Defrost.

[Racheal]

I wasn't for sure what section to post this under but...

Is anyone having a crappy time with their defroster in the mornings? Here in Arkansas, the weather has been kind of chilly in the mornings and my car has frost all over it. It takes about 20 minutes, LITERALLY, to defrost the whole windshield (which isn't big at all!). It takes even longer to do my windows and my poor little side mirrors... they stayed frosted the whole drive to work because i can't get them unfrosted.

Am I doing something wrong or what??

I basically have to drive around with my defrost on all the time because if i take it off of defrost, my car fogs up SO bad.

thanks.
<3 Racheal

[ChinoCharles]

It might be that you don't have your air recirculating. You know that switch between air coming from outside and air recirculating through the car? If it is cold outside your air will never warm up if you have it bringing fresh air from outside. Try that, but leave it on the fresh air one when parked so your air filter doesn't start to stink.

[daq421]

It might be that you don't have your air recirculating. You know that switch between air coming from outside and air recirculating through the car? If it is cold outside your air will never warm up if you have it bringing fresh air from outside. Try that, but leave it on the fresh air one when parked so your air filter doesn't start to stink.

I second this, Make sure you're set to recirculate.. and try again. What do you mean your mirrors stay frosted? Is there supposed to be a mirror defrost on the car?..
-Peter

[vodkalush]

I've been noticing that my rear window has been taking longer to defrost... but that could because I didnt start my car till right when I left (norm let it warm up for a couple of mins before i hit the road: the joys of remote starters :smile:)...

but ditto to above comments about recirculating the air: also helps in the summer to keep it colder with a/c :thumbsup:

[Racheal]

nope, sorry guys. I never use the outside air. EVER.

I only notice a difference because my old car (99 chrysler cirrus) warmed up extremely fast. When I would get into my car in the mornings, everything would be ready to go! When I get into my yaris, I have to sit and wait....

As for my side mirrors - i don't know how to explain it. Like, is there something in the car that should heat your mirrors up so they don't stay frosted? In my old car I never once had a problem with this but in my yaris, I'll be driving to work and my windows are still foggy and my side mirror is still so frosted I can't use it to switch lanes in the morning. I usually have to roll down my window and finally use my hand to get the ice to melt.

i don't think this is normal...?

[boris13]

I think it's normal if there's moisture, if it stays below freezing outside, and if you don't have heated side mirrors (not an option on the Yaris).

I've always had to scrape frost/ice from my side mirrors, no matter what car model it was, if the mirrors were unheated.

[ChinoCharles]

Do you have a rear window defroster?

[Racheal]

boris - it's not exactly below freezing outside.. lol.. i mean, i AM in arkansas, but still it gets old REALLY fast when i have to roll down the window and scrape the ice off. i guess maybe my old car had heated side mirrors and i just didnt know it??

chino - yes?

[Violin]

We got the cold weather package here and the defroster works well.

I wonder what folks in your region get?

[Racheal]

We got the cold weather package here and the defroster works well.

I wonder what folks in your region get?

apparently crap, lol.

[07WYarisRS]

Try using the outside air
if I switch it to inside air my windows fog up FAST, and I have to keep it on defrost all the time.

[spkrman]

just scrape it off/wipe it... much faster :)

quit bein lazy! lol :D

[gonzo452001]

yaris don't warm up very fast if you let them sit scrape it off some and drive it or you could get some of that spray stuff

[Racer X-8]

Yes for the last three posts!

Let's start with one matter of fact: Defrosting is different than defogging.

The quickest way to defrost your windows is to get out there and scrape the stuff off. Once you did that, then all you need to do is keep the glass above freezing. Too bad that modern-day cars automatically turn on the air conditioning compressor when you put them in one of the defrost selector positions, the Yaris is no different. But, a warmed-up engine gives you warm enough air to defrost, even with the AC on. To repeat, scrape the stuff off, once you try it, you'll see why so many other people do it this way. The best way to get hot air is to get your engine hot. The best way to get your engine hot is to put a load on it. The best way to put a load on it is to drive it, and since you're wanting to get somewhere, you might as well drive in that general direction while you're warming-up the engine. It won't take very long to see that warm air hitting the frosty residue that's still on the glass. Hopefully, you get that before it gets so frosty again, you gotta stop and scrape again. That happens sometimes, you know. Just try not to breath too heavily in the direction of the windshield. :thumbup:

