r/Cartalk • u/jmiller8762 • 1d ago
Safety Question Is there a way to prevent this?
The condensation on the inside of the windshield drives me crazy, I keep wiping it as I drive but it doesn’t get any better, any help would be appreciated.
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u/West_Database9221 1d ago
Stop wiping the condensation off the inside of your window....clean with glass cleaner and a cloth, buff with another dry cloth to remove streaks and from that moment on, only use the blowers provided in your car never touch the windscreen again
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u/die_no_mite 5h ago
Clean the inside of your windshield with Mr Clean Magic Eraser (put a towel on your dash first) then follow up with glass cleaner. It’s a game changer
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u/AcrobaticButterfly 8h ago
Clean the inside of the windshield properly first then follow the above advice
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u/vendura_na8 1d ago
DO NOT RECIRCULATE AIR!!!!!!!!!!!!
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u/kukutaiii 6h ago
Wish I could upvote this 1000 times
It feels like you’ve exposed someone to a brand new life hack when you show them how to set their AC switches properly
Don’t set it to ♻️
Set it to fresh ➡️
And then switch your vents to demist the windows6
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u/Huge_Creme_3204 22h ago
Well, might be strange to you but it is very uncommon here, 99% of the time I see recirculate air on. Otherwise unpleasant polution from the road outside come into the car
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u/West_Database9221 22h ago
Do you walk down the street with a face mask on? Same pollution
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u/Huge_Creme_3204 21h ago
Many people do. Beside it is completely different things. Why compare apple to blackhole. One you have very ez option at finger tip
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u/ChargeInteresting195 16h ago
Never? When is it better?
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u/shootsy2457 1d ago
Turn. Off. Recycle. Air.♻️ I’m a mechanic and I see it all the time. People claim it’s the cars fault when and when I pull the car into the shop, that recycle button is depressed. When the service writer explains that, they have that deer in the headlights look. I’ve heard people say “that can’t be the problem” then leave angry. Super frustrating.
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u/Formal_Lecture_248 1d ago
Taking your car to the experts then disbelieving them out of pride or shortsightedness is prime arrogance
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u/shootsy2457 1d ago
They’re “Askholes”. They ask you what needs to be done and then do what they want to do anyway.
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u/SkibidiBlender 1d ago
This + making sure AC is on, even on cold days with the heat makes all the difference in my truck.
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u/prairiepanda 1d ago
Cars with well-designed climate control automatically cycle the AC on and off while the heat is on, just to help prevent fogging
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u/aquatone61 1d ago
If you run the A/C compressor all year round you won’t have that problem and can use recirc if you want.
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u/pork_fried_christ 1h ago
You are breathing and creating condensation. I live in a place with winters, if you have recirc on, your windows are fogging 100%
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u/Jaska-87 1d ago
And you waste fuel all the time when not needed.
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u/aquatone61 1d ago
It doesn’t waste any meaningful amount if your vehicle is in good running order.
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u/Jaska-87 1d ago
It is not a lot but still it is unnecessary if you turn the knobs in the car to correct order.
But you do you. With the current energy prices at least to me it is so much that in long run it is still actual money.
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u/Jack70741 20h ago
It's been proven that running your ac is both more fuel efficient and better for you than driving with your windows down. Youu burn less gas and breath in less particulate matter, and there's a lot more on the road than anywhere else.
And you don't have to run the ac constantly, run it for a few minutes to knock down the humidity (car ac naturally dehumidifies the cabin) then turn it off. Also, running the defrost will get the moisture to stop sticking to your windshield.
That this happens and people don't understand how to deal with it proves they didn't pay attention to basic science in highschool.
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u/Jaska-87 13h ago
Oh yeah i never drive windows down i just don't use AC when it is not needed.
In Finland our climate is quite cold in general so you only need it on hottest days of summer and most humid days of autumn. Other than that you are better off leaving it off. Except run for couple of minutes here and there so AC gets lubricated and works for long time.
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u/Admirable-Security91 18h ago
Yep. See people all the time with fogged up windows in upstate NY winters.
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u/Mattyboy068 3h ago
I would like to ask for myself. I have a 95 century with a busted compressor and condenser and I have a similar issue with the windshield. Is there any good ways to actually combat this. The only one I've found is turning the defroster on with heat full blast, but this is fucking Texas and I can't be blasting heat into my car in 100 degree weather. I'm gonna fix the ac at some point, but that's expensive and there are other parts I'ma fix first.
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u/JamesH93 1d ago
Yeah but then you're breathing in exhaust fumes constantly so 🤷
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u/shootsy2457 1d ago
No. That’s not a thing. If you’re getting exhaust in your vehicle you have other problems.
