[oregon2]

We came home from the football game the other nite- raining, 45 degrees, and 3 people in the car (a little wet- but not bad). The front windshield would not clear and by the time we got home (15 minute drive) it was only 1/2 defrosted -- plus the rear window was also only 1/2 defrosted. I have owned a ton of cars in 40 years of driving and have never encountered this problem. My wife (she is primary driver) said she has noticed this on several occasions.

'05 SE

 

[oregon2]

oregon2-

Was it frost on the outside of the glass or moisture on the inside of the glass?

-njjoe

It was moisture on inside of glass- not cold enough (45 degrees) for frost.

 

[oregon2]

I find the defogger on my MO works great, provided you turn up the heat a bit (over 65) and make sure the AC is on.

We turned the heat up as high as 80 ----with no improvement.

Checked tonite- turn on Defrost and yes, A/C comes on. Can feel air out all 4 vents on top of dash.

 

[oregon2]

Difficulty in removing moisture from the inside of the glass can be attributed to one of two things: 1) The HVAC is incorrectly set to RECIRCULATE, when it should be set to FRESH air; and/or 2) the A/C was not enabled.

Next time you encounter those conditions make sure the HVAC is set for FRESH air and the A/C light is illuminated.

That should do the trick.

-njjoe

Checked tonite- when I turned on front defrost-- A/C and FRESH air automatically come on (buttons light up).

 

[oregon2]

With the AC on have fresh air or recirc air doesn't really matter. The big thing is that the AC was on.

I would make sure your AC is working... sounds like it is not.

Checked operation - turn on front defrost - A/C compressor and electric fan come on for 5 seconds - then shuts off for 15 seconds- and continues to repeat this cycle. Is that NORMAL ??

 

[oregon2]

That doesn't sound normal - it should be on continuously when the defog is on.

Would you mind if you get a chance to check yours and see if it does this same 5 sec on -15 sec off routine ?? Then we would know for sure if this is the problem.

thanks

 

[oregon2]

I'll have to listen to mine more carefully, but honestly I've never heard the compressor cycling, only the second electric fan. If they both happen at the same time, then maybe the fan switch is louder than the AC clutch.

Just open the hood and it is real easy to observe (and hear) the compressor cluch engaging and disengaging .........and yes, the fan comes on at the same time.

 

[oregon2]

OK guys- we have been around the block once now and I am still searching for an answer. Here is what I know:

1) compressor and outside air functional when DEFROST on
2) might be plugged cabin filter - but at 10k miles- I rather doubt it
3) "If it is cooler (this time of year at least 20°F) then you have just **GOT** to stop making out in the car while driving. ............"
ELIMINATE THIS AS THE PROBLEM- THAT SHIP SAILED A LONG TIME AGO -BESIDES I AM NOT SURE WARRANTY WOULD COVER THAT

So where do we go from here --- except to the dealer......and you know what they are going to say.............

 

[oregon2]

Does the windshield clear faster if you manually turn the fan to max?

Turn the TEMP UP....... Turn the FAN to hurricane speed .......the results are the same: a half defrosted window.:1:

 

[oregon2]

Its really hard to say whether the MO's defogger is just weak, or you've got some serious moisture on the windows. How about opening the windows? When my windows are really fogged up, I'll open the windows to speed up the defogger, but then I've done this on all the cars I've driven, not just the MO.

I have done that in the past also- the problem the last time this happened was that it was raining so hard that opening the windows even a little bit was asking for trouble.