Condensation on windows

Keiweb

Any one got any advice on this...basically got in the car today and after what seem ages with heater on to clear windows a while later this evening all windows still have a lot of moisture on them..had to use a towel to dry inside of windscreen..any tips? Thanks in advance

Nino Brown

Keiweb wrote: »

Any one got any advice on this...basically got in the car today and after what seem ages with heater on to clear windows a while later this evening all windows still have a lot of moisture on them..had to use a towel to dry inside of windscreen..any tips? Thanks in advance

Try washing them with just vinegar and water. Sometime people use the wrong stuff to clean the inside of car windows and it causes fogging.

*My Mistake, I misread it, I thought you said you got the car today. Have you cleaned the windows lately? Also do you have AC, it removes moisture, run it for a while

pacman1989

let the window open a tiny bit at night. I had the same problem and this solved it for me .

ba_barabus

Start with some simple steps.

Firstly have you got fresh air entering the car or have you pressed the recirculate switch.

Check the carpets for damp as there could be a leak.

Have you ever changed the pollen filter?

Have you ever cleaned the windows using a proper car window cleaner (not normal window cleaner)

Vinegar is fine to use out the outside but it will stink up the car inside.

ba_barabus

pacman1989 wrote: »

let the window open a tiny bit at night. I had the same problem and this solved it for me .

Thats fine until it rains or an enterprising young person comes along with a hanger and opens the car........

Keiweb

All great tips thanks guys

dgt

ba_barabus wrote: »

Thats fine until it rains or an enterprising young person comes along with a hanger and opens the car........

I don't need the window down a fraction to open a locked car with a hanger....

ba_barabus

dgt wrote: »

I don't need the window down a fraction to open a locked car with a hanger....

Nor did I last night........The OH locked her keys in :mad:

dgt

Lets jump to the basics and see if there are any specific things to look for.... What car is it?

dredg

Keiweb wrote: »

Any one got any advice on this...basically got in the car today and after what seem ages with heater on to clear windows a while later this evening all windows still have a lot of moisture on them..had to use a towel to dry inside of windscreen..any tips? Thanks in advance

Make sure there's no water getting in - check carpets etc. It could be just damp from getting in/out of the car in the rain that's condensed on the windows. No harm getting some dehumidifying crystals from woodies or heatons and leaving them in the car for a few days.

Check your pollen filters too.

ardle1

Silica gel packs, you know the ones that come with new stuff... Anyway throw a few around the car!

ba_barabus

ardle1 wrote: »

Silica gel packs, you know the ones that come with new stuff... Anyway throw a few around the car!

You can buy man sized ones in hardware shops

imurdaddy

[quoteedg;88420094"]Make sure there's no water getting in - check carpets etc. It could be just damp from getting in/out of the car in the rain that's condensed on the windows. No harm getting some dehumidifying crystals from woodies or heatons and leaving them in the car for a few days.

Check your pollen filters too.[/quote]

I got dehumidifying crystals in halfords last week €6 and you buy refils for less, I have it in a camper that the windscreen fogs up something else and so far its working great!
The pollen filter also is worth checking as they get damp

Keiweb

Car is a 03 golf and I've put a few of those silicon packs along the dash a week ago

NuckingFacker

Change the pollen filter - the difference will amaze you. There's good "how to" videos on Youtube and it's an easy, quick job. You'll find the old one will be sopping wet and clogged.

Nino Brown

Keiweb wrote: »

Car is a 03 golf and I've put a few of those silicon packs along the dash a week ago

The small packs won't cut it, try one of these

http://www.woodiesdiy.com/Product/UniBond-Large-Humidity-Absorber-Device/21934/3.5.12#.UtG0VvTLq_g

biko

Try to clean the inside of the windscreen best you can, it will remove dirt that the water clings to. Thread here on what to use.

Keiweb

Thanks again guys

NuckingFacker

condensation is the symptom - filter is the cause, if you don't have a leak. Treat the cause.

Carson10

Keiweb wrote: »

Car is a 03 golf and I've put a few of those silicon packs along the dash a week ago

I have an 03 Golf also 3dr, and this week the windows have been really bad. They got worse when i turned on the fan.

If the car is parked in a really cold damp, high up or shaded spot.

NIMAN

The pound shops used to sell damp traps for cupboards at home.

Buy a few of them and leave couple in the car, see if it helps.

