Misting Up

[madeleine1969]

Good Morning

I seem to be having a big problem with my little Annie Aygo misting up especially when its raining. There has only been me in the car and I seem to be driving round with the air con on most of the time. Could someone please tell me is this a common problem with Aygos or is it just mine. Is there another way of keeping it mist free - I have got visions of me driving around all winter with the air con on, it will be colder inside the car than out.

Any advise would be appreciated.

Speak soon

[shuffly]

Morning,

The car shouldnt mist up if the air con is on, if it does then get it checked. Mine does mist up without aircon after a while, so I'd use the AC when wet.

Sorry short answer, going to work.

Ian

[Wild west Drifter]

Maybe someone else can help Aygo specific, but on my galant when it mists up and I turn the aircon on, i use the recirc air button so it is not pulling the damp air in from outside.

My Aygo hasn't got aircon, but rear screen heater and demist from the heater works.

[crisskro]

You can also crack open the window for just a bit. It really helps.

[daveyjp]

"I have got visions of me driving around all winter with the air con on, it will be colder inside the car than out."

You are under the common miscopnception that aircon is only to be used to keep the car cool, it isn't.

It is also very good at removing moisture from the air and as such on cold, damp days aircon should be on with the heat setting you require. This will keep you warm and stop the car steaming up. Auto climate control works in this way.

If you turn the aircon on any moisture will settle on cold surfaces and being a small car it will mist up quickly - our smart was exactly the same.

Our air recirc button is easy to catch and I've noticed if it isn't fully on the 'outside air' position it creeps towards recirc when you drive the car. This will also cause it to mist up.

[Unklian]

Hi There.

When you use the aircon, air blows over the freezing cold evaporator in the car.

This cools the air but any moisture in the air sticks to its surface and forms ice.

On rainy days when outside air is really damp, the ice is thicker.

(A bit like opening your freezer door in a steamy kitchen).

When you turn the aircon off and put the heater on, the ice turns to water and fills the

car with damp air which sticks to the cold windows so you cant see.

The solution:

Drive your car with the aircon on and on recirculate so all the damp is

attracted to the aircon. Then, turn the heating on High, the fan on at least 3, use outside air and open

the window(s) wide. This way, the very damp air will be blown outside.

If you repeat this for a couple of days, the moisture in the car will gradually be reduced.

To prevent it happening, on those sunny days in the winter when your aircon is used,

finish the journey with windows down a bit and the heater on.

Its not just an AYGO problem, many cars do the same thing.

Hope this helps.

Ian.

[Parts-King]

I find a lot of customers do not use the A/C for fear of it blowing cold air in winter. You can turn the heat up with A/C on so you dont freeze! You should also always have the blower on at least number1, as the car needs to be ventilated, and this doesnt happen with the blower off. It happens on most modern cars, you are not alone, with A/C on, it clears the car of moisture, but as soon as you open the door/window the car is able to draw in moist air again so dont be afraid to use the A/C when required, even for short periods

Kingo

[gordonh]

Another thing to check is that the air is actually blowing out of the vents by the windscreen, sometimes even if the right selection is made the cables don't always redirect the air.

Personally though I nearly always crack the window a bit when driving so haven't noticed this problem yet.

[Mord]

In Aygos the mist goes away in no time if you turn on AC (no matter hot or cold air) and make sure that air flow intake takes the air from outside the car and that air vents by the windscreen are open.

It works for me

[rgvsean]

You should run the air con in the winter from time to time anyway to stop germs building up in the pipework. Then come summer the first time you turn it on you get blasted with the 6 months build up of bacteria. Run it to de-mist the car in winter on fast setting to keep your windows clear (safe) and your air con excercised.

[Mord]

You should run the air con in the winter from time to time anyway to stop germs building up in the pipework. Then come summer the first time you turn it on you get blasted with the 6 months build up of bacteria. Run it to de-mist the car in winter on fast setting to keep your windows clear (safe) and your air con excercised.

I've heard that you need to use aircon at least for an hour every month. That keeps your aircon in good condition: bits running AC oil themselves, using it prevents micro leaks. Spend extra £1-2 per month for petrol and you get peace in mind, or pay hundreds of pounds like me for not using it at all in my Astra in winter (I had a whole condenser replaced cuz it was leaking so badly).

[madeleine1969]

Hi Everyone

Thanks for your advise. I am new to air con and I did think that it was only to keep the car cool, with the vents on cold. I will try it again when the air is on warm.

Once again thanks

[T V O R]

You may have a leaking Aygo. Check your mats and see if they are wet/damp. That would also cause misting up and condensation.

[Jan van de Wouw]

When my car starts fogging up I usually put the air onto the windscreen,

turn on the A/C and crack open the sunroof for about hald an inch.

When I drive the venturi-efect on the sunroof pulls out the damp air,

so my car demists in seconds!

[Aygo28Blue]

Mine mists up these mornings also. I use maximum heat, air coming from outside the car, and the switch to the windscreen. Does the job after a few minutes, and once it clears leave the switches running at that, and it won't come back for the rest of the journey ;) I have air-con also, but it works just as well on the blower setting pretty much. I thought it was 10 mins of air-con use every month to keep it working fine from something I read earlier, but might be wrong :)

[feldman]

I find if there's only me in the car I don't need the A/C to dehumidify, just setting it to warm on the windscreen and make sure it's set to let air in from the outside. If you close it to "recycle" air in the car any moisture will stay in there. If you set it to let air in from outside, outside damp air passes over the heater and gets dried that way. I only need A/C on if there's a few warm bodies in the car- especially if we've made a dash in the rain to the car. The problem with using the A/C, as described above, is you then have to keep it on all the time. If you turn it off then all the moisture that's collected on its element gets blown in :(

I also find that making sure the two round vents are closed- stops air-flow leaking from those away from the windscreen.

Once the car's nice and warm I find that leaving the fan on 1 and the heat about two notches above the blue/red line keeps the car nice and warm but not too stuffy. If your tootsies are cold, put the blower onto 2 and set it to windscreen & footwell.

On a side note, how nice is it in winter when the engine decides it's warm enough and clicks the heater over to warm after about 5 minutes? My favourite part of the morning :D

[Parts-King]

On a note about A/C, you should always run it for a few minuets a week to keep the gas/oil circulated in the system. Over time, the seals dry out if you havnt used it and the gas escapes from the pipes/seals. No gas, no A/C It will save you money in the long run by using it for a short period every week

Kingo

[SooZ]

anytime i noticed mine misting up inside, it was because i had inadvertently shoved over the vent position to recirculate the air, flipping it back to intake air from outside got the problem cleared pretty quick :)

[Aygo_Blue_Karl]

Just adding to the suggestions.

Aircon shouldn't be the major issue.

First make sure you have the setting for the air to come into the car

Second make sure the temperature is not on too hot as the cold air will stick to the windows

Third open the windows for a few seconds/a minute

As a driver with 25 years experience it is an art that comes with experience and I've had the same problems with every car I've ever owned.