Technical Fullback with massive condensation

[Baggyp]

Has anyone had any problems with the inside of the windscreen getting a lot of condensation on it?
With this freezing cold weather (-7) I’m having to clear the inside of the pickup as well as the outside.. water dripping off windscreen.
After a run and all warmed up it starts getting condensation on it after about 30 mins ( on both sides of the windscreen to start with and then the front windows!)

Radiator does not seem to be losing fluid, A/C still works fine and pollen filter just changed two months ago. All carpets dry.

Are these bad for leaking windscreens or roof aerials?

Any help would be appreciated.

B

 

[Greasytrucker]

Could it be a slightly weeping heater matrix perhaps depending on where it’s situated?Although you did say it wasn’t using any water

 

[The Panda Nut]

Are the capets dry? Obvious, but any leaks and resulting wet carpets add to the issue. I see a lot of condensation in my Panda it seems that the air con may allow moist air to circulate when its first switched off and the front screen particularly gets pretty wet. The car is garaged so pretty dry, Worth checking all the carpets to see if there is any damp pointing to a leak. Some air con cars are worse than others for some odd reasons. Also it depends who and what you carry how much humidity there is when you get out. It may also be that due to the low temperatures the aircon switched off while you are driving and you are seeing the result.

 

[Baggyp]

Could it be a slightly weeping heater matrix perhaps depending on where it’s situated?Although you did say it wasn’t using any water

Thanks for reply. I will pressure test coolant system next week and see.

 

[Baggyp]

Are the capets dry? Obvious, but any leaks and resulting wet carpets add to the issue. I see a lot of condensation in my Panda it seems that the air con may allow moist air to circulate when its first switched off and the front screen particularly gets pretty wet. The car is garaged so pretty dry, Worth checking all the carpets to see if there is any damp pointing to a leak. Some air con cars are worse than others for some odd reasons. Also it depends who and what you carry how much humidity there is when you get out. It may also be that due to the low temperatures the aircon switched off while you are driving and you are seeing the result.

Thanks for reply. All carpets seem dry. A/C seems to work fine.
Must be something big that I’m missing as it’s really bad, front windscreen and side windows mist up really quickly once I’ve stopped and switched off.
Nothing wet left in car… think next step will be to stick my son in it and get the power washer on it !

 

[The Panda Nut]

Thanks for reply. All carpets seem dry. A/C seems to work fine.
Must be something big that I’m missing as it’s really bad, front windscreen and side windows mist up really quickly once I’ve stopped and switched off.
Nothing wet left in car… think next step will be to stick my son in it and get the power washer on it !

Im not convinced its abnormal in this weather. Try leaving a window open an inch or so and see if it stops it. I have had pretty substantial condensationin the Panda. I know its dry, has no leaks or issues. Ive had several cars that staemed up at soon as you stop. The A/C clears it quickly so its an irritant more than a problem. There must be a reason. May be its the cold stopping the in built dryer owring as well. I dont know. My Panda has climate control it does this much more than the other Pandas we have without this feature.

 

[RalphM]

Make sure you have the air intake set to outside.

 

[varesecrazy]

I know it's a
"Mister bushy"..

But Italian Fiat's have drains under the windscreen, that's where the ducted air passes into the cabin, not unusual to see that holding LOTS of rainwater
(Leafmould blocking the drains.)

How is the Heater..?

My Fiat diesel is hard in this weather as it doesn't generate Heat like a petrol

Aircon does a fair job on a screen though

 

[Baggyp]

Thanks. Heater seems not too bad. Where/ how do I get to these drains?
Someone also said about A/C drain but I’ve not got a clue where that is either…

 

[varesecrazy]

Thanks. Heater seems not too bad. Where/ how do I get to these drains?
Someone also said about A/C drain but I’ve not got a clue where that is either…

I've tagged you to a different thread

Regarding mouldy interiors..
General info might help you

 

[Baggyp]

I've tagged you to a different thread

Regarding mouldy interiors..
General info might help you

Sorry where do I find this tag?