Once you got the glass above freezing temperature, it will never frost-up - it can't. But it will most definitely fog-up. To defog on the outside, use your windshield wipers. To defog on the inside, you gotta get rid of the moisture in the interior cabin, which condenses on the colder glass, which is what fogs them up. To get rid of the moisture, you can do two things, and the most effective thing is to do them both at the same time. Turn on your defrost mode, which also turns on the AC. The AC removes moisture real well, and since you have it on defrost, that dried air gets blown right onto the fogged-up glass and clears it up. The other thing is to turn to fresh air, not recirculated. The air on the outside is a lot drier than the inside air, laden with moisture, which comes from the inside occupant(s), their breath that they exhale and just generally from their bodies, thier heads. Lots of moisture comes from people. Turn to fresh air to get it outta there. Try just that as an experiment when you start seeing fogginess on your windshield, turn to fresh air and watch it clear-up pretty quickly. :thumbup:

Your side mirrors - there's no heat to defrost them. Scrape them too.

[Blenjar]

Get urself a remote start and let our heat/defog on 5...5-10 mins b4 u go in ur car...
Wouldn't that work?

-- Blen

[BMGYaris]

well, no offense to some of you guys, though racer is right on, it actually talks about some of this in the manual :P

it says in there that if you are having a problem with it fogging set your air to outside air, and then turn it so it is blowing on the front windshield. Believe me, i have done this over and over, and it will take a couple seconds.

Remember, outside air on the front windshield is magic, do both for fastest results, and i usually set my temp right in the middle...but i dont know if that matters

Also, as to defrosting, i dont know what to say, but if i use my spray it works incredibly fast as well. Not too much freezing down here though, so i havent had to deal with that alot. But i say use the spray alot, front and back ifyou have it, works great.

[Racheal]

well, no offense to some of you guys, though racer is right on, it actually talks about some of this in the manual :P

it says in there that if you are having a problem with it fogging set your air to outside air, and then turn it so it is blowing on the front windshield. Believe me, i have done this over and over, and it will take a couple seconds.

Remember, outside air on the front windshield is magic, do both for fastest results, and i usually set my temp right in the middle...but i dont know if that matters

Also, as to defrosting, i dont know what to say, but if i use my spray it works incredibly fast as well. Not too much freezing down here though, so i havent had to deal with that alot. But i say use the spray alot, front and back ifyou have it, works great.

what spray??? sorry for being such a noob, yall. I don't really have to deal with this too often -- i do live in arkansas where it mostly is humid and hardly cold. but thanks for yalls help.

and with the scraping thing - im not being lazy, i just dont have anything to scrape it with. once again, i live in arkansas and every few days or so it will be a little chilly. nothing serious like up north where you buy scrapes and sprays as an investment, lol...

[yariman]

You should find that trying to defog on recirculate is almost impossible. Unless you have A.C., then you can't even select recirculate if you are in defrost mode. Yes newer cars are set up to have the A.C. kick in when set to defrost. The A.C. evaporator removes humidity from the cabin which helps defog quickly. If you don't have A.C. and you are set to recirculate, the same moist air keeps churning around. It will get warmer quicker, but the air is still moist.

[St_G]

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Yeah, those $2 "investments" are a real hardship, ain't they?

nothing serious like up north where you buy scrapes and sprays as an investment, lol...

[barryware]

Actually... When the front defroster is on you MUST use outside air, not recirculated (I know that has been covered). I crack open a side window just a bit also which helps a lot.

My 07 liftback has three knobs in the middle. Top is fan speed, outside of the fan speed knob is the fresh air / recirculate selector, center knob is the selector knob for where you want the air to come from, and bottom is your temp setting.

If you look closely at the center knob, it has a little graphic near the defrost selection telling you to use the fresh air selection for defrosting / defogging.

There is also a button in the center of the middle knob that allows you to turn on or off the AC compressor. The compressor does not have to run all the time.

