Should I be worried - interior windscreen condensation (again!)?

[swooshdave]

Why not try Auto for a while and see what happens?

Auto on, AC on, recirculating on. Then adjust the temperature as needed and let the car figure out the fan speed.

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[Kristian87]

Why not try Auto for a while and see what happens?

Auto on, AC on, recirculating on. Then adjust the temperature as needed and let the car figure out the fan speed.

I'll certainly give it a try between now & when I take it in. Thing is - I'm in a bit of a mad panic to get it to them when I can clearly demonstrate what I feel the issue is. I may figure out how to reduce the effects over the next few weeks/months but if there is an underlying issue - the best time to see the worst of it is now, so I'd much rather the car sit with them and have a thorough going over than with me causing me stress lol

 

[swooshdave]

I'll certainly give it a try between now & when I take it in. Thing is - I'm in a bit of a mad panic to get it to them when I can clearly demonstrate what I feel the issue is. I may figure out how to reduce the effects over the next few weeks/months but if there is an underlying issue - the best time to see the worst of it is now, so I'd much rather the car sit with them and have a thorough going over than with me causing me stress lol

I would think you would have other things to be stressed about. As long as there isn't water inside the car some condensation is perfectly normal. Humidity and temperature changes are the contributing factors.

Using the AC to dehumidify is the easiest fix. We have a similar climate here and I don't even think twice about condensation.

 

[1Mikey]

If you leave the air-con on all year round it will keep you cool and dry in the summer and warm and dry in the winter. Don’t ever switch if off. It doesn’t detract from the warm air you want in the winter, it just dries the air before it gets into the car’s heater. This keeps the windows clear while you’re driving too.
I would recommend you get the inside of your car absolutely dry to prove if you still have a water problem. Touching the carpets with your hand will hardly tell you anything, they will feel different depending on temperature in the car, outside, and in the house you just left. So to be sure put an electric de-humidifier in the car for the weekend. You can get little peltier-effect ones that you’d use in a cupboard or if you have a domestic one you can use put that. When it stops collecting water you’ve done it.
Run with air-con always on after that and if condensation forms on the windscreen again then you might start to worry. Put the de-humidifier in again and measure the water it collects. More than a couple of table-spoons might indicate more water is getting in than you’d like.

 

[1Mikey]

This is all you need:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Compact-De...46088337&sr=8-2&keywords=Dehumidifier+peltier

 

[Kristian87]

This is all you need:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Compact-De...46088337&sr=8-2&keywords=Dehumidifier+peltier

Actually borrowed one of these from my boss at work, never used it tho but still have it should the time come.

I’m all up for doing this investigation stuff, but whilt i’m still in warranty, i’ll get ford to do it (with my careful guidance and nagging of course). If i didn’t have this leak a year ago, i’d be a lot more relaxed about the whole thing. It’s more of a bad feeling than being based on actual evidence right now, but what i’m experiencing stinks of still having an issue somewhere. As much as i hate to say it.

Yet again, not a fun way to start the year :(

 

[vikkic]

Mine's my daily car and I always have ac on auto, but on some cold mornings I still get condensation with steamed up dials and rear view mirror. At first this did make me think that there's damp inside but I now just think it's temperature changes. I noticed last night that my daughter's new Seat was steamed up after a couple of hours while we were in a restaurant, the temperature dropped off quite a bit last night and she doesn't use the ac so I'm sure these are contributing factors.

 

[Fatbob V2]

Have you tried methylated spirit for cleaning the screen, also damp newspaper though that will make your hands black?

A pal mentioned that same thing or was it it turps? I remember him saying don’t use white spirit!
I’ll have a look in the garage.

thanks for the advice.

 

[swooshdave]

A pal mentioned that same thing or was it it turps? I remember him saying don’t use white spirit!
I’ll have a look in the garage.

thanks for the advice.

I wouldn’t use any of those harsh chemicals on a modern windscreen. There could be coatings that might be harmed. Especially something that offgasses.

Just a good solid glass cleaner. Windex or equivalent. I use a foaming aerosol spray.

 

[Kristian87]

Feeling a lot better about this situation now. Been searching the forum a bit and found plenty of accounts for similar issues, as we all know, it is relatively common fault, but has many causes.

Knowing I'm heading for a more competent (I hope) dealership, and armed with new information/examples, I'm confident this time round that if there is still an issue it will be dealt with.

As much as I stress, these problems are fixable. The problem is, as I see it, is that Ford will only ever throw enough time/resource as they see fit - and no more. Customer service and capable staff are another issue. That and the fact that Ford are not specialists in this area makes for a slim chance of getting these things fixed, under warranty at least.

