Kia Rio - Widows Freeze on inside and fog up easily

[rogertra]

After being parked long enough for the car to get cold, I find that in cold weather, my windows easily fog up on the inside almost as soon as I enter the car and start the engine. In zero (0C) weather, they freeze on the inside. I've never experienced this with any other car I've owned.

This car has a/c, which have leave running all the time in an attempt to dry out the inside air. I always run the heater with outside air coming in to limit inside fogging.

I've also notice that the car takes quite a while for the heater and or defroster to become effective, again far longer than in any other car I've owned. Around the 0C mark, about as cold as it gets here, it can take 10 minutes or more for the car to begin to become comfortably warm.

Any hints?

Roger T.

[jcwit]

what kind of car is it? Yes we assume its a KIA, but what ,model? Also a tip on the area where you live would be helpful, temps around 20 deg f. or 20 below 0 f?

[Darter]

When is the last time you cleaned the glass on the inside? Clean windows fog less.

I might suspect there's an issue with your a/c compressor. When working properly, it comes on in defrost mode...no need to run the a/c.

[rogertra]

The car is a Rio, as it says in the headers. It's a 2005 with a/c and 27,000KM on the clock.

Yes, the windows are clean inside and out. The car gets cleaned once per week, inside and out at the car wash. They do all the windows.

The a/c works as it should, automatically whenever the heater is set to defrost or heat and defrost.

As I wrote, the windows freeze on the inside whenever the temperature drops below 0C.

Reading on another forum, the Sportage I think it was, it seems it's common on late model cars for the windows to freeze on the inside due to the cars being so airtight.

[dnozica]

Same here... 2007Rio5 takes up to 5 min for de-frosting... I use de-ice spray to get rid of the ice on the outter side of the windshield, and when the humidity is high, inner side also gets a bit frosty. I recommend:

1. start the car
2. user windhield blowers only, high power, outside air.
3. go outside and clean the car from ice
4. go back in and the glass should be ready.

Remember, if NOT using A/C, the warm air will come from the engine alone and it actually takes a lot more time for engine to reach working temperature if you use maximum WARM setting for heating and maximum blow fan.

I haven't tested with A/C ON as it also takes some time for the compressor to start heating. These test were made on -7 deg centigrade.

damir

[dnozica]

I hear there is a nice trick for preventing glass icing...

never tried this, but after you clean the glass, you shoul rub it to shine with shaving foam (the one you use to shave every morning).. it is supposed to work... ?

[kyle77]

I am not sure if your car has the recirc air lever below the temp/fan controls, but make sure it is selected to take outside air as warm inside air holds more moisture so it will condense on the cold windows. A common problem with Jap cars.