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[terry paget]

2000 2.5 petrol manual estate
I know that the aircon is useful in drying  incoming air, but on most of my cars it no longer works and the cost of repaiir exceeds the value of the car. Usually I cope all right with some light air on screen, but last Wednesday afternoon I set out for Oxford and had to turn back; heater could not maintain a dry screen.

I checked for leaky heater matrix; no coolant loss and carpets dry; I checked for blocked LH screen drain by stuffing a stiff hose through it; not blocked. Pollen filter seemed Ok and not soaked. I had the temperature both sides set to 22 degrees and the demist button on, fan on max. Weather may have been exceptional, heavy rain, gusty. Only the botton quarter of the screen was clear of mist.

Wife says I should have set the temperature lower. Could be. Any other ideas?

[RobG]

Reply #11 any good Terry?
http://oldsite.omegaowners.com//forum/YaBB.pl?num=1264091854

[Sir Tigger KC]

Do you have it set in 'recirculation' mode?  Mine does the same if I don't have that on. 

[TheBoy]

Given the weather, you've probably got a fair amount of damp in when you've got in with wet coats.

Ensure exhaust ports in boot clear.

Quickest way to get as much damp air out as possible for me is:
Recirc OFF
Hot air on screen and feet
Drive off, when up to speed, put sunroof on tilt and/or open rear windows slightly (about 1"), but only do latter if not raining.


You can get passive devices for the home that do take some moisture out, but never used these in the car. Dehumidifiers can also help, but a PITA.

[Nick W]

Do you use it much? Every winter I find the heater in mine gradually improves with use. This year that took a couple of weeks, and a few long motorway trips; it was a lot more effective on the way home from Serek's  curry night than on the way there.

It works well now, coming home yesterday from Brooklands in the rain with 4 people in the car had no condensation issues. If it had, I would flush the matrix again.

[terry paget]

Thank you gentlemen, lots of good ideas there. Just been out for a spin in light drizzle, no trouble at all. I'll try the suggestions when next it mists up.

[05omegav6]

Set the fan lower and temp higher... only increase fan speed above 3 once the car is at normal running temperature. Aircon currently u/s on mine, so typically set to Auto, screen demist, centre vents closed and temp same both sides and anything from 19-25 depending on how I feel, but when damp, 25 works well at keeping screen clear... fan speed I tend to leave on three. All assumes facelift.

The rear screen heater also controls the heated mirrors, so use that regardless of how effective the rear screen itself is

[terry paget]

More data, still confused. Went for a 2 hour drive after lunch, weather mainly dry and sunny, but little rain after 4 'o'clock. At Nettlebridge (6 miles) screen began to mist up, all car misted up, so pressed demister button (car is 2000 2.5 facelift heater). No cure (in Wells now, 8 miles) so I pressed recirculation button, fan on 4 bars. By Westbury-sub-Mendip (12 miles) screen and all windows were clear. Cancelled recirculation, car remained clear. Drove through Cheddar, Shipham, Churchill (22 miles) car still clear, fan now low or off, car remained clear.

Called at Bristol Airport for a comfort stop, only £1 parking for 40 minutes. Headed for home. Rounding Chew Valley Lake (30 miles) car misting up again; put on demister, no help; put on recirculation, fan on low speed, improved; fan on full speed, screen cleared as I arrived home 38 miles).

What do you make of that?

[05omegav6]

When was thermostat last changed?

[Sir Tigger KC]

I keep mine on recirculation permanently and it does the job.  If I forget and don't put it on and the conditions outside are suitable it will mist up. 

Keep it on recirc. 

Just to add, as my aircon dosn't work, I also keep it on 'eco' mode.  So eco mode and recirc does the job for me. 

[Andy H]

I think Marks DTM nailed it in his "reply no11' on the old site

Field Remedy: 1417
Subject: Electronic air conditioning ECC - Window fogging after engine start
Models: Engines:
Option:
Omega-B 2000...2002 All ECC
Complaint: The windscreen will suddenly start to become fogged at inner side caused due to increasing humidity inside the car.
Cause: At outside temperatures of 5 ° C and less with a battery which is not fully charged, recirculation flap is switching to recirculation mode if the supply voltage drops below 9 V for short time.
Production: As of VIN W0L0VBF6921013332 a corrective action has been introduced in production.

Remedy:
In case of customer complaints see the following instruction. This failure can be identified when the problem disappears after switching-on and off the air recirculation function. Procedure: First switch on Auto mode, switch-on the air recirculation by pressing the button A once (3 round arrows will be indicated, without "A" in the middle). Now the ECC will recognize the correct flap position. Wait 1-2 s and then switch-off the air recirculation by pressing the button A again.

FunctionalGroup: D - Heating/Ventilation/Air conditioning
Complaint Group: 13 - No/Poor Function
Trouble Code: Non

For some reason the recirculation flap will sometimes go to recirc (without the button lighting up). This usually happens to me if I stop at a Motorway services in the middle of a long journey. If it is going to do it then it will fog up just as I am about to filter into the traffic off the slip road 

If I realise soon enough I switch recirc ON for a few moments and then OFF again. This resets the recirc flap to the off position.

[terry paget]

When was thermostat last changed?

Don't know, I have never changed it.  I bought the car from forum member ajsphead April 2014 mileage 148000 in excellent condition, mileage now is 164390. I have no reason to suspect thermostat failure from gauge or heater performance.

[STEMO]

When was thermostat last changed?

Don't know, I have never changed it.  I bought the car from forum member ajsphead April 2014 mileage 148000 in excellent condition, mileage now is 164390. I have no reason to suspect thermostat failure from gauge or heater performance.

Have you actually looked into the air con issue? I know parts can be expensive, but it could be something simple?

[terry paget]

When was thermostat last changed?

Don't know, I have never changed it.  I bought the car from forum member ajsphead April 2014 mileage 148000 in excellent condition, mileage now is 164390. I have no reason to suspect thermostat failure from gauge or heater performance.

Have you actually looked into the air con issue? I know parts can be expensive, but it could be something simple?

No. Aircon has certainly never worked since April 2012. Had it failed during my ownership (from April 2014) I would have paid for a re-gassing ((£50?) . Otherwise it is my impression that any repair will exceed the value of the car. This misting up fault is new.

[05omegav6]

Regardless of recirc etc, after two miles the engine, and therefore heater, should be capable of chucking out enough heat to keep the screen clear...