S3 (8P) Misty windscreen and waxy smelling moisture in the air on morning start.

[T3KT0N1K]

Hi guys.

When I first start the car each day, the windscreen instantly mists up and there's an odd faint waxy smell in the air. I can feel moisture in the air too. Any ideas what's causing it?

 

[Granta]

Is your aircon on or in econ mode?

 

[LEE69]

Aircon filter needs changing?

 

[T3KT0N1K]

Granta: I always leave the climate control system in auto these days. I used to run in econ mode (unless I needed cooling down), to save fuel etc. But a friend of mine, who is also a petrol head, said that running the system in auto and keeping the aircon gases flowing is better for the longevity of the system as a whole, outweighing the costs of the fuel expenditure.

Lee69: I've no idea. The aircon is not as cool as I would expect it to be (having regassed a car recently), so I theorise that it may be due to a leak in the system. Have you had an aircon filter replaced before? Is it not done during servicing? I ask because I had the car serviced a couple of weeks ago.

 

[LEE69]

Yeah if they don't get replaced it causes the misting window.
Not sure if it's in a service or not, not long had mine

 

[T3KT0N1K]

Ok, so I need to consider getting that done soonish then I guess.

Typically, most parts of the aircon system shouldn't be tampered with by anyone other than a qualified tech with specialised appliances to handle the gasses etc. Question is, is the filter one of those parts, or can I replace it myself?

 

[LEE69]

Filter just filters the air coming into the car tbh i haven't bothered to look for mine.It will be an easy changeable filter i'm sure.

 

[Granta]

Ya change to pollen filter. It's a 5 minute job. Aircon will dry the air out so if it is not working properly then that may be half the problem. Where are you based?

 

[LEE69]

Found how to do it

http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-sportback-8p-chassis/105739-3-2-pollen-filter.html

 

[LEE69]

Oooooooooooooo pictures

http://www.filtron.pl/katalog/instrukcje/1111k.pdf

 

[LEE69]

ooooo and a video

2006-2013 Audi A3 Cabin Air Filter Check - 2008 Audi A3 Quattro 3.2L V6

You should be ok now lol

 

[T3KT0N1K]

ooooo and a video

2006-2013 Audi A3 Cabin Air Filter Check - 2008 Audi A3 Quattro 3.2L V6

You should be ok now lol

Excellent work! I must admit, I seem to be rubbish at finding things on this forum. I can find all manner of largely unknown information all over the internet and am an Analyst by profession (believe it or not). But I often fail on this forum for some reason.

I had the pollen filter changed as part of the recent service, but I find the last post of the thread you linked to quite interesting. I wonder if they've gone and stuck a simple paper filter in, instead of the active carbon one.

 

[LEE69]

I find google is far better than any forum search engine.

Quite possibly, few pound saved here is few pound saved there maybe.

 

[Geraldy212]

T3.... What I would do is to see if the aircon condensate drain is working as it should. If you run the aircon with the car parked, you should see, after a while, some water dripping out underneath, leaving a puddle on the tarmac. If this water is being kept in the car, then the car will not dry out properly. There is a small pipe running from the aircon internal radiator (heat exchanger) to the outside to drain the condensate. Get the garage to check if this pipe is blocked. Good luck.

 

[phil76]

All of my aircon cars have left a film on the inside of the windows even after changing the pollen filter,in sun light especially on my old A3 it was terrible and when i tried to wipe it just smeared in a fashion,the only way i properly got it clean was with an alcohol cleaner like brake and clutch then used glass cleaner after that.

which seems over kill i know but it worked and that in my eyes is a win situation

 

[NHN]

Filter yes, but also check your coolant levels, see if its dropping slowly, if so then the matrix may have a leak, is the carpet damp either above or underneath, as this can cause the issue.