MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: Mk5Dom on November 24, 2014, 09:32:36 am

Title: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: Mk5Dom on November 24, 2014, 09:32:36 am
Got in the Golf this morning at approx -1 degrees and the windscreen inside was dripping with water, lots of condensation. I've had her for 3 years now and this is the first time I've had the problem to this extent.

As far as I'm aware there are no leaks and the spare wheel well has no standing water.

Does anyone have any tips or pointers?
It's a MY07 Match TDI BXE with 99k on the clocks.

Dom
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: Mrstridey on November 24, 2014, 10:08:57 am
Know it's not the actual answer to your question, but my mk4 leaked like a sieve so I bought some silica gel off of amazon and that helped!
Also just before you stop driving the night before, open all the windows and dump out all the hot air inside the car!
 :smiley:
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: marko on November 24, 2014, 10:57:07 am
Having this happen a lot lately in my car too..
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: Dave7692 on November 24, 2014, 10:59:25 am
I was defrosting mine this morning (dropped to -4 where I was) and then realised the windscreen was frozen on the inside too!  It hadn't been driven at all on Sunday so there wasn't any residual hot air left in the car, I'm wondering if I've sprung a leak somewhere.
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: cooljimy84 on November 24, 2014, 11:14:56 am
same here, down to 2 by me. Also noticed my heated wing mirrors don't work !! EUGH !
Must admit i didn't dump the hot air out last night.

Sun roof drain holes ?!?
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: adminkatana on November 24, 2014, 11:16:52 am
Someone on here recommended a car dehumidifier. I got a ThoMar Car Dehumidifier off Amazon for ~£10 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000XUPEJY)

Took a few weeks to fully take effect but now, no more wet windscreen on the inside :-)
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: richtung on November 24, 2014, 03:09:17 pm
Someone on here recommended a car dehumidifier. I got a ThoMar Car Dehumidifier off Amazon for ~£10 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000XUPEJY)

Took a few weeks to fully take effect but now, no more wet windscreen on the inside :-)

Just ordered one to try out - starting getting the tell tale mould on the rear window felt  :sick:

Rich
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: Stevepd on November 24, 2014, 04:48:42 pm
Also have a look at Lakeland kitchen stuff, they also sell the little tubs with the crystals, £10 I think.
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: garrardrj on November 24, 2014, 04:49:01 pm
Silica absorbs damp , you get them in alot of packaging , tons available on ebay , just spread them around the car . This is what has been suggested on here before , do the y work ? Suggest they are the same/similar as the thing from amazon .

I have never had a car that didn't get damp inside in the winter .
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: H18Golf on November 24, 2014, 07:21:28 pm
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000XUPEJY

Anyone actually bought one of these things in the link above?  Are they any good?  Where did you sit it in your car overnight?  If not can anyone provide a link to something they have bought that actually works?

My car isnt to the point of having the inside of the windows soaking, but they are steamed up in the morning if the the temperature has dropped a bit overnight.  Any help would be great, cheers.   :happy2:
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: homesqueeze on November 24, 2014, 07:26:25 pm
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000XUPEJY

Anyone actually bought one of these things in the link above?  Are they any good?  Where did you sit it in your car overnight?  If not can anyone provide a link to something they have bought that actually works?

My car isnt to the point of having the inside of the windows soaking, but they are steamed up in the morning if the the temperature has dropped a bit overnight.  Any help would be great, cheers.   :happy2:

Yep, I have. I think it was me who recommended it. Yeah it does work after its been in there a while. It won't completely eliminate the moisture, but it certainly helps.
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: H18Golf on November 24, 2014, 07:40:51 pm
Thanks homesqueeze.  Did you just sit it on the dashboard overnight?
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: W6llace on November 24, 2014, 08:08:03 pm
Yeah I'm having the same problem, no leaks just takes forever to clear the screen
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: homesqueeze on November 24, 2014, 08:58:21 pm
Thanks homesqueeze.  Did you just sit it on the dashboard overnight?

