Condensation!

[BigfatPaulie]

Ive had various used cars in the past... All suffer condensation to some extent, but not a patch on my new Leon!
What gives? Is this a common problem?
Took 10 minutes with aircon on full last night before it was safe to drive :-(

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[Mydogfred]

Same problem for me! When it rains and i am driving, i have to have the window demister on all the time.

 

[skidpan]

All discussed here. http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=390172

Conclusion was the Leon was no different to any other car.

Your car may have a leak, feel the carpets for damp.

 

[BigfatPaulie]

I've come the conclusion that my mk3 is the worst car I've ever had.... It's been back to the dealer, who found nothing wrong-but did say that Seat had passed down an all dealer memo, recommending that users drive with the aircon on at all times!
Wtf? They know there's a problem but we have to pay for it in extra fuel?

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[DeanC]

I had a real issue but 100% perfect since apply anti fog and using auto climate all the time. It uses next to no fuel.

 

[scrich7]

I haven't really had any major issues to be honest. Was concerned when I read this initially, even more so having been used to Ford QuickClear screens for the past 6 years. But in reality, my Leon has been perfectly fine in clearing the windscreen

 

[BigfatPaulie]

are you guys using a garage?
mines just on the drive... last night it took 20mins on the motorway to totally clear the screen, with fan on full+aircon

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[scrich7]

Nope, driveway

 

[dw911]

are you guys using a garage?
mines just on the drive... last night it took 20mins on the motorway to totally clear the screen, with fan on full+aircon

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Same on mine,never known anything like it and I've owned more cars than I can remember
Its not just a fine mist either,its wet like you get on the windscreen in heavy rain, but its on the inside of the windscreen
May have to fit windscreen wipers on the inside ;-)

Have tried putting de humidifier inside the car over night and leaving the car running for a few hours on the drive with heat and aircon on full
But it still comes back the next day

 

[BigfatPaulie]

This is getting ridiculous now... Went to a friends house for 3 hours last night, and the car was frozen solid! Took 10 minutes of blower on full+aircon to make a tiny hole of vision! Had to break out the squeegee on the inside to clear the screen:-(
What he hell is wrong with this car?

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[dephead2004]

I agree that the condensation is probably worse than other cars I have owned. I have a feeling that it's to do with how the water drains into the area below the plastic shield under the windscreen. This is also where the air intake for the heating is so that moist air is being drawn into the car. I have checked for door seals and they look water tight.
It could also be due to the fact that it has been a VERY wet winter with relatively high temperature so that air humidity is high. (See also other thread about condensation in headlights)
The solution I posted about when this was discussed before is too run the air con all the time to dry out the inside of the car ie fabric, carpets, insulation etc. The cost is pence and compared top letting the car idle on the drive and drive off with a letterbox view of the road is easily the best solution. One small scrape will cost 1000s more than running the air con. Plus you preserve the air con seals by lubricating with the air con gas. It's generally reckoned that air con should be run for 20 mins per week to prolong it's life and avoid regassing and other repairs if you only use it when outside temperature is hot. My ultimate driving machine says run at all times above 5 degrees C which I don't do but I do run regularly once the car is up to temp and on dual carriageway or motorways when the extra load is tiny in comparison.)

 

[dw911]

I agree that the condensation is probably worse than other cars I have owned. I have a feeling that it's to do with how the water drains into the area below the plastic shield under the windscreen. This is also where the air intake for the heating is so that moist air is being drawn into the car. I have checked for door seals and they look water tight.
It could also be due to the fact that it has been a VERY wet winter with relatively high temperature so that air humidity is high. (See also other thread about condensation in headlights)
The solution I posted about when this was discussed before is too run the air con all the time to dry out the inside of the car ie fabric, carpets, insulation etc. The cost is pence and compared top letting the car idle on the drive and drive off with a letterbox view of the road is easily the best solution. One small scrape will cost 1000s more than running the air con. Plus you preserve the air con seals by lubricating with the air con gas. It's generally reckoned that air con should be run for 20 mins per week to prolong it's life and avoid regassing and other repairs if you only use it when outside temperature is hot. My ultimate driving machine says run at all times above 5 degrees C which I don't do but I do run regularly once the car is up to temp and on dual carriageway or motorways when the extra load is tiny in comparison.)

I totally agree with what you say about running the air con all the time
In my case the aircon is never switched off, I've had a dehumidifier in the car,I've even left the car running for several hours with the heat and aircon on max to see if that made any difference
It still comes back the very next evening
Am at a loss at what to do,there seems to be no water finding its way into the car and all the carpets and underlay are dry

It has been a wet winter,but I had wet winters with my mk2 and many other cars and never had any thing like this
The night before last I had to use the ice scraper on the inside of the car

 

[BigfatPaulie]

I also run with aircon on all the time - gawd knows what its doing to the MPG.

It seems that I am not alone in this issue.... and despite the dealer having it back its still the same....
I shall be writing to Seat in a few days.

With this in mind, Id like to hear from all Mk3 owners... to see if this is wide spread.

 

[madduffyx]

Hey Paulie,

Can't say I've had that big of an issue. Little bit more demisting required than normal but not to the extent of having ice on the inside of the windscreen.

 

[ma9mwah]

wasn't there any issue with some of the Golfs and maybe Leons with the A/C drain pipe being installed wrong and getting the carpet wet?

 

[john-e-big-guns]

Only ever had mine mist up once and that was when I got drenched after running across the S/market carpark in heavy rain......I've only used the aircon that once...what I do 1st thing is put the blower on full on the screen{hav'in knock the A/con off} at max temp for about 2mls..I know my TDI 170 FR DSG took a little longer to warm up...but never used aircon

TSI FR 180 SC DSG 18" Titanium

 

[dw911]

.....I've only used the aircon that once...I know my TDI 170 FR DSG took a little longer to warm up...

but never used aircon

You SHOULD run your at least once a month,even if its only for a minute or two

 

[dw911]

wasn't there any issue with some of the Golfs and maybe Leons with the A/C drain pipe being installed wrong and getting the carpet wet?

Yes there was, I looked into that as it would have explained the reason for the condensation in the leon and why not everyone seems to have the issue
But no such luck,does not seem to be cause, at least not on my Leon

 

[Ckpearce91]

I've found that when I finish with the car for the night, I turn the blower direction to the feet position so that the moisture taken in from the aircon isn't dumped back on the screen. And the next morning it is no where near as bad as it used to be. AC takes all the moisture out of the air but when you turn it off, it sort of dumps it back. Well this is what a VW technician told me.


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[dephead2004]

I agree. In fact on arrival home about a few hundred yards away , I turn off the aircon and give it a blast with the max button. This clears out the condensor where condensate can collect and then be ready to blow damp air at your screen the next day