Car defrosting on driveway, lesson learned

[TW]Fox · 19 Dec 2011 at 17:19

MatteH Oxford said:
2. the compressor & hence the system operating at freezing temperatures

What will this prove? I've no idea if my compressor operates at freezing temperatures (I simply assume it doesn't) as I've never gone to the trouble of looking, but I do know that if it does operate it is unable to produce the same conditioned air it can in normal circumstances.

The point is that if its -1c outside, the air conditioning being on or off will make no difference to your demist. It isn't providing the assistance it normally does for demist purposes, which the owners manual of the car backs up.

So I guess we have a choice - do we beleive you, or all the owners manuals of all the cars in the UK and a qualified automotive engineer who works on HVAC systems...

TOUGH CHOICE

MatteH Oxford · 19 Dec 2011 at 17:25

why would i use it if it made no difference to how quickly the car demists, Fox?
If the a/c compressor isn't running on my car it takes a lot longer to demist.

If the compressor is running, gas is going through the evaporator. The evaporator cannot be bypassed by any setting of the heater controls. Hence the a/c is working, & I know it makes a very noticeable difference.

Edit to say i have tried it without & with. There isn't much choice to be made here!

[TW]Fox · 19 Dec 2011 at 18:18

MatteH Oxford said:
why would i use it if it made no difference to how quickly the car demists, Fox?

Who knows?

VaderDSL · 19 Dec 2011 at 18:21

I noticed recently in my car the AC didn't do anything during the cold period, this week I've been doing some testing with it on and off, when it was really cold no difference, this evening, with the milder weather, with the AC on it cleared in no time.

Kenai · 19 Dec 2011 at 18:56

MatteH Oxford said:
If the a/c compressor isn't running on my car it takes a lot longer to demist.

Do you regularly demist your car and then get out and inspect the AC compressor out of interest?

It's just not something I could imagine myself doing at any point in time for any reason at all :confused:

MofoKilla · 19 Dec 2011 at 20:12

why would i use it if it made no difference to how quickly the car demists, Fox?

So you can tell a cool story on the internets about how your a/c demists your windscreen

lol

steve1873 · 22 Dec 2011 at 16:14

Lucero said:
Same, never ever had a problem with luke warm water from a tap. This is 2011, windscreens in anything newer than a 2000 plate should be well and truly fine*

*may not be fine

I have done this every winter since I started driving in 1999 and never had any problems.

DiCe! · 22 Dec 2011 at 16:30

I have seen a woman use boiling water from a kettle to clear the windscreen. It went straight through, Laughed so hard I cried.

Muffin` · 22 Dec 2011 at 16:39

DiCe! said:
I have seen a woman use boiling water from a kettle to clear the windscreen. It went straight through, Laughed so hard I cried.

seen it before too, it was one of those 'did that just really happen?' moments

DiCe! · 22 Dec 2011 at 16:51

Muffin` said:
seen it before too, it was one of those 'did that just really happen?' moments

Was like a train crash in slow motion.

Door to house opens....women with kettle in hand....walks towords car....

NOOOOOOOOOOOO

CRACK.......Scream!...Cry

Deep breaths until I was far enough away for her not to see me laughing.

Duke · 22 Dec 2011 at 16:55

A saw an old couple do that, but was driving by so didn't see the outcome

indyskyz · 22 Dec 2011 at 17:19

2ltr pop bottle warm water squidge of washing up liquid easy

or de-icer that refreezes by the time you've done the whole car and it stinks

oh i leave for work at 4.30am so if its cold, my car is frozen

don't suppose it helps that i live near a canal either

VaderDSL · 22 Dec 2011 at 18:00

I think we've found our next Mythbusters challenge

I might actually email it in

lookitsjonno · 22 Dec 2011 at 22:33

don't do what my mates missis did last year in -10 temperatures

boil kettle

pour over windscreen

oh ***

therealnerd2 · 23 Dec 2011 at 08:03

I read this thread, then went out, started my focus mk1, locked it with the spare key and went back into the house, happy in the knowledge I had acted as OCUK recommends.

5 mins later, I couldn't get back into the &£$"^ing thing

. Engine on seems to super-lock the doors. I knew the RCL wouldnt work, but even the key didn't. Fortunately the boot opens, so had to climb in through that.

DiCe! · 23 Dec 2011 at 09:23

In my cosra I can start the engine but cant lock the doors, real pain in the ass. So i just get up 5 minutes earlier and sit in the car with the radio on....simples.

dangermouse425 · 23 Dec 2011 at 09:25

therealnerd2 said:
I read this thread, then went out, started my focus mk1, locked it with the spare key and went back into the house, happy in the knowledge I had acted as OCUK recommends.

5 mins later, I couldn't get back into the &£$"^ing thing . Engine on seems to super-lock the doors. I knew the RCL wouldnt work, but even the key didn't. Fortunately the boot opens, so had to climb in through that.

Lucky you got through your boot, otherwise that would have been embarrassing!

therealnerd2 · 23 Dec 2011 at 11:25

dangermouse425 said:
Lucky you got through your boot, otherwise that would have been embarrassing!

The first thing that occured to me was getting into the engine bay, which I could do. Not sure what I could do from there though. Possibly remove the battery, stall the car and hope it unlocks?

kefkef · 23 Dec 2011 at 14:22

Happened last year to some friends. An 09 plate Merc ML350. His wife went out, started the car and then went back in the house, came out 10 minutes later to see some youngish bloke reversing it off the drive, gave her the finger and drove off. Not been seen since! Two coppers were around within a couple of minutes, she told them what happened but still nothing found.

The tool then went and got his missus to lie when giving the official statement and say that the car wasnt started and they had broken through the front door and nicked the keys. Lots of hooo-haa later he was cautioned for attempted fraud and the insurance company didnt pay out, so he is left forking out a good few hundred quid a month for the next few years for a car he hasnt got anymore!

Abraxaz1 · 23 Dec 2011 at 17:44

therealnerd2 said:
I read this thread, then went out, started my focus mk1, locked it with the spare key and went back into the house, happy in the knowledge I had acted as OCUK recommends.

5 mins later, I couldn't get back into the &£$"^ing thing . Engine on seems to super-lock the doors. I knew the RCL wouldnt work, but even the key didn't. Fortunately the boot opens, so had to climb in through that.

Hahaha, sorry just picturing that, please say it was a saloon would just be more comical.

I just put a blanket across the windscreen, come the morning only have to deal with a bit of condensation