I came across a comment on another thread about some dealership (USA) bringing in a specialist to address water leaks - never thought to look, but there are specialists out there that deal with this sort of thing. Depending on how I get on with Ford & how satisfied I am with whatever solution they come up with, that will be a good fallback for me. I don't mind shelling out a few hundred £ for a specialist & peace of mind that a problem I have is 100% sorted. Can always argue with Ford in the future & look to claw some money back. After all, if it takes a specialist 3 hours to address what Ford couldn't do in x visits & x weeks, then I've done them a huge favor!

That is all

 

[swooshdave]

Are you going to summarize some of the potential causes in case someone else finds this thread?

 

[Kristian87]

Are you going to summarize some of the potential causes in case someone else finds this thread?

Yes I can do. My list currently exists in the form of screenshots on my phone! I'll put together a list/or a collection of links as I intend on taking this with me when I drop the car off - I've met the technician there and I'm sure he'll be interested in some of the info.

 

[Twin Turbo]

Hey Kristian......I really hope you are worrying about nothing but, with the car's previous issue, I don't blame you for being paranoid!

A couple of observations

1 - I honestly think the heat generated by the engine doesn't help in cold conditions. My S197 will fog the windscreen (no water droplets though, just heavy "misting" ) in cold conditions if I've been out for a drive and then get home and wash the car. It clears pretty quickly with the fan on full blast and the air-con on though (no Auto climate in the S197)

2 - It'd be worth checking that your windscreen vents "close" after the car is switched off. Most modern cars do this after a couple of minutes (I assume the S550 will do the same). If you sit in the car for a few minutes once you've switched the engine off, you "should" hear everything shutting down, including the HVAC system vents. My wife's Kuga does this and it's pretty loud when it shut everything off. As an example, when I first got my SN95 it was during the winter. As it has a very basic HVAC system, I usually left the setting venting to the screen, and even left it like this once parked up. I too got very bad condensation on the windscreen, enough that there were large water droplets forming and would required a wipe before I could drive off. I then started switching the vent to "off" once parked and, hey presto, no more heavy condensation on the windscreen!

3 - Even with the above, and knowing I don't have a water leak, the windscreen of the SN95 will still sometimes get a light misting if it's parked up for a week, like it was over Christmas. Even if its cold, a bit of sunshine will warm the interior up quite a bit, but as soon as the sun sets, that's when the light misting can form. That usually comes and goes on its own though....ie it'll dry itself out the following day, depending on how warm/cold it is.

Finger's crossed for you though and hopefully the chaps in Hungerford can put your mind at rest.

 

[Kristian87]

Hey Kristian......I really hope you are worrying about nothing but, with the car's previous issue, I don't blame you for being paranoid!

A couple of observations

1 - I honestly think the heat generated by the engine doesn't help in cold conditions. My S197 will fog the windscreen (no water droplets though, just heavy "misting" ) in cold conditions if I've been out for a drive and then get home and wash the car. It clears pretty quickly with the fan on full blast and the air-con on though (no Auto climate in the S197)

2 - It'd be worth checking that your windscreen vents "close" after the car is switched off. Most modern cars do this after a couple of minutes (I assume the S550 will do the same). If you sit in the car for a few minutes once you've switched the engine off, you "should" hear everything shutting down, including the HVAC system vents. My wife's Kuga does this and it's pretty loud when it shut everything off. As an example, when I first got my SN95 it was during the winter. As it has a very basic HVAC system, I usually left the setting venting to the screen, and even left it like this once parked up. I too got very bad condensation on the windscreen, enough that there were large water droplets forming and would required a wipe before I could drive off. I then started switching the vent to "off" once parked and, hey presto, no more heavy condensation on the windscreen!

3 - Even with the above, and knowing I don't have a water leak, the windscreen of the SN95 will still sometimes get a light misting if it's parked up for a week, like it was over Christmas. Even if its cold, a bit of sunshine will warm the interior up quite a bit, but as soon as the sun sets, that's when the light misting can form. That usually comes and goes on its own though....ie it'll dry itself out the following day, depending on how warm/cold it is.

Finger's crossed for you though and hopefully the chaps in Hungerford can put your mind at rest.

Thanks very much Paul, appreciate the input part of me thinks the same about your 3rd point, my driveway is in a prime location for warming the car interior up whilst the sun is on it, then dropping rapidly when the sun drops below houses. I've seen that in days where the car has literally been sat there an not moved.

I've just sent an email to Ford Hungerford with an example from this morning. Long story short; 1 hour drive to work. Photos are from one hour after parking. 2 hours after parking, condensation (or "misting" is probably better as you say) is pretty much gone. Pre drive photo attached also - I'd not really expect to see condensation here but I do - this was at 7am, about 1 degrees outside. Don't ask me what the hell that very obvious line is in the windscreen! Hopefully I've given them enough to go on, keep ya posted.

 

[slowhand99]

The line seems to be residual from tape on the screen prior to or during installation. I’ve had this on more than one car. Doesn’t seem to matter how much you clean it, it’s still there.

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