[sars]

Not sure if there are other previous threads on this......

.....I have a lot of problems with the windshield and side windows fogging up in wet or damp weather.

I have to constantly keep switching from auto to defog to keep the windows clear, which really bugs me.

Does anyone have this problem, or is it unique to me ?

 

[roadrunner]

Never had a problem

I've never noticed that as a problem. In fact, if there is a lot of fogging it always seems to shift into high automatically. You might get it checked.

Meep Meep

 

[A2MDXer]

I have noticed this at times (usually when raining and I am coming home from exercise). It may happen because I have my climate control set for semi-auto with AC off but when you kick on the front defroster it uses AC (and does a great job). When you take front defroster off again AC goes away and things get foggy more quickly than they otherwise would. However, I have noticed similar traits from my RAV4 (when you put it on full front defrost the AC kicks on and does a wonderful job of clearing fog but when you move control to other vents AC is off and things steam up again). I think if you keep AC on all of the time under these conditions it will not fog up. Hope that helps.

 

[MARFONG]

I have noticed this occuring on the X. This same fogging happened on our '99 Honda Odyssey...which was built in same plant as the MDX and probably shares some parts..

It is annoying..while driving in foggy conditions I had to turn the defrost on and off constantly to clear the windows during our last ski trip in our Odyssey.

Is there a good solution to this problem?

 

[IRONED]

In order to prevent fogging from occurring, you either have to keep the A/C switch activated and/or the fresh air vent activated. If you have the ventilation set on recirculate without the A/C on, then fogging will occur. I used to have fogging problems with my Accord until I discovered those tricks.

 

[Fireblade6]

IRONED is 100% correct..as a matter of fact...in the users manual it also states that with Honda/acura automatic climate control...and if you are cold when the AC is on...just click on the red arrow button up to adjust the cabin temperature.

 

[RedMdxMemphis]

Actually AC is the solutions to all the fogs in the car. This is really common practice on ANY car. The air conditioner will condense the humidity away so that the fog disappears. Even in the cold weather, the heat does not remove the fog quick enough.

Let the MDX take care of your climate in the car. YOU PAID FOR THE LUXARY!

 

[frostyra]

In case you wonder why, cooling air (with the A/C) dries it and makes it much less likely to cause fogging. I leave my A/C on year-round, summer or winter, and almost never have fogging.

 

[sars]

Thanks for the interesting replies...


....I was aware of the A/C trick, but based on my fiddling, when the system is on full auto, which is where you should be able to leave it, you do not have the option of switching the A/C on or off.

Manually switching A/C on overides full auto, and leaves the fan blowing a full tilt all the time, not really acceptable either.

 

[ByeByeChrysler]

I have the exact same problems as sars mentioned.

"full auto" should prevent any fogging as the AC would be on, doesn't happen.

we should not have to adjust anything, that's why it's called "climate control" or "full auto"

 

[pmsmith66]

Agreed...my X suffers from side window fogging during the winter. I keep the Climate Control in Full Auto at ALL times except when trying to eliminate the fog. An annoying problem for a car at this level.

 

[XStatic]

Air Conditioning is so named as it conditioned the air by managing the moisture content or humidity. In 1902 Willis Carrier built the first air conditioner to combat humidity inside a printing company. Controlling the humidity in printing companies and textile mills was the start of environment management even though chillers were in use before to store food and documents.

Ironically the term air conditioning actually originated with the textile engineer, Stuart H. Cramer, who used the phrase 'air conditioning' in a patent claim filed for a device that added water vapor to the air in textile plants to 'condition' the yarn. He and another engineer I. H. Hardeman then associated the term "air conditioning" with Carrier's cooling systems when they installed one at the Chronicle Cotton Mills in Belmont, North Carolina.

In 1928, Willis Haviland Carrier developed the first residential 'Weathermaker', an air conditioner for private home use using a small safe "centrifugal chiller". Carrier did not invent the very first system to cool an interior structure but he made it safe and efficient as well as demonstrate an understanding of humidity, temperature and comfort. His formula are still used today.

