PT Cruiser misting up

Just drove my 2003 PT Cruiser CRD through heavy snow for the first time and
was surprised how well it handled. No slipping even on hard packed snow. I
did have a problem with the windows misting up badly and finished up driving
with the heater on full and blowing on demist to the windscreen which only
kept the centre clear. The side windows were wet by the time I reached the
low lands and the snow cleared. Then the screen cleared easily and I could
turn the fan to a slower speed. Anyone have an idea why this happened and
how to stop it?

 

Make certain the air control is on outside air... NOT recycling inside air..

 

Yes it was on outside air, I hardly ever use recirc.

 

Check to see if your AC compressor is runnung while on defrost if not that
is the problem.

 

Hiya,

We're on our 3rd Cruiser and they've all been the same.
Either we get a clear screen or we get clear side windows but not both.
It's a bit of a poor design really.
We try not to get too soggy before we get into the car.

m

 

A good PT Cruiser link
http://ptdoityourself.net/index.html

 

Thanks, that could be a pointer as I had to get out a couple of times to
clear the snow build up off the wipers and I was a lot whiter when I got
back in the car.

A friend says a wet pollen filter could be a cause as well but does a PT
Cruiser have one?

Bob

 

Make sure the A/C system is fully charged and working properly to remove the
moisture from inside the vehicle.

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

 

Well, even a tiny pinhole leak in the heater plumbing inside the car
(core, pipes, possibly valve) can cause incredible amounts of very
stubborn steam on the windows...

 

I wonder, might it not be better to use recirculate with the AC removing
excesss moisture? Assuming the cabin is a closed system (not too far from
true, maybe) then removing moisture will eventually reduce the relative
humidity below a point that it will condense on the windows as frost or
mist. A closed cabin has a finite amount of water and removing it will
eventually accomplish the above, the question is: how closed is closed and
how long to reduce the RH low enough.
BF

 

Aircon has worked fine all year so I don't think that's a problem. OK
British summers are not like hotter climes but the car would go pretty cold
if the aircon was on full blast. Also the earlier comment about a pinhole in
the heater matrix would show up all the time surely, plus the misting
cleared on the windscreen once I got out of the snow. Side windows were
still pretty wet until I dried them with a cloth. The only other thing I've
just thought of is the fan speed control was set blow in the white area of
the dial not the blue area which I would use for the aircon. Was this
correct?

Bob

 

If you are in recirculate, where is the water going to go?

Matt

 

AC on, out the drain tube.
BF

 

The mode and recirculation controls are mechanically interlocked on this
vehicle so that the recirc control cannot be placed in the recirc position
if the mode is at or between the mix and defrost position

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

 

NO!

Using recirculate will cause the air inside the car to become extremely
stale and wet.

Only if you stop breathing.

 

if the carpet is wet this can happen and there is not much u can do about
it

 

Hiya,

If the dial is set to demist the the front screen the aircon operates to dry
the air anyway, so it don't make any difference whether you use the aircon
setting.
Our car did the 'demist the front screen and leave the side windows misted'
thing this very evening, it's one thing or the other, and I usually clear
the front screen 'cos I try not to go sideways that often

m

 

You needn't worry about sideways travel; the sunroof is provided
as an option for those that do much sideways travelling.

Mind, it doesn't have a "demister", so it should be fully opened
before attempting sideways travel.

Ken