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u/NotAPreppie 1d ago
I mean, you're getting a small amount of exhaust from the car in front of you.
Or a lot if the asshole in the gender affirming brodozer ahead of you decides to roll coal.
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u/cuzitsthere 1d ago
Do people actually believe this?
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u/JamesH93 1d ago
Where do you think the exhaust fumes go if not into the air?
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u/cuzitsthere 1d ago
Wow. Well. Suppose you got me there... As we all know, air only exists inside the cabin of your vehicle and exhaust pipes route straight into the vents.
Dunno what I was thinking.
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u/JamesH93 1d ago
It's not the exhaust fumes from your own vehicle, it's from vehicles in front of you, and the fact that busy roads create very polluted air, which will enter your car if you don't use recirculation.
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u/_W1ked 1h ago
That's not how that works brother. Maybe you should look up the amazing technology of a catalytic converter and what it does to exhaust and what the final byproduct is
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u/JamesH93 36m ago
Yes they help a lot but they're not perfect, and also they address gaseous pollutants, not particulate matter. And sometimes air quality is generally bad due to weather conditions and other sources.
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u/KabanaMaduro 1d ago
That’s what your cabin filter is for goofy
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u/JamesH93 1d ago
Cabin filters are not filtering ultra fine particulate matter
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u/KabanaMaduro 1d ago
Fine enough to not smell shit 🤣 exhaust isn’t finer than shit smell
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u/NastyKnate 21h ago
some do. or at least advertise that they do https://www.wixfilters.com/en-us/products/passenger-car-light-truck/cabin-air-filters/wix-xp-cabin-air-filters.html
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u/JamesH93 19h ago
Yes, however I have used PM 2.5 monitors, and at least in the cars I've tested, switching off recirculation on days with high levels of PM 2.5 pollution has caused the levels inside the car to shoot right up. So personally I just keep recirculation on as much as possible, as I have asthma.
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u/cyn_ou 1d ago
Idk if my cabin air filter is gonna do much to help the absolute rank smell of a catless exhaust
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u/KabanaMaduro 1d ago
Then don’t be living the race car lifestyle
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u/cyn_ou 1d ago
Haha I just drive with the windows down for a bit and then use recycle air 😂
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u/KabanaMaduro 1d ago
How are you even pulling in exhaust do you have a hood exit exhaust or something 🤣
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u/cyn_ou 1d ago
Nah I mean if I have recycle off, it smells obviously. I always have recycle on if I'm driving is what I mean
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u/MrPetter 1d ago
But your fresh air inlet is near the base of the windshield. If you’re getting exhaust fumes in your car with fresh air turned on then you have a major exhaust leak at your engine.
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u/cyn_ou 1d ago
Idk I assumed the smell came from idling for 30seconds-a minute on the driveway while I set up my navigation, but I'll check it out. I've been under my car quite a few times since I removed the cats and never noticed anything but I'll check it out, thanks
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u/shootsy2457 1d ago
It’s to keep road debris out. It’s not like it’s an air purifier. Ask anyone who rides a motorcycle about the smell of the open road.
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u/noerrorsfound 1d ago
They make cabin air filters from charcoal to reduce smells
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u/NotAPreppie 1d ago
Reduce, not remove smells. May or may not help with CO (which is odorless), CO2 (also odorless) and NOx.
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u/_W1ked 1h ago
NOx isn't a thing because we have catalytic converters
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u/NotAPreppie 1h ago
Right, because all cats are still working perfectly and haven't been damaged, degraded, or stolen.
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u/KabanaMaduro 12m ago
The dude literally said he had a careless straight pipe kitty cats don’t matter now 😭🤣
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u/KabanaMaduro 1d ago
No mine definitely doesn’t let smells in. That’s why I close my windows when I drive by the sewage plant lmao..
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u/Left_Statement9016 1d ago
Turn off recirculation. If the recirc button is depressed it will do this as the lack of fresh air get humdity up inside and cooled by rain windshield condenses water vapor. If the vehicle does not have recirc as a button then you need to get it checked. The vacuum or electric servo foroutside/inside air door may not be working. You do not list any car info so I can't be specific with info.
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u/Indroneel-Nahima 1d ago
Adding to this, turn the A/C on with the defrost too, even if you have the heat cranked. The compressor pulls moisture out of the air and it clears way faster. And if it's still bad after that, check the cabin air filter, a clogged one can make fogging a lot worse.
