Steamed up windows, normal?

Mark A · 12 Nov 2008 at 21:26

Hi,

Just a quick question. Every time i go out to my car the inside windows are covered in condensation, to the point where a mf cloth is soaking wet and then just smears water all over the windows. Every other car on the street right now has clear windows except mine. My car doesn't have AC though so could this be the cause?

At the moment I'm having to sit there for a few mins before the heater gets warm so i can see while driving lol.

I did think the pollen filter could need replacing but wouldn't there be the tell tale signs of water in the foot well if it was that?

Any suggestions?, or is this normal for a car without AC?

Cheers.

Princey · 12 Nov 2008 at 21:28

What car is it? Is there any damp in the footwells?

Hxc · 12 Nov 2008 at 21:29

Focus? IIRC this is normally the pollen filter clogged and letting water in.

thepharcyde · 12 Nov 2008 at 21:31

Do you lock it? Maybe it's being used by the local hookers?

Mark A · 12 Nov 2008 at 21:31

Yeah its a Focus MK1. Theres no damp in the foot wells at all which is why I'm not sure if its due to the pollen filter or not.

Mark A · 12 Nov 2008 at 21:32

thepharcyde said:
Do you lock it? Maybe it's being used by the local hookers?

Knew it wouldnt take long for that. Yep it was locked so hookers/homeless peeps can be ruled out.

ShakenNstirred · 13 Nov 2008 at 08:14

also make sure you dont have heater set to recirculate air

timbob · 13 Nov 2008 at 10:01

Could be a leaky seal somewhere. I had a stonechipped windscreen replaced on my car, and ever since, it's been misting up constantly - so the garage obviously didn't seal something properly.

Zip · 13 Nov 2008 at 10:04

If its not steamed up you arnt doing it hard enough

whitecrook · 13 Nov 2008 at 10:42

didn't the earlier focusc have bog problems with the front windscreen seal ? I've seen a few with leaky windscreen

Deleted User 234324 · 13 Nov 2008 at 11:04

Been having exactly the same problem with my focus mk2 this past week, the rear window is covered in condensation and steam, only way to clear it is to open the back and wipe it down with a cloth.

Cant be the filters as the car had a major service barely 5 months ago.

timbob · 13 Nov 2008 at 11:06

MadMossy said:
Been having exactly the same problem with my focus mk2 this past week, the rear window is covered in condensation and steam, only way to clear it is to open the back and wipe it down with a cloth.

Cant be the filters as the car had a major service barely 5 months ago.

Leaky, or dried out and cracked boot seal. You see lots of cars with steamed up rear windows.

laissez-faire · 13 Nov 2008 at 18:55

The only way to sort this out is to leave a dehumidifier in there overnight every night for a week. There's obviously just a hell of a lot of moisture in your seats hence why it keeps steaming up.

mrk · 13 Nov 2008 at 18:56

So who's been farting wet farts in their car then?

Was it Mark A?

Yes it was!

whitecrook · 13 Nov 2008 at 19:57

you can get bags of silica from camping shops, that are supposed to absorb moisture from the air. Might be worth checking out.

The worst is when the condensation actually freezes on the cold nights, and you wake up to a car with ice on the outside AND the inside of the glass. Been there done that. it's not fun.

Gaygle · 13 Nov 2008 at 20:01

Yeh my car has been doing this recently too, although only on the boot glass. Tis very annoying!

Muffin` · 13 Nov 2008 at 20:02

laissez-faire said:
The only way to sort this out is to leave a dehumidifier in there overnight every night for a week. There's obviously just a hell of a lot of moisture in your seats hence why it keeps steaming up.

What can you suggest thats cheap?

MrMoonX · 13 Nov 2008 at 20:08

Gaygle said:
Yeh my car has been doing this recently too, although only on the boot glass. Tis very annoying!

my ST has, it helps if I open the window for the last 2 mins of my journey, only does it when its cold outside, its weird

Gaygle · 13 Nov 2008 at 20:11

MrMoonX said:
my ST has, it helps if I open the window for the last 2 mins of my journey, only does it when its cold outside, its weird

yeah same. I'll try the window thing though, thanks for the tip

Mark A · 13 Nov 2008 at 20:25

whitecrook said:
you can get bags of silica from camping shops, that are supposed to absorb moisture from the air. Might be worth checking out.

The worst is when the condensation actually freezes on the cold nights, and you wake up to a car with ice on the outside AND the inside of the glass. Been there done that. it's not fun.

LOL, yep had that last winter :eek:

. I was almost late for a dental appointment as i didn't factor in time for scraping the inside of the glass

. Ended up with beads of water all over my dash.

How much would a new pollen filter set me back from ford? The only ford one i can find online comes with the cover which i already have and its £30 odd quid. Seems a bit dear for a filter?

I'll check out the silica gel idea as well.