Technical Ice on the inside!

[Dogbot]

Hey all. I have looked through the forum and can see this has been an issue on some other models (Panda) but can't see anyone with the problem on the Grande Punto.

I have a 2008 1.2 Active. In recent months it has suffered from condensation nearly everyday, it has rained a lot and the its always damp where I live.

This morning I scraped all the ice off the car, only to find a layer of ice covering the windscreen on the inside. I have never had this problem on any other car.

There appears to be no water ingress, the carpers are bone dry, there is no damp clothing in the car, no bottle of water or anything I else that I can attribute this to.

Most of journey are short, to and from work or the gym, probably a max of 20 mins. Maybe there is moisture in the car from me (my sweat!) that isn't drying out of the air and that's condensing? Its all I can think of.

I haven't tried my dealer yet, and at the moment have left the car sat on the drive locked up with the engine running and the heater on full to see if that dries out whatever the problem is.

Any ideas, anyone suffered from this? :bang:

 

[ut745]

I havent had ice on the inside but ive had ridiculous condensation.... i was wondering what the hell was dripping on me while i was driving, so i looked up and my sun roof was jus soaked in water.... its really annoying, i dont know wat 2 do to prevent it either

 

[Mattyk]

do you have the air recirculation on? that causes condensation which will freeze over night

 

[Andy Monty]

well its that time of the year you get in the car you climb in with
wet shoes
wet jacket.
you sweat
you breath

etc

the moisture builds up

best thing you can do is (if you have air con) is run it on hot with the recirculate as the air con will dehumidify the air......

if not heat the car up when driving and open the windows a shade

 

[JimbbobW1977]

Ive never had a problem with this. As stated with all the extra moisture in the air what do you expect? If it starts misting up in the car I put the air con on, simple gets rid of it. Its not a Fiat fault I believe, I did find ice on the inside of my Focus once but that's it. It was -6 when I went to work this morning.

 

[dutchess]

Do you use your A/C all the time?

I do 2 x 15 min trips each day and my car sits in a station car park all day. I had serious condensation / misting issues when I first bought the car, including ice on the inside - but I left the A/C on permanently. Took it back to the dealer complaining that the A/C was not working and they found nothing wrong, but serviced the A/C for free as a gesture of good will. But that made no difference. Then someone told me A/C and short trips was the problem...

Now I turn the A/C on only when on long trips, and I have no misting problems at all - even in the wet spell we had recently. And that's not just Fiat; my wife's Toyoto Corolla was the same, and the same trick worked on it.

 

[Dogbot]

Thanks both.

I do use aircon when the car is misting up as it dehumidifies the air and helps with demisting, but its not on all the time.

I gave the screen a thorough clean, left the windows open for about 4 hours yesterday, then locked it all up or an hour with the engine running and heater on full.

Got in a 6am this morning with ice so thick on the outside I couldn't scrap it. No ice inside and no trace of condenstaion. didn't even misty up from my breath when I sat inside waiting for the screen to clear. So maybe they just need airing out once in a while?

 

[hitherematey]

I too had this problem with my GPS


I've found by putting the air recirculation on before switching the car off and changing the vent switch to anything but the screen setting helped quite a bit

just remember to switch the recirculation back off when you get back into the car


let us know if it help

 

[Garree001]

I had this for the first time ever this morning. Not bothered about it as such and I was quite surprised, but it did remind me of this discussion (or a similar one)! Maybe a long drive with the heaters on the go will be a good diea to "dry it out".

-5 this morning on the edge of London at 7.00am I know that's not cold by northern standards, but it is for here

 

[Dogbot]

My GP seems to mist up more quickly than any other car I have had, Fords, Renaults, other Fiats, Alfa's and I use my aircon year round more than in any other car. This goes beyond misting when its being driven, it mists when its empty to the point of full on condensation. Only my Mark 1 Escort ever did that but that leaked from just about everywhere and had drainage holes drilled in the floorpan!

One thought from another thread, when I open the boot lid after rain, lots drians from the drainage holes on the corners, where the rubber bungs are. So maybe the water being held in there is the problem. I will have to investigate and try and ascertain where it is getting in.

For now, having aired it, run the heater on full for an hour and taken a tip of parking it up with the recirulation switched on, there has been no further problem.

 

[Barry_M2]

I've been racking my brains over the same problem in my Mjet. Really bad condensation almost every morning and the wifes Tjet Bravo has none! I also get a lot of water come from the boot gromets when I open the boot, which I thought a little odd!

I've read that the cabin filter (or pollen filter) holds on to moisture and never really drys out, so I'm going to replace that, and also give the advice above ago!

 

[T14086]

Best way is to carry out a ice test, lick the inside of the screen.

 

[Dogbot]

:d

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Then someone told me A/C and short trips was the problem...

Rubbish, I've never had that problem.

Mine is on all the time, and in winter with air recirculate on.

Do remember though at between <1.5-3C the aircon will deactivate to prevent the system from mucking itself up so I'm led to believe.

I've found out that my Stilo does this at 1.5 deg (although Stilo's with climate control do it at 3C) as the inside of the car started to steam up as it was the equivilent to me driving about with air recirculate on and aircon off.

So when it's <2-3C I switch it all to normal (fresh air in, aircon off) so it doesn't steam up etc.

I'd assume the GP would be similar with Aircon deactivation temp.

Jon.