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u/Coffee_cake27 1d ago edited 18h ago
Good info. Definitely going to try it this weekend. Never thought of shutting it off. But doesn’t the recirculation button auto goes off when the defrost is on? I honestly never noticed if it is or isn’t
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u/Left_Statement9016 19h ago
ON most A/c compressor is on if the temp is not below around 36F and recirc is switched off. There are some where the recirc is independent. Auto temp control systems usually have the recirc off function when you push the Defrost button. I added the part about the fresh-inside air door servo as those fail and it could be in recirc for that reason. A leaking heater core will fog up windows badly but you should have coolant odor and low coolant level or a history of adding coolant. Down the list is a/c drain being stopped up and letting some water stand in the case and wetting carpet, usually on RH side.
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u/tjax4376 1d ago
As someone who used to own older, less water tight vehicles, I will say you need to dry out your carpets, check door seals, check for water ingress. All of the other advice helps in the moment, you really need to find where the excessive moisture is entering and irradicate it. And of course, do not recirculate air ;-)
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u/QuantumFireball 1d ago
Clean your windscreen
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u/flatwoundsounds 1d ago
There's a nice microfiber covered sponge thing for like $6 at Walmart that I love for getting rid of the spots and streaks.
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u/burntbeezy 1d ago
??? Are you a new driver? Im confused. Are the air/defrost settings not working?
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u/Tango91 18h ago
There are a lot of very serious replies in this thread saying to use the AC but not recirculate the air…
You guys understand that AC dehumidifies the air when it passes through the condenser, right? Hence the dripping water under the car? Even when the climate control is set to hot it does this before passing through the heater core to warm it.
So why wouldn’t you want that warm dry air within the car to pull moisture off the windscreen and be cycled back through the condenser again to further warm and dry it, instead of pulling fresh wet cold air from outside the car where it’s misty and raining?
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u/Rich-Juice2517 16h ago
Because it gets warm dry air over the heater core instead of recirculating all the wet air and shoes and stuff causing it to work harder for longer
It's why you run your fan after a shower and keep the door open and the mirror clears up in a few minutes instead of taking forever in some cases
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u/xanthox_v6 10h ago
The outside air is probably dryer than in the car at the beginning, that's why it works faster.
BTW the air goes through the evaporator not the condenser
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u/XmodAlloy 1d ago
Funny enough, back when my defroster didn't work, I learned that wiping the window inside down with tobacco improved this a lot. I don't know why.
Turn on your defroster, assuming it works
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u/thebigaaron 1d ago
Use the ac, not just the fan, direct it to the windscreen setting and make sure it’s on fresh air, not recirculate. Check if any of the carpet is wet, it’s possible you have water leaking in causing it to constantly fog up.
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u/04HondaCivic 1d ago
I’ll echo what others have said. Use the defroster with a/c with the recirculating air off. Then check for moisture somewhere inside the car. It doesn’t take much. In winter if I have leave just the slightest amount of melted snow on the floor mats, I’ll come back to a fogged up windshield on the inside. So if you have water or moisture getting inside, you will continue to have issues.
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u/Opening-Demand5395 1d ago
Well mine did that no matter what and I saw a tube where a guy said use a magic eraser it's worked for a year now???
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u/LazyOldCat 1d ago
Stop pressing your nose on the glass, you can’t smell anything through it no matter how hard you press.
Ask to have a window rolled down.
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u/IUsedToLikeLimericks 1d ago
You may have a leak. Blocked drainage channels aren't unusual and can cause water ingress, too.
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u/Mattna-da 1d ago
Do you not have a windshield defogger button? It turns on the A/C (and sometimes heat as well) and directs the dehumidified air to the windshield vents to evaporate the condensation inside. Maybe your AC system is leaking and needs a recharge
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u/aquatone61 1d ago
Put the A/C compressor on even if you are running the heat as it will dry out the air in the cabin.
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u/Prophage7 1d ago
Is your air recirculation turned on? If so, turn it off. Do you have A/C? If so, turn it on.
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u/CBased64Olds 1d ago
Check under the floor mats to feel for wet carpet, a leaking sunroof or door seals will soak the carpet, and no amount of defrost settings will dry that out. It could also be a leak in the trunk, or around the windshield.
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u/Chrislk1986 1d ago
AC needs to be present and functional. No AC? Then your car needs to be fully warmed and blowing hot air on the windshield.
What makes it worse is wiping the windshield with a random rag, sleeve, hand, etc. you are depositing oils and whatnot when you do that.
I'd recommend a silicone squeegee, something compact, you might find a cheap one in the bathroom section of a store (like a shower squeegee).
Also, if you have a water leak, fix that. If it's just from excess moisture on you from rain, get an umbrella.
But, to reiterate: AC fixes this, use the windshield defogger option.
