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Front Window Foggy
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 1:00 pm
by spanielsgalore
Hi,
my Bongo has just returned from the garage having had some work done. One of the things replaced was the front heater motor as the old one had seized. It's now blowing beautifully, out of the dash but it is not clearing the windscreen. It seems to make a token effort in places, clearing the bottom 2 inches but thats it.
Any ideas as to how I can make it work please ? it's driving me mad !
Vanessa
Re: Front Window Foggy
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 1:17 pm
by mikeonb4c
spanielsgalore wrote:Hi,
my Bongo has just returned from the garage having had some work done. One of the things replaced was the front heater motor as the old one had seized. It's now blowing beautifully, out of the dash but it is not clearing the windscreen. It seems to make a token effort in places, clearing the bottom 2 inches but thats it.
Any ideas as to how I can make it work please ? it's driving me mad !
Vanessa
Just so I understand, can you confirm it is blowing air strongly out of the slit vents on the top of the dashboard fascia that are situated right at the base of the windscreen. If not, then there is advice on here about the linkage under the dash near the drivers left foot that can come undone and so the air is not directed to the windscreen when the slider control on the unit is moved.
If you are getting a good draft to the windscreen, two thoughts:
Mine is like this when its cold and rainy. I have to put the air conditioning on (with heater set to hot - all the aircon does is dehumidify the air) and that clears it very quickly. Many others say the same. Try that and see if it works. If it doesn't work then it is possible there is a leak causing dampness there (dampness anywhere in the car due to leaks and damp carpets will cause the air inside it to become humid and prone to steaming up windows - my Bongo side windows were all steamed up last week from having 7 people in the car and windows closed).
Ask again if you need to and good luck.
Mike

Re: Front Window Foggy
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 1:21 pm
by francophile1947
Agree with what Mike said
Vanessa, if you put your location in your profile, it helps us to help you. There is often a local member who is willing to help, or we could recommend a local garage

Re: Front Window Foggy
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 1:26 pm
by spanielsgalore
I have updated my profile.
Help would be rewarded with homemade cake !
Thanks
Vanessa
Re: Front Window Foggy
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 1:27 pm
by Steve L
Also make sure the slider under the fan control is set to air from outside the vehicle and not recirculating air inside the vehicle.
Re: Front Window Foggy
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 1:31 pm
by spanielsgalore
I didn't do that, I had recirculating air on, mmmmmmmmm, right off for another drive (any excuse) to see if that works.
Thanks
Vanessa
Re: Front Window Foggy
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 3:46 pm
by mikeonb4c
Steve L wrote:Also make sure the slider under the fan control is set to air from outside the vehicle and not recirculating air inside the vehicle.
Spot on!!!! Fancy me forgetting to mention that.

Re: Front Window Foggy
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 3:51 pm
by MountainGoat
If your Bongo is damp inside try one of these mini dehumidifiers. I used one on my Jeep Cherokee after I invertly left the sun roof open and it rained.

They don't cost much and are very versatile.
http://www.meaco.com/proddetail.asp?prod=DV300
Re: Front Window Foggy
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 7:54 pm
by Trouble at t'Mill
Chust to reiterate the above. You can expect more misting with this colder weather.
Air-con is the way to go!
It seems bizarre, but in our Zafira I can't clear the windscreen without the air con on, regardless of how hot and fast I blow on the screen. Cars of old seemed to do this ok!
What's changed?
Weird...
Re: Front Window Foggy
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 10:01 pm
by dom_e
I have the same problem with the windscreen taking an age to clear. We've got the auto air con option in our Bongo with a button especially for fron window clearing. This switches the fan on full with the AC on. The fan still seems pretty week thought. I also notice that air seems to 'trickle' out by my feet even with the setting to window only.
The window does clear eventually, but after quite a while.
I couldn't see anything wrong with the links by the left of the drivers foot, but I think I'll have a close look.
The fan is strong when directed towads the body.
Sounds like the same issue as you Vanessa.
Dom
Re: Front Window Foggy
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 9:44 am
by bigdaddycain
I had a new windscreen fitted last year, and post fitting i had terrible problems with excessive misting,even in the middle of summer.
I use autoglym glass polish, and a few applications of that seemed to cure the problem, as it decreased with each weekly application of said polish.

Re: Front Window Foggy
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 12:07 pm
by mikeonb4c
bigdaddycain wrote:
I use autoglym glass polish, and a few applications of that seemed to cure the problem, as it decreased with each weekly application of said polish.

A very good point Ste. I need to clean the inside of my windscreen. It makes a BIG difference whether you have a film build up on the inside of the screen (film = mists up more easily). Another thing we should have thought of earlier!
Re: Front Window Foggy
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 2:46 pm
by helen&tony
Hi
Tis true about the film. Many years ago, I had a nasty German car (Audi)....fairly new car, but the windscreen misted really badly, and nothing on earth would clear it. I took the heater out, and checked the matrix, as I suspected a holed matrix.....nothing wrong, so I took it to Audi, and they wanted to do the same thing....at 3 hours labour...HUH...it only took me 3 hours in the street, and I didn't have the extensive array of left-handed Eurospanners, and comprehensive workshop training . They must employ chimpanzees at Audi....Anyway, the parts chap was more helpful, came and looked at the car, deciding it was a high-spec. Australian Export model, and it was just conceivable that the car had got "dunked" in the briny when they imported it....I said that was a bit daft, but he said they had had that experience before, and the remaining salt caused problems. Anyway, the problem was puzzling, and I cleaned the inside glass a bit......WOW....thick nicotine (i used to smoke)....several cleanings later (taking nearly as long as taking the heater apart), and it was perfect afterwards.....so If you smoke in the car, it may just be a problem, as the nicotine actually holds the moisture!
Cheers
Helen
Re: Front Window Foggy
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 3:19 pm
by Trouble at t'Mill
Well, there's
another reason to quit smoking...
Apart from obvious pollutants like smoke, bad breath, smelly armpits, etc., the plastic trims and components inside your car also emit volatiles which condense and coat your inner glass surfaces.
Clearly worth trying a darn good clean followed by an application of one of the many anti-misting products which are available?
Re: Front Window Foggy
Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 10:49 pm
by spanielsgalore
It has cleared, I used non recirculated air and angled the front blowers up as much as poss and then let it blow full blast. The vents under the window aren't working, I haven't checked the linkage yet but I have given it a damn good clean. Mostly because the only thing I had to hand to try it clear it before repair was a clean nappy, and its true they do add moisturiser to nappies. I had one fogged up smeary window .....................
Vanessa