I always thought it was crazy that American cars were all difficult to use with the A/C on and the heater/defrost vents. As far as I know they all allow this much easier now.

 

[iceman1331]

Actually AC is the solutions to all the fogs in the car. This is really common practice on ANY car. The air conditioner will condense the humidity away so that the fog disappears. Even in the cold weather, the heat does not remove the fog quick enough.

Let the MDX take care of your climate in the car. YOU PAID FOR THE LUXARY!

Correct, you either turn on your A/C or roll down your windows or keep your sunroof open to avoid fogging.

However, turning on the A/C all the time will reduce your fuel mileage and eat up extra gasoline to keep the system on. If you want to save some $ by not using the A/C, opening the windows seems to be the solution which may not be a good idea in extreme climate conditions.

I have a Volvo which never has the fogging problem even though I don't on my A/C or open the windows. :4:

 

[XStatic]

Correct, you either turn on your A/C or roll down your windows or keep your sunroof open to avoid fogging.

However, turning on the A/C all the time will reduce your fuel mileage and eat up extra gasoline to keep the system on. If you want to save some $ by not using the A/C, opening the windows seems to be the solution which may not be a good idea in extreme climate conditions.

I have a Volvo which never has the fogging problem even though I don't on my A/C or open the windows. :4:

Obviously that Volvo has more natural airflow.
You bring humidity into the car with your breath, sweat, or damp clothes. It either has to be removed by condensation with the A/C or by dryer air from outside replacing the moist air inside.

My Volvo V70 wasn't much different than the MDX except the volume wasn't quite as much so it didn't take as long to dry out. In the MDX it can take a while to get the side rear windows if I get in after being soaked in the rain and it is cool outside.

Acura did design this vehicle to dry itself out with the A/C that is part of why it is there so there isn't a design problem. One may choose to save gas (an insignificant amount) in lieu of having a humid interior but I will use the A/C for what it was designed to do.

 

[ByeByeChrysler]

I understand the purpose of the A/C and how it removes moisture in the cabin,
but if it is pouring rain out, you can't open any windows.

So, the problem might be that there is not enough vents to circulate
and clear the moisture from all the windows because the cabin area is big......or.......
there has to be a setting where everyone is still comfortable and the windows get cleared.
I like keeping it on "full auto" all the time, if I turn on the very loud front defogger, it get too warm.

 

[frostyra]

I like keeping it on "full auto" all the time, if I turn on the very loud front defogger, it get too warm.

Mine's never on Full Auto unless the dealer has turned the system off during a service. A/C on, fresh air (non-recirc), defrost with the fan turned down to "3" or so, and temp set to where you want it = the formula for cabin comfort and no fog. If it's wet and cold outside, however, 4 or more people in the vehicle make it very hard to keep the fogging totally in control.

The title of this thread sounds like an Elvis song:18:

 

[ByeByeChrysler]

Mine's never on Full Auto unless the dealer has turned the system off during a service. A/C on, fresh air (non-recirc), defrost with the fan turned down to "3" or so, and temp set to where you want it = the formula for cabin comfort and no fog. If it's wet and cold outside, however, 4 or more people in the vehicle make it very hard to keep the fogging totally in control.

The title of this thread sounds like an Elvis song:18:

thanks frostrya...it works for me too.

actually the fog was worse on the passenger side, blamed the wife for shutting the side vent off.

 

[ndahbar]

Not sure if there are other previous threads on this......

.....I have a lot of problems with the windshield and side windows fogging up in wet or damp weather.

I have to constantly keep switching from auto to defog to keep the windows clear, which really bugs me.

Does anyone have this problem, or is it unique to me ?

LOL nice handle btw there Sars.... :1:

Anyway...what you should do is make sure recirculate is OFF at all times during rain/humid/damp weather. Also, try to keep the air warm, especially the air that strikes the windshield. It's all about equalization you see. Cold, air-conditioned air takes longer to equalize with the outside conditions than warm. Goes w/o saying make sure the A/C is ON at all times. I am almost positive that the MDX system has the A/C on 100% of the time in full auto or auto modes unless you explicitly turn it off.