Damp car interior (thanks to my mechanic!)

Domo · 9 Jan 2011 at 23:02

Booked my car in for its MOT last week but couldn't collect for a few days.
My mechanic left the drivers window open just an inch and subsequently the interior of my car is cold and damp (the amount of moisture is hard to believe given the slight gap in the window + it was just two nights!).

I feel quite annoyed, and will complain but can anything actually be done to speed up the drying process?

MikeHiow · 9 Jan 2011 at 23:04

Leave it running on recirc with aircon and heater on. Either that or a Dehumidifier.

georges · 9 Jan 2011 at 23:11

Stuff newspapers onto the carpets.

Rice in socks - may be a bit too far gone for this? However, when it's dried out a bit it's an option to get the remaining moisture out.

Borrow a wet vac if you know someone who has one to remove some of the moisture from seats etc.

Kenai · 9 Jan 2011 at 23:14

MikeHiow said:
Leave it running on recirc with aircon and heater on. Either that or a Dehumidifier.

I thought recirc was meant to be slower for removing moisture from the car?

Stuff · 9 Jan 2011 at 23:15

I hope you at least get the MOT for free

Domo · 9 Jan 2011 at 23:21

Camelpaw said:
I hope you at least get the MOT for free

I'll have to wait and see - collected the car over the weekend when he wasn't there, don't think he knows (yet!).

I did find a thread on another forum that leaving the aircon on helps (non recirc) but this can take ages.

My work commute is approx. 45 mins each way so I guess that will help.

MikeHiow · 9 Jan 2011 at 23:22

Kenai said:
I thought recirc was meant to be slower for removing moisture from the car?

If someone has some better information, I'm happy to be corrected but aircon dehumidifies by its very nature so if you're continually cycling the same air then you are going to be removing more moisture from that air.

mattyprice4004 · 9 Jan 2011 at 23:51

Kenai said:
I thought recirc was meant to be slower for removing moisture from the car?

It is in every circumstance apart from with AC on.

With the AC on without recirc, the air con is removing moisture from the outside air, once.

With it on with recirc, the air con is removing moisture from the air circulating in the car, again and again.

Lashout_UK · 10 Jan 2011 at 00:09

Set fire to it.

Overlag · 10 Jan 2011 at 00:13

Lashout_UK said:
Set fire to it.

might be so wet that it wont burn. much like our bonfire tonight

allllec · 10 Jan 2011 at 00:14

Domo said:
I'll have to wait and see - collected the car over the weekend when he wasn't there, don't think he knows (yet!).

I did find a thread on another forum that leaving the aircon on helps (non recirc) but this can take ages.

My work commute is approx. 45 mins each way so I guess that will help.

Leave aircon on (on recirc so you de-humidifying the air from the cabin, not outside).

With a 45 minute commute it really won't take that long. 2 commutes and things will be drastically improved. Don't stress about it!

Domo · 10 Jan 2011 at 00:23

allllec said:
Leave aircon on (on recirc so you de-humidifying the air from the cabin, not outside).

With a 45 minute commute it really won't take that long. 2 commutes and things will be drastically improved. Don't stress about it!

Thanks!

Not too stressed - more annoyed with the mechanic. The car's an Audi A4. Even my clothes felt damp after driving it home

.

allllec · 10 Jan 2011 at 00:26

Is a bit annoying. Although you have to question why was it open?

There's not chance you left it open when you dropped the car off is there?

I know that feeling, had many a car that has got damp! Its horrible. At least you've got aircon!

Note, if the outside temperature is really low (5c or lower), the aircon won't be kicking in so I assume it won't dehumidify.If this is the case then just set the blowers to feet + max speed and crack the windows open. (To be hones that's how I've always done it anyway) The advantage of this is you get quite a nice "atmosphere" in the cabin, rather than the damp feeling you describe!

Domo · 10 Jan 2011 at 00:33

Good point - I don't suppose there's anything on the MOT for windows?? Showing my car knowledge now lol!
Def closed when I dropped it off. No need for me to have the window open in this weather.
Most annoying thing is the amount of moisture which builds up on the inside of the windows.

Hxc · 10 Jan 2011 at 08:01

Need to do this to the mini. The amount of water on the windows on the inside is driving me nuts.

apatia77 · 10 Jan 2011 at 08:46

Use some towels when sitting on the seat, it will suck the moisture. It should help when using the car.

EDIT: Window's do not need to work when doing MOT, once the drivers side window in my car didn't work and car passed MOT.

Sp00n · 10 Jan 2011 at 09:43

Get some towels in there, maybe sit with a hair drier/heater of some description and get hold of some moisture crystals to leave in the car.

Dave M · 10 Jan 2011 at 10:22

If you have a drive / garage at home just put a dehumidifier and a small fan heater on low in there, leave for a few hours and see how it goes.

acemastr · 10 Jan 2011 at 10:39

put baking powder in a box in the footwell? just don't let it fall over

CaptainRAVE · 10 Jan 2011 at 11:00

mattyprice4004 said:
It is in every circumstance apart from with AC on.

With the AC on without recirc, the air con is removing moisture from the outside air, once.

With it on with recirc, the air con is removing moisture from the air circulating in the car, again and again.

A dumb question - but would you set the temperature to cold or hot with a/c on? Never thought about this before.