I have a scan gauge connected which gives the actual engine temperature, not just the Cool / Hot light.

If it is cold out, it takes quite a bit of time for the engine to get over 150F or so ESPECIALLY if you have your heater fan set faster than 1. At a red light, if you turn the fan up to 3, you will actually start cooling down the engine. I don't know what happens to the temperature if you use 4. 3 scared me.:eek:

If you want your engine to warm up faster, leave the fan speed on 1 for a while. Not a lot of heat creating horsepower under the hood.

[Racer X-8]

Actually... When the front defroster is on you MUST use outside air, not recirculated (I know that has been covered). I crack open a side window just a bit also which helps a lot... ...If you look closely at the center knob, it has a little graphic near the defrost selection telling you to use the fresh air selection for defrosting / defogging... There's nothing to keep you from running the defroster with recirculated air. The fresh / recirculate selector just flip-flops a flap mechanically and there's no interlock or anything to keep you from flopping it over to recirculate while you have it set on defrost. I know for sure because I was just a minute ago filp-flopping it back and forth while it was blowing in the defrost position. Air came out of the defrost ducts at the windshield, nomatter whatever the fresh / recirculate selector was doing.

And, the graphic is just that - it's a graphic. It's recommending to you what to do, just a recommendation...

...There is also a button in the center of the middle knob that allows you to turn on or off the AC compressor. The compressor does not have to run all the time... I was also making sure that the AC stays on when you have it blowing in either of the two defrost positions. It does not matter what you do with the AC pushbutton with the little *green* light - the AC stays on while defrosting. I had the hood up and I could hear the compressor turning on and off. It stays on in the defrost positions nomatter what you do with the AC pushbutton.

Sorry I had to disagree, just stating the facts. :iono:



edited-out the *blue* color from my mind's eye. That's one for you there, barryware hehehe...

[BMGYaris]

what spray??? sorry for being such a noob, yall. I don't really have to deal with this too often -- i do live in arkansas where it mostly is humid and hardly cold. but thanks for yalls help.

and with the scraping thing - im not being lazy, i just dont have anything to scrape it with. once again, i live in arkansas and every few days or so it will be a little chilly. nothing serious like up north where you buy scrapes and sprays as an investment, lol...

well, like i said i dont know much about ice as i dont get much of it.but if you pull in on the windshield wipers it sprays right? and that spray has anti-freeze in it and will help melt the ice on your windshield i believe. Also, if you do scrape, BE CAREFUL, my family never invested in a scraper...and i was scraping my moms window with a library card--it scratched the front windshield...a real big cut actually. so i say if its even a bit of a problem, get one and put it in the cubbies in the back underpanel area or something (cover it in a cloth though so it wont make noise) use the recirculate on the defrost fan mode, scrape a little, and use your sprayer, should make things go alot faster.

[Racer X-8]

Oh, by the way, when I was out there feeling the air coming out the defrost vents, that air was pretty darn hot. The engine was at normal operating temp and it's about 60 degrees here in SC, right BMGYaris?

Do you know that you don't get any heat in that air until the engine's thermostat opens? That's right. The engine holds its coolant inside of the engine until the temperature of that coolant in the engine gets warm enough to open the thermostat. That opening of the termostat lets the hot coolant circulate out of the engine and through the radiator and the heater core. The heater core is like a small radiator - it exchanges heat into the air that's blowing through it. That air that's blowing through it - that the hot coolant exchanges heat into - in the heater core - is what you are trying to use to defrost, defog, and also heat-up the interior of your car. So remember, the heater core doesn't get any hot coolant to heat the air - until the engine's thermostat opens and allows the heated-up coolant to go there.

[barryware]

There's nothing to keep you from running the defroster with recirculated air. The fresh / recirculate selector just flip-flops a flap mechanically and there's no interlock or anything to keep you from flopping it over to recirculate while you have it set on defrost. I know for sure because I was just a minute ago filp-flopping it back and forth while it was blowing in the defrost position. Air came out of the defrost ducts at the windshield, nomatter whatever the fresh / recirculate selector was doing.

And, the graphic is just that - it's a graphic. It's recommending to you what to do, just a recommendation...

