The Fabia Owners Manual says The Cooling operates only if the following conditions are met,

outside temp above approx +2 oC"

(& the engine running & AC on bit as well.)

 

 thats for the Climatic. 

Page 86

 

Better than counting sheep.

(in Farenheit)

http://audiworld.com/tech/misc2.shtml

I find that if I change the air direction switch to the floor setting when the car is parked up overnight, I don't get a misted windscreen when I return to the car the next morning.

 

I think moisture trapped in the ventilation system must evaporate up through the windscreen vents if the car is left on that setting when not being used. I just change it back to the windscreen setting when I get in the car. I imagine the same will be true on a MkII, even though mine's a MkI.

I find that if I change the air direction switch to the floor setting when the car is parked up overnight, I don't get a misted windscreen when I return to the car the next morning.

 

I think moisture trapped in the ventilation system must evaporate up through the windscreen vents if the car is left on that setting when not being used. I just change it back to the windscreen setting when I get in the car. I imagine the same will be true on a MkII, even though mine's a MkI.

 

^^ this ^^ has got to be worth trying 

It's a pain to remember each time though. I often forget and find the inside frozen in the morning.

Surprised to get so many replies - thanks

In my case, the answer was simply to use white vinegar and do a thorough clean. The result was instant. Now a misty screen is dealt with in a matter of seconds with A/C turned on for a short blast.

Thanks again

To extend the benefits of the vinegar clean there are plenty of anti fog treatments for the inside of the windscreen.

 

http://www.autobritedirect.co.uk/index.php/the-mistery-new-hellshine-range.html

 

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/interior/interior-glass-cleaners/carpro-fog-fight/prod_994.html

 

just a couple there, the Carpro isn't too expensive and seems to do a nice job

 

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=244070

If you set the a/c control to recycle that should speed the process up especially if its damp outside as you are then just trying to dry out the air in the cabin rather than drying fresh air from outside all the time. It's a oroblem with octys too and I've just ordered a couple of Pingi dehumidifing packs from ebay as these can be reused by putting then in microwave to dry.them out. They also have a blue/pink indicator so you know when they are full and to zap them in the microwave. HTH

I always thought that recirc was one of the biggest contributors to the problem.

As a few of the contributors have mentioned Air Conditioning includes a de-humidifier that dries the air.  That is the Conditioning part of system - it's not just an air cooler.

 

Using the re-circulating function should also improve the rate of demisting as the air in the car is being continually 'dried' rather than having moist air from outside added.

 

The local air-con specialist gave me an info sheet on how to use air-con and that stated to use the re-circulating function for the most efficient de-misting.  The info sheet also mentioned the importance of keeping the inside of the windscreen and all other windows of the car scrupulously clean.

Using the re-circulating function should also improve the rate of demisting as the air in the car is being continually 'dried' rather than having moist air from outside added.

 

The local air-con specialist gave me an info sheet on how to use air-con and that stated to use the re-circulating function for the most efficient de-misting.  The info sheet also mentioned the importance of keeping the inside of the windscreen and all other windows of the car scrupulously clean.

 

 

Doesn't this rather ignore the higher primates(s) inhabiting the car's interior who through perspiration/respiration are constantly rehumidifying the air?

 

Happy to be corrected on this but solely from personal experience recirc has only ever made things worse in the cars I have owned.

These must be isolated cases as mine doesn't suffer from it, my wife's Fiat 500 used to but a thorough clean of the windscreen and rear hatch window cured it.

I always give the windscreen a wipe when I wash and vacuum the car so never suffer from bad condensation, it's garaged overnight as well so maybe this helps as it's not sat outside on freezing nights.

Only when it's parked outside on cold days at work do I get any sort of misting when I first get in the car but it soon clears when the blower is on.

Probably should have added that my vRS gives me very little issue apart from on the coldest of days, but clears very quick.

 

Came with Climatronic and the screen is kept clean as possible.

Never had a problem in the Mk11 Fabia which sits outside on the drive all weathers. My Mk1 steamed up constantly but that was because of the water pouring in over the rear door seals.

Brand new Fabia elegance petrol estate. Started up & waited 10 minutes for screen to clear. Tried various settings. Eventually, driver's side clear, but passenger's side only half clear. Temp gauge did not move until after 2.5 miles. Tiguan diesel clears in 3/4 minutes from cold & temp gauge up to 1/4 within half a mile. Will try screen cleaning.

Yeah give it a clean. Youll be fine after that

Surprised to get so many replies - thanks

In my case, the answer was simply to use white vinegar and do a thorough clean. The result was instant. Now a misty screen is dealt with in a matter of seconds with A/C turned on for a short blast.

Thanks again

 

Mmmmmm........fish and chips.....

My car is awful for this at the minute. Takes me at least 10 mins to clear the screen and if I turn the fan off it comes back straight away. Never had this issue with other cars. I'll have to try some of the products listed in other posts. The air recirculation function definitely speeds the process up but not by much. Why can't all cars come with heated windscreens the way heated rear windows are now a feature on all cars?

Iv heard that heated front windscreens are patented by ford. Cant remember where i heard it from, and it may be incorrect, but its stuck in my mind somehow haha.

I've only ever had 4 cars that were to difficult to demist.the same 4 cars that also freeze on the inside too.The mk2 vrs I have now,the Monte before it and the mk1 vrs before that

The other car being a vw polo in 1990 ish so I've always thought the problem is in the polo/Fabia dna!

I just stumbled across this http://www.heatedwindscreens.com/acatalog/skoda-heated-windscreens.html

 

It looks like they don't do one for the Fabia II though. 

 

The other idea  I've toyed with is to pop a couple of disposable hand warmers over the windscreen vents when it's really frosty. My thinking is that the air travelling over them will be gently heated, which should be enough while the heater kicks in. I haven't tried it yet though. I've only had one or two misting episodes since I got into the habit of pointing the vents towards the floor when parked. I suppose it's just not been cold enough.

 

EDIT - I just found these reusable hand warmers. I might get a couple to give it  go.

Edited 20 January, 201412 yr by inventory-photo

I read somewhere a car that has an electric heater built into the system, so the heater and fan can come on before your ready to go (without the engine going). So the car is all nice and warm when you get in!

This is what we need. And maybe a bigger battery so itll actually start the engine when your ready haha

turn your aircon on this clears it faster. That's why the aircon comes on when you turn the knob to demist. The aircon  temp is 16 degs

turn your aircon on this clears it faster. That's why the aircon comes on when you turn the knob to demist. The aircon  temp is 16 degs

 

AC is on Sir. I leave it on all the time to keep the seals etc maintained.

 

The problem is, the aircon belts out cold air until the engine starts to get up to temp on my car, and I'm sure this will be the same for other diesels. Also, when the outside temp drops below 4*C, aircon is automatically disabled. If you have climatronic, I think this may be 2*C?

 

I've ordered a pair of the reusable handwarmers, so I'll report back if/when I get chance to give them a go. My car's a Mk1, but the theory should be the same. 

Leavin AC on all the time cant do your MPG much good, surely?

Leavin AC on all the time cant do your MPG much good, surely?

 

It really doesn't seem to affect it all that much. I've turned it off and kept an eye on the MPG and find it costs me maybe 0.5-1MPG a the most. I still easily get 60-65MPG indicated on along motorway run if I'm not in too much of a hurry and 50-55MPG over the Snake between Sheffield and Manchester.

 

I imagine the AC compressor puts very little strain on the engine in mine. Might be a different story in a HTP engined car?