98 Civic, excessive window condensation

Turbulent Bill

The windows of my OH's 98 Civic are almost always covered in condensation before getting into the car, especially in the current weather. If it's raining outside and the heater fan is on there's a constant drip in the passenger side footwell, but this doesn't happen when it's dry or when the fan's off. No obvious signs of wet or musty carpets.

Any ideas on what's causing this? Possible culprits are the heater matrix or some leak from outside into the air ducting. The door window seals look a bit perished but I'm not sure they're bad enough to cause the problem.

Thanks!

daveharnett

Turbulent Bill wrote: »

The windows of my OH's 98 Civic are almost always covered in condensation before getting into the car, especially in the current weather. If it's raining outside and the heater fan is on there's a constant drip in the passenger side footwell, but this doesn't happen when it's dry or when the fan's off. No obvious signs of wet or musty carpets.

Any ideas on what's causing this? Possible culprits are the heater matrix or some leak from outside into the air ducting. The door window seals look a bit perished but I'm not sure they're bad enough to cause the problem.

Thanks!

This is usually a blocked A/C drain. Don't suppose the civic has air conditioning?

imeddyhobbs

Was the car off the road for some time?

Dampness can build up inside the car and when it's not being used,when the car is put back on the road condensation can be a problem but clears within 3 or 4 days max.

draward

You could have a small hole in the floor water gets in creating dampness

Turbulent Bill

daveharnett wrote: »

This is usually a blocked A/C drain. Don't suppose the civic has air conditioning?

Nope, just the standard heating/cooling fan.

imeddyhobbs wrote: »

Was the car off the road for some time?

Dampness can build up inside the car and when it's not being used,when the car is put back on the road condensation can be a problem but clears within 3 or 4 days max.

Car is used at least every second day, usually daily. The air source is always fresh air (rather than recirculate), and thie fan clears the condensation in about 5-10 mins, but the condensation is back the next time the car is used.

draward wrote: »

You could have a small hole in the floor water gets in creating dampness

Maybe, but there's no sign of it, might lift the carpets and check.

Thanks for the responses so far, any other ideas?

no1beemerfan

Is there a sweet smell in the car? This would indicate the heater matrix. Also check coolent level. Also the front carpets should be a bit damp at least.

You definately have a leak of some sort. If not the heater matrix then its rain water getting in.

The usual suspects are door seals perished, rear light seals letting in water, sunroof drains blocked etc.

If you rule out the heater matrix your best bet is to get someone to stay in the car while you hose it.

Also lift up the carpets as it might feel dry but the foam underneath can hold buckets of water!

Turbulent Bill

Ressurecting this as it's still a problem. I'm 99% sure it's a rain water leak (rather than the heater matrix leaking), but diagnosing where the water is getting in is the problem. Does anyone have a decent strategy for this (or even experience with a 98 Civic) that might narrow down the options a bit?

On a related issue, are there any recommended dehumidifer trays (not the powered ones) that I should use to get rid of the existing moisture?

manatoo

Turbulent Bill wrote: »

Ressurecting this as it's still a problem. I'm 99% sure it's a rain water leak (rather than the heater matrix leaking), but diagnosing where the water is getting in is the problem. Does anyone have a decent strategy for this (or even experience with a 98 Civic) that might narrow down the options a bit?

On a related issue, are there any recommended dehumidifer trays (not the powered ones) that I should use to get rid of the existing moisture?

This is 100% a cracked heater matrix. The only place water is held on a non-aircon car is in the heater matrix. When it cracks steam is emitted and quickly condenses on the windows. Similarly, the damp carpet on passenger side footwell is the fluid leaking down the centre console.

I'm going to psychically predict that your windscreen is really greasey and there is a strange smell from the vents if you turn them up with the heat on....

tezzy_v2

when i got the windscreen replaced on my 98 civic a few years ago it didnt seal properly and i was getting the condensation you're talking about, carpets were wet too

Turbulent Bill

manatoo wrote: »

This is 100% a cracked heater matrix. The only place water is held on a non-aircon car is in the heater matrix. When it cracks steam is emitted and quickly condenses on the windows. Similarly, the damp carpet on passenger side footwell is the fluid leaking down the centre console.

I'm going to psychically predict that your windscreen is really greasey and there is a strange smell from the vents if you turn them up with the heat on....

The condensation only appears when it's wet and the heater fan has been run. No dripping in passenger footwell when it's dry outside and the fan is run, or when it's wet outside with no fan on - you need both together to get the problem. It isn't a problem at all during the summer. I suspected the heater matrix originally but wouldn't this give a constant leak (regardless of what the weather was doing)?

No real smell from the vents. The windscreen is a bit dirty but not unusually so. I'm guessing the condensation seen in the morning is because the passenger carpet/mat is damp from the last drive, rather than an overnight leak.

ofcork

Brother had a leak in his 00 civic rain was getting in around the ariel fixing on the roof.