Spaniard14

You can try another thing. It used to work for me, I had an old Seat Panda many years ago.
Grab a potato and cut it in 2 halves. Scrub the potato on the windshield (inside of course). Next step is to remove all the potato juice with a cloth and enjoy. It makes a big difference. Specially during the snowy time.

djimi

NuckingFacker wrote: »

Change the pollen filter - the difference will amaze you. There's good "how to" videos on Youtube and it's an easy, quick job. You'll find the old one will be sopping wet and clogged.

I wouldnt quite go that far! Changing the pollen filter in my Accord involved taking apart the passenger side dashboard. Theyre not always easy to get at.

NIMAN

Spaniard14 wrote: »

You can try another thing. It used to work for me, I had an old Seat Panda many years ago.
Grab a potato and cut it in 2 halves. Scrub the potato on the windshield (inside of course). Next step is to remove all the potato juice with a cloth and enjoy. It makes a big difference. Specially during the snowy time.

Never heard this one before, something to do with the starch I assume?

Is it any good for chips on the windscreen?:D

I'll get me coat .....

Spaniard14

NIMAN wrote: »

Never heard this one before, something to do with the starch I assume?

Is it any good for chips on the windscreen?:D

I'll get me coat .....

Yes, I think it has to do with it. It's a cheap way to prevent the condensation. But don't expect a miracle

NuckingFacker

djimi wrote: »

I wouldnt quite go that far! Changing the pollen filter in my Accord involved taking apart the passenger side dashboard. Theyre not always easy to get at.

You were doing it wrong! Same as for a lot of heater matrixes etc- a lot of lads launch into taking out the dash and making a big song and dance..there's usualy an easy way if you take a longer look at it,.

bman1

Suppose if you haven't already done it check the spare wheel well, on very rare occasions the rear lights might be letting water in, it'd build up over time and you'd never notice. It was the problem on my 01 golf years ago so it can happen. Also if it's a sunroof model the drains might be blocked. If the door panels on the inside were ever off they might not be sealed properly along the bottom edge anymore, I found google pointed out the door panels as a common enough problem on vw/seat cars from around that age.

Nino Brown

NuckingFacker wrote: »

You were doing it wrong! Same as for a lot of heater matrixes etc- a lot of lads launch into taking out the dash and making a big song and dance..there's usualy an easy way if you take a longer look at it,.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMRvqYsI2k4, not my idea of an easy job. Thats a terrible design

djimi

NuckingFacker wrote: »

You were doing it wrong! Same as for a lot of heater matrixes etc- a lot of lads launch into taking out the dash and making a big song and dance..there's usualy an easy way if you take a longer look at it,.

Well any guide that I read has said that you have to go at it through the dash. If you have an easier way to do it then throw it up on YouTube because Im sure a lot of lads would thank you...

NuckingFacker

djimi wrote: »

Well any guide that I read has said that you have to go at it through the dash. If you have an easier way to do it then throw it up on YouTube because Im sure a lot of lads would thank you...

I'll have a goo at one IRL. - I've a mate with an accord, I'll ask him tmrrw - he's Russian and they have different ideas from most of us about how and whats do-able. If it is the absolute case that the dash has to come out, jasus.. I just can't see it.

NuckingFacker

Yeah, it's easy enough - the glovebox can stay put, two screws on the side and trim panel is easily removed, drop the metal cross brace, 5 screws and there you go - black cover off, lower filter out, upper drops, replace and reverse. Not hard, just a small bit fiddly. Taking off a lower trim panel is not taking off the dash and the glovebox just makes it easier to see whats what and can stay if you like. Even of the glovebox had to come off first time so you could see, that's just a few screws. Not rocket-science and all you need is a screwdriver.

Beats driving round half blind from condensation.

djimi

NuckingFacker wrote: »

I'll have a goo at one IRL. - I've a mate with an accord, I'll ask him tmrrw - he's Russian and they have different ideas from most of us about how and whats do-able. If it is the absolute case that the dash has to come out, jasus.. I just can't see it.

Its not the full dash, but the filter is fitted in behind the glove box, so it means dismantling that part of the dash board, then removing some metal plating and disconnecting some wires to get at the pollen filter. Its been a while since I have done it, but from what I can rememeber there was no other conceivable way to get at it (the filter was fitted so that it can only go in one way iirc).

Its a 99 Accord btw.