Frost inside windshield?

[Stringmike]

Move further south.

Mike

Scottsdale, Arizona

[billarb]

Originally Posted by Stringmike

Move further south.

Mike

Scottsdale, Arizona

I'm a new owner (~3 weeks) and noticed condensation on the inside of the windshield tonight coming home from work. I'm glad I read this string, because I now know to shut off the recirculate. All that said, I like Mike's solution better!!!

[orracle]

Boy am I glad I found this thread! This morning at zero or near abouts, after I pulled out of the garage the inside frosted over so badly I had to scrape! I tried about everything including the previously mentioned wrong things to do. I just didn't believe the a/c button would take care of things.

[jayman]

As others have mentioned, it's really important to take all excess snow off your boots. The Prius uses partial recirc to save energy, not the best thing in bitter cold temps.

Also make sure the air intake vents are clear. When the cabin fan is turned on, it can suck in snow

[PrematurelyGray]

Jayman brings up a good point - you might have excess moisture (like snow on boots) that won't dissipate in these temps. My son spilled a bottle of water on the floor in December and didn't tell me. Still suffering from excess moisture and waiting for some 60 degree days to dry the car out.

[NoMoShocks]

Originally Posted by Stringmike

Move further south.

Mike

Scottsdale, Arizona

Really! Has living in Scottsdale helped you to use your AC less all year long? Seriously though, I know it is a nice place.

I found the suggestion to clear the intake vents good. I assume they are at the back of the hood just in front of the windshield wipers, so I will be doing that next time I get snow.

[donee]

Originally Posted by jsuh84

It was freezing here in Chicago today and I had the same problem. What bothered me was that I just got my '08 Prius this past weekend, and already I couldn't believe a problem like this would occur.

I'll be following the suggestions. Thanks.

Well, that is an understatement. I put my car to bed wet from the warm damp drive home (40 F), only to wake it up in the morning at -2 F. And in the mean time there were winds gusting to 40 mph, and snow blowing into little tiny (6 inch) drifts, with bare pavement inbetween.

There was also ice under snow where the snow melt water had not drained before the thermal shock hit. So, the traction control got a good workout. But I never got stuck.

I had about 1/4 th of the inside of my windshield frosted, and all of the rear hatch window. I remember my Saturn SL2 frosting over the inside of the windshield on occaision, but not the rear window. I think they need to double up of the heater wires in the hatch window.

It was sunny today, and its all gone now.

[dustyhuskie]

Are there wires in the bottom hatch windows? I though maybe not as the window ice seems to melt very slowly if at all.

I keep a scraper in the passenger seat. I get in the car with wet hair. Par for the course. First time it happened I didn't have a scraper and had to keep scratching patchs off the window to see the road.

Detailing with steam cleaning the carpets/seats seems like it may be out of the question.

With auto on the air will come on automatically in response to just humidity? I noticed that it was on even with the interior of the car was freezing and thought it was just another charming Prius glitch.

[diamondlarry]

I have had my windshield completely frosted over a few times this winter; had to use my ice scraper on the inside. I drive with the driver's window and the right rear passenger window cracked open about 1". I would think that any moisture from my breath would be sucked out of the car with the windows open. This is the first car I've ever owned that I've had this happen.

[richard schumacher]

Originally Posted by diamondlarry

I have had my windshield completely frosted over a few times this winter; had to use my ice scraper on the inside. I drive with the driver's window and the right rear passenger window cracked open about 1". I would think that any moisture from my breath would be sucked out of the car with the windows open. This is the first car I've ever owned that I've had this happen.

With recirc on, the wet air from your boots doesn't get sucked out fast enough; it blows over the windshield first and the water condenses there. Consider it a testament to the air-tightness of the cabin. Turn on the defrost, make sure it's set to outside air and all should be well (except for sucking in exhaust from other vehicles...).