. List of criteria get checked before SS is allowed to be activated.

 

[martin j.]

On a lot of cars s/s will not engage if certain electrical functions are on, ie a/c, heated rear window etc, used by many to keep it disengaged. Drain holes on the front scuttle should be visible in the corners of the plastic trim below the windscreen often clog up with dirt etc, easy to clean.

 

[Tell]

Picking out leaf decay . I keep my Ateca triggered so SS doesnt kick in via the voltage method. I believe a frig of altering the parameters on the MQB Evo platform hasn't been found yet. Probably want to turn everything on ?. The aircon method is the one rumoured to work but haven't heard positive confirmation. Dvb52 (Don) believes there isn't one, tend to think he might be right. Still when you get an EV won't be an issue....

Note the original poster had Cardiff in the name. Wales can be a damp old place at times. Running without AC suspect the car never dries out, natural air passage in the cabin without blowers isn't going to shift it. Had a very difficult ZX once. Post cars with AC humidity issues haven't occurred apart from when the AC broke and the car steamed up.

(& we don't mention Welsh spiders... very active ?... leave droppings all over the place)