I was also making sure that the AC stays on when you have it blowing in either of the two defrost positions. It does not matter what you do with the AC pushbutton with the little blue light - the AC stays on while defrosting. I had the hood up and I could hear the compressor turning on and off. It stays on in the defrost positions nomatter what you do with the AC pushbutton.

Sorry I had to disagree, just stating the facts. :iono:


I understand that you don't HAVE to do anything. You can run your defroster anyway you want. Next time it is cold and rainy or snowy out, set you heater for recirculate.. It will only take a couple of minutes for you windows to start fogging up. It has to do with dew point which is directly related to moisture content and temperature of the air. That's why they "recommend" to use the fresh air setting.

As far as the compresser goes... No, it does not run automatically when in defrost. That is a fact at least on mine. I have had to turn it on manually on the 50 degree days when it is raining out. My light is green, not blue. Maybe the blue light models are automatic. If it is cold enough out, it won't run even with the switch on. The low pressure side if the refrigeration circuits pressure is too low to allow the compressor to run. That's why the compressor "cycles". When the low pressure reaches a certain temp (pressure in this case as they are directly related), the compressor "cuts out". When the low pressure sides pressure rises to a given pressure, the compressor "cuts in".

So There! :wink:

My Yaris is red... Red is the fastest color!

[eflb55]

I live in Michigan. Every morning I wake up with enough frost to completely cover all my windows. I recently got a a remote start, which is great, just turn your car on the 3rd increment, air from the front vent, full front/rear defrost on the largest warmth for about 3 minutes and your set. Before this I used some spray bottle which works awesome and cleans everything off but it's rather expansive for the good kind and not nearly as easy as pushing a button on a remote. As for fogging on the inside I was having some issues with that, mostly after I'd work out and drive my friends home, completely steam up the car. Just have the air come from the vent, doesn't really matter what temperature as long as you get the humidity out.

[BMGYaris]

Oh, by the way, when I was out there feeling the air coming out the defrost vents, that air was pretty darn hot. The engine was at normal operating temp and it's about 60 degrees here in SC, right BMGYaris?



WELL today yes. BUT a few weeks ago it was about 10 degrees when factoring in wind chill factor. We have had several freezing days, and then the next day will be over 50, sometimes approaching 70. Crazy...but on those freezing days i did have to deal with ice:P

[Racer X-8]

... My light is green, not blue... Aw crap! You got me there! Mine's green too (had to go out there to make sure). Shoot. When did they stop using blue? Oh! Well! . . . You win :bow: :clap:

About your AC compressor cycling, if I read your bantering correctly, you need to have it checked - seems like it needs a re-charge of freon.

Oh, and, yes, red IS the fastest color. :evil:It adds at least 10hp to your car. :headbang: Oh, yeah!!! :bellyroll:

[barryware]

About your AC compressor cycling, if I read your bantering correctly, you need to have it checked - seems like it needs a re-charge of freon.

Oh, and, yes, red IS the fastest color. :evil:It adds at least 10hp to your car. :headbang: Oh, yeah!!! :bellyroll:

Dude... I didn't mean to "banter". I would usually let it go. But..... You are wrong telling me I am wrong. :smile:

I am a certified, registered, licensed, type III universal refrigeration technician.

I may not know anything about refrigeration but I have seen it a couple of times on TV. :wink:

Automobile AC system do "cycle". The compressor turns on and off via low side pressure. Keeps the evaporator from freezing and the high pressure under control in the extremes of an automobile application.

AC in a car is exposed to conditions that a home AC system or your refrigerator will never see. They will cut out on high pressure too but only as a safety measure. It is the low side pressure switch that regulates the evaporator temperature.

Point is... That a cycling automobile AC application is completely normal and does not mean that the system needs freon. According to what I have seen on TV :redface:

With that said.... Lets not forget that I am also the guy that over filled the crankcase on my first oil change... Oops :iono:

[johnnyfive]

dont need to buy window scrapers, library cards work wonderfuly, as do grocery store saver cards, and in a pinch, even those key fob swipe card things, a drivers license, credit card, or aany other sort of laminated card in your wallet.

over the years in wisconsin there have been many many frosty days out of the blue, and i didnt have a scraper in my car. but the scraper does come in handy when there is a quarter inch of ice on the car ;)

[punch]

Just curious, when i bought my car they gave me an owners manual, did anyone read there's? tells you how to set things for defrost etc.. talks about using the AC etc....

