Over the past couple of weeks since it's got really cold, I've really struggled to get my car to demist from the front windscreen. It's a 4x4 with what I assume is the standard air con/climate control panel - the three spinning knobs with digital displays etc, and I use the front windscreen clearing button, but it can take well over 10 minutes before it even starts to make any impact whatsoever. It's significantly worse on the driver's side too. If I hold my hand over where the air should be coming out to clear the windscreen, I can't feel a thing - it all seems to be coming out of the driver-facing vents either side of the steering wheel. If I close them it improves very marginally but it's still totally asthmatic.

 

I know of all the tactics such as having the blowers on cold rather than warm and opening the windows etc but it doesn't seem to make any difference. It seems to me that the system itself isn't working properly; anyone know what might be up or have any tips? 

A common issue, perhaps, but have you checked the air intake grilles for dead leaves?

 

Have you tried turning on the AC as this helps dehumidift the air?

 

One of my very few niggles with my Citigo is that I can drive 5 miles or more before the heater gets hot.

Do the selected vents match where air is coming from?

Iirc the flaps that send air down specific ducts can end up out of sync (on the manual ones at least) with whats been selected. Check all those just in case and also as above check for obstructions... 

 

Always had similar problem in my Roomster and now Mk3 Fabia. I read once that the passenger side bias was somehow due to the set up for continental models with LHD and not changed for here in the UK! Also I found that clearance was much faster, irrespective of any settings, when actually moving  indicating that additional air intake helped but hardly advisable if one cannot actually see the road!!

4 genuinely helpful and interesting replies here... thank you.

2 hours ago, StickyMicky said:

A common issue, perhaps, but have you checked the air intake grilles for dead leaves?

 

I'll do that.

 

2 hours ago, DILLIGAFF said:

Have you tried turning on the AC as this helps dehumidift the air?

 

One of my very few niggles with my Citigo is that I can drive 5 miles or more before the heater gets hot.

Interesting, will check that next time, thank you.

 

1 hour ago, mac11irl said:

Do the selected vents match where air is coming from?

Iirc the flaps that send air down specific ducts can end up out of sync (on the manual ones at least) with whats been selected. Check all those just in case and also as above check for obstructions... 

 

I know on my grandma's golf, they're out of sync but I didn't know if it was possible with the digital ones. I'll check.

 

1 hour ago, Harnser said:

Always had similar problem in my Roomster and now Mk3 Fabia. I read once that the passenger side bias was somehow due to the set up for continental models with LHD and not changed for here in the UK! Also I found that clearance was much faster, irrespective of any settings, when actually moving  indicating that additional air intake helped but hardly advisable if one cannot actually see the road!!

This is interesting because I've also found this and have the same problem. I always just assumed that it was my imagination but if someone else has alson noticed...

 

 

When was the pollen filter last changed? This may also help, as it’s commonly overlooked.

 

id go with the out of sync controls or a sticky flap 🥴 with the symptoms you describe though.

When your on the move the engine also heats up and thus heat output increases nicely too as the aircon pump is also going to get more power than when sitting on idle..

1 hour ago, mac11irl said:

When your on the move the engine also heats up and thus heat output increases nicely too as the aircon pump is also going to get more power than when sitting on idle..

 

You can't get "on the move" when you can't see where you are going!!! (Plus it is a teensie bit illegal - OK, a lot illegal)

 

Mine takes ages to demist despite having 1/ New pollen filter 2/ Recent regas 3/ Flaps working OK. Sat in my car yesterday for 7 mins waiting until I could drive away

If it is just de-misting and not defrosting and ice stopping the side windows going down have you tried opening the windows and put the front screen fan speed to full?

 

De-humidifiers in car, no wet mats etc etc.

Fog-X in the inside glass, and then very well cleaned.

If it is ice I’ve found the quickest and most effective way is warm water over the windows I’m my opinion.

 

it’ll usually de-mist the inside at the same time, comfortable warm water, just above body temp is fine, funnily enough I did it this morning, quick and easy then jump in car and drive away, if it’s really cold you need to set the wipers to clear the water before it freezes again but that’s usually when its comfortably below zero.

 

if it doesn’t clear the mist it usually makes it a lot easier as you don’t have the barrier of ice to defrost at the same time.

 

making sure your windows are grease free and clean inside help keep most misting at bay as written above.

1 hour ago, Golf-Fiend said:

 

You can't get "on the move" when you can't see where you are going!!! (Plus it is a teensie bit illegal - OK, a lot illegal)

 

Mine takes ages to demist despite having 1/ New pollen filter 2/ Recent regas 3/ Flaps working OK. Sat in my car yesterday for 7 mins waiting until I could drive away

 

I didnt say do it, or that it was okay. 

