Condensation in my mondeo..

[retrogeezer]

Anyone know why I get bad condensation on the Mondeo's windscreen and rear window??

 

There are no wet carpets, no water in the boot and no leaks anywhere as far as I can see - everything is bone dry inside and no leaks from the cooling system either but it always has condensation on these cold mornings but the Bluebird doesn't.

 

Pain in the jacksie..

[ashmicro]

Might be worth checking if the seats are damp, eg, from getting into the car with wet clothing. All else I can suggest is to make sure the inside of the glass is as clean as possible, and maybe lob in a new pollen filter if it's "inside" the car (worked a treat on my Rover 25).

[face]

Have you been using the air-con?

 

I sometimes get this if I have ad mine on the evening before. Not sure why, but if I just use the blowers for the last few miles there is no condensation on the morning.

[Bobthebeard]

Also check under the carpets everywhere! Had condensation problems in my 944 constantly. No wet carpets etc. Finally discovered a rag stowed in a compartment behind a rear wheel well that I didn't know existed until I removed the rear carpet under the hatch. Sodden rags left by previous owner blocking a drainage hole. Removed rags and problem solved.

[retrogeezer]

Well we don't use it much and haven't been in it with wet clothes. I can leave the windows open to let air through it and then next morning it's just the same. Seats are bone dry but I haven't actually taken the carpets up to look underneath them. I would have thought they would at least be damp though?

[Bobthebeard]

Keep looking! Condensation is caused by something being damp/wet somewhere in the car. Could be anywhere really, but its there somewhere. Leaving windows open etc doesn't always help unless its breezy and warm/dry weather.

Had condensation problems on several older cars over the years and always turned out to be either leaks into the car or residual damp under soundproofing or carpets. It's annoying.

Good luck!

[andrew e]

You will think I'm crackers, but try a glass polish (or cream cleaner). Anyhoo, these clogged to buggery will steam you up (regardless of aircon off/on or not fitted) which often gives you condensation.

 

http://www.fordwiki.co.uk/index.php?tit ... ndeo_Mk1/2

[flat4alfa]

There are no wet carpets, no water in the boot and no leaks anywhere as far as I can see - everything is bone dry inside and no leaks from the cooling system either but it always has condensation on these cold mornings but the Bluebird doesn't.

 

Pain in the jacksie..

Did you pull the carpets back?

The Missus' Multipla has bone dry carpets. But wet underlay. It drips from somewhere up on the bulkhead and gets underneath. The aircon gubbins drips its condensated water.

 

Otherwise, could it be the jacksie pain? It might be making you sweat more than usual. Check this.

[Spiny Norman]

Modern cars seem to suffer more from this than older ones I find, possibly due to the more effective sealing in them trapping more warm air in them for longer. One trick is to open the windows a minute or two before you get where you're going so all the warm air leaves the car. before you shut it in for the night.

 

Air naturally contains moisture, especially the air in a car that's had people in it, breathing. That warm moist air hitting the cold glass is what causes the condensation (or in extreme cases, ice) to form, so anything you can do to reduce the heat and moisture content will reduce the chances of condensation forming on the glass.

[alf892]

Try the plenum chamber at bottom of the screen/top of bulkhead..............its where the heater takes its air. If the drains are blocked it stays waterlogged but the usual sympton would be misting up as soon as you switch the fan on. If drains are really blocked though it can also be the cause of water getting in the car.

 

This may be all useless drivel though as you may just be a heavy breather.......

[retrogeezer]

I'll check the pollen filter as I haven't changed that in a while....might remove it and see if that makes a difference.

 

Cheers all..

[Micrashed]

I suffer with this something awful on the C8 but can not find any moisture traps in the car, and the Micra but that has piss wet through front carpets where it drips in from round the bulk head.

[Pete-M]

Aircon is a probable cause as it's a dehumidifier. When you use the car it's lovely and dry inside, but condensation can occur when a warm car is parked up overnight.

 

Also, what do you clean your windows with? When I get my car valeted by the local Iraqi chap he insists on cleaning the windows with a chamois leather. Next day the windows are almost always steamed up and it's obvious where every wipe of the chamois or cloth has been. Clean the windows the proper way with blue roll or paper and this doesn't happen.

