Hi all

Since I got my 500 2 years ago it has always frozen inside when its cold outside. My neighbour has a 500x and hers never freezes inside so not as if all cars are freezing inside at this temperature.

I took it to Arnold Clark when I first got it and a salesman said there may be a loose seal. The mechanic checked it and said there was nothing but it's normal for it to freeze inside. It has been checked for water ingress but there is nothing.

Does anyone know what the problem may be/ how to fix this?

Do you use the AC?

Do you keep the ventilation on air recirculate or fresh air in from the outside?

Sounds like you might be getting moisture in from somewhere. I had this when I had a leak,took me ages to find it, the roof aerial needed tightening. The water was running down the inside of the headlining all stealth and ninja like.

It should not freeze inside.
As said above, if you use the heater on recirculate all the time, you get no fresh air, so the air inside becomes more humid than it should be.

Check the chamber in front of the windscreen, under the bonnet. It may be full of water. There are two 'duckbill' drains that get clogged with dead leaves, etc. Find them and clear them out.

I don't have A.C. in my model and the ventilation is fresh air from outside.

Arnold Clark checked for water ingress and found nothing so I presume there won't be an obvious leak.

I will check the chamber in front of the windscreen tomorrow.

How old is the car? Our pop 09 does not condense on the inside (much )

John202020 said:

How old is the car? Our pop 09 does not condense on the inside (much )

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It's a 15 plate.

I put the terrible stains on the dog tooth checked seats down to condensation from the glass roof. I think that moisture could push the humidity up.

Mine has frozen on the inside recently too, on a 15 plate, I put it down to me foolishly removing the frost covered windscreen cover and putting it in the boot, I've stopped doing that now and hope things will improve.
Don't think it takes much moisture to cause it.

Check for things bringing moisture into the car..wet clothes..
Pets.

Worth having windows down a fraction ..rain wont get in but air can circulate.

Do chech the duckbill drains...and the engines coolant level

Charlie

varesecrazy said:

Check for things bringing moisture into the car..wet clothes..
Pets.

Worth having windows down a fraction ..rain wont get in but air can circulate.

Do chech the duckbill drains...and the engines coolant level

Charlie

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We suffered heater matrix failure(water in the car ) was not obvious at first only the "smell" our Mazda had water streaming down the windscreen, but it had not been driven for about 2 weeks and had lots of heat in sun then freeze cycles the water condensed onto the coldest window every time leading to the large amount (only that window faced north and out of the sun)

portland_bill said:

It should not freeze inside.
As said above, if you use the heater on recirculate all the time, you get no fresh air, so the air inside becomes more humid than it should be.

Check the chamber in front of the windscreen, under the bonnet. It may be full of water. There are two 'duckbill' drains that get clogged with dead leaves, etc. Find them and clear them out.

Click to expand...

To clear them out should I take them out completely or is there an easier way? Read a few posts on here of people saying they have removed them then can't get them back in.

stephanie25x said:

Read a few posts on here of people saying they have removed them then can't get them back in.

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Certainly if you remove the scuttle grille you'll need to find an alternative way of securing it, as the factory-installed fastenings are single use only. Standard bolts, nuts & washers will work fine, but you might want to find some black coated ones to match the grille.

stephanie25x said:

To clear them out should I take them out completely or is there an easier way? Read a few posts on here of people saying they have removed them then can't get them back in.

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Duckbills..?

Squeeze the widest edges together..
That will open the centre to let water..mud escape

stephanie25x said:

To clear them out should I take them out completely or is there an easier way? Read a few posts on here of people saying they have removed them then can't get them back in.

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You can take them out and they do go back in ok, take them inside once most of the muck is out then clean in warm water this makes them more flexible so are easier to get back in, it's more likely that you will push then up too far on replacing then some careful wiggling to get into the correct place.

John202020 said:

You can take them out and they do go back in ok, take them inside once most of the muck is out then clean in warm water this makes them more flexible so are easier to get back in, it's more likely that you will push then up too far on replacing then some careful wiggling to get into the correct place.

Click to expand...

Also a quick squirt of silicone spray (not WD40!) may help when refitting.

I enlarge the hole and use 6mm fluted push pins. The ones used in bodywork trim on other cars. Had them left over from when I repaired my Juke. Prise back out easily and can be reused over and over.

With care the windscreen trim panel fixings can be re used the top part has a very thin edge