defog/defrost

[·clyde·]

If my car is working correctly, this might be one of those questions that comes up from time to time, but hopefully isn't going to mark me as being totally clueless like if I was asking about the 37 degree beep.

When you turn on the front defroster does the auto climate control switch to the highest heat setting possible regardless of what temp you have set?

Last night was the first time we went out in our 2002 325xiT in the rain. The outside temp was in the low/mid 30s. The climate control was set to 67. After twenty minutes or so, the rear door windows were completely fogged over and the front door windows were on there way to doing the same. Pushed the defrost button and we were hit with a wave of hot air. Pressing the A/C button didn't help. Moving the temp setting down to 59 didn't help. Raising the temp to its highest setting didn't seem to have an effect.

I've read refrences to the climate control being kind of funky and I'm wondering if this is one of those things.

Thanks for any help.

Clyde 325xiT

[Kaz]

Mine goes to full blast (and clears the glass in no time flat) , but as soon as you kill it, it goes back to normal.

If the HVAC is off and you hit the defog, then turn it off, it drops the system into the slowest fan speed and the temp set to whatever you had on last.

[·clyde·]

Kaz, when you say that it goes to full blast, do you mean fan speed only or fan speed and temp? The fan going to max I can understand, but if it's supposed to blow the hottest air possible as well, that's a bit of a bummer.

Clyde 325xiT

[ff]

Originally posted by clyde325xiT
Kaz, when you say that it goes to full blast, do you mean fan speed only or fan speed and temp? The fan going to max I can understand, but if it's supposed to blow the hottest air possible as well, that's a bit of a bummer.

Clyde 325xiT

No, that's a bit of a Bimmer.... yakka, yakka, yakka

Seriously, though, it does seem to crank the temp up also. WHen I turn mine on, it's the only time I seem to get a decent amount of heat from the vents. It blasts very hot air until you turn it off. Wish I could get the HVAC to do that once the car warms up on those cold mornings.

[Kaz]

Originally posted by clyde325xiT
[B]Kaz, when you say that it goes to full blast, do you mean fan speed only or fan speed and temp? [B]

Well, the temp display shows whatever it was set to before, but the air coming out is definitely full heat, which definitely helps in the clearing.

Of course the problem is it gets really hot in the car, especially if you already had the heat going.

What I've found is that low setting it drops back into works pretty well keeping it clear.

[MAK]

Kaz's observations parallel my own. When the defrosted is engaged, the temp and fan come on full tilt. Once the defrosted is deactivated, the normal setting keeps the glass clear.
Mike