Yeah i just leave it on the dash and stick it in the back foot well when driving around.
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: Horatio on November 24, 2014, 09:22:15 pm
Moisture traps.....lots of them. Wipe the kick plates, any sitting water here or around the doors will condensate on your glass.
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: dom069 on November 25, 2014, 11:04:15 am
My car is also full of condensation at the moment as well, although mine was caused by leaving the window open an inch overnight on Saturday :stupid:
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: mrxbox360 on November 25, 2014, 11:32:21 am
My car is also full of condensation at the moment as well, although mine was caused by leaving the window open an inch overnight on Saturday :stupid:

I had the same this morning due to my wife leaving the drivers window fully open all last night  :stupid: but it wasn't her fault even thought she used the car all yesterday :mad:
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: J400uk on November 25, 2014, 11:47:27 am
Condensation in my Mk6 is terrible, this morning I had water dripping down from the top of the windscreen into the interior and yesterday there was a thin layer of frost inside. Absolute joke for a 3-year old car.

I've got the Thomar bag linked to on Amazon, it helps for a while but I'm currently having to 'regenerate' it as its absorbed the max moisture it can take.
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: Matthewsimone on November 25, 2014, 02:21:13 pm
Im affraid if mine was doing this it would be getting sold! Cant be dealing with damp motors not in 2014, 1980 maybe  :grin:

Ive always been mad on my fords and people say they poor quality etc but sounds like some of these modern Vw's are are bloody terrible with faults and leaks etc  :sick:
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: adminkatana on November 25, 2014, 06:38:52 pm
For what it's worth I bought/ saved up loads of the silica packets. Some of the packets were huge (came with an iMac) but nothing really helped. The Amazon ThoMar thing is the only thing that has made a difference. Will need to regenerate it on the radiator soon though!

I think Ford pinched the 'heating element in windscreen' thing when they owned Land Rover. Drove a Range Rover Sport for a while and the screen cleared almost instantly in any weather (when you got close to the screen you could see all the little element wires)  :smiley:
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: Scottymon on November 25, 2014, 06:42:20 pm
Used to own a Mk1 Focus that had a heated windscreen, amazing in the winter with snow/ice.  Have it in my Landy, love it.

I don't really suffer from condensation in the Golf tbh, as long as the interior glass is clean.
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: Matthewsimone on November 25, 2014, 06:52:29 pm
For what it's worth I bought/ saved up loads of the silica packets. Some of the packets were huge (came with an iMac) but nothing really helped. The Amazon ThoMar thing is the only thing that has made a difference. Will need to regenerate it on the radiator soon though!

I think Ford pinched the 'heating element in windscreen' thing when they owned Land Rover. Drove a Range Rover Sport for a while and the screen cleared almost instantly in any weather (when you got close to the screen you could see all the little element wires)  :smiley:

Yes had that on my fiesta St and really was the bee's knees  :smiley:
Such a simple idea but ford have the patent on it so doubt we ever see it on anything German!
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: Scottymon on November 25, 2014, 07:04:01 pm
For what it's worth I bought/ saved up loads of the silica packets. Some of the packets were huge (came with an iMac) but nothing really helped. The Amazon ThoMar thing is the only thing that has made a difference. Will need to regenerate it on the radiator soon though!

I think Ford pinched the 'heating element in windscreen' thing when they owned Land Rover. Drove a Range Rover Sport for a while and the screen cleared almost instantly in any weather (when you got close to the screen you could see all the little element wires)  :smiley:

Yes had that on my fiesta St and really was the bee's knees  :smiley:
Such a simple idea but ford have the patent on it so doubt we ever see it on anything German!

Hasn't the patent ran out?  Isn't it 10 years before it's a free for all?  My Focus Mk1 was a 2000 X Plate
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.voodish.co.uk%2Fmisc%2Ffocus2002.jpg&hash=97c893a428e04273e779cbd01a12331ed9208f8e)
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: doylebros on November 25, 2014, 07:11:09 pm
Says here now available on MKVII

http://uk-mkivs.net/topic/99795-heated-windscreen-later-this-year/
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: dansmith180 on November 25, 2014, 07:18:34 pm
They have heated windscreens on the Rolls Royce Phantom
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: skard on November 25, 2014, 07:51:02 pm
You can spec them on the mk7.

I bought those big pads a couple of winters ago, they are ok if strategically placed and dried out now and again.

As daft as it sounds, I put a scoop of unused clumping type cat litter in a tub a few years back as a test, and it helped. It was basically the same as those dehumidifier boxes for rooms with wet windows.
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: H18Golf on November 25, 2014, 08:47:54 pm
Bought a pollen filter to fit to see if it helps before I go and buy the amazon thingy.   :happy2:
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: GTI5 on November 26, 2014, 10:11:49 am
Both my Golfs have had condensation build up on the inside from a frosty night, although not dripping.

