Heating System

[cj42]

No matter what I do it takes 40 minutes to get the windows fog free.. This morning 36 degrees and tried AC on for 10 min, straight defrost on high for 10 min, auto set to 68 and then 72 it does matter.. I don't remember this issue last year.. Only thing that's works is defrost on with windows cracked.. Never had this issue with any car I have owned.. It feels like it's pumping humidity in.. I also had auto recirculation on and off and nothing really works unless window are open..

 

[Herkguy]

I don't have the auto climate, but I set it to full hot which kicks in the electric aux heater, no issues here ion MN. You might try setting temp to full hot when you first get going then reset to your comfort temp.

 

[Palouse]

Just drove in from the arctic blast in Montana-no problem defrosting or staying warm.

 

[mctdi]

When was the cabin filter last changed?

Does the car take 40 minutes to reach 190°F?

 

[cj42]

The issue is not to get heat. It's strictly trying to get rid of fog on the inside of the window.. The first thing I tried was full heat on max set to defrost.. That's only way to clear it up is full heat with the windows cracked.. Just full heat will not get rid of it completely. I have a 80 min commute to work and it's annoying as hell to screw around with my heat the entire ride.. I thought the auto set was suppose to take care of goofed windows.. You would think the ac would kill the moisture in the air..

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Pressing MAX DEFROST should clear the fog up quickly - other settings will have significantly reduced defrost performance. When on MAX DEFROST, you can adjust the fan speed and temperature to a comfortable level so that it isn't blasting... I usually do about half way on the fan and 73 degrees.

Merely turning on the AC will not provide sufficient defrosting performance due to the variable output compressor. It won't load up enough to remove moisture during cool weather, hence my recommendation to use MAX DEFROST, which loads the compressor to 100%.

Scan your climate control system for error codes to see if there is an issue with a stuck damper, flap, or a non-functioning electric heater.

Other things to check are the cabin air filter and the air intake grate in under the hood (under the perforated panel in front of the passenger's side windshield wiper). If either of these areas are clogged, wet, or have buildup, then it will be difficult for the system to remove moisture.

 

[mctdi]

The issue is not to get heat. It's strictly trying to get rid of fog on the inside of the window.. The first thing I tried was full heat on max set to defrost.. That's only way to clear it up is full heat with the windows cracked.. Just full heat will not get rid of it completely. I have a 80 min commute to work and it's annoying as hell to screw around with my heat the entire ride.. I thought the auto set was suppose to take care of goofed windows.. You would think the ac would kill the moisture in the air..

The ac does dry out the car ( ac only or defrost ) ,in my car, unless I get in all wet from rain. Might there be a leak getting the carpet wet? Causing high humidity. Or maybe a coolant leak from the heater core?

 

[VeeDubTDI]

The ac does dry out the car ( ac only or defrost ) ,in my car, unless I get in all wet from rain. Might there be a leak getting the carpet wet? Causing high humidity. Or maybe a coolant leak from the heater core?

Do you have Climatronic or manual climate control? They behave very differently (hence my post above about using MAX DEFROST instead of regular AC).

 

[Steamroller69]

I have the manual climate control and I have the same problem. I mess with the knobs for most of my 50 mile commute. It has been back to the dealer 3 times, they have replaced parts but not fixed the issue. I have 42,000 miles now so I will just live with it.

 

[cj42]

I didn't have this issue late winter but I am due for a pollen filter change so after I do that maybe I'll get lucky. It was 29 degrees when I left work tonight and as soon as I started the car the windshield was completely fogged with in 10 seconds of starting the engine. Really odd. I have never had a car so this. Even with windows down and max defrost it took close to 5 min to get it clear enough to drive..

 

[Herkguy]

Have you driven in a heavy rain or had a heavy dry snow lately? It does sound like you have moisture that got into the vent system and is trapped in the pollen filter. That sounds like a lot of moisture and because it starts fogging once you start moving air through the system is what makes me suspect the filter.

The vent ystem picks up fresh air from an opening under the cowl in front of the windshield. The wheel wells have a small opening in them that exposes moisture from the wheel well to the cowl. This was in a thread from last year about fogging issues. It happened most with cars that had driven in light dry snow that would accumulate in the cowl area and get sucked in the vent, and be trapped by the pollen filter.

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=402886&highlight=Fogging

I made a small rubber foam block off for the wheel well hole that still lets the cowl drain out of through them.

I would quick check the filter, it takes about 3 minutes to check it. At least then you would know if that's the culprit. It's under the dash on the pass side.

Also feel your carpet front and back to see if you have any leaks.

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Or if you were running AC the day before and the evaporator pan still had condensate in it.

 

[767wrench]

Mine likes to fog up excessively too sometimes. it has always done it. Other than cleaning the windows frequently and using defog cleaner not much seems to help. Mines a 2012 with climatronic

 

[cj42]

Changed the in cab filter at it appears to have helped a bunch.

 

[czeetah]

Changed the in cab filter at it appears to have helped a bunch.

Nice!

 

[iantryinit]

I agree must be excess humidity in car. Are floor mats wet? Or frozen and then when warm up a bit wet and causing excess moisture. Up here in Manitoba when it is -30 and I wash our car or bring it in heated garage it fogs up instantly on inside when put outside. Need to crack windows or leave door open to get the dry/cold outside air exchange. When it's really cold up here there is very little moisture in air so we don't have to worry about these problems unless you bring in way too much snow on boots.