What to Do When the Front Windshield of a Civic Fogs Up?
4 Answers
Blowing hot air can help defog the windshield. At the same time, you can turn on the external air circulation of the air conditioner and set the vents to defog mode. After the front windshield fogs up, roll down the window slightly to let outside air blow into the car, and the fog will dissipate quickly. Keep a towel handy and wipe the fog away when it appears. Apply dish soap or soapy water to the windshield, then rinse with clean water and dry it thoroughly to prevent fogging.
I've been driving a Civic for almost a decade, and windshield fogging is way too common. Remember to first adjust the air vents to windshield mode and crank the fan to maximum! Then immediately press that fan-shaped defogger button with wavy lines on the center console - the small AC light next to it will automatically turn on. In winter if the cold air feels too biting, just wait 2-3 minutes until the fog clears before switching to warm air. Actually I've found opening the external air circulation works better, especially when carrying passengers on rainy days since more people breathing inside makes fogging worse. By the way, the dealership mechanic taught me to wipe the inner glass with diluted dish soap - after it dries it prevents fogging. Tested it myself and it works quite well, though you'll need to reapply every week or two.
Last night, while driving my kid to the tutoring class, we encountered a heavy rainstorm. The windshield was completely fogged up, which was really frustrating. I immediately turned the knob to the right to the red heating zone and pressed the defogging button to blow hot air and dry the glass. In the summer, turning on the air conditioning for cooling defogs the glass even faster, though it does consume a bit more fuel. Once, I forgot to turn off the recirculation mode, and the moisture exhaled by all five people in the car fogged up the glass. Later, I learned that switching to fresh air mode helps draw out the humidity. Now, I’ve developed a habit of wiping the dashboard and windshield with a towel before driving. The mechanic told me that dust combined with moisture makes fogging more likely, and since then, fogging has indeed decreased.
When I first got my Civic, I couldn't figure out how to quickly defog the windows. Later I learned the key is turning on the AC compressor (the AC button) - you need to press it even when using warm air. The AC's cold air absorbs moisture from the glass twice as fast as heat alone. Always use external air circulation on rainy days, otherwise interior humidity can't escape and fog keeps returning. In winter, scrape off exterior frost with an ice scraper before turning on the defroster - don't use wipers immediately or ice chips will damage the rubber blades. Keeping an anti-fog spray handy is practical; one application lasts about two weeks.
