Steaming vents

[Sidspud]

Yesterday morning, I put the aircon on to help clear up a steamed up windscreen. Almost immediately I got loads of steam or fog coming out of the dash vents. I originally crapped myself thinking the car was on fire, but then I realised that it was just fog. It was cool, but damp air.
I switched aircon off and it stopped. 5 minutes later I tried again and got the same result. It lasted for a few minutes before disappearing.

Is this normal?

[s2driveruk]

errr, never had that happen on any aircon'd car i have owned so i would *guess* that isnt normal

David

[Phillio]

had loads of steam coming out on mine, it was the heat exchange matrix thingy that was bust.

that was a non A/C car though

[Greenm3]

I have had this before when i was in spain the aircon on my volvo did it....i had it on max cold and what looked like frost came out! Neve have been able to get it to do it again.

[tamaquatt]

I've only ever seen it in an MR2 (with the roof in place) in the height of summer with the A/C on full cool for several minutes....... the car was left running on the drive with A/C on and after about 10 minutes you couldn't see through the windows for condensation !!

[rotoryboy]

IIRC These symptoms sound like the condenser has failed.

[Sidspud]

IIRC These symptoms sound like the condenser has failed.

Am I talking big bucks for this?

[rotoryboy]

Not sure to be honest . I'll let Martyn answer that

[AL80]

I have had this before when i was in spain the aircon on my volvo did it....i had it on max cold and what looked like frost came out! Neve have been able to get it to do it again.

Ditto in my mates Astra Coupe, some steam on max cold in France, but never happened again.

[Crawford_S2]

This sounds normal to me, if it is particularly humid outside, aircon does this. Lived in the middle east when i was a boy and aircon did this all the time and if you ever fly from the med on an airoplane you quite often get it when they fire up the aircon after the doors are closed. Its something to do with air density and moisture content. Any chemists on here that can clarify?
Just because its an S2 don't automatically mean its broken!!!

[Jas11n]

My mums Almera does this, though the outside conditions have to about right,,,,,think it's something to do with humidity
Takes 2/3 mins for the fog/condensation to disappear.
Also, when you have it on the coldest it will go, you can sometimes see your breath in the car, but not always
My S2 has aircon, but is in need of a regas,,,,,got a real cheap price on it too, from my local specialist and Bosch agent,,, £45 all in

[Robatron]

It was so humid it happened to me last night, bloody car was steaming up like no-ones business.

[Sidspud]

It was pissing down when it happened and about 20°c, so pretty damn humid.

I'll wait and see if it does it again.

[Martynf]

I'd leave it Kenny and see what gives intime. Condensors are expensive yes Kenny!!

[Greg_S]

could also be the drain from the condensor is blocked so water is gathering there which is worth checking first.

Greg