[Puss in Boots]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone else has had this problem:

I have a 03 mini cooper, and I've noticed in the recent (colder!) weeks that the side windows of the car just won't de-mist, even when I have been driving for a while with the heater on.
In fact, at this stage, I cannot see through the windows to see my wing mirrors!

Is this a general mini fault, or is it just mine?!!

Thanks,
Puss.

[andrewcregan]

Have you tried switching the AirCon on? I don't know why, but this always seems to do the job.

[minisoopercooper]

Make sure your heater controls are up on the windscreen setting otherwise no air blows onto the door windows. As Andrew said if you have aircon then use it as it dries the air out and keeps the system working properly. If you don't use it during the winter the levels will drop and it won't work as well in the summer when you want it

If it's especially damp and misty crank up the heater full and open the windows both sides a bit - the fresh air will get in and the old moist air will be gone clearing them at the same time.

I get this all the time having to transport my 3 wet dogs around for their daily walkies so used to having to clear the screens in all weathers.

[Puss in Boots]

Thanks guys, will give that a go.
Don't have air con so will have to make do with the heat on and the windows open - happy driving!

[Ant FR]

also try cleaning the glass inside the car with a glass cleaner. Dirty windows trap moisture more easily and will steam a lot more than clean windows.

Also makesure you don't have it set to recirc as that also steams up the car. But try cleaning the windows first and i guarantee that will make a big difference to your problems,

[minicabrio]

Try rebooting the system, always works for me.

Oh wait - wrong kind of windows

[Puss in Boots]

Awful joke dude - just awful!
Thanks for the input though!

[Bmx 777]

my 2005 wont demist now i dunno what going on this mist takes over the windowand the wipers smudge it and make it worse. yes my aircon is on and even with windoes open its crazy!!!!

[cristo]

If the wipers smudge it, the mist is on the outside - hot defrost is the only remedy there.
If it's misting on the inside, check that the drain to the ac condenser box isn't plugged.

[ss24]

Quote: Originally Posted by Ant FR (original)

also try cleaning the glass inside the car with a glass cleaner. Dirty windows trap moisture more easily and will steam a lot more than clean windows.

Also makesure you don't have it set to recirc as that also steams up the car. But try cleaning the windows first and i guarantee that will make a big difference to your problems,

I agree, turn the recirculated air mode off and turn your blower speed to high.

[halfsizer]

just after i got my car before xmas.
i solved it by cleaning the windows inside then wiping them down with 'rain x - anti fog window wipes' sorted it out, then i did the mirrors with rain x wipes (not the anti fog ones).

oh i wish my little mini had air con and heated mirrors like my last car!

[Bmx 777]

Quote: Originally Posted by cristo (original)

If the wipers smudge it, the mist is on the outside - hot defrost is the only remedy there.
If it's misting on the inside, check that the drain to the ac condenser box isn't plugged.

thnx just sent it in hope the dealers can solve it

[Jaydash]

I think I remember a TV show once saying that dash plastics give off fumes (perhaps when the sun gets on there), which adhere to the screen and build up.

Just clean the windows and that'll prevent it misting-up much better. It amazes me how people will go a whole year without cleaning the inside of the windows, and struggle to see through them with the heater on full pelt!

I certainly hope a 5-year-old MINI isn't having hard-to-shift-misty-windows syndrome, as this is usually the reserve of 10-year-old cars, presumably where heaters get tired and all the gaps aren't lining up so well any more so damp gets in etc.

PS. Re the side windows, have you made sure that you've selected the heater option which puts the air out the side vents on the dash? On my car (non-MINI at the mo), that happens when you put the face vents on, not the windscreen option.

[theminiv]

yer, you shouldnt have to use the Ac unit to sort this out.

I would use a cream window cleaner, rather than spray. Like windowlene or auto glym. - This will work better than the spray on ones.

I would stay away from rainX on the inside. I have learned a big lesson putting silly things on the windows of the car lol, and on the inside it will be hard to remove. - Get a chemical dehumidifyer as well, put it in the car overnight. Give it a few days to get working. U will be surprised what it coms out with!!

[Rakey]

Having the same mist problems with mine so much so the tax disk holder fell off the windscreen, air con is on, still not shifting it, so went out and brought one of those de-misting sponges for £2.99 from halfords, that just seemed like an obvious solution to it as I had one in my classic for when that misted up, now why didn't I think of starting a thread about it