There is a lot more condensation IN my car windows.

[Welsh Ash]

I actually have to use a huge batch of paper towels to clean all the water inside of my car windshields.
this is becoming a huge pain for me, cause in the morning, i just wanna get in my car and go to work, but i have to spend about 5 - 10 mins cleaning both front and back windshield. I also notice, there are some small drops on the plastic interior by the handbrake, which i thought was odd.

I have tried shutting all my vents, and that doesn't work. I went for a car wash yesterday, and all my back window was steamed up from it (on the inside).

I really have no idea as to what could be causing this. All the windows are shut securely.

[Chicane-UK]

Apparently these things are a god-send and will take care of this problem.. stick one in the front and one in the back of the car..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2pcs-lot-DRY-AIR-CAR-HOM...

[djdestiny]

Check your carpets under the dash, it could be the heater matrix leaking.
Otherwise, could also be blocked drain holes somewhere.

Moisture builds up inside a car for a reason, and that is basically water getting in somewhere.
Using those pads to soak it up will help, but not solve the cause of the problem

[GTIR]

I had the same issue in my Audi.

Do you do relatively short trips?
A long drive will eventually clear it.

Or your heater matrix is leaking.

[Krikkit]

If there's drops on the handbrake, surely something above is leaking? Sunroof? It shouldn't be that bad, even in the worst cars for steaming up. Try leaving a window open while you're driving - in everything but the wettest weather that'll dry it out.

[djdestiny]

The reason your Audi was doing it would probably be due to blocked drainage holes, its a common problem on the B5 as one of them is under the battery and never gets cleaned out.
It builds up then fills behind the scuttle panel with water, eventually it gets high enough to come over the bulkhead and into the car

[Welsh Ash]

Krikkit said:

If there's drops on the handbrake, surely something above is leaking? Sunroof? It shouldn't be that bad, even in the worst cars for steaming up. Try leaving a window open while you're driving - in everything but the wettest weather that'll dry it out.

I dont have a sun roof, and my roof isnt patchy, or damp.

[silverthorn2151]

I have a Pug 306 Convertible that was really terrible for condensation that looked like the insides had been sprayed with a hose. No amount of wiping used to get the screen clear in a reasonable time.

Get yourself down to your local 'The Range'. They sell these things:

http://www.therange.co.uk/kontrol-streamline-dehum...

Now, I didn't actually get one of these because I found they did a big bag of the crystals without the tray. I put a small ice cream tub of crystals on the dashboard when I park up and hey presto, no water on the dash next morning or when I get back to the car. Soaks up loads of water. When I get in the car simply pop the lid back on and put it in the footwell. Jobs a goodun.

After a couple of days they loose there effectiveness because they are full of water. I bring the tub in and either change the crystals or pop it on the radiator for a while then break up the crustals as they tend to cling togethjerf and it's good to be used again.

I was told to try this by a relative who uses the same method in their caravan. I was amazed at how effective it was. Try it, it's dead cheap in the scheme of things.

[djdestiny]

Welsh Ash said:

I dont have a sun roof, and my roof isnt patchy, or damp.

Have you checked the front footwell carpets?

[C.A.R.]

I had a Pingi in my MX5. Effectively the same as what the chap with the 306 Cabriolet said, but neater and it has a penguin on it so it's instantly much more manly.

[schmalex]

[Snowboy]

It's possible that it's just a simple case of snow.
You get in the car with snowy feet, it melts, it stays in the car.

A few options...
A good long journey with AC.
Leave in garage with windown open.
Use a dehumidifyer.

[silverthorn2151]

C.A.R. said:

I had a Pingi in my MX5. Effectively the same as what the chap with the 306 Cabriolet said, but neater and it has a penguin on it so it's instantly much more manly.

Pah! Neater! I'm talking Morrisons Cornish Ice cream tub! Besides, I'm afraid little girly Pingi wouldn't be man enough for the floods of water in my cabrio.

[V8RX7]

You have water trapped inside.

First you need to dry it out.

If it comes back you have a leak.

My old Leon used to leak through the speakers !

[TVR keith]

Are the drain holes in the doors blocked?
Is there a leak into the boot from the rear lights?
Is the pollen filter wet?
Are the drain holes at the base of the plenum chamber (base of windscreen where the air intake for the heater is) blocked, as this will cause water to enter via the heater?

[OdramaSwimLaden]

I had the same problem in the Mk3 Golf.

It's SORN'd at the moment and when I looked inside it (after 3 months) the other day it was FULL of mould. Steering wheel, seat belts, seat all literally covered in the stuff. Windows soaking wet.....

It had a professional clean yesterday and now has a moisture catcher (30x15cmx15cm and looks like a litter tray with a perforated top) and no condensation on the inside at all this morning.

Got it from Halfords and it seems to work very well and was under a tenner. Worth a punt to start......

ETA......something like this!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kontrol-Streamline-Moistur...

Edited by OdramaSwimLaden on Friday 1st February 18:18

[marshalla]

I've had this a few times over the years. The most common cause has been failing window seals, especially true when the condensation is really bad after washing the car.

http://www.captaintolley.com/ seems to help.

[Baryonyx]

Krikkit said:

Try leaving a window open while you're driving - in everything but the wettest weather that'll dry it out.

This is good advice. My A8 has had some water in it recently, due to getting in with wet coats and snowy shoes. If you're getting misting when you're driving, opening the window is usually a big help. Also, it should help to dry the car interior out if it's getting condensation when it's parked up. In all but the heaviest rain, you can get away with having your window slightly open. When travelling at speed, the air coming off the windscreen seems to form a stream past the window which stops water getting in. When you stop, just wind the window up.

You do need to get to the bottom of where the water is coming from though. It may be water you're bringing in naturally, but it could be a leaky sunroof, blocked drain holes, leaky heater matrix, so on a dry day, get into the car and try and see where it is coming from.