In a Fog (Fogged Windows in Cold Weather)
November 19, 2023
It's bad enough in cold weather when ice and snow block your visibility. Add to that fog on the inside of your windows and you could be driving blind. So here are a few tips on how to keep your windows from fogging up when there's a chill in the air.
You probably know fog is really condensation, when moist, warm air meets a cold surface and turns to liquid. If your windshield fogs up, you probably turn on your windshield defroster. Most defrosters blow heated air on the windshield glass to warm it up so it won't condense the moisture. Many also turn on the air conditioning to reduce the moisture.
That same strategy can work on the rest of the windows. First, turn up your heater's temperature setting. The hotter the air, the more moisture it will hold. Also, turn off the "recirculating" setting since you want all outside air to come in. Then switch on the air conditioning. It will remove the moisture from the outside air that it's blowing inside the cabin. Try cracking a couple of windows to make it easier for the air to flow. This should do the trick pretty quickly.
There's one other thing to try. Many vehicles have electric heater elements embedded in the rear window glass (the rear window defroster) and in the outside rearview mirror glass. Make sure to turn those on, too; sometimes they're on the same switch.
For all of these things to work, of course, your vehicle's components have to be maintained so they'll do the things they're designed to do. And you didn't think it was important to have your air conditioning working in the cold weather months!
One final tip. Keep the insides of your windows CLEAN. Oil and dirt on the glass give the water molecules something to latch on to. That ought to clear up this problem.
Perfect Tune Auto Repair
5434 S. Old US Highway 23
Brighton, Michigan 48116
810.227.9903
https://www.perfecttuneautorepair.com
Need Service?
More articles from Perfect Tune Auto Repair

Tire or Re-Tire? (Getting Tires Ready for Hot Weather)
April 19, 2026
Heat isn't easy on vehicle tires, and as the seasons change, make sure yours are ready to take the heat. Let's talk first about inflation. Heat causes air to expand, so heat alone can raise the pressure in your tires. If you are driving on overinflated tires, they won't have as much contact w... More

Perfect Tune Auto Repair Tire Safety: Washington vs. Lincoln
April 15, 2026
Welcome to the Perfect Tune Auto Repair automotive blog. Today, let's talk about the effect of tire wear. Let's focus on stopping in wet Brighton conditions. In order for a tire to have good contact with the road, it has to move the water out of the way. If it can't move the water, the tire w... More

Passing the Test (How to Prevent Emissions Test Failure)
April 14, 2026
Vehicle emission testing has become ubiquitous in North America and for a good reason. Clean air quality is important for the environment and all of us. Since vehicle emissions are among the main causes of air pollution, emission testing can alert you to problems in your vehicle than can be fix... More
