Winshield freezing up on the "inside"

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Winshield freezing up on the "inside"

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Mazda Forums >> Mazda Vehicles >> Mazda3 >> Winshield freezing up on the "inside"

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Winshield freezing up on the "inside" - 12/6/2007 6:27:25 AM

LordChrisofSith

Posts: 140
Joined: 7/22/2007
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Another odd occurance. Has only happened twice so far. The inner part of the driver's side windshield freezes up. Like frost. The outside of the windshield is clear. This has only happened twice so far this winter. I was thinking of the seal, but where would the water come in from. Nothing is melting. It's averaged about -8 so far this winter.

Any thoughts.

2007 m3 sedan with moonroof.

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RE: Winshield freezing up on the "inside" - 12/6/2007 7:11:39 AM

virgin1

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Joined: 3/15/2007
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The leaky windshield seal would make the most sense that I know of. You don't say where it's freezing up, but if you haven't noticed any other leaks (water,) I'd have to guess the bottom of the seal is compromised.
Is the freeze up V shaped? If so it should be easier to figure out I would think.

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RE: Winshield freezing up on the "inside" - 12/6/2007 11:25:26 AM

LordChrisofSith

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Joined: 7/22/2007
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I believe it is V-shaped. Where the biggest part of the v is right in my line of sight. I should call the dealer and see if this is common on this car. (around here, when cold out) I don't want to leave it overnight 3 or 4 times for them to see it. If I can remember, I will take a picture.
It has only happend twice thus far.

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RE: Winshield freezing up on the "inside" - 12/6/2007 6:13:31 PM

wineye

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Joined: 9/10/2007
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did this happen overnight when temp is below freezing? do you leave the car outside when this happens?
It happened to me once back in Sept, but that was because I turned on A/C without knowing (temp dial at the coldest mark, A/C turns on automatically).

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RE: Winshield freezing up on the "inside" - 12/6/2007 9:19:41 PM

dentinger

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Joined: 10/14/2006
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omg, this is the biggest pain in the arse ever!!

your half asleep, and you go to scrape off your windsheild, then your like, wtf? god dammit, i hate winter!!

then you have to let your car sit there for 5 minutes until enough of the frost melts.

i tihnk i've had this happen to me, i dunno, a couple dozen times now?? i had my rear one frost up on the inside a bit today while my car was parked.

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RE: Winshield freezing up on the "inside" - 12/6/2007 9:41:07 PM

UrbanmanUSA

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Joined: 2/19/2007
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I would try cracking your windows when you park for the night, to allow whatever moisture is inside the car to evaporate. In winter, humidity tends to be quite low, evaporation happens quickly. Having the windows cracked will give the moisture in your car's interior a path to escape.

On a related note, scientists at MIT have developed a hydrophilicitic nanoparticle coating that prevents window fogging. In english, the particles prevent water molecules from comingling to a sufficient mass to become condensate (or fog). MIT is negotiating with various companies, and the expectation is fog free windshields will be on the market within a couple of years.

So, someday there could be a generation of drivers who will have no idea why older cars needed defrost. You can be the old fart who tells them what it was like back on the day.

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RE: Winshield freezing up on the "inside" - 12/7/2007 4:47:14 AM

dentinger

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quote:

ORIGINAL: UrbanmanUSA

I would try cracking your windows when you park for the night, to allow whatever moisture is inside the car to evaporate. In winter, humidity tends to be quite low, evaporation happens quickly. Having the windows cracked will give the moisture in your car's interior a path to escape.

i tried that once. it made the problem even worse somehow

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RE: Winshield freezing up on the "inside" - 12/7/2007 4:52:34 AM

LordChrisofSith

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Joined: 7/22/2007
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Thanks UB.

No, it's not an overnight thing. Happend while I am at work. It's the weirdest thing.

What I cannot understand is why they don't put a small "electric" heater in cars for the defrost. Same as the small ones you plug in. Electric heat is instantanious and would clear the windsheild really quick. Then, when the car is warmed up, it could switch back to the coolant heater system. You would not need the heater lines (defrost), engineers could hook up the heater under the dash. How expensive would that be. SST any comments?

For the envirments sake, most would start driving right away and not warm up their cars in the driveway.

Kind of like when minivans came out with the double doors. I said "I can't believe it took them this long to figure out"

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Post #: 8