IME Silica bags are useless.

Changing the pollen filter made no difference either.
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: Mk5Dom on November 26, 2014, 10:24:29 am
Bit of an update on mine...

It originally happened Monday AM on the commute so I tried a few things on Monday night ready for Tuesday AM as I knew there'd be another frost. Albeit not quite as severe.

I took the drivers side mat out and put it in the utility room. It wasn't soaking but it was slightly damp from the rain on Sunday.

I then covered the windscreen with one of these frost covers I grabbed off eBay last week.

Finally, I opened all the doors to do away with the heat from the drive home. I left them open for about 5/10 minutes while I was tinkering with our older Derv.

Those 3 seemed to improve things significantly. I had no water on the inside and very little misting. Rather content but time will tell.

Dom


Sent from my blower using Tapatalk.
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: lukemk5gti on November 26, 2014, 11:08:39 am
Here's what I've done to mine to stop it:

Sunroof drain tube unblocked which was causing ingress.
Cleared bonnet drainage channels with pressure washer to stop sitting water.
Bought a 100 packs of silica gel from eBay and dotted them throughout the car.
Put a small amount of washing up liquid on a microfibre towel and spread onto window (internal) and then buff off. This leaves a hydrophobic coating so water doesn't stick as easily.
Leave a hairdryer in the car, not in direct contact with anything that will melt and let it dry the car out throughout for a few hours.
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: Matthewsimone on November 26, 2014, 11:20:53 am
As said already its nearly 2015 shouldn't be putting up with this issue in modern motor!
Ive had £300 bangers that dont suffer any of these damp issues

Myself and my wife both have mk5 57 plate Golf's mine Gti hers Gt tdi and never suffer any of these issues

Mine had mildly misty windows few weeks ago but since then i have fitted a new carbon cabin filter and cleared out drain holes under bonnet in wiper mechanism area and is now spot on

All cars suffer slightly in the cold damp weather but for it to be dripping inside and frost inside etc you deffinately have an underlying issue somewhere with water/moisture getting in

 :happy2:
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: Tortaruga on November 26, 2014, 06:12:36 pm
Has anyone tried incontinence pants? :confused:
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: Golf_GT_TDI on November 26, 2014, 06:49:04 pm
I bought 10x 50g silica gel packs on eBay, I keep one in boot by spare wheel and two in cabin, not had a problem since  :happy2:
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: Gene Hunt on November 27, 2014, 01:47:28 pm
They all do it. Changing the polled filter does help as does keeping the inside of the screen vey clean but you still get condensation. I have one of those Kent Cars micro fibre pads,£1.00 from B & Q. When it got condensation on the screen wipe it over & job done.
My mate works for VW & it's common on lots of models,dosen't mean you have a leak just more to do with the rake on the screen & the way it holds warm air which then turns to condensation over night/cold days. Just get one of the pads like i did.
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: Scottymon on November 27, 2014, 02:03:26 pm
They all do it. Changing the polled filter does help as does keeping the inside of the screen vey clean but you still get condensation. I have one of those Kent Cars micro fibre pads,£1.00 from B & Q. When it got condensation on the screen wipe it over & job done.
My mate works for VW & it's common on lots of models,dosen't mean you have a leak just more to do with the rake on the screen & the way it holds warm air which then turns to condensation over night/cold days. Just get one of the pads like i did.

Me too, they work great.
Title: Re: The Golf Condensation Syndrome.
Post by: chris1440 on November 28, 2014, 04:52:25 am
Where is the sunroof drain tube located? I may check mine isnt blocked...
Also where are the bonnet drainage channels so I can check them as well!

Here's what I've done to mine to stop it:

Sunroof drain tube unblocked which was causing ingress.
Cleared bonnet drainage channels with pressure washer to stop sitting water.
Bought a 100 packs of silica gel from eBay and dotted them throughout the car.
Put a small amount of washing up liquid on a microfibre towel and spread onto window (internal) and then buff off. This leaves a hydrophobic coating so water doesn't stick as easily.
Leave a hairdryer in the car, not in direct contact with anything that will melt and let it dry the car out throughout for a few hours.