I have simply provided additional information which is relevant.

 

Swmbo's citigo can be a dose to demist Which is why i have a small cotton bag full of car litter in the dash during winter. Works wonders for mist prevention.

 

One thing i wish vag would take from Ford... heated windscreens. 3mins in the work van job done..

^^^^ 

Cat litter.     Old wrappers not so good...

 Rock Salt is fine as well.

 

 

 

Warm water is fine if the weather will be getting warmer as the day / night goes on and water can run out the air vents and is not freezing in there, in the door locks, 

getting into the doors past the window rubbers and freezing as it can.

A few days like that and De-Misting / De-icing does become fun.

Edited 19 November, 20196 yr by Roottootemoot

I’ve never suffered any issues using warm water, I certainly don’t suffer with water ingress in the vents, As long as you are in the car long enough for it to warm up then surely it’ll be fine.

 

 

 

ford had the patent for the heated front windscreen, hence why everyone had to make do with other forms, iirc the patent has run out now so I think other marques are able to copy it.

@Vrsburnzy

That might mean more if you said where you are or the car is and is it ever around freezing for a week or more with the sun coming out and melting ice for a while yet the air temp staying around zero.

Midlands and london.

 

last winter wasn’t that cold but the one before was plenty cold enough.

I can imagine, the Thames froze and the city ground to a halt for 3 hours.

Iirc the weather still met your requirements 🥴😂

Sub zero today. Hot screen. Hot seat. Yeeeessssss!
 

I keep a de-icer by the front door so I can take it out with me and spray side windows before I even try to open the door. Sometimes doors can be frozen shut for a bit.

 

Im getting to like the pump action Auto Glym de-icer. Performs very well in comparison to cheap supermarket aerosols.

For ice I just use a watering can of COLD water from the tap. Plenty warm enough above freezing to melt the ice and no chance of cracked screens. One can does front, back, sides and headlights. 

 

Just make sure you don’t have auto-wipe on otherwise it tends to dump cold water all over your groin region! 

That is brilliant were it really is not that cold and there is just ice on the windows but the air temp is on the up.

@ -6 and lower its not that much cope.

Cold can be when there is no water coming out the cold tap.

 

 

Edited 19 November, 20196 yr by Roottootemoot

Winter February 2018 the cold tap on my caravan froze, it was minus 6 and I still had no water coming out my vents 🤣

 

 

@Vrsburnzy

I think you misunderstand.  It is not about H20 coming out of vents. It is not coming out of the drain pipes.

It is people that wipe off snow or hoar frost from the screen and it going into the air intakes infront of the windscreen, then they pour on water and if cold enough or done often enough over a few days of very low temps, there can be ice forming 'the flaps' are not operating after you reverse or change from recirculate to fresh air coming in.

 

Maybe not common or just common enough and people wonder why their screen is misting and yet there is heat coming out the air vents in the car.

 

Like some models where if you deice the passenger door with water and then do not open the door the water does not drain, 

do it a couple of freezing days and you get a lot of ice in the door, or just frozen seals.

 

Like the Fuel Flap freezing closed, odd that not an issue in the Czech Republic or Germany but it can be in the UK.

That is if you dont do winter / low temp preparation.

Edited 19 November, 20196 yr by Roottootemoot

 

I've been using the warm water method as well for the past couple of days and works a treat as it stops the inside from misting up again after you wiped the condensation away with a micro fibre cloth.  I can drive off almost straight way instead of waiting the normal 10 minutes for the screen to clear.

44 minutes ago, Roottootemoot said:

@Vrsburnzy

I think you misunderstand.  It is not about H20 coming out of vents. It is not coming out of the drain pipes.

It is people that wipe off snow or hoar frost from the screen and it going into the air intakes infront of the windscreen, then they pour on water and if cold enough or done often enough over a few days of very low temps, there can be ice forming 'the flaps' are not operating after you reverse or change from recirculate to fresh air coming in.

 

Maybe not common or just common enough and people wonder why their screen is misting and yet there is heat coming out the air vents in the car.

 

Like some models where if you deice the passenger door with water and then do not open the door the water does not drain, 

do it a couple of freezing days and you get a lot of ice in the door, or just frozen seals.

 

Like the Fuel Flap freezing closed, odd that not an issue in the Czech Republic or Germany but it can be in the UK.

That is if you dont do winter / low temp preparation.

water should not be getting into the cabin or ventilation system from the scuttle, if it is you have a problem with your car.