Condensation on the inside of windshield
 

The last 2 days, after parking outside overnight at my workplace, I've gotten into my car with TONS of moisture on the windshield. I can run my hand across the inside of it and it's enough to drip off my hand.

I've googled it a bit and many replies to these problems are "leaking heater core". However, the carpets were not wet and there was no moisture on top or bottom of the dash area.

Should I be worried about this? I'm 100% the windows were both fully closed, and the doors/trunk were both secure. Is there any other possible reason this is happening? Investigate further or take it to the dealership?

Hopefully I'm just over-reacting.

Hmm, my dealer says it's normal. My girlfriend's car didn't have this amount of moisture on the inside of the windshield this morning and the G35 next to my car at work didn't have this amount of moisture either.

I had some on mine this morning but not enough to worry.

I think I'd be ok with a little bit. In my short 10 years of driving, I've never seen the amount of moisture I've seen the last 2 days. Could it be that my car is just better insulated than my previous cars, thus creating a bigger discrepancy between the outside and inside temps?

If I had to guess, I bet I could of gotten almost a half a cup of water off the windshield this morning.

My Fit does this sometimes in cold weather when temps dramatically change outside.

If you're using defrost mode (or defrost and vent to foot mode), set it to vent from the top vents just before you step out and see if that changes anything. Seems like the heat from the engine seeps into the cabin and remains there causing the condensation. I don't know, give it a shot.

Condensation forms on the warm side of the window. You doing some "heavy-breathing" in there? :)

Set the system on outside air instead of circulate in the car? I'll try that tonight.

You have your inside air set to circulate rather than bring in outside air? :shakes head: You have something against oxygen, Matt?

I have no idea what it's set to. All I know is I have a shower door for a windshield and I'm being told it's normal!!!! :eekdance:

LOL! I guess the idea is to equalize the temp and humdity inside and outside the car. You'd figure that just opening the darn door would go a long way toward that end. ;)

if you're using defrost you should be using outside air anyways, no?

leave the vent open to the outside air....

Uhhh....Your breathing is filling the car with moist air. Don't use the re-circulate mode unless you absolutely have to.....(like being stuck behind a Hog truck or something..)

Hog truck...hahah, I actually know what you are talking about..Only in the South, brotha!

Remove Window and Windshield Condensation
There are several strategies available for removing window and windshield condensation, some of them targeting condensation's source - temperature discrepancy. You can also purchase solutions from car shops which make the removal of condensation much faster and easier. To give you a clearer view of things, here are some of the strategies for removing windshield condensation:

•Toggle the Air-Conditioner/Heater - The appearance of condensation is caused by the difference in temperature. What you can do is balance the temperature by toggling on the air-conditoner or heater's thermostat. Try to match the outside temperature, as much as possible. You will know you're on the right mark, once the droplets begin to fade. You might as well leave that temperature on, so the moisture will not return.
•Leave the Air-Conditioner's Vent Open - Leaving the vent open promotes a gradual change in temperature inside the car, which prevents the appearance of moisture. The difference in temperature between the car's interior and the outside environment also won't be big enough to begin condensation.
•Dehumidifying Solution - The solution will not prevent the appearance of condensation, but it will certainly speed up the removal of the water droplets from your windshield. Apply a generous amount on your windows and windshield. When traveling, a gust of wind is enough to remove the pesky coat of droplets. You can purchase the solution at all car supply stores.
•Park in an Enclosed Area - Enclosed areas, like garages and indoor parking spaces, have a more controlled shift in temperature, as compared to open areas. The gradual temperature change prevents the formation of condensation. So if you don't have an enclosed garage, better reserve slots at enclosed parking areas.

http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com/ho...-condensation/

If your windows weren't fully closed you wouldn't get the moisture. Leaving the windows open a crack will equalize the temp inside to the outside temp. If there isn't a temp delta then you won't get condensation. However, it's not practical to do this unless you're in a safe area and rain/snow is not in the overnight forecast.

I've had a fair bit of condensation on the front windshield in a strip up from the three gauge clusters. I'm assuming its coming from moisture in the vents - the rest of the windshield is fine. In my case its not really worth worrying about although my wife figured the car was broken - lol ;)

The car was outside my building for 8 hours building up that moisture/condensation, had nothing to do with my breathing. I'm talking about fog either, actual, large drops of water.

I thought that may be the issue, but my GF's car had her vents closed last night and had nothing on the inside of her windshield.

Of course it did...You drive around with the car closed up and the re-circulation on, then close it up for another 8 hours? Where do you think the moisture came from?

Trust us...Turn off the re-circ and your problems will disappear

Made sure the vents were left open tonight and checked my car along with the 6 other cars in my parking lot after 5 hours.

My car was the ONLY car with moisture completely covering the inside of the windshield. I turned on the AC full blast and it got rid of the fog, but not the condensation. I tried heat as well, again, nothing for the condensation.

Again, this was not happening before this weekend and was not happening to any of the other cars (including a 83 t-top 280z and a 2006 G35).

Not sure why so many people are telling me it's normal, but it isn't.

EDIT:

I went to the dealership this morning and reported the issue. The guy, again, said it was normal and that "every car in the parking lot did the same thing". He opened up one of the cars nearby, and sure enough...no moisture near what I had. He said he'd get back to me tomorrow. I guess we'll see.

Sounds like:

1) your car is saturated from running with the re-circ on. Next sunny day, open the doors and let it dry out for a few hours. In the meantime run with the AC on and the vents open. AC acts as a dehumidifier.

2) You've got a leak and the car is wet inside resulting in the constant high moisture content. If none of the carpets are wet, take a gook look in the spare tire area..

yep, sounds like you are breathing too hard in the car. ;)

This got me thinking, so I investigated a little today (resulting in getting NO sleep...been up for 25 hours now) while on the phone with my audio installers and Zenclosures.

No carpets were wet that I could tell, but then I moved the seat all the way forward and checked the area behind my driver seat....SOAKED!

Apparently, a few weeks ago my audio installers left an unfilled hole in the firewall without it's grommet inserted. One evening recently, when it rained, the water dripped from the windshield straight down to this opening, ran down the side of the floor pan, and "settled" underneath the carpet behind the driver seat. The water eventually drained out, but left the carpet with PLENTY of moisture to make the inside of my car a steam room overnight as my car sat in front of my workplace.

I took the car to the installers. They replaced the grommet, wet-vacc'd the carpets, and it appears to be as good as new.

Thanks for all the different ideas, and special thanks to Modshack for getting the gears in my head going.

Glad that helped and you got it resolved!...:tup: