Bob Shuman wrote:
> I have a 2001 2.7L Dodge Intrepid SE (base model w/69K miles) that has
been
> very reliable and served me well, but I am experiencing a "problem" and
> would appreciate others thoughts.
>
> When the outside temperature is cold (and I will define cold here to
mean
> somewhere below 10-15 degrees F), if I try to set the air outlet control
to
> the heater position (even when the car is 100% warmed up), then all of
the
> windows in the car (this includes the rear window, side windows, and the
> front wid****eld) fog up (and will actually freeze) making visibility
> impossible. The only solution is to run the defroster 100% of the time
and
> even then, if it is extremely cold (like it is today with the
temperature
> f -6 degrees F on my way into work), then the side windows will still
> freeze up even with the defroster blowing hot air at full force.
>
> I've attempted to clean the windows thoroughly without any change in
this
> condition and also tried to look for any possible source for the water
> va****, but also without success. The engine coolant level is normal and
is
> not leaking. The coolant temperature gauge goes to the normal/mid-scale
> position when the car warms up (5-10 minutes) and the outlet control and
> blower speed both seem to work properly since air comes out of the
> appropriate outlet dependent on the knob position. The Air Conditioner
also
> works perfectly and the compressor clutch engages on warmer days when
the
> defroster position is selected.
>
> At this point I am at a loss to explain this behavior and would
appreciate
> knowing if other Intrepid owners experience the same issue or if someone
has
> any idea on what I can look for to see where this moisture comes from.
(I
> know some of it comes from breathing, but this has NEVER been a problem
with
> any other vehicles and they generally carry more passengers than I do in
> this car. Thanks in advance for all thoughts.
>
> Bob
Bob - You seem to have just about covered most of the bases. One thing
you danced around a couple of times but without really stating
explicitly is if the air that is coming out of the correct vents is
actually warm or not. Since you appear to have eliminated that moisture
is leaking into the ducting from the heater core and confirmed that the
a.c. is working in defrost mode, I am going to assume that the problem
is that the air is not getting warm.
Three possible causes that I can think of, and I have read on the LH car
forums of all three of these occurring:
(1) The heater core is clogged, so, even though your engine is cooling
fine, the coolant is not circulating thru the heater core.
(2) Your coolant may be low or have an air pocket (actually they are one
and the same) - leaving you enough coolant to cool the engine fine, but,
again, leaving the heater core without circulating warm coolant.
(3) The blend door is not operating correctly. That door is a vane that
determine what pro****tion of the air forced by the fan is going thru the
heater core fins vs. going around (bypassing) the heater core.
That's my best shot. Obviously the best scenario would be no. (2) or
(3) - and they are both definitely possible. Like I said, I have read
many posts by people on the LH car forums where any one of the three has
happened.
If the air coming out of the ducting is in fact warm, then, with your
having covered the other bases, I'm at a loss as the things I came up
with only address the air coming out of the ducts not being warm.
Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')
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