Fogging windows in 2002 Explorer

[grkstl2]

What is with this!!! I have even put the Anti Fog-X stuff on there and it still fogs up to the point where condensation forms and it freezes. My heat works great but I just dont understand why I Cannot unfog my windows when it is real cold outside. When it is snowing or raining outside it is horrible!!! Is there something specifically we could replace to fix this issue? It cant be the heater core, there is no antifreeze smell or stuff on my windshield...Any ideas??

I did a search and couldnt find anything, I doubt I am alone though...

Thanks,
George

 

[solitary ogre]

a pinhole in the heater core could cause this.
i had continuous problems with my bll heater core doing this until i put in a bi-pass line between the in and out hoses under the hood. i put a 1/4 turn valve in the by-pass line so i can regulate how much flow there is.
i figure it was caused by reving the engine too higher rpms. i've not had to change a heater core in a few years now.
you'll find it does it when you shut the engine off 'cause normally the pressure in the rad goes up a wee bit after shut down.
try putting a new rad cap on as well as a good back flushing of the entire cooling system.

keep smilin...........t

 

[grkstl2]

I can be driving mine for a hour and I still am all fogged up... I am constantly switching from the front vent, to defog the side wondows to the defrost to defog the windshield.. Its really annoying. You really think the end solution is to change out the heater core though?

 

[solitary ogre]

by-pass the heater core with one of those back flush to garden hose adaptors and run the vehicle without the heater and see what happens.

 

[rrgone]

Maybe the recirc door (fresh air door) is stuck closed? If so you would be recirculating the humid air inside the vehicle around instead of getting fresh air in. Check to see if the recirc door moves when you change the mode from off to defrost.

 

[sfbayjay]

My defogger sucks, too! I have noticed that the windows stay fogged for a long time, even after the car is warmed up. I have checked my recirc/fresh and I know I'm running recirc air. Also confirmed that AC is working properly and that the AC kicks on when the defogger setting is selected.

Maybe this is just a "feature" of these vehicles! Sucks, tho'!

For what it's worth, I tried the RainX anti-fog crap on my windows, too. I had read mixed reviews, so I only put it on half of the windshield (passenger side) and on the passenger door window. Since then, I've noticed that the RainX side fogs FASTER and stays fogged LONGER than the untreated glass. What a crappy product! Will never buy that stuff again.

The best thing I've done to help the fogging problem is to really, really, really carefully and thoroughly clean my windows using a quality glass cleaner. Believe it or not, this helped a lot! I guess with gook on the windows, there's more surface area for water vapor to condense on....

Not ruling out the heater core possibilities in your case -- just sharing my own dissatisfaction with the system, even though I'm fairly certain mine is functioning as it did when the car first hit the road...

 

[grkstl2]

I hear the door moving when I switch from off to defrost, I also know the compressor kicks on with defrost.
Overall I got kick a$$ A/C in the summer so I know mine is functioning properly as well.

I noticed that if the windows are clean the fog is not there as much but I never did the half the windshield test...Are you using Windex or something better than that to clean the windows?
If it wasnt such a big job to do the heater core I would just knock that out of the equation but I have a hard time convincing myself that is the issue.

 

[scubamis]

I have this problem as well and it drives me NUTS!

I park in the garage so thought that could be the trouble. Warm garage, cold outdoors?

What I've started doing is cracking the windows a little bit and it seems to help a lot. I've always been curious as to why this happens.

My friend has a 2007 Eddie Bauer and they have no issues.

 

[grkstl2]

I have this problem as well and it drives me NUTS!

I park in the garage so thought that could be the trouble. Warm garage, cold outdoors?

What I've started doing is cracking the windows a little bit and it seems to help a lot. I've always been curious as to why this happens.

My friend has a 2007 Eddie Bauer and they have no issues.

Yep, I also have a 2007 Mercury Mountaineer and do not have the issue. This gets down right dangerous in the Explorer though... I would like to resolve it ASAP.

 

[grkstl2]

anything on this?

 

[racin8]

I to have the fogging problem. Only thing I've found is to crack the sun roof up a bit but, still isn't right.

Hope someone has the fix

 

[bisjoe]

Any vehicle will fog up if there's a lot of moisture inside. It could be from snow on the feet, or a worn out door gasket letting in water. One that's a simple fix not often considered is the A/C water drain hose. Sometimes it can pull out of the hole in the floor and allow water to drip under the carpet, where it's not noticed, and doesn't smell because it's condensation (just water).

 

[grkstl2]

Any vehicle will fog up if there's a lot of moisture inside. It could be from snow on the feet, or a worn out door gasket letting in water. One that's a simple fix not often considered is the A/C water drain hose. Sometimes it can pull out of the hole in the floor and allow water to drip under the carpet, where it's not noticed, and doesn't smell because it's condensation (just water).

Does anyone know where that tube is located in a 2002 Explorer, 4.6, XLT.

Thanks,

 

[JohnWPaul]

windows fogging

I am pretty new to the Expoloreers. Do they have an "in cabin" air filter? I have heard that if these get saturated with water....it will cause the condensation inside the vehicle. My son has a Jaguar..with same problem.

 

[grkstl2]

I am pretty new to the Expoloreers. Do they have an "in cabin" air filter? I have heard that if these get saturated with water....it will cause the condensation inside the vehicle. My son has a Jaguar..with same problem.

Good question, I will look at my service manual when I go in the garage later today..

 

[racin8]

grkstl2, I called the local parts store here for 02 xlt cabin filter, they said no filter in that year.

See anything in the manual?

 

[grkstl2]

grkstl2, I called the local parts store here for 02 xlt cabin filter, they said no filter in that year.

See anything in the manual?

I got that manual on CD. I did a search and could not find anything either.

I want to go back and look to see if I could find where the A/C drain hose is that was talked about above. I would suspect though, that if the hose became disconnected I would have really wet carpetting which is not happening.
The search continues....

 

[rrgone]

I got that manual on CD. I did a search and could not find anything either.

There were no cabin air filters available on any Gen 3 Explorer or Mountaineer.

I want to go back and look to see if I could find where the A/C drain hose is that was talked about above. I would suspect though, that if the hose became disconnected I would have really wet carpetting which is not happening.

Not necessarily. You would get a lot more water draining down under the carpet in the summertime with the AC running. It might be just enough to keep the humidity high enough for fogging up the windows in winter. I'm not sure where the evaporator housing drain line is run on these. I don't think it goes out through the floor though. I think it routes through the firewall and then down. It's more likely to be plugged up than to have come disconnected. You should be able to locate the end of the hose underneath the truck and prod it gently with a length of wire.

 

[coled43]

Add me to the weak defroster list. My wife pointed it out and I have been noticing it as well lately with all the family vacation driving. We had this truck last year and I don't remember it being an issue though. I just started looking into this. It seems like the vent dampers are not switching correctly between the floor and defrost. I'll have to do some testing, including the recirc door someone else mentioned. I also have the fan only working for speeds 3 and 4, which is probably another issue.

 

[coled43]

I replaced the blower motor resistor and now have all fan speeds. That will help with comfort anyway. I can hear a noise under the dash when switching between floor and defrost. It seems to be stuck in the middle. I suspect that the blend door linkage is broken, like I have seen on some other posts. It's on the other side from the resistor so I'll have to leave that for next time.