Car windows misting up constantly?

[porcupineprince]

Ok, bit of a boring one for you here.

My MK4 Astra constantly has steamed up windows. I have a 10 mile drive to work each day, and after a few minutes of being in the car the windows start to steam up. It doesn't make a difference if i have the temperature set to max heat or max cold, full fan or minimum fan, they just constantly steam up.

I don't want to have the a/c on all the time if i can help it, as this is the only way of controlling it.

Any ideas?

[raf_gti]

Set the vent so it doesn't circulate the air from outside?

[dougc]

raf_gti said:

Set the vent so it doesn't circulate the air from outside?

Other way around isn't it? Turn off the air recycler to get fresh air in from outside. The interior steams up as the air inside the car gets moist from not being circulated.

[eldar]

Probably the pollen filter is clogged?

[Crusoe]

Check the recirculate button or switch isn't on and check there isn't any damp inside the car.

[knight]

Every Vauxhall I have ever been in has had a tendancy to steam up (which fortunately Isn't that many ), I've always put it down to a crap ventilation system!!

[Morningside]

knight said:

Every Vauxhall I have ever been in has had a tendancy to steam up (which fortunately Isn't that many ), I've always put it down to a crap ventilation system!!

Try a ruddy Scenic then! My wifes 6 month old car is crap for fogging up compared to my 16 year old thing.

[Mandat]

As others have said, the car is suffering from condensation and you need to ventilate properly to cure the problem.

Also try cleaning the inside of all the windows with a proper window cleaning fluid, which I have found reduces the severity of condensation.

[porcupineprince]

There is no damp in the car. The re-circ button isn't on. So that rules two things out.

The pollen filter was mentioned earlier, how likely is changing this going to help? I might go and buy and fit a new one at the weekend if it's likely to help.

Many thanks for the quick response guys, much appreciated.

[V8mate]

Heavy breather?

[groomi]

Dry your shoes before getting in.

Also, you've got air-con, why not use it?

[DrTre]

This is a serious respons; do you have a shower before you get in the car?
Is your hair dry?

[cheshire_cat]

My car used to be fairly bad for this until this summer when, on a sunny day, I opened all the car doors and boot, took out all the mats and left it in the sun to dry out. Not misted up since!

[Wacky Racer]

Try driving with the drivers window down half an inch.....(unless it's raining of course)

Also replace the pollen filter.....quite inexpensive iirc..........

[jayfish]

open your window a crack whilst demisting, if no passengers use the nearside one so you dont freeze your nuts off

[porcupineprince]

DrTre said:

This is a serious respons; do you have a shower before you get in the car?
Is your hair dry?

I dont specifically have a shower for the purpose of driving my car, yes it is my pride and joy, but honestly, that's pushing it too far

I'm always thoroughly dry before going to work, i see what you are getting at, just about

[V8mate]

cheshire_cat said:

My car used to be fairly bad for this until this summer when, on a sunny day, I opened all the car doors and boot, took out all the mats and left it in the sun to dry out. Not misted up since!

You're thinking along the right lines.

The chances are the OP's car has a small leak and water is getting into the cars carpets/upholstery.

Then, each day as he drives,the warmth of the engine behind the firewall, the inside of which is the most likely 'run in' for water through a windscreen seal or blocked bonnet drain, is trying to dry the car out and is causing high moisture levels in the cabin.

[porcupineprince]

V8mate said:

You're thinking along the right lines.

The chances are the OP's car has a small leak and water is getting into the cars carpets/upholstery.

Then, each day as he drives,the warmth of the engine behind the firewall, the inside of which is the most likely 'run in' for water through a windscreen seal or blocked bonnet drain, is trying to dry the car out and is causing high moisture levels in the cabin.

I may just go for a good blast with all the windows down one night then, a good hour should sort it out if this is the case? Any excuse for a hoon!

[DrTre]

porcupineprince said:

I dont specifically have a shower for the purpose of driving my car, yes it is my pride and joy, but honestly, that's pushing it too far

I'm always thoroughly dry before going to work, i see what you are getting at, just about

Pah, I see you're one of these "get up early, has a shower, towel dry yourself, then breakfast, then watches the news" people. Not a "faaaark! I'm late!!! stumble out of bed, dive into the shower, dry yourself by simply putting on clothes, take the cereal to work with you" person...

I envy you.

[V8mate]

porcupineprince said:

V8mate said:

You're thinking along the right lines.

The chances are the OP's car has a small leak and water is getting into the cars carpets/upholstery.

Then, each day as he drives,the warmth of the engine behind the firewall, the inside of which is the most likely 'run in' for water through a windscreen seal or blocked bonnet drain, is trying to dry the car out and is causing high moisture levels in the cabin.

I may just go for a good blast with all the windows down one night then, a good hour should sort it out if this is the case? Any excuse for a hoon!

Erm.... that'll just fill your damp car up with cold winter air. Which is damp.

You need to find out how moisture is getting into your cabin. Feel all round the footwells and up behind the dash (as far as is practical) for any dampness in the carpets. If you find a damp patch, work your way up and see if you can locate where it's coming in. Though water running into cars often takes the most odd routes, e.g. blocked sunroof drains emptying into the back of a footwell.