Inside of windshield frozen

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Klutch9

Klutch9

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Rochester, MI, US, World
Does this ever happen to anyone? I just walked outside, and noticed that the inside of the Foci's windshield has ice all over it! This is the first time this has happened to this car in almost 2 years. It was last driven a little over a day ago, and the windshield defrost was used the entire way home. The last car I had would have this happen several times every winter. What causes this? I'm guessing there was an excess of moisture in the car somehow, but why aren't the other windows frozen? It has also been well below freezing for the last 2 days, so there is no possibility of a thaw/evaporate onto windshield/freeze again cycle. My wife said that this has never happened to her in any car that she has driven
confused2.gif
 
Yep, have had it happen before, lots of times.

Usually with a rear door seal leaking rain water into the carpet.
 
Funny you mention a leaky rear door seal. The last car I had, which had the windshield freeze quite often, had a leaky rear door seal. The Focus, as far as I know, doesn't have any bad seals, but who knows.
 
I think it has to do with build up of moisture in the AC box, and how it vents or allows water to evaporate when sitting.

Are your drains clear? Car kept on recirculate?
 
usually happens if you sit in the car for a couple mins before going into work.. moisture from you breathing.

I usually let the door open for 30s or so to fix that.
(before going into work)
 
Last edited:
I agree with the recirculate setting as a possible cause.

Could also be you had ice and snow along the windshield cowl beneath the wipers allowing cold damp air to be pulled into the car?

Also, if these vents are blocked with ice it would have a similar effect as having the vents set to recirculate?

Try to use the AC more on the heat setting to help dry the air in the car on humid days too, so it doesn't end up frosting the glass.

A lot of defog settings on the vent control panel automatically turn on the AC to help dry the air.
 
If the drain for the condensation from the air-conditioner gets clogged up with leaves and or bugs then when water from rain or melting snow drains down the air intake it will end up on the floor of the front of the vehicle. This added moisture will show up as the frost on the windows, just like a leaky door seal would cause. So along with checking the carpets and seats by the doors, check the floor under the dash (be sure to pull up the front mats and check there for a wet carpet). If the wet carpet is in the front but not near a door seal, suspect the AC drain. Usually if you put the vehicle up on a lift and poke a straightened out clothes hanger up the drain you can break up the clog and get the drain to work good. Usually if the vehicle has this problem it will repeat every couple of years.
 
BTW, when you drive if you want the window defroster to work really fast, lower the back passengers window about a half inch. But be sure to put something you will retrieve on the back passengers seat so it reminds you to close that window when you get out of the vehicle.
 
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
I think it has to do with build up of moisture in the AC box, and how it vents or allows water to evaporate when sitting.

Are your drains clear? Car kept on recirculate?


No, I rarely use recirculate, unless I need really cold air in the summer.
 
Also, how do you know where the AC drain is? I feel silly asking, since I'm usually quite technically inclined, but I have never even bothered to look for this before.
 
In daytime, sun comes in front windshield, heats dash, defrost air is drawn in because "hot" air rises and cold air has to take its place. Cold air has humidity in it, from snow/rain in cowl. At night, air reverses cycle - it cools fastest on front windshield, falls, and if saturated with water the water falls out of suspension since colder air cannot hold as much water as warmer air, and condenses on the windshield.

There's likely some moisture in the carpet from wet feet that evaporates in the day and the air in the car cannot hold it at night. This adds to the effect.

That's my theory and I'm sticking to it.
 
Would it possibly help to switch the defrost vent to say, floor only, before I shut the car off? That way the defrost vent will be closed, and/or any air that enters the vehicle will go to the floor instead of right onto the windshield.
 
Originally Posted By: Klutch9
Does this ever happen to anyone? I just walked outside, and noticed that the inside of the Foci's windshield has ice all over it! This is the first time this has happened to this car in almost 2 years. It was last driven a little over a day ago, and the windshield defrost was used the entire way home. The last car I had would have this happen several times every winter. What causes this? I'm guessing there was an excess of moisture in the car somehow, but why aren't the other windows frozen? It has also been well below freezing for the last 2 days, so there is no possibility of a thaw/evaporate onto windshield/freeze again cycle. My wife said that this has never happened to her in any car that she has driven
confused2.gif



Wipe down the inside of your windshield with liquid De-Icer = Problem solved,,, no need to be crawling under a dripping wet car looking for the AC drain hose
 
this happened to my fit occasionally as my inside (floor mat,etc.) got wet due to frequent rain soaked boots and snows got inside. Excess moisture trapped within the cabin, caused internal condensation to form on my inside of the windshield.

the only 2 ways I can do to help alleviate this problem is (a) turn windshield defrost (A/C by default, comes on) with high heat and go on an extended road trip; or (b) whenever possible, get the car indoor (indoor parkade, swap with my wifey's comfy indoor garage space, etc.) and leave all windows a crack open (1" typical) and let it gradually air out the moisture.

Q.
 
Originally Posted By: Klutch9
Also, how do you know where the AC drain is? I feel silly asking, since I'm usually quite technically inclined, but I have never even bothered to look for this before.


I don't know your car specifically, but they are usually on the firewall inside the engine bay corresponding to the location of the airbox which contains the evaporator core. Look for an "L" shaped rubber hose or similar.
 
If it is a case of being desparate to get rid of water and ice from slush off your boots, park in a heated garage if possible then vacuum out the melted slush with a Wet/Dry Shopvac.

If you don't have a heated garage the best trick I have used is to get hot tap water into a jug and pour it into the foot wells on the driver and passenger side and let the hot water melt everything for 5-10 mins, then vacuum it out as deep into the fibres that you can.

The carpeting will be only mildly damp but all the ice buildup will be gone with the snow and slush, greatly reducing the quantity of liquids available to the air in the car's cabin.

It will pull up all the salt and sand as well as an added bonus, and only takes very little effort to do this regularly if you have an extension cord for your shop vac.

Don't forget to remove your filter out of the shop vac or it will get wet and ruin it (they are pricey!).

Hope this helps break your humidity cycle as it can be a real pain in the neck.
 
Originally Posted By: spackard
Does your car turn on the air conditioner when you have the vents set on defrost?
http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=164477

That adds a lot to the problem.


Spackard, thank you for this link BTW. Even if this doesn't do anything in regards to helping with windshield freezing, it WILL avoid wasting gas by keeping the AC on when I don't need it. I like the idea of using the AC during defrost ONLY when I need it. I'm leery of pulling interior panels apart when it's this cold outside, for fear of panels breaking. But once we get a warm day, this shouldn't take more than 5 minutes. The HVAC controls and the radio come out with greater ease in this car than any other I've ever seen.
 
Uhh doesn't putting the car on defrost having the A/C kick in work to eliminate moisture? That is the way it has worked in every one of my cars since the early 90's.
 
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