[07WYarisRS]

All cars now days with A/C the A/C compressor cycles on an off when the defroster is on. When you select the heater the A/C compressor does not cycle off and on. They do this for several reasons, moisture control, circuulation, lubrication and keeping the system from freezing up complatly. And it keeps the compressors from siezing up from not being used in months of cold weather.
If you don't think this is the case, pop your hood, start the car and turn on the defrost and watch the A/C compressor. you will see it cycle on and off.
That's why using the defroster also causes you to use more fuel.

[barryware]

Just curious, when i bought my car they gave me an owners manual, did anyone read there's? tells you how to set things for defrost etc.. talks about using the AC etc....

We don't need no stinking manuals :smoking:

[vodkalush]

My question is why is this thread still alive?

If its foggy/frosted do one of the following:
- make sure your air is set to blow onto your windshield, use outside air, turn heat up (if its frosted) or leave it in the middle "room temp" if its foggy (as it will simply take in the air and not make it hotter or colder then the outside temp, which will balance the temp of the inside of the windshield with the outside of the windshield

- if its cold enough to frost your windows, you should be warming your car before you drive it anyways, and simply make sure that the above is setup to defrost your front windshield

- if your side mirrors are fogging/freezing up simply wipe/scrape them.... and if you don't want to that then get some-one (or yourself) to install a heat option (similar to ones used in under tank hear solutions - just waterproof it, or look on ebay/google for an after market kit)

- or use a combo of "anti-fog" for the inside (works pretty well - no more fogging) and rain-x on the outside (makes removing frost/ice 100x easier)



as far as not having a manual call/go to your dealer and say WTS mate! and they should order/give you one.


EDIT - if I sound like an ass; dont mean to, but oh well lifes to short to worry :smile:

[Racheal]

okay, sorry guys! i didn't read my manual!

But thanks though. It amazes me how you guys know so much about cars and im like "duhhh" - LOL.

Yesterday when i left work, my car was a little foggy from being cold all day in the parking deck (plus it rained all day) so i tried the outside air and within seconds things were cleared! I had it on inside air before and i apologize, i didn't think it would make a difference so i never tried it. Even my boyfriend told me im car dumb :(

But seriously, thanks everyone for helping me out!
I LOVE YALL!

oh. and i thought BLACK was the fastest color? ;)

[Racer X-8]

...oh. and i thought BLACK was the fastest color? ;)No, RED is the fastest color, BLACK is the HOTTEST color. It only adds 6hp, but it's great in the wintertime. :thumbup: barryware can tell you how it affects the AC compressor... ROFL! :w00t:

[mutatio]

Try using the outside air
if I switch it to inside air my windows fog up FAST, and I have to keep it on defrost all the time.

i agree. i've driven in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Northwest New York (Lake Effect Snow!). in the winter in particular i've always driven with the external air
on to avoid the fogging. it's recycled 2x, once when u breathe it and then when your car runs it through again. u know how u can blow on glass and create a moment of fog? that's what you're breathing into the re-circulated air. if your heater can't effectively heat outside air, u have a problem with Toyota imo.

every car i've driven requires that u keep the defrost on in colder climates.

every car i've ever driven (without heated mirrors) requires that i scrape the frost off of the mirrors if i expect to use them in a cold climate. even then there have been situations in which the ice/snow is thick enough where the the heated mirror melts the ice making contact with the mirror and the shell of ice is still blocking the view of the mirror.

