Inside windsheild condensation

[Shawninvan]

I am trying to figure out why i am the only car in the parking lot or on the street when i go out at night that gets condensation on the windsheild inside. all other cars are clear as can be and zero condensation. mine is pretty wet. i did have a leak in the back which i fixed and cleaned all the carpets and dried them with a blow dryer for days.. i parked my 2008 x in the garage for several weeks.. carpet seems pretty dry.. what else could it be?? doors are sealed, windows closed, sunroof fine no leaks... what can i do to stop this crazy condensation or do i need to wait for summer??

[argento]

One suggestion, check to make sure windshield seal isn't compromised. Hairblower on the outside and paper towel on the inside. Happened to me once. You may have to remove some trim to get to pure window seal.

[Shawninvan]

how exactly do you test with hairdryer and paper towel??

[argento]

Originally Posted by Shawninvan

how exactly do you test with hairdryer and paper towel??

Sorry if cryptic...place the paper towel on the inside of the windshield near the seal...blow air in the same area on the outside. If the paper towel moves the air is getting through the seal. Go around the perimeter of the windshield.

Also check the weep hole isn't clogged.

[mageeda]

is there was a gap there would it not leak through the window??
do all doors and trunk need to be sealed with rubber foam gaskets to stop condensation? would a loose gasket on trunk hatch cause this? my rubber gasket has some spots where the plastic clips are missing and the gasket is loose...
does all water have to be 100% dry before condensation will stop??

[Colodano]

When you drive do you have the air mode set in recirculate, or fresh air mode? If you aren't allowing the air to be exchanged, it will keep the moisture from your breath etc in the vehicle, which will do that.

The other thing that I would suggest, go to Canadian Tire, and in the R.V. area they sell moisture absorbent containers, just get a couple and put them under your seats for a bit, make sure that any residual moisture is wicked out.

[mageeda]

ok..
1. when i drive i dont have re circulate mode on.
2. usually me and a few kids in car.
3. i have recently parked in garage for last few weeks to dry car out from water leak in back seat due to bad door seal which i think i fixed.
4. car is very dry now.
5. when i go out at night for like 2 hours and park on street - i come back to car and the inside of my window is filled with condensation but i look on the street and all other car windows are clear.. im like the only car with condensation.
6. i takes like 10 mins to clear window enough to drive.
7. are there any seals, or things that cause this?
8. people say leaking heater thing???? all functions in my car work fine.
9. air conditioning does not work

what else>>>>??

[mageeda]

any idea here?
i see canadian tire has small moisture bags.. i may get those and put in back floor

[Molez93]

Happens to mine pretty regularly too, though it’s only a big deal once or twice a month. I don’t recall experiencing it in any of the prior 4 E70s I’ve owned.

[argento]

Have you checked both microfilters to make sure they aren't saturated?

[Thecastle]

if you have a sweet smell inside the car, your heater core is leaking. In general this is the most common cause of windshield's fogging over even if your driving.

[Molez93]

Haven't checked or replaced my cabin filters since I bought it a year & 8k miles ago. They'd been replaced recently at that time, but worth a look regardless.

[argento]

Originally Posted by Thecastle

if you have a sweet smell inside the car, your heater core is leaking. In general this is the most common cause of windshield's fogging over even if your driving.

This post reminded me that I had this exact issue in my 92 VW Corrado. Plastic heater core cracked. Look for any moisture nearby.

[mageeda]

If my heater works fine and warms my car up and defogs my window pretty good, does that mean the heater core is ok?
never checked the micro cabin filters.. where are they
no liquid in front carpet on water on back carpet now pretty dry.
can old cabin filters under the hood cause major condensation on windsheild??

[argento]

Originally Posted by mageeda

If my heater works fine and warms my car up and defogs my window pretty good, does that mean the heater core is ok?
never checked the micro cabin filters.. where are they
no liquid in front carpet on water on back carpet now pretty dry.
can old cabin filters under the hood cause major condensation on windsheild??

One is under the passenger side dash. The other is in the engine bay, back, left corner. Start with the easy one, in the engine bay, if all dry in there, the cabin one is probably ok too. I suspect it's fine, but good to check. I just replaced mine, see below.

[mageeda]

so why do they say old or blocked filters could cause excess moisture in car? i know i had a leak through back door that i have now dried up to the best of my ability.. but the condensation on my window inside car when im out at night is majorly excessive. i look at other cars and no condensation.. i did see in my trunk hatchback part that the big rubber seal has come loose and has some broken clips.. would cold air gettign in the car cause the condensation??

[mageeda]

does the car need to be sealed thoughroughly or have ventalation to stop the condensation?? im confussed.. some same check seals.. some say leave window open.. some say check filters .. etc//
what is it?? seal or vent??

[mageeda]

Once again.. out last night for only 2 hours.. get back to car and only one with wet windows..
1 i had now put 3 moisture sacks in the car
2. checked all door and trunk seals.
3 checked all floors
4 car was warm before i left it

no clue whats causing this.
carpet a minor minor minor bit damp from original leak..

what else can i do or check??

[Colodano]

If you can feel that your carpet is a bit damp, that tells me that there is still quite a bit of moisture in there, as backing and sound deadening will hold much more water than the carpet.

It sounds like you need to find a way to let the vehicle get seriously dried out.

As well, if you have a leaking seal on the rear hatch, get that fixed, or it will allow more moisture in the car every time it gets wet.

[mageeda]

what will hold water? backing and sound deadening? whats that?

[mageeda]

what holds water other then carpet??

[Huz-Z]

If you have several passengers in the car for a while and keep the cabin warm with no recirc on, then you will generate moisture inside the car from the passenger's breath. When you park the car, particularly if its cold or raining outside, that moisture will condense on the windows. Have you tried using the cabin defrost button? Its just to left of the rear window defogger button, and actually has a very similar looking symbol on it. It works very well to quickly clear the windows, particularly if you turn on the AC at the same time.

And, if you can drive with the AC on and use the auto temperature setting, that should tend to keep internally generated moisture under control.