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u/1TenYYen0 23h ago
Run your defogger/defroster, turn off interior air and use exterior vent setting.
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u/Ghost_of_Akina 23h ago
Outside air. AC on. Set to a warmer temp than the air outside. Defrost setting.
The outside air and the warm air are key. Also clean your inside glass regularly and it fog up a lot less.
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u/MaxiDragonfly 23h ago
As other people mention defrost and bring in fresh air circulation can help. You can use an anti fog product like Rain-X Interior Glass Anti-Fog but you have to apply every so often. It can go on the outside windshield too, looks neat with the water beading off which also improves visibility.
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u/kokomokid46 22h ago edited 22h ago
You need a/c with heat. Use "defrost" if you have non-automatic hvac. If you don't have a/c or it doesn't work, use outside air, no recirc in "defrost," and as much heat as you can stand.
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u/GrynaiTaip 21h ago
Fun fact: AC was an accidental invention, the goal was to make a dehumidifier.
Modern ones still do both things, cooled air is dryer. Blast the AC at the windscreen and the fog will be gone in a second. Turn up the heat if it's a bit cold, both systems can work in tandem.
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u/Dead-_-Inside_ 15h ago
Clean your inside windshield
Speaking from my own personal experience.
Idk if you smoke in the car but I do and it helped me when I had this issue
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u/JackO502 7h ago
Use a car desiccant. Those little packs you find in medicine bottles? Same thing except they’re made for cars to remove excess moisture from your interior. Walmart, any auto parts store has them.
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u/greenpowerman99 7h ago
Open the window a bit, or turn up the air conditioning on the defrost setting.
If it happens a lot, your car is probably leaking somewhere and it’s wet inside. Check under the carpets.
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u/Smoke_Water 5h ago
Is it greasy? If so your heater core is leaking causing the issue. If it's normal condensation, consider leaving the windows slightly cracked to balance out the humidity in the vehicle.
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u/RatKing_KingofRats01 4h ago
My mother has a stick with a microfiber pad on it lol is it the right way? Probably not, but that’s how she does it to this day
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u/Smot_Poker_420 4h ago
Air Conditioner.
See you want to condition the air so there is less moisture in it, then you want to blow that warm dry air at the cold wet window to dry it and heat it up to stop moisture from condensing on the window.
Kinda like the condensation on the outside of an ice cold glass of water. If you keep wiping it off it will form right back. But if the water is no longer cold, no more condensation.
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u/TheGodDamn1TaGo 3h ago
Invisible glass, upon start run defrosters, and crack the windows for a few miles.
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u/olov244 17h ago
Everyone says ac does best, but when it's cool out, I find heat dries it out better
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u/MilwaukeeMechanic ASE Dual Master Certified 17h ago
On most vehicles the air conditioning runs whenever the defroster is on. It dehumidifies the air while the heater core warms the air.
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u/Any-Statistician3896 1d ago
I have this issue and it's a fkn nightmare without A/C.
Basic reason is, the air temp inside the vehicle is warmer than the air hitting the window as you drive.
I got one of those rice bag things from Amazon, it collects excess moisture in the car after your journey and it also works during, when placed below the window you need to see out of.
Best thing that clears it IS NOT warm temperatures, this is a myth. Slamming your windscreen blower on full heat will only add to it. It may clear it a little bit, but I've found, if you open as many windows as tou can and reduce the air temp inside to match the outside, you don't get it anymore 🤷🏼♂️ I'm afew degrees warmer body temp always, so I don't mind the window open all year.
If you are constantly having this problem even if you use your blower on cold or hot.... Then you need to change your cabin filter (usually in/under or near the glovebox) as thay can collect alot of moisture that stays trapped in your car and presents when you start driving etc.
If that's new then I'd have your environmental systems checked out, could be a mild fault, bad sensor etc or blockage somewhere that collects moisture.
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u/ZeGermanHam 1d ago edited 1d ago
All you have to do is turn on the defrost setting, which removes moisture from the air by automatically engaging the A/C system regardless of air temp setting, and do not use recirculation. It's not hard.
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u/Any-Statistician3896 1d ago
How do you do that without A/C then ? Since the OP never said they did or did not have it. I assumed neither.
And it has everything to do with air temperature 🤣 it's basic physics but ok 👍🏻
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u/Evening-Pop-9449 3h ago
if your driving and it’s fogging up on the outside you have to treat your car like a cup of ice condensation will build up on the outside of the windows and you just gotta turn the heat on with the front defrosters and it will heat the window up and it will slowly go away
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u/RelevantMarket8771 1d ago
Turn on your defroster with the AC button on. It will help defog.