Fogged windshied + no A/C

[cephraim]

I've read some pretty bad reviews on that RainX FogX product. These reviews on epinions said that it made things WORSE for them!

Is that the product you guys use successfully?

Eph

[Cd]

I should have mentioned that I have used my defroster before.
It doesn't work as fast, nor as well as just turning on the A/C for around thirty seconds.

I have had times in the past where the entire winshield will fogg up in a matter of seconds, and I have to either pull over or use the A/C.

Turning on the defroster takes at least ten times as long as the A/C to clear a small area near the base of the windshield that I can just barely peek through.

Perhaps I am asking the obvious here : do you all think I have a clogged hose somewhere ? I also notice that my vent acts clogged, since even on full blast it doesn't blow all that much air.
Bassjoos : I think you and another Civic owner made a comment some time ago about your Civic also having a really useless vent as well. Perhaps it is a design flaw for our year Civic.

[almightybmw]

Yeah, none of my cars have had problems clearing fog within a few seconds, enough for that little viewing at the bottom. I'd have to say you have an air flow problem if just defrost can't do that. Does it seem like more air comes outa the front vents vs the defrost vents? I know my buddies truck has pathetic flow to the defrost vents, so it just CAN'T defrost quickly compared to my cars (thankfully it warms up twice as fast to compensate).

Random thought: setting One on my grand prix is shot. no air at all. setting five seems to be shorted as well, as it'll draw soo much amperage that when you take it off setting five it'll keep running at that speed, even if you set it to off. Takes about 30 seconds to "decouple" itself. kinda scary really. I don't use it.

[whokilledthejams]

Originally Posted by almightybmw

Yeah, none of my cars have had problems clearing fog within a few seconds, enough for that little viewing at the bottom. I'd have to say you have an air flow problem if just defrost can't do that. Does it seem like more air comes outa the front vents vs the defrost vents? I know my buddies truck has pathetic flow to the defrost vents, so it just CAN'T defrost quickly compared to my cars (thankfully it warms up twice as fast to compensate).

Random thought: setting One on my grand prix is shot. no air at all. setting five seems to be shorted as well, as it'll draw soo much amperage that when you take it off setting five it'll keep running at that speed, even if you set it to off. Takes about 30 seconds to "decouple" itself. kinda scary really. I don't use it.

You might have a bad relay or resistor somewhere in the system. I just had to replace the blower motor resistor in my girlfriend's Intrepid because the fan only worked on the highest setting. It was a $25 part (I could have gotten it cheaper online or at Napa, but Autozone is open at hours other than when I am at work).

Now that I think of it, her AC doesn't work either, but the heater generally gets the defogging job done well enough.

[NiHaoMike]

Could an efficiency mod be to replace the inefficient resistor with a PWM circuit?

[hondaworkshop]

The rub here is that its often humid enough to fog windows without being cold enough to make full-heat tolerable. I managed to make my defrost work without AC the other day in the Austin area, 2000 civic:

1. crack windows about 1/2 inch
2. defrost, medium-warm or hot, medium fan
3. fresh air, not recirc.
4. close off both personal vents

The back windows still fogged up a bit, but the windshield was fine.

PS: Howdy, Fellow Texans!

[slurp812]

Originally Posted by almightybmw

wow.... I never would have thought that "defrost" and AC were an issue. Seriously, just use the defrost setting. Every vehicle has it. Too moist inside the vehicle? crack the windows. Not enough? OPEN the windows. Still not working? stop breathing, you're only making it worse. Whenever I've had that issue, summer or winter, its either there when I get in the car, or builds up because I brought moisture in, like after a shower. Cracking the windows, and defroster, regardless or outside temperature, has always solved the issue within 30 seconds, unless it's iced over (but Texas doesn't have that problem).

(written with sarcasm and a joking attitude)

Mine FORCES the AC unit on when in defrost mode. Its annoying. I will probably pull the fuse. I too refuse to use AC 99% of the time...

[hondaworkshop]

Slurp, you can toggle the AC back to 'off' after you turn it to defrost in the EP3 hatch. Just bump the AC switch.

[NiHaoMike]

Originally Posted by Doofus McFancypants

When the AC is Off - is there any load on the engine from it? I thought as long as it is off - it does not suck up any power ( only the added weight of the system).

There is still a load from the electronics but very insignificant - only milliamps. For all practical purposes, the HVAC system uses no power when off.

[azraelswrd]

I just turn the blower fan to high, select outside intake, switch to windshield vents and open the windows. Usually fixes the fogging. I also keep dehumidifers in my car to keep down moisture:

in summer = more evaporative cooling
in winter = less condensation
all year = less fungal/protist growth