Boxster condensation problems

[ammw]

With the current weather, I'm finding when I come back to my car after work, it's often gto heavy condensation on the inside of the windscreen. To make matters worse, it is very slow to clear it - much slower than my wife's BMW 130 for example.

Now, this is my first convertible, so I'm not sure if this is normal for Boxsters and soft-tops in general, or is there likely to be something wrong with my car?

If it's just normal, is there anything that can be done to minimise the problem?

[Mutt]

Are the carpets wet? Feel the bottom of the doors and the floor behind the seats. It sounds to me you either have a broken door membrane or clogged drain holes.

[paulwd]

Just had a quote for £1200 because my wifes drain holes were block and behind seat filled with water. She had had condensation problems for the past month or so. You need to check your drain holes ASAP

[ammw]

I haven't noticed the carpets being wet, but I'll check tonight.
Where are these drain holes I need to check?

[paulwd]

Not quite sure car still in garage apparently you need to clear them when the roof is in half open position.

[paulwd]

Not quite sure car still in garage apparently you need to clear them when the roof is in half open position.

[FlybyWyre]

Re-proofing the roof helps sometimes.
I know its triple layer etc. but if water beads off in rain it must be better better than the top fabric staying wet.

[Mutt]

paulwd said:

Just had a quote for £1200 because my wifes drain holes were block and behind seat filled with water. She had had condensation problems for the past month or so. You need to check your drain holes ASAP

£1200?!?!?!

[paulwd]

Yes £1200 didnt mention the consequence of drain hole blocking was rear of passenger seat filling with water, electrics throwing a fit. Kept trying to open the roof whilst locked shut until rods inside mechanism broke, new control units, removing and drying carpets. As I said before check those drain holes ASAP just in case.

Mutt said:

paulwd said:

Just had a quote for £1200 because my wifes drain holes were block and behind seat filled with water. She had had condensation problems for the past month or so. You need to check your drain holes ASAP

£1200?!?!?!

[PHmember]

Drain points here: http://sites.google.com/site/mikefocke2/drainsdiag...

[David W.]

Had the same condensation too, anyone know if you can get to the bottom of the vent tubes with an air-line and blow upwards to clear?

[Hawmaws]

Did you ever resolve this?

I have the same problem. Reading OPC tried to fix it at a service a few weeks ago (and couldn't find anything wrong, but thought that changing the pollen filters would help), but I went out for a mini hoon this evening and had to use kitchen roll to dry off the inside of the windows.

I had ice inside the car during the frosty period - can't be doing it any good....

[Artie Fufkin]

Try leaving a couple of socks stuffed with cat litter in the car.

OK, it's not solving the problem of <why> it's happening but it does help.

[jakesmith]

Using an air line is the best way to clear the holes, I used to use a bit of 13amp power cable poked down the holes but not ideal, others use a garden hose & blast water but if there is a blockage this will soak the car.

Water ingress in Boxsters is caused mainly by rear drainholes being blocked whick will make under the seat wet (lift the carpet & feel under with back of hand, also front drain holes under battery can get blocked & water can get into the front boot & the footwell through any grommets for wiring as happened to me

As another poster pointed out this can be catastrophic as the alarm controll box is usefully installed on the floor under the passenger seat. If it gets wet & you don't need your car every day, some have fixed it by opening it & leaving it to dry for several days on a radiator, believe it or not. If it's toast you're in for a big bill as the keys need recoding etc. You can normally tell if the rears are blocked as you'll hear water slshing when you brake hard!!!

The other cause is the membrane in the door geting perforated - this will present as damp carpet on the bottom of the door & is a cheap & quick fix

[ammw]

Hawmaws said:

Did you ever resolve this?

I have the same problem. Reading OPC tried to fix it at a service a few weeks ago (and couldn't find anything wrong, but thought that changing the pollen filters would help), but I went out for a mini hoon this evening and had to use kitchen roll to dry off the inside of the windows.

I had ice inside the car during the frosty period - can't be doing it any good....

I haven't really followed up any further on this. The condensation in my car hasn't been too bad for the last week ... more problems with the entire car being frozen on the outside with the weather we've had recently! I did check the carpets under the seats, and they weren't wet, so I'm hoping I don't have a big problem.

One of the issues I have is that when I do get bad condensation on the inside of the windscreen, it takes a long time to clear, as the fan doesn't seem to blow hot air onto the windscreen with the force I would expect (comparing this to my wife's BMW 130, which clears in seconds).

[Hawmaws]

[quote=ammwI haven't really followed up any further on this. The condensation in my car hasn't been too bad for the last week ... more problems with the entire car being frozen on the outside with the weather we've had recently! I did check the carpets under the seats, and they weren't wet, so I'm hoping I don't have a big problem.

One of the issues I have is that when I do get bad condensation on the inside of the windscreen, it takes a long time to clear, as the fan doesn't seem to blow hot air onto the windscreen with the force I would expect (comparing this to my wife's BMW 130, which clears in seconds).
[/quote]

I gave up on trying to use the blowers to clear it - it was far too dangerous to assume that the heater was going to work well enough to allow me to see out of the windscreen. Hence the kitchen roll. Extra absorbent...

Must check my underseat carpets tonight.

[BMWChris]

to go back to the OP - I think you have a problem of some description. My Boxster spent a year outside and wasn't moved for at least 3 months. I got in a few weeks ago after it had spent ten days with snow on the top and there was a very slight feeling of dampness and a few drips of condensation on the inide of the hood but no problems with screen misting-up.