Arkansas! Just "north" enough to throw you southern drivers off when the cold comes! ;) :biggrin: I've got in-laws in Oklahoma and Arkansas and just came back from the holidays over there. :biggrin:

edit: just read the whole thread, sorry to be redundant! :D

[Racheal]

i agree. i've driven in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Northwest New York (Lake Effect Snow!). in the winter in particular i've always driven with the external air
on to avoid the fogging. it's recycled 2x, once when u breathe it and then when your car runs it through again. u know how u can blow on glass and create a moment of fog? that's what you're breathing into the re-circulated air. if your heater can't effectively heat outside air, u have a problem with Toyota imo.

every car i've driven requires that u keep the defrost on in colder climates.

every car i've ever driven (without heated mirrors) requires that i scrape the frost off of the mirrors if i expect to use them in a cold climate. even then there have been situations in which the ice/snow is thick enough where the the heated mirror melts the ice making contact with the mirror and the shell of ice is still blocking the view of the mirror.

Arkansas! Just "north" enough to throw you southern drivers off when the cold comes! ;) :biggrin: I've got in-laws in Oklahoma and Arkansas and just came back from the holidays over there. :biggrin:

edit: just read the whole thread, sorry to be redundant! :D

no, thanks for your post! i have only ever driven one car before so everything i know is based on what it would do. my inside/outside air knob was broken by my sister YEARS ago so i don't even know if i was getting inside air or not... seriously.

I actually live in the middle of arkansas which is even worse than northern arkansas b/c northern arkansas, every now and then, gets cold weather and sometimes.. yes.. even snow!!!!!!:biggrin:

[Racheal]

No, RED is the fastest color, BLACK is the HOTTEST color. It only adds 6hp, but it's great in the wintertime.

im only going to agree with you b/c EVERYONE knows the black=teh hawtness. :wub:

[hystria]

this car is very slow to warm up. the best thing is to keep it at 3000rpm - it will get warm much quickly - and to shut up the heating until it warms up. even so, the hot air will never be more than... warm air. not to mention the rear defrost :laughabove:

[07WYarisRS]

I've heard the Canadian cars like mine with cold weather package have a heavy duty ceramic heater in the heater system that provides the cabin with warm air faster then cars without the cold weather package. That and a few other items like rear heater ducts, larger 1gallon + washer fluid tank and low fluid sensor, rock chipping tape, and rear window defroster

[punch]

All cars now days with A/C the A/C compressor cycles on an off when the defroster is on. When you select the heater the A/C compressor does not cycle off and on. They do this for several reasons, moisture control, circuulation, lubrication and keeping the system from freezing up complatly. And it keeps the compressors from siezing up from not being used in months of cold weather.
If you don't think this is the case, pop your hood, start the car and turn on the defrost and watch the A/C compressor. you will see it cycle on and off.
That's why using the defroster also causes you to use more fuel.

thats not what my owners book says.

[Racer X-8]

[Turning to Fresh Air now...] :smoking:

[07WYarisRS]

thats not what my owners book says.

what does you manual say about the A/C compressor?

My maunal say my car has an oil warning light to remind me I need to change my oil, guess what over 25,000km of changing my own oil and no light....

If you don'r believe me... do like I said, pop the hood and check it out for yourself.

[punch]

what does you manual say about the A/C compressor?

My maunal say my car has an oil warning light to remind me I need to change my oil, guess what over 25,000km of changing my own oil and no light....

If you don'r believe me... do like I said, pop the hood and check it out for yourself.


guess you better re-read the book, page 122(n), it says not in the cdn models (re oil light)

my sedan manual says I have to push the a/c button to activate it, during defrost.

maybe the hatch is different?

[Racer X-8]

(m) Engine Oil Replacement Reminder
Light (Except for Canada)

page 121 in the hatchback owners manual.


2007 YARIS HATCHBACK from Jan. ’06 Prod. (OM52700U)
121


This is the owners manual that is included with the service manual download that Violin setup. my owners manual that came with the car is in the car, and i am too lazy right now...

ooooh, cool font junk... copy/pasted out of adobe...

[Racer X-8]

page 159:


5. Windshield—
Air flows mainly from the

windshield vents.
Turning the air flow selector to the
windshield position turns on the defogging
function with the purpose of clearing
the front view.
Use with the air intake selector positioned
in FRESH.
Vehicles with “A/C” button—
Press the “A/C” button for dehumidified
heating or cooling. This setting clears the
front view more quickly.


What a load of hooky. The AC comes on automatically in the two defrost positions (as long as you have the fan running, not on 0), try it for yourself and see...

edit: soopid font!