[gtd2000]

You're not leaving the air flow setting on "recirculate" are you?

 

Using the AC should be drying the car out - therefore helping any problem that you have inside the vehicle.

 

You've not got something wet in the boot have you?

[R9UKE]

My Avantime does this too. It pissed me off that much this morning that I did the morning commute in "open air mode" at -3 degrees. Good job the heater is so superb

 

Will be watching this for a solution!

[mattblack]

Modern plastic-backed car carpets can be dry on top, but the sound deadening underneath can be sodden.

[HillmanImp]

The Audi Coupe does this. Its not a problem though, as the door glass always freezes to the rubber door seal, so you cant open the door to get in the car and actually drive it anywhere anyway. By the time the doors have thawed you have sacked off actually trying to drive anywhere and ridden your bike to your destination.

[Pete-M]

Subaru has frameless door glass as well. I find a little bit of silicon lubricant spray on the rubbers works a treat.

[HillmanImp]

Subaru has frameless door glass as well. I find a little bit of silicon lubricant spray on the rubbers works a treat.

 

Ta Pete, will give that a go.

[Morgan84]

Dampness from getting in with damp/wet shoes on the floor mats leaves dampness within the vehicle,which adds to the dampness within the car,as well as the cloth upholstery all being capable of holding a little moisture. You can get them little cupboard dehumidifyer granule pots which you can sit in the car to help absorb any excess moisture.Also,modern cars are better insulated,and have less drafts,so are like a greenhouse on wheels

[Morgan84]

Dampness from getting in with damp/wet shoes on the floor mats leaves dampness within the vehicle,which adds to the dampness within the car,as well as the cloth upholstery all being capable of holding a little moisture. You can get them little cupboard dehumidifyer granule pots which you can sit in the car to help absorb any excess moisture.Also,modern cars are better insulated,and have less drafts,so are like a greenhouse on wheels

[Mr Lobster]

I have this problem on my Toledo as well.

 

I did change the front door membrane thingies in summer as they were leaking and thought I had dried it all out, think I might have to pull the carpets up and see what lies beneath...

[Alexg]

As Morgan84 said, buy one or two of those moisture absorbing pots and leave those in the car. Also try some RainX on the inside windows, it can stop the water clinging to the glass and should means less frost to scrape off.

[Timewaster]

As found in my Sierra, X6.

2 for a quid in Poundland

[Quintus]

Both my previous cars (Micra and 323) did this and in both cases it was caused by rainwater leaking into the car.

 

Is the condensation so bad that the inside of the windscreen is absolutely sopping wet? Do you have to resort to masses of kitchen roll just to dry it all out properly before you drive anywhere? If the answer to both these questions is yes, I think your car may have sprung a leak.

[ashmicro]

RainX is gash in my experience. It made a complete mess of the windows on my Jaguar, and I had the devil's job getting it off. It's good for lighting fires, though.

[retrogeezer]

I have one of those damp trap things in there now and it is doing absolutely fook all!

[Split_Pin]

Sounds very much like you need a new pollen filter.

 

Even though its outside the car, my Vectra had a condensation problem a while back and replacing the pollen filter worked a treat.

 

I'd start with that before lifting carpets and such like.

[Split_Pin]

Also check under the carpets everywhere! Had condensation problems in my 944 constantly. No wet carpets etc. Finally discovered a rag stowed in a compartment behind a rear wheel well that I didn't know existed until I removed the rear carpet under the hatch. Sodden rags left by previous owner blocking a drainage hole. Removed rags and problem solved.

 

Actually, there was a puddle deep inside a void under the rear light of my Corsa after I made an arse of refitting a light and I recall an isolated incident of bad consensation on the screen. Now the lights sealed the condensation is minimal.

 

Might be worth removing trim at the back and sticking your hand down under the rear lights.

[KruJoe]

Dampness from getting in with damp/wet shoes on the floor mats leaves dampness within the vehicle...

This is exacerbated in snowy weather by the fact that lumps of snow comes in on your shoes; far more water than if you've been on wet ground.

 

Edit:Also, shiter's Rain-X = a dab of cheapo washing up liquid on a sponge or cloth (no water) wiped over the inside will stop condensation forming. Any surfactant will do it.

Too much and your vision will be blurred. No worse than those annoying Ford heated screen elements though.