Windows Frosting Up - Maintenance and Repair Forum

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Windows Frosting Up
Friday, January 16, 2009 9:09 AM
Hey everyone, since the winter started my car windows have been frosting on the inside. I took it to the garage and they said the Freon had to be topped up because when the knobs on the defrost setting the air conditioner comes on to help defrost the windows. Topped up the freon, and just as I left the parking lot, it started frosting up again. If I leave the setting on the windshield, it keeps it clear, but the two front windows, two back doors, and the back window are completely frosted. I took the car back to the garage yesterday and they said theres nothing really to do because its so cold out,(-30°C) and just leave it on the windshield setting. That didn't seem right to me, so I went to the Chev dealer and he said maybe the Evaporator was gone. Theres lots of heat coming out, thus ruling out the blower motor, and there is no wet spots on the floor anywhere, no greasy film on the windows, and no funny smells, ruling out the heater core. Any help would be really appreciated since I really don't want to put another $400+installation into the car.

Re: Windows Frosting Up
Friday, January 16, 2009 9:23 AM
Mine do this also but I think that the rubber seals on the driver side window are to blame though.




Re: Windows Frosting Up
Friday, January 16, 2009 9:26 AM
I don't know, but its getting to the point where its not safe to drive it at night anymore...
Re: Windows Frosting Up
Friday, January 16, 2009 9:31 AM
Turn your defrost to the fresh air intake instead of the recirculating air during the winter months. Our bodies give off moisture and it collects on the inside of the glass. Having the fresh air come in from the outside will help to reduce some of that moisture. I had this same problem and I searched the internet for a solution. I no longer have frost on the insides of my windows



Re: Windows Frosting Up
Friday, January 16, 2009 9:35 AM
The fresh air intake would be the setting with the Windsheild right? The recirculating setting is the one with the circle of arrows? Its always on the windshield one
Re: Windows Frosting Up
Friday, January 16, 2009 7:41 PM
It could also be that there is moisture in your car mats or carpet. As the car warms up the moisture evaporates and then settles on the windows. Since the windows are cold it creates frost. JMO

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j130/mykeln/mysig.jpg
Re: Windows Frosting Up
Friday, January 16, 2009 7:51 PM
Checked and there all dry.. Thanks for your input though
Re: Windows Frosting Up
Saturday, January 17, 2009 7:03 PM
Obviously the frost is the result of moisture coming from somewhere. I don't think that the A/C will even run at temperatures below -4C, but I don't have it myself to reference any experience there. The A/C usually runs at higher temperatures to help dry the incoming air, but I don't think it would make much difference at temperatures much below freezing, as the incoming air is going to be quite dry already. My only guess as another thing to check for the A/C is the drain from the evaporator. If it's holding water in there, it will certainly transfer itself into the car rather quickly. I believe this drain is on the firewall, rather low towards the passenger side. There shouldn't be moisture in there anyway if the A/C isn't running, but if the drain's blocked, it's hard to say how much could be sitting in there. I would expect this to produce a musty smell though - but maybe not since the temperature is so low. Just a guess here...

It doesn't take much moisture to cause this. It hasn't been that cold around here yet (it hit about -19C this week though), and I had obvious frosting on the windows on the side I was sitting on. If I have a car full of people, it happens rather quickly. Although it doesn't sound practical, if you open the window just a little bit (1/2" or so) it will let most of the moisture you're producing from your breath out of the car. The more people there are in the car, the wider I have to open the window. This of course only helps prevent the formation of the frost. Once it's there, little else other than heat is going to help get rid of it.

At least our cars won't let us operate on defrost mode with it set to recirculate. Many imports (and a few domestics) at least used to allow this, which I always thought was rather pointless and dangerous. I think they're the ones I've seen pulled over on the side of the highway lately with little holes scraped through the frost to try to peer out of...

Other than those two things, I can't think of much to help that hasn't already been mentioned. At least winter doesn't last forever...
John




Re: Windows Frosting Up
Saturday, January 17, 2009 7:35 PM
There's got to be water in the car somewhere. If it wasn't cold out it would be fogging up your windows. Have you checked the trunk? I recently found that a tail light was leaking and the spare tire well had 3 inches of water in it! My windows were fogging really bad depending on the weather. I drained the water and fixed the leaking seal on the tail light and no more fog.

2.2 97 Cavalier......the "Crapalier"
Re: Windows Frosting Up
Saturday, January 17, 2009 9:37 PM
Thanks guys, When its warmer tomorrow, I'll check the evaporator drain..
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