Ford Scorpio Forum
        (https://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl)
      

        General >> Problems >> windows steaming up
        
(Message started by: Butterfingers on Oct 20th, 2006, 1:01pm)
Title: windows steaming up
Post by Butterfingers on Oct 20th, 2006, 1:01pm
Have this problem of condensation on windows internally, when the fan is switched on. If I then turn on the AC it clears up instantly. If I don't turn the fan on at all it is also fine.

The interior of the car is dry, no corroded battery tray, plenty of water in the cooling system, AC drain valves were cleaned out earlier this year.

Can't really work out why it is only with the fan. Perhaps it might be the temperature, but I have varied it and the speed. I do note however, with only me in the car, my side of the windscreen and door get worst affected.

Also if I turn on the window heaters it clears up those windows as well.

Anyone else experience it?
Title: Re: windows steaming up
Post by cossieguy on Oct 20th, 2006, 1:18pm
On certain days (Not all) my lower windscreen is steamed up as with yours it clears as soon as the car starts and air blows onto it. Doesn't happen in warm weather so assume it's something to do with temperature variations between outside screen temp and inner screen temp and what humidity was left in car when it was closed. Why it only affects the lower windscreen and not the rear screen or windows i don't know.
Maybe someone wiser than us can give an explanation. ???
Title: Re: windows steaming up
Post by TiberiuS on Oct 20th, 2006, 2:04pm
Ahah lol, what've you been getting up to in the car then? :D

I sometimes get a mist when I start the car in the winter, clears up pretty quick though once it's running.

It's moisture in the system, just like breathing on the windows, cold atmosphere makes it worse. The AC should clear it nice and quick though, really miss the aircon now when I'm driving the Mondeo, it does have a nice heater though :).

Bruce.
Title: Re: windows steaming up
Post by Butterfingers on Oct 20th, 2006, 2:13pm

on 10/20/06 at 14:04:00, TiberiuS wrote:
Ahah lol, what've you been getting up to in the car then? :D



Bruce.


Exactly! As soon as I park up the windows suggest that there has been some serious action in the back! ;D

Either that or some very very heavy breathing! ;D
Title: Re: windows steaming up
Post by Highlander on Oct 20th, 2006, 2:45pm
a slight leak in the heater matrix does this, also you will sometimes get a smell through the airvents, said to be like curry but i dont find thats what it smells like.

Water level reduces very slowly but will go down. if its bad you will get water in the passenger footwell running down from the centre consol
Title: Re: windows steaming up
Post by Butterfingers on Oct 20th, 2006, 3:01pm

on 10/20/06 at 14:45:56, Highlander wrote:
a slight leak in the heater matrix does this, also you will sometimes get a smell through the airvents, said to be like curry but i dont find thats what it smells like.

Water level reduces very slowly but will go down. if its bad you will get water in the passenger footwell running down from the centre consol


Blast! d**n!

My water level does decline but it is fairly slow. Looks like there is a leak in the heater matrix!

Another project to sort out. After I've done the ABS though  }{Hmmmmm, this is not going to please the wife!
Title: Re: windows steaming up
Post by TiberiuS on Oct 20th, 2006, 5:22pm

on 10/20/06 at 14:45:56, Highlander wrote:
a slight leak in the heater matrix does this, also you will sometimes get a smell through the airvents, said to be like curry but i dont find thats what it smells like.

Water level reduces very slowly but will go down. if its bad you will get water in the passenger footwell running down from the centre consol


Cheers Highlander, you've just pinpointed the source of my 'ever so slight' coolant loss too. I've suspected the matrix for a while, doesn't seem to be working as well as it used to, still get nice hot air but not as quick after start.

That's another £££ I don't have and countless number of hours to be spent on the old girl...

Bruce :).
Title: Re: windows steaming up
Post by - Mike - on Oct 21st, 2006, 9:17am
It may be time to change the pollen filter. These can cause steaming up when they get dirty.

