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Author Topic: Car steaming up, had just about enough....  (Read 3327 times)

Offline bimbound

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Car steaming up, had just about enough....
« on: February 26, 2014, 08:24:53 am »
My gti seems to have an infatuation with steaming up the glass and it's driving me nuts.

I know that my air con does not work and this will invariably be contributing to it, but it really is beyond a joke, the windscreen on most mornings is wet, not just steamed up, a few weeks ago it was frosty on the inside!

I've removed everything from the car that wasn't in it when it was built, checked every inch of the interior which is bone dry, lifted the carpets to check the sound deadening which is also bone dry, checked around all the seals after jet washing it and on the inside all were dry and fine, I've cleared the drainage runs and replaced the pollen/cabin filter.

I've tried driving with the heater on and the windows down, the windows up, the heater on cool, opening the windows for the 5 minutes after I stop to let any moisture laden breath out etc etc etc, I've put one of those de-humidifying packs in the front it - made no difference and appeared to soak up nothing, all manner of different methods to try and reduce any moisture in the air in the car and I feel I'm hitting my head against a wall.

I purchased some 'car pro fog fight' and applied as per the instructions, made no difference at all.

I plan to get the air con sorted this year but it needs a new compressor and it's not in my budget until later on as the car needs more important things first, cam belt service, tyres etc.

Does anybody have any suggestions that maybe I've not considered as to how I can at least improve this situation in the interim. I just want to be able to get in my car and drive it, not spend 15 mins clearing it and wiping it down every time...

Offline xjay1337

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Re: Car steaming up, had just about enough....
« Reply #1 on: February 26, 2014, 09:00:05 am »
There must be a bad seal somewhere... don't forget water particles are large, and may not appear to come through. Condensation is water yes, but the mollecules are smaller. Or something technical....


Check the windscreen hasn't been replaced often they are not sealed correctly.
Check the boot as well take the bumper off check the vents...

Offline Softishman

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Re: Car steaming up, had just about enough....
« Reply #2 on: February 26, 2014, 10:35:27 am »
Change the cabin filter... :drinking:

Offline JigBake

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Re: Car steaming up, had just about enough....
« Reply #3 on: February 26, 2014, 10:42:43 am »
Are you loosing water/coolant? Just incase your matrix is leaking ever so slighty. Could be blowing damp air into your cabin.

Offline bimbound

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Re: Car steaming up, had just about enough....
« Reply #4 on: February 26, 2014, 02:01:39 pm »
There must be a bad seal somewhere... don't forget water particles are large, and may not appear to come through. Condensation is water yes, but the mollecules are smaller. Or something technical....

Check the windscreen hasn't been replaced often they are not sealed correctly.
Check the boot as well take the bumper off check the vents...

Possibly, I just don't know how else I can check the seals, they are visibly dry and dry to the touch... Windscreen is the original... As for the boot, i'm not sure of what vents you refer to?

Change the cabin filter... :drinking:

See above, already done....  :P

Are you loosing water/coolant? Just incase your matrix is leaking ever so slighty. Could be blowing damp air into your cabin.

Don't appear to be loosing coolant, It gets checked every week when I do a quick check of oil/fluids etc and has never visibly dropped. Thanks for the suggestion.
« Last Edit: February 26, 2014, 02:04:28 pm by bimbound »

Offline SRC

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Re: Car steaming up, had just about enough....
« Reply #5 on: February 26, 2014, 06:43:03 pm »
The car was designed from the start to run with AC, so you're at a disadvantage.  If you've eliminated as many of the possibilities as you can (check everywhere for damp carpet), then you're left with getting rid of the moisture with silica crystals.  Or rice, if the budget's really tight.
Hint - don't cook it!

Good luck


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Offline OSB

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Re: Car steaming up, had just about enough....
« Reply #6 on: February 26, 2014, 06:55:10 pm »
Is the air intake chamber (under the grill) draining properly?
There are some drain holes somewhere, which can get blocked with leaves and debris. The excess water finds its way through the heater and into the car.
I had this happen on a previous car.
I can't remember where the drain holes are and its dark outside! But I think its pretty obvious when you look. 

Saintsteve

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Re: Car steaming up, had just about enough....
« Reply #7 on: February 26, 2014, 06:58:12 pm »
do you have a sunroof??

Offline Zseth

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Re: Car steaming up, had just about enough....
« Reply #8 on: February 27, 2014, 12:20:18 pm »
mate had this issue on his mark 5 tdi, it turned out to be bad seals around the doors and the vent in the rear wing behind bumper, his boot was soaked and spare tyre well was full of water.

May be worth a check.

hth

Offline Human Joist

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Re: Car steaming up, had just about enough....
« Reply #9 on: February 27, 2014, 07:21:44 pm »
As above. Strip the boot out