Having owned my Fabia 1.9TD Elegance for a couple of months I'm having real problems with the front screen misting up in wet weather. I've tried every combination of vents/demister/hot and cold I can think of and it barely shifts the misting. Is this a common fault, or is there something amiss with my car? I've eventually had to resort to applying that anti-mist solution to the glass - which has helped a bit.

My Alfa 156 has a rapid clear setting on the blower controls which clears the screen a treat. Compared to that my Skoda is p***-poor. Anybody got any suggestions or modifications I can try? Is it a "feature" of driving a Fabia which I'm going to have to grin and bear? [My local dealer is about as much help as a man short.]

Cheers,

G

Use your Aircon, I find when aircon is on the screen stays demisted.

Do you have the air con on? I've only had the screen misted up once, but I'm pretty sure I cleared it with air con on and temp to hot on the windscreen? Do agree though, you'd expect a heated front screen - even Fords have them

Chris

Make sure recirculate isn't on, and that your air-con is.

Stick your hand above the vent, and increase the fan speed - does the air move faster, or does it just get noisier? It sounds like the air might not be coming out of the vents properly...

Rob.

I have the exact same problem in my Fabia. It takes ages to demist and everything seems to be working fine. I had real problems going along the M-Way in rain and fog in July, even with air-con on. In winder it can take +5 mins to demist. I will need to check it out.

Thanks for the replies - looks like I'm not the only one. I've tried running with the air con on as I read a tip in the motoring press which said it was the quickest way to de-mist your car. Doesn't seem to be all that effective though. Driving through to Edinburgh in recent heavy rain was a nightmare. Eventually kept the blower on the screen setting all the time, with all the vents shut, at full bore. Was still left with misting in the corners of the screen, and a row of patches along the bottom of the screen where all the vent holes are. Could drive the car O.K but still very annoying for a new car to be like that - not looking forward to winter months much.

I found an old thread talking about the same problems in the Octavia. I treated the screen with Halfords own brand anti-mist solution. Might try Rain-X or other 'branded' anti-mist to see if it's any better.

Another possibility, by the sound of things, is that your car is damp inside...check your carpets and that. Might be water ingress in heavy rain which is making the inside of the car humid?

Rob.

I checked the carpets early on as I also wondered if there was water ingress. They feel dry to the touch, but may have had a soaking at some point and the underfelt might still be drying out. The car does have a sunroof so maybe someone left it open.

Having owned several (real) Mini's I've become quite tuned in to the subtle stench of rotten/damp carpets!! [You just can't get those replacement sills to fit]

G

I suppose if it was water ingress and/or was drying out from a previous soaking, the car would be misty inside in the mornings after being left stood overnight... :rubchin:

Dunno...maybe your aircon needs a regas or something?

Rob.

Doesn't seem to be all that effective though. Driving through to Edinburgh in recent heavy rain was a nightmare. Eventually kept the blower on the screen setting all the time, with all the vents shut, at full bore. .

How strange I was also experiencing the same problems when driving through to Edinburgh. Air-Con and blower on 2 usually clears it for me it is the winter nights that I find hardest to get the car to de-mist, mornings are O.K. There is no leak in my car eaither everything is bone dry.

Guys you have a problem... Can be teaching in mine and rarely getting misting unless doing a lot of reversing and hence the auto-recirculation kicks in. Your pollen filters arnt blocked are they? My dealer gave me this tip as they really affect air flow especially if the fan is up high.

Spot on Andy there, most common problem is a blocked pollen filter, when was it last changed?

Could even try removing it and seeing if thats better.

Well mine was serviced in January and I'd imagine all the filters were changed then. Thing is the vents work perfectly, the car is chilled quickly and warmed in winter quickly. It is just the windscreen that takes the time clearing. I'll have a look at the invoices or maybe I'll go and have a look at the car to see if pollon filters have been changed but then I have no idea where it is!

Oh nd even though Ford have heated windscreens I'm glad the Fabia doesn't at the cost of replacng them. Aparently it's about

Well mine was serviced in January and I'd imagine all the filters were changed then.

Don't assume, check! The service before last should have had the filters replaced, but they hadn't.

Yes Q as I was once told Assume makes an ass out of u and me

Problem is I'm not sure how to check. Not something I've done before...

For the cost it is get a new one anyhow, they are real easy to change.

Don't assume, check! The service before last should have had the filters replaced, but they hadn't.

bit black wasn't it ?

Oh nd even though Ford have heated windscreens I'm glad the Fabia doesn't at the cost of replacng them. Aparently it's about

IIRC

My mondy heated front screen has an excess of