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  • integraguy

    Jan. 2, 2011 10:23 a.m. integraguy Dork

    I'll start by saying I've lived most of my life in areas that have no normal snowfall tho the overnight temps fall as low as the 20s and even the teens.

    This morning, when I went out to get in the car to go somewheres, I noticed, that as often happens this time of year, the windows were frosted over. When I reached in the car to get my handy dandy scraper I further noticed that the windshield was frosted on the INSIDE. When I tried to scape the windshield on the outside (while warming up the car) almost none of the frost came off...95% or more was on the inside of the windshield. The side and back windows were frosted on the inside, also. I'm guessing that when I shut off the car last night I inadvertantly left the button on that admits outside air.

    Any thoughts?

  • eastsidemav

    Jan. 2, 2011 10:28 a.m. eastsidemav Reader

    Could be the vent, but usually up here in Ohio, its gotta be more than that. How humid was it before it got cold? Did you leave an open drink in the car and have the heater running last time you were driving?

  • porksboy

    Jan. 2, 2011 10:37 a.m. porksboy SuperDork

    Condesation from your breathing coupled with the sudden change in the temp of the glass. The cloth bits from the cars interion will hold a lot of moisture. On cold humid days my car will imediatly get covered in condesation when i pull out of my attached garage. Imagine if it were freezing cold out there.

  • ZOO

    Jan. 2, 2011 10:46 a.m. ZOO Dork

    Make sure that the air vents aren't set to "recirculation" either -- your breath is probably much more humid than the outside air, and you don't want to recirculate that humidity through the car when it is cold outside, or you will have problems with condensation and fogging on the inside of the windshield.

    It seems to me that Hondas I've owned were the worst for that.

  • iceracer

    Jan. 2, 2011 10:53 a.m. iceracer Dork

    I haven't had that happen in years. Never pondered the cause. Just one of the joys of living in the great NE.

  • sachilles

    Jan. 2, 2011 10:56 a.m. sachilles Dork

    usually means you let a ton of snow in on your boots, or water, and it collected in the matts/carpeting. Let the car warm up on the inside and crack the windows to let the moisture escape. Somewhat normal.

  • Twin_Cam

    Jan. 2, 2011 11:09 a.m. Twin_Cam SuperDork

    I've had that happen a few times. Usually it's caused by a humid, warm weather system being pushed out of the way by a cold, dry weather system overnight. And yes, it's quite annoying scraping ice on the inside.

  • chknhwk

    Jan. 2, 2011 11:35 a.m. chknhwk Reader

    Ever had this happen?

    I've seen the frost on the inside, though. Weird stuff.

    Another pic:

  • carguy123

    Jan. 2, 2011 11:50 a.m. carguy123 SuperDork

    I'd say the car is telling you that it'd look great in a set of box flares!

    chknhwk wrote:


  • Lesley

    Jan. 2, 2011 12:45 p.m. Lesley SuperDork

    That usually happens in my old beaters when the seals are shot.

  • chknhwk

    Jan. 2, 2011 12:46 p.m. chknhwk Reader

    carguy123 wrote:

    I'd say the car is telling you that it'd look great in a set of box flares!

    I concur. I've been looking at them but with a kid on the way I'll have to decline said mods for a few years.

  • aircooled

    Jan. 2, 2011 1:01 p.m. aircooled SuperDork

    sachilles wrote:

    usually means you let a ton of snow in on your boots, or water, and it collected in the matts/carpeting. Let the car warm up on the inside and crack the windows to let the moisture escape. Somewhat normal.

    I will agree with this. There is likely moisture on the inside of the car. In warmer climates you will see a similar thing where the windows will not defrost, almost like a layer of water on the window.

    Check you carpets / mats, you will likely find wet spots (or maybe solid ice in your case). Probably a leaky window or door seal if not from boots / cloths.

  • Lesley

    Jan. 2, 2011 1:16 p.m. Lesley SuperDork

    The seals were shot on my old 323, I could never keep the windows from either fogging up, or icing over. My current one is good, and I've spraying doors and rubber seals with lithium grease and an occasional coat of vaseline to keep them from sticking.

  • griffin729

    Jan. 2, 2011 1:47 p.m. griffin729 HalfDork

    My girlfriends Saturn used to do this when it rained. The windshield would leak and the car would fog for days, course it could get a half inch of water in the floorboards, and if it dropped below freezing before it dried out she'd get ice on the inside. Solution, we bought a house and it is now parked in the garage.

  • Maroon92

    Jan. 2, 2011 6:27 p.m. Maroon92 SuperDork

    It used to happen in my Aspire, but maybe that's because it lacked a rear window...

  • wlkelley3

    Jan. 2, 2011 6:47 p.m. wlkelley3 Dork

    I've had it happen also. As above ^ mentions, caused by moisture inside the car. Vents, window/door seals, slightly open window, wet carpet/floor or any combination. I usually just turn the defog on and let the car warm up and thaw it out, it usually clears quickly.

  • mtn

    Jan. 2, 2011 6:55 p.m. mtn SuperDork

    It happens in my Miata. Its usually in the cold after a long ride (more than 2 hours) while driving my roommate to or from school. That guy must put out more vapor than any person in the world.

  • Jensenman

    Jan. 2, 2011 7:13 p.m. Jensenman SuperDork

    Down here you don't see frost but you do see fogging on the inside. I'll generally open the Trooper's windows an inch or so and let it sit in the sun while I'm at work, that keeps the interior dry.

 
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