My window was fogging up

[Papasonic]

In regard to using outside air to reduce window fogging: This is most effective when using the hvac in the heater mode; when the compressor is not running. Cold outside air is normally drier than recirculated cabin air that has been humidified by its occupants breathing, and possibly wet floors and shoes. If the defrost mode is selected, and the compressor is running, defogging will occur in either recirc. or outside air mode.

My point is that in most situations; outside vs recirculated air mode is the preferred mode to operate the hvac system in.



Papasonic

 

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

My car is garage-kept. But almost 5 min into driving anywhere all my windows start to fog up as well. I have tried full heat, with the compressor and defrosters on, with and without a window cracked.
Nothing seems to make a difference, eventually it goes away. Any ideas?

SonicBoy24, Just checked Sonic's Owner's Manual pg. 8-2 Climate Control section and it says the following:

(Defog): This mode clears the
windows of fog or moisture. Air is
directed to the floor, windshield, and
side window outlets.


Is this the mode you're using along with the defrost? If your Sonic continues to fog and nothing works, I would recommend taking it in to the dealership to have it checked.

Vanessa
GM Customer Service

 

[C.E.Divine]

I know it might seem like we should have to buy anything extra to keep our windows from fogging up more often than other cars, but rain-x makes an anti-fog solution that you apply to the inside of the windows. It works pretty well.

Also, window cleaners that are ammonia based can make windows fog up easier. Eagle-1 makes a window cleaner that is condsidered non-toxic and good for the environment. Really, they just replaced the ammonia base with somethig else. But it also helps a little. If anyone happens to go looking for this cleaner, the fluid is green. That makes it pretty easy to find.

 

[sbpphoenix]

Water + microfiber cloth. Keep yer windows clean. Then they won't fog.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

 

[firstorbit84]

Defrost uses the A/C, even on full heat. I pulled the A/C fuse so that the compressor would not be running all the time. The windows clear just fine. Not the first time I have driven a vehicle without A/C in the winter.

Good idea. I may do the same. It drives me nuts that there's no way to disengage the compressor while in defrost. Which fuse is it?

My VW would automatically turn on the compressor when you set it to defrost, but you could manually override it to turn it off by pushing the AC button. In the sonic the AC light didn't even come on in defrost mode, even though I can hear/feel the compressor coming on.

 

[crateenginedepot]

I agree with Papasonic,
do not use the Recirc button. Also leave the compressor fuse in.
I had an import a while back that had the AC installed here in the states. You could not drive the car when cold as the windows actually iced up on the insides it was so bad. We found out they kinked the vacuum hose for the Recirc when installing the AC (making it stay in that mode) after a few trips back to the dealer them trying everything even unpluging the compressor i decided to pull the dash apart. I saw the kinked hose, fixed it and never had a problem since.
The car needs fresh outside air even if its raining etc. If the compressor is running the incoming air is being dryed as well as being heated by the heater core.

 

[beaslbob]

as "dumb" as this thread is it did remimd me for returning to des moines Iowa from south alabama.

In december 1998 in my 1999 saturn.

I hit 32F and rain and all the sudden all the windows fogged up. Defroster running with compressor on full.

Found it cleared up when I turned the recycle off to let the outside air in. Guess it needed the ventaliation.


Also found out the windshield washers didn't work.

Seems the don't add windshield antifreeze down in the south and the washer bottle had froze.

 

[Sonicnw]

To the original poster, thanks for posting this and asking the question. With the water leak in some of the sonics I was concerned I might have that issue since my windows always fog up. yes I am using the hvac system correctly. So I am going to assume that our cars are well built and very air tight thus not allowing a lot of air leaks thru doors and windows. Also happy to know that other than the water leak noted in other posts that this is a normal issue with these cars and I don't have to go looking for a water leak or freak out about it. So thankyou. this thread was not a waste after all. I bet many others are happy to have seen it. Besides, I didn't have to ask the question now and get stuck with " lamethreaditus" LOL just kidding. thanks.

 

[Larrymer]

Let the thread die, already

 

[barch88]

Mine fog up easy as well. I always run defrost on at least 2 or 1.

 

[davecerv]

Fogged up only in center area.

I've been wanting to post this for a while. Decided to put it here to not start a new thread.
Anyway, recently I've been learning about heater core failures. Now I'm concerned about my window being fogged up before start up sometimes..but only in the center. Didn't think much of it before until now. It's been cold here in Houston. 99% of the time I have recirculate on by the way. Just saying as maybe I'll be asked about that.
I don't let the defroster on too long because then it smells like burning or something funky.
I gave up trying to fix the noisy clicks when steering but if I have a broken heater core....come on.

 

[Killer324]

First off I bought a new 13 RS in January and mine would fog up every window no matter what I did. I changed the cabin filter or rather the dealer did and it help out ,some reason it got wet eventually it stopped happening but I can tell you in the cold you do not turn on the recirculation it causes condensation while running the heater but if you have a blown heater core of course your going to have fog on your window !

 

[davecerv]

First off I bought a new 13 RS in January and mine would fog up every window no matter what I did. I changed the cabin filter or rather the dealer did and it help out ,some reason it got wet eventually it stopped happening but I can tell you in the cold you do not turn on the recirculation it causes condensation while running the heater but if you have a blown heater core of course your going to have fog on your window !

Interesting. (Doesn't happen all the time)
So I'll turn off recirculation and see if it happens again. Thanks for the tip. I didn't know about that haha if that doesn't improve anything then heater core it is I suppose.

 

[Killer324]

If you smell anti freeze or have a wet passenger floor you know it the heat exchanger . But sometime if its just starting to go you get a kind of anti freeze fog that can get on the windshield ! They don't always leak on the floor !

 

[Dirkdaddy]

FWIW I noticed the same tendency to fog on my new-to-me '12 recently, now in our cool months (winter) here in Houston. I have had other vehicles and never had this problem once it got up to operating temp and everything, but this car on outside vent setting will tend to fog up a little and need occasional bursts of defrost. I found it curious but haven't owned car long enough to really for opinion of if its problem or not...but it does fog more than most not sure why. I

I've seen a few cars down the interstate where its totally fogged up on all windows and the driver seems confused as to why their car is all fogged up, wiping with a napkin or something! One of those "here's your sign" moments.

 

[Killer324]

LOL it was that way the first month I own the 13 RS . I just bought a new 14 RS and I haven't had any problems yet , but I hasn't been all that cold yet my fogging problems were happening around 25 to 8 degrees ! Its a heat wave in Texas ! lol