Condensation!

[bjwilliams16]

I've got real condensation issues in my 13-plate 1.2 SE. On the recent frozen mornings, the car has been frozen on the inside of the front windscreen, and it takes an age to clear. I've got manual heater controls, so I crank the fan to 5 on full heat, with the aircon on recir - is this the best way to clear it?
The seals look fine and there's no other damp in the car. I'm at a bit of a loss what to do - has anyone bought one of these 'damp traps' from Halfords or the like? Are they worth a try?

 

[andrewpain]

might be worth a try. My old saab 9-5 has awful condensation problems, so I bought a big silica bag/pack from a local accessory shop. It takes a bit out but you have to dry it out on a radiator quite frequently.
You'd be better off finding out where the water comes in...

 

[trebor]

I keep a small moisture trap in the passenger door pocket, the sort of thing that is sold for window sills. I use a piece of foam wrapped around the bottom to stop it from sliding around in the pocket.

My previous car was much worse than the Leon has been so far. It is not a cure but it does help.

I sometimes stand it on top of the dash overnight, then put back in the door pocket first thing in the morning.

I get them from eBay - Mini Kontrol Moisture Trap & 100g Condensation Crystals for Window Sills.

Places like Halfords now sell a re-usable one in a pouch type thing that you can 'dry out' on a radiator but not tried these yet. May give one a go once my others have been used up.

 

[dephead2004]

Guys the secret is to keep the aircon on at all times.

 

[altea-ego]

Leon 1.6 TDi 2013
Im a new member and i thought i would update mine as having the same issue here.

Previously I've owed an Altea (was brilliant) a MII toledo (which was brilliant abart from very rubish door seals that let water pur in to such an extent my footwells used to look like the floods - no offence ment).

I second this, swapping from an Altea to the Mk3 leon, the leon is always misted up, and much worse in comparison. Using the aircon might help reduce the symptoms, but the same amount of moisture is still getting into the car. But there is definitely something wrong in the design/assembly. The fan in the Altea was much more powerful too when using the screen function. I've found that you need to increase the fan speed manually on this setting in the leon. Also noticed that the LED headlights have the same problem too.

 

[BigfatPaulie]

Just got in from a 2 mile drive.... 15 minutes to clear the ice from the INSIDE of the screen !!!!!!
5 minute journey.... its beyond a joke.

POS :-(

 

[jcbmally]

No issues with mine, hardly steams up, de mister works very fast ie frozen screen the other day and it cleared in about 2 to 3 mins. A friend of mine has the Cupra and he doesn't have any condensation issues either. Are all drain plugs clear??

 

[leemac]

I rain x'd the inside twice and the outside too and now no condensation at all and the icing up inside has gone totally, the outside did ice up but was so easy to wipe off I even used my hand.
Give it a go but add plenty of coats,it is a bugger to buff off but well worth it .

 

[Seastormer]

No issues with mine, hardly steams up, de mister works very fast ie frozen screen the other day and it cleared in about 2 to 3 mins. A friend of mine has the Cupra and he doesn't have any condensation issues either. Are all drain plugs clear??

I have no probs with it either.

 

[phil750]

I have literally no issues with mine at all, get very little condensation at all now i clear the inside with proper cleaner, Used to get little bit but not too much.

I like in the UK and literally have not had any condensation/mist on the screen for about a month now.

I dont use air con all the time.

Just use auto glym fast glass cleaner on the inside once a month.

 

[Rob66]

Well you will be pleased to know its not just a SEAT ‘thing’. I have a 2014 Astra GTC Hire Car today for work and that had ice on the inside of the windscreen too (it was only -2 outside so not horrendously cold). And in other news, I have never seen so many seemingly random placed tiny buttons on a dashboard.

 

[dw911]

This thread appears to have two different aspects. Moaning about how long the demister takes to clear an iced up windscreen externally and condensation I'm guessing inside the car on the windscreen.

Which is causing more concern??

