issues with a4 fogging up

[todd149084]

I have a 96 a4 2.8 quatto with about 72k miles on it.

On a recent 8 hour drive, I noticed the little snowflake symbol on the instrument cluster ( right below the gear indicator and on the same line as the outside temperature reading ) kept turning on and off.

I looked in the manual and can't for the life of me figure out what that symbol means, although I know the one in the AC/Heat controls represents the compressor.

anybody else have any troubles with the car fogging up? this was a major issue while driving at night on a long trip.. we were driving when all of a sudden we could only see out of two little spots on the front windshield.

just to be clear about my questions.

1. has any one had fogging issues with their a4? could it be the compressor going bad?

2. what the heck does that little snowflake ( and the " +" symbol that's next to it ) on the instrument cluster?

thanks.

[ntmcog]

if im not mistakin i think the little snowflake is just an ice warning. mine comes on when it gets cold outside.

and as far os the fogging, i have never really had a problem, when it does fog up, hit the defog/defrost button and it goes right away.

[todd149084]

thanks for the snowflake tip.. I think you're right that it's just an ice warning.

As for the defogging.. what would happen is that the defroster would be humming along ( with the snowflake symbol in the bottom left on ), then the snowflake would disappear and it would start fogging up... I'm assuming it's fogging up because it's hotter and more humid inside than out, which is why the compressor would go on when you turn on the defroster.

does that sound right, or am I just not getting it?

thanks,

[todd149084]

thanks for the snowflake tip.. I think you're right that it's just an ice warning.

As for the defogging.. what would happen is that the defroster would be humming along ( with the snowflake symbol in the bottom left on ), then the snowflake would disappear and it would start fogging up... I'm assuming it's fogging up because it's hotter and more humid inside than out, which is why the compressor would go on when you turn on the defroster.

does that sound right, or am I just not getting it?

thanks,

[Talibangunner925]

Your compressor probaly went out..... actually i am almost positive

[ntmcog]

yeah that sounds right. Going back to the snowflake thing, it was 20 degrees yesterday and the snowflake icon was not there, so to be completely honest with you i am not really sure what it means now. but i still think it has to do with the ice warning. and i noticed the little "+" i have no idea what that means.

[Talibangunner925]

the plus is just there to say that it is 20 above zero not -20 and the snowflake thins is just a ice / low temp warning

[ntmcog]

ooohhh, yeah, duh! good call.

[akacujo]

The manual describes the snowflake as a snow possible warning. It goes out once it gets like 5 or 10 degrees below freezing because it is less likely to snow then

[Kayless]

You're fogging up because the compressor doesn't work below freezing. Supposedly to prevent damage.