Technical Please read if your Bravo mists up

[PROV]

Further to my thread on misting up windows...

I have finally found the cause of my Bravos annoying habit of badly steaming up in cold weather.

Basically when the compressor is on there is no issue (there is actually, just being masked!)

Driving the car without the compressor on (<4C), the mist problem was pretty bad.

The problem was the flap that activates the air recirc function was not working (and stuck in the closed position). The diagnostic didnt show this up, the only way to check is to do it by eye, which is infact quite easy to do.

You need to remove the scuttle panel (the black trim under the windscreen). The air intake is situated in the middle. There is a flap just inside this intake, it should move when the re circ is turned on/off. If it doesnt then it is goosed.

I opened mine and the misting problem immediately disappeared. Cold morning on mon, 17 mile journey into work, no compressor, not one sign of condensation anywhere.

As a fix, there is a spare actuator available from Fiat (ie no need to buy whole new heater box) for around £32. Im not sure yet if it is possible to get to very easily, will soon find out.

I know of several Bravo owners who have said they have a misting issue. Its worth checking out, it is NOT normal in cold weather!

 

[Tad-bravo]

no need to go through all this trouble to check if you AC switches the recycling on and off, just put the AC OFF with the recycling ON, then while driving, turn the recycling OFF, you should feel and smell air coming in.

 

[PROV]

You mean the AC off or the heater off (ie so nothing is on, fan, temp etc..)

 

[Tad-bravo]

You mean the AC off or the heater off (ie so nothing is on, fan, temp etc..)

AC OFF means everything OFF, no blower, no cooling, no heating.

 

[PROV]

Once the incoming air has passed through the pollen filter and ducts it would be difficult to tell with any certainty the change between the two.

 

[Tad-bravo]

Once the incoming air has passed through the pollen filter and ducts it would be difficult to tell with any certainty the change between the two.

You're wrong about that, the difference is very obvious. I always use the air recycling but the automatic AC sometimes turns it off to get fresh air in, I can always feel it instantly without looking at the panel.

 

[PROV]

Ok

 

[peetleouf]

I think you don't have anymore your Bravo and i'm sorry to digging up a old thread BUT i have to give a BIG THANK YOU from France, i had the exact same issue and now i have no more mist !

Again Thank You Very Much !

 

[smith2001uk]

I had a look at mine. I took the trim off. Had a look at the middle bit and when I press the recycler button next to the AC button nothing moves or is visibly different. However when you press it the air definitely becomes more powerful and I can hear it become louder. I guess mines working fine.