Fogging windshield and no UV protection?

Hay everyone!
Is this normal?? How can I prevent these annoyances?
Here is what I am experiencing in my silver base model 2010 Prius:
On cold or even slightly cold (70 degrees F or less) my interior windshield and windows get fogged up quickly and keeps fogging up every time I turn off the defogger.
Also, when parked even in the shade it gets hot in the car, I mean 20 degrees F or more. There does not seem to be any UV protection at all. While this is great in the winter, any other time of the year, it sucks!
Before this Prius, I had a Scion XB and it never had these issues. Before the Scion I had a Prius II in black and again, none of these issues.
Please advise!
Thanks!

If you leave your AC in Auto AC, you won't have that problem.

I dunno: I'll on ours I'll push the Auto button, set a temp, touch nothing else, and on heavy rainy days can still get some serious fogging up.

I'm a relatively new owner also. With what I've done above, is the AC on? Or not? Or maybe, depending on the decisions being made by the car for "Auto". What I've found helps:

1. Override mode, setting it to heat/defog (the first mode override, so easy to accomplish).

2. If that's not doing enough, still fogging (and it often is), hit the AC button (expressly turn it ON).

3. Still fogging (sometimes), hit the front defog button.

The problem I find with #2, and even more so with #3, while it get's things cleared up, once you start that, you're pretty much stuck with those settings: turn them off and the fog is back. Frustrating!

frosted, what you claim about the UV protection is not true.

The Prius has UV protection on all windows. The front windshield has 100% UV protection. Check this chart for the specifics. Also look at the Solar Heat Reduction Rate.



Thanks to the person who made this chart and originally posted it.

@firepa63 and Mendel Leisk: I usually have the AC on, it has no effect on the fogging. I have to use the defogger often.

@sipnfuel Thanks, maybe my windows are different or have not been treated with a UV protection? It gets very hot very quickly in this Prius and it retains heat. The glass does not seem to be tinted at all on any windows, they feel like magnifying glasses when you are in there.

As far as the car being too hot inside when you open it up, try leaving the windows open about about 2 inches when you park it. That will help with air circulation.
Also, I recommend tinting of the side windows and the rear windscreen. To keep a car cool in the Southwest, it is all but a necessity.

As to the interior fogging, if you live in a damp environment, that is going to happen. Use your defrosters or the AC to dry the windshield and take some of the moisture out of the air.

UV has very little to do with heating. Most of that is IR and visible light.

If you look at the Solar Heat Reduction figures, it blocks a significant amount of heat due to Solar Radiation.

My guess is, given your location, that humidity is a large factor in both the fogging, and in the perceived heating.

Running the A/C will dehumidify the air in the cabin, and make it comfortable even at a higher temperature.

I've found it's paramount to keep the inside of the windshield impeccably clean. Doing so has prevented the lion's share of the fogging I'd been experiencing.

Good point, I'm overdue to do that.

Anyone tried that Rain-X anti-fog stuff? I *think* I used it many years ago on a vehicle, but I honestly can't remember! I'm leery on how well they will prevent fog build-up, though. I did, however, pay extra to have a coating of it applied to my new sunglasses I ordered for use with my Harley.

Well, if you consider 70F cold, then you are all set, turn on the heat onto the windshield This will accomplish two things, it will raise the temperature of the glass, causing it to not condense water on it; and it will raise the temperature of the air, increasing the dewpoint, and also preventing condensation.

[For me, 70 is well into, it's lovely, open the windows territory.]

Save your money. I tried the antifog rainx, didn't help any. In fact, the windows were all smudgey afterwards.

Scrubbing the windows clean with a microfiber cloth seems to work best, IMHO.

Keep the A/C on, on Auto. Also if you are driving in ECO mode, it might get fogged earlier than normal. Recirculation should be off when possible.

Keeping the windows clean inside is also a good advice.

As for the car getting warm, all cars I have driven or owned so far do get hot under the sun: UV protection will not do anything against it. IR filtering will. What I also do is park the car, when possible, with the back to the sun and use a sun screen (the silver shiny ones) inside to reduce solar exposure.

I believe all Priuses, worldwide, have the same type of windows.

I have to agree with this. I got one of those thingies I call "a rag on a stick," and it works great. You know those things with an articulated pad on the end of the stick. Now I don't have to get contorted wiping down the windshield. I just wrap a microfiber rag on it, and secure it with a rubber band or two, and I'm good to go!

Hi All,

The deposits from the Polyurethane sealant outgassing (common to all modern cars) promotes window fogging on new car windshields. You need to get those deposits off. The best thing I know of is "Invisible Glass" a window cleaner carried at many car parts stores. Yep, you want to use a microfiber towel when cleaning the windows.

As others mentioned, the factory glass is already tinted around 75% and has UV protection all around. You need to tint them even further. You can probably get away with Llumar Air Blue 80 on the windshield.

Really? I have to keep the inside of the windshield perfectly clean at all times? Have you ever driven another car? Usually you don't touch the windshield and it stays clean, and it doesn't fog up constantly.

I second the invisible glass product. I used it a few years ago, then got cheap and started to work my through my supply of Windex and it's a night/day difference between the two.

Invisible Glass doesn't have the streaking when cleaned and leaves a much clearer windshield. I prefer the aerosol can vs spray bottle.

I find that just simple water works well on the interior, a spritz on the microfiber towel, wipe down, and then wipe with a dry towel afterward and that tends to keep it clean and you don't see the "streak lines" at night or when the windsheild does fog a little from weather conditions.

I live in the NW...plenty of moisture...I'm a big fan of Rain-X repellant, the original product, but tried Rain-X anti-fog and was very unimpressed.

I'd second the advice that to avoid fogging and/or to make it as easy as possible to remain clear, become clear, how clean you keep your windshield can make a huge difference.