Mike
Title: Re: windows steaming up
Post by Malcolm73 on Oct 21st, 2006, 12:28pm
Is the condensate drain(s)  from the air con' blocked, if it is the condensate water is  retained and this will mist up the windows?

                              73's   Malcolm
Title: Re: windows steaming up
Post by cscars1 on Oct 22nd, 2006, 4:16pm
hello all
the windows can steam up depending on what glass cleaner you use  

ie some water base cleaners  may cause steamed up windows

a quick cure is to use shampoo on them

If you  dont believe me ,
next time when your in the bathroom , wipe a small dot of shampoo over the bathroom mirror
using   toilet roll  
Title: Re: windows steaming up
Post by kimi on Oct 22nd, 2006, 4:31pm
I had steamy windows when I bought my Cossie , it was the heater matrix. It not a nice job as the whole dash has to be removed to get to the heater box, it took me 4 solid days work ! ( I have very bad Arthrits so you will be able to do it a lot quicker ) The matrix is not all that expensive as they are the same as 2.0L/2.9L  Sierras & Granadas ,you may even find an as new one in a scrapyard I did cost me £5.00, pressure tested it and after 18 months it's still fine  ( shouln'nt have said that should I !!!! ).........Kimi.....  
Title: Re: windows steaming up
Post by TiberiuS on Oct 22nd, 2006, 5:15pm

on 10/22/06 at 16:16:13, cscars1 wrote:
hello all
the windows can steam up depending on what glass cleaner you use  

ie some water base cleaners  may cause steamed up windows

a quick cure is to use shampoo on them

If you  dont believe me ,
next time when your in the bathroom , wipe a small dot of shampoo over the bathroom mirror
using   toilet roll  



Shampoo puts a film over the glass a bit like WD40 drying out ignition contacts ;)

A bit like in the old days before we were blessed with window wipers, the chauffeur used to carry a potato and smear it (starch) over the windscreen to repel rain drops, perhaps a good adition to the Scorpio owners' toolbox for when the wiper linkage gives up the ghost ;)

Use Autoglym Fast Glass on mine, no steaming problems.

Ahhh...Autoglym...

Regards, Bruce ;).
Title: Re: windows steaming up
Post by Butterfingers on Oct 22nd, 2006, 8:31pm

on 10/20/06 at 17:22:12, TiberiuS wrote:
Cheers Highlander, you've just pinpointed the source of my 'ever so slight' coolant loss too. I've suspected the matrix for a while, doesn't seem to be working as well as it used to, still get nice hot air but not as quick after start.

That's another £££ I don't have and countless number of hours to be spent on the old girl...

Bruce :).



Bruce, perhaps you and I can go to our FMD together and perhaps we will get a discount. ;D I wouldn't go as far as saying buy one and get one fixed for free!
Title: Re: windows steaming up
Post by Highlander on Oct 22nd, 2006, 9:47pm
try bypassing the matrix by joining the two heater hoses together in the engine compartment, be a bit cold inside but it would tell you if that was the problem
Title: Re: windows steaming up
Post by jonnycab on Oct 23rd, 2006, 2:21am
To check if it is the heater matrix at fault....hold both inlet & outlet hoses. If the inlet is hotter than the outlet....then the heater matrix is shot :(.....may be able to flush it through though :)
Title: Re: windows steaming up
Post by Highlander on Oct 23rd, 2006, 8:43am
That wont tell you if its got a leak though ;)
Title: Re: windows steaming up
Post by jonnycab on Oct 23rd, 2006, 10:56am
Point taken ;)
But if the matrix is leaking then air will get into it & possibly cause an airlock. This can restrict the coolant flow to the point where not all the coolant can flow back out....hence colder outlet pipe. Also, as these cars are getting old now then it's a possibility that the matrix is gunged up as well. If a blockage occurs, then the pressure could force a leak from a weak part of the matrix. :)

Then again, if the heater is red hot when turned to hot, then I'm talking cr** ;D


Ford Scorpio Forum » Powered by YaBB 1 Gold - SP 1.3.1!
YaBB © 2000-2003. All Rights Reserved.