What is causing more concern , the fact I thought I was buying a quality car and not a chest freezer/igloo

If it was two different aspects as you mention it wouldn't be so much of a problem for me, now I don't mind scraping ice off of the outside of the windscreens and wiping a bit of mist from the inside off the windscreen.

for me it's not two different problems, it's one big problem, If it's below freezing I have to scrape thick ice off of the INSIDE and the outside of the windscreens, and if it's above freezing I have to wipe condensation off of the INSIDE of the windscreens with a bath towel and then wring it out.


Maybe I shouldn't have ordered the winter pack

 

[Seastormer]

What is causing more concern , the fact I thought I was buying a quality car and not a chest freezer/igloo

If it was two different aspects as you mention it wouldn't be so much of a problem for me, now I don't mind scraping ice off of the outside of the windscreens and wiping a bit of mist from the inside off the windscreen.

for me it's not two different problems, it's one big problem, If it's below freezing I have to scrape thick ice off of the INSIDE and the outside of the windscreens, and if it's above freezing I have to wipe condensation off of the INSIDE of the windscreens with a bath towel and then wring it out.


Maybe I shouldn't have ordered the winter pack

Freezing this morning, car covered with frozen on snow, demister on, heated rear window on, scrape off sides and by then it's falling off rear and windscreen, no condensation anywhere, sounds like your car has a leak somewhere.

 

[surrealjam]

I don't like to be one of those defensive "there's no such problem" people but genuinely - my 2014 Leon gets a lot less condensation than my mk6 Golf ever did and the A/C seems a lot more efficient at clearing it if it does mist up.

This is to say, I don't believe there is an inherent issue with the Leon - if people have a problem, water must be getting in from somewhere it shouldn't.

Over the years, I've got into the habit (even during the winter) of having the window open in my cars quite regularly once it's up to temperature. Not sure how much difference it makes, but in my head any moisture would evaporate and then not have anywhere to go just recirculating around the car. Having said this, that wouldn't help if there's an actual leak!

 

[dephead2004]

I run the aircon most of the time. It uses little fuel a/c to the eco meter and makes a significant difference to the amount of condensation.

 

[Seastormer]

Should not have to open windows, as cars vent system takes in fresh air and sends it out the back, unless you set to recirculate (for passing fields of manure etc).

 

[surrealjam]

Should not have to open windows, as cars vent system takes in fresh air and sends it out the back, unless you set to recirculate (for passing fields of manure etc).

I think that's more for my own benefit anyway - it's nice to get some fresh air!

But what do you mean by "sends it out the back"? I'm pretty sure if you set the ventilation to not recirculate, that just means the air coming in through the vents is from outside rather than inside. I wasn't aware it altered the way air flows out of the car.

 

[Seastormer]

I think that's more for my own benefit anyway - it's nice to get some fresh air!

But what do you mean by "sends it out the back"? I'm pretty sure if you set the ventilation to not recirculate, that just means the air coming in through the vents is from outside rather than inside. I wasn't aware it altered the way air flows out of the car.

If new air could not get out, then the car would just sit with the same air and not get a thru flow, I'm sure it vents via the boot somehow.

 

[dw911]

If new air could not get out, then the car would just sit with the same air and not get a thru flow, I'm sure it vents via the boot somehow.

Your correct,the air vents are behind the rear bumper quarters on either side of the car

 

[dw911]

Freezing this morning, car covered with frozen on snow, demister on, heated rear window on, scrape off sides and by then it's falling off rear and windscreen, no condensation anywhere, sounds like your car has a leak somewhere.

Hi Seastormer, it did/does unfortunately, many of them, would often get in the car just after or during rain and have water in the drivers side foot well and on the passenger side could see water beading down over the door threshold and making puddles on the mat.

The seals have been changed and some other stuff, but whilst I can't see the water coming in now like before, the situation has not improved, so either water is still getting in or the sound proofing under the carpets is so saturated with water, it will need the seats and carpet taking out to get to it to dry the sound proofing and floor pan out.

I know some people have no issues at all, but some people are having a major issue with it, just wondering if anyone with a major issue managed to get to the bottom of it