 

[the green vanper]

I had a similar problem on an Astra years ago. During heavy rain, without the A/C, the heater became a steamer... So it was impossible to drive.

It was an almost new car, got it to the workshop and as far as I remember, there was a problem with the part which is below the windscreen, water was getting through it and was heated by the heater.

There was no signs of water inside the car, as all of it was getting into the heater. And somehow getting out of it (I assume a part as steam, the other part through the drains).

Generally condensation is a problem with such weather, water can get through every little hole. If the carpets are dry it doesn't mean that it's not getting inside. There are often different foams under plastic trims or carpets which accumulate water easily.

Cooling the inside of the car before leaving (by opening doors for a short time) and switching the air circulation to internal are generally good ideas, but I think won't be enough in your case.

Of course finding the cause of the problem is essential, but as a temporary solution you could use humidity absorbers. Some of them will allow you to check the amount of the water you get. Which could be helpful finding the cause.

 

[the green vanper]

Sorry where do I find this tag?

On the top of the screen in a browser:

 

[Baggyp]

I had a similar problem on an Astra years ago. During heavy rain, without the A/C, the heater became a steamer... So it was impossible to drive.

It was an almost new car, got it to the workshop and as far as I remember, there was a problem with the part which is below the windscreen, water was getting through it and was heated by the heater.

There was no signs of water inside the car, as all of it was getting into the heater. And somehow getting out of it (I assume a part as steam, the other part through the drains).

Generally condensation is a problem with such weather, water can get through every little hole. If the carpets are dry it doesn't mean that it's not getting inside. There are often different foams under plastic trims or carpets which accumulate water easily.

Cooling the inside of the car before leaving (by opening doors for a short time) and switching the air circulation to internal are generally good ideas, but I think won't be enough in your case.

Of course finding the cause of the problem is essential, but as a temporary solution you could use humidity absorbers. Some of them will allow you to check the amount of the water you get. Which could be helpful finding the cause.

Thank you for that, it sounds like I may need to lift carpets and check properly as I’ve only just run my hand over all the carpet and it was cold but dry.
I need to check drain holes etc but not sure where they would be located of the Fullback so may take some time.
B

 

[Baggyp]

Ok so I’ve coolant pressure tested and I’m not losing pressure.
I’ve driven pickup for 1 hour and parked back up, I’ve got a sock full of cat litter and a silica gel packet on the dashboard and as you can see by the photo I’m still misting up! Outside temperature is now 12 degrees Celsius and I’m still not getting to the bottom of it. Any suggestions on next steps?

 

[Baggyp]

After 4 hours!

 

[timmycm850]

Make sure you have the air intake set to outside.

I was thinking has someone set it o recirculate by mistake.

 

[the green vanper]

I was thinking has someone set it o recirculate by mistake.

If there is a lot of humidity outside it is a good practice to set the switch / lever to recirculate. In such conditions usually air in the cab is drier (heating and A/C), so it does not allow the humid air from the outside to get in the cab.

When have you cleaned the A/C system? Perhaps you have some kind of life there

I'd say strange the condensation is on one side only.

 

[Baggyp]

I was thinking has someone set it o recirculate by mistake.

Definitely not as when engine switched off it automatically goes back to fresh air intake.

 

[Baggyp]

If there is a lot of humidity outside it is a good practice to set the switch / lever to recirculate. In such conditions usually air in the cab is drier (heating and A/C), so it does not allow the humid air from the outside to get in the cab.

When have you cleaned the A/C system? Perhaps you have some kind of life there

I'd say strange the condensation is on one side only.

I’ve only had pickup 6 months and have done nothing with a/c.
I thought the same about just the one side but in the cold weather we had here it did same on passenger side too but not as bad. I was thinking could it be a blocked scuttle drain? Looks like the scuttle panel has been off before as there are clips damaged and missing and end plates have not been put on properly!