De-mist with Climate Control

morrismen · Post by **morrismen** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 10:07 am

This Climate Control equipment in the GTi is driving me nuts in cold weather! Anyone else? When I got in the car today, it was -3degC

So, I thought I'd put on the heating in the car.

I had already sprayed de-icer on the frost on the windows - so all was clear.

As soon as the climate control was switched on, all the car windows misted up! I had the controls on "Hi" and window screen vent, non-recycled air from outside. So, what's going on?

What's the best setting for a cold morning? "Hi" and "ECON" or normal air without these or re-cycle air inside the car

Just a few tips please, as it took 15 minutes for my windscreen to clear this morning after I put the climate control on.

ali · Post by **ali** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 11:11 am

The air con does not work below 5 degrees. It was always a pain in cold weather demisting the car. Seen myself sitting for 15mins waiting for windscreen to demist.
Can only suggest closing off air vents and turning fan speed to full and pointing to windscreen. Air con is not dehumidfying the air as compressor won't run below 5 deg.
It may also be worthwhile to check that all your motors are working that control direction and close of air from outside, as this was one of the problems on mine.
A VW tech bullitin regonised this as a problem and recommended that you point the system to the floor first to blow out the damp air before pointing to the windscreen (this applies if the car is warm and been sitting for a short while).
I always thought Climatronic was rubbish in winter weather and would have been well cheesed off if I had paid Â£600 quid or what ever they charge as an option on a Golf

waveydavey · Post by **waveydavey** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 12:35 pm

Whenever i want to demist the car i use the following......

System is normally set to around 22 celcius AUTO......

I just press the windscreen button and thats it......Still takes about 5-10 mins to clear fully but you can get going after about 5.......

Once it's clear i just press the windscreen button again to go back to AUTO.

Cheers

Dave.

morrismen · Post by **morrismen** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 2:25 pm

I think I see the problem then if it's freezing outside... if the A/C does not work below 5 degC, then all that's happening is the car is sucking in cold air inside which will immediately warm as the air's moisture in the interior that is becoming warmer by the climate control. When this hits the cold screen, it condenses - warmer air on cold screen - No wonder it mists up! So, I deduce from this that the only thing to do is to have the air on Hi and Windscreen and stop breathing.

Post by **Josh_PoloGTi** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 5:48 pm

I've just bought some rain-x anti-fog stuff...

I'll report back once I've applied it!

Bling · Post by **Bling** » Sat Dec 25, 2004 8:56 pm

If you look a bit further down to 'condensation in car' you will see a similar thread last time weather turned cold.

Been having problems. Tried Rain-X anti-mist. Waste of Â£7.

Had car in dealers. Â£75 the charged me about a week ago & said the should have charged me for 3 hrs. Reckoned they found the problem. And said if not fixed it would be a grand to replace parts. Monkeys!

Guess what it still steams up.

Found if I drive with windows slightly ajar it clears. Pretty s**t considering a Â£100 car with a working heater can clear the screen and sit in relative comfort but I cant with my optioned GTI.

kapur · Post by **kapur** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 1:39 am

Is it possible to purchase this whole a/c electronic climate control unit seperately?

I know it may cost a bomb, but wanted to know if it's a route ne1 has gone down?

ttaw2 · Post by **ttaw2** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 10:57 pm

Gonna be sourcing all the bits for mine from the scrappy when I bung it in.... sorry if i bung it in... I'd assume that you'll be able to get the unit from VW, but I think you'll have to take bend over option for payment

Planning on waiting till the spring before i get going when i've got some money again (bankrupt after this years presents)

Don't slag off your air con till you've spent summer in a non climate control car again - it can drive a man to do some pretty desperate things (why did i buy a cheap gti?)!!!

Still, my windscrean clears in about a minute, so it can't be all bad

!

Bling · Post by **Bling** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 10:50 am

My Husband has also got Climate on his 3-Series. It works OK but if you want to demist windows you hit the button and the fan redirects to the windows and comes on full blast. When you try & turn it down it goes back to cabin. Therefore on a long journey you have to keep swapping between. On previous cars you can leave it partially on the window or a slight breeze to stop it misting.

With my experiances on the Polo and his on the BMW we would both prefer some simple heater switches & knobs with a seperate air-con button.

Infinite flexibility.

Si_GTi · Post by **Si_GTi** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 11:17 am

Bling wrote:With my experiances on the Polo and his on the BMW we would both prefer some simple heater switches & knobs with a seperate air-con button.

Infinite flexibility.

Thats what I have - early model GTi (May 2000), so I have A/C of the type where you have regular heater controls and an option to turn on or off the A/C whislt using the blowers. Works pretty well for me, takes maybe 5ish minutes to clear a screen enough to drive off on a cold morning - takes a little longer to remove the usual 'V' shaped bit that stays in the middle of the windscreen for a few minutes, but all in all I can't complain!

Beginning to be thankful I don't have the climate control...

Bling · Post by **Bling** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 10:16 pm

Who'd have thought less is best.

kapur · Post by **kapur** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 2:29 am

Is it possible to simply purchase the A/C unit rather than climate control then?

The A/C button goes next to the re-circulation button doesn't it?