Hi, excuse if this has been asked many times (I did have a quick search),

I have a brand new Octavia estate and it has recently been suffering from a shocking amount of condensation on the windscreen.

I've tried de-misting with and without air-con but it doesn't seem to be having an effect. It takes about 4-5 minutes to clear when it would take about 45 seconds on my old car (a Bora, so very similar to older Octavias).

I have become a bit worried that the air con isn't actually working - it makes no sound or effect on the engines revs but I assume that is just because modern air cons are quieter and engine management compensates..? How can I actually check the thing effectively?

Altenatively, is this a very common problem on Octavias? I have an estate so there's a lot of glass to bring about condensation... I just thought misty windows were a thing of the past?

Thanks for any help, and your patience, I posted a hello on the 'new owners' forum too, but thought this was a better place to discuss a niggle with the car.

Morris

Welcome aboard Morris!

I'm convinced this is an Octavia problem.

I've had many cars, old and new and I've never had a car that gets so damp inside.

My Scout is a 2008. The boot is bone dry, the rear washer nozzle is connected (common cause) and the door seals all look fine to me (another common entry point for moisture on Octavia's).

On a morning mine also can take up to 5 minutes to clear the windscreen, I've given up trying to clear the rear.

I've even had the heating on its highest setting for a recent long run in the hope it might dry out, but alas the next morning involved the same ardious task of waiting, and waiting!

Something is wrong, but I don't know what!

Welcome aboard Morris!

I'm convinced this is an Octavia problem.

I think it's a Skoda problem. I have had an '03 Fabia since new and for as long as I can remember it's suffered with a significant amount of condensation at times.

My 2005 Octy2 estate rarely mists up, and on the odd ocasion it does the aircon clears the screen very quickly. My car is garaged at night though, so maybe that has a baring on things. Even through the last 2 weeks of rain its been easy to keep all the windows clear.

My Octy (2008 1.9Tdi Estate) is also bad, although not as bad as SWMBOs Fiat Doblo. I am trying to work out where the air gets out at the back of the car, as i have the Variable Boot Floor and wonder whther this impedes air flow?

Ahh! The clue is that it's a brand new Skoda. The problem is that the plasticisers leak out of the trim and coat the interior glass with a film which allows condensation to form - the same way clouds and fog need seeds to form.

The solution is to clean all the internal glass surfaces meticulously - with a good quality glass cleaning spray plus kitchen towel (best) or a good chamois leather and lots of elbow-grease - doesn't always work very well, as chamois leathers contain oils to keep them supple..

Once you've really got that film off the glass all will be much better. Mind you, you'll have to repeat the process every couple of months....

And yes; both our cars need the treatment tomorrow!

http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/rain-x/anti-fog.aspx?src=google-base

Makes it a lot easier to see!!!

http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/rain-x/anti-fog.aspx?src=google-base

Makes it a lot easier to see!!!

Have you tried it? and does it work??

Ahh! The clue is that it's a brand new Skoda. The problem is that the plasticisers leak out of the trim and coat the interior glass with a film which allows condensation to form -

The solution is to clean all the internal glass surfaces meticulously - with a good quality glass cleaning spray plus kitchen towel (best) or a good chamois leather and lots of elbow-grease - doesn't always work very well, as chamois leathers contain oils to keep them supple..

Thanks - that makes a lot of sense, I'll give it a go and post how I get on...

also clear the windscreen with the aircon switched on, it pulls the moisture out of the air, I know it seems odd to have the aircon on and heated

also clear the windscreen with the aircon switched on, it pulls the moisture out of the air, I know it seems odd to have the aircon on and heated

I think the aircon can contribute when the car and interior are fully up to temperature but from a cold start I find the aircon is slowing or not contributing to the demist. OTOH you're supposed to run your aircon for at least 10 minutes per week to keep it in trim, so try it both ways. I have noticed some days when dimisting is slow it's just *damp* weather. Other days when the windscreen looks the same. it's drier weather outside and the demist works quickly. My previous car had separate 'directors' and 'volume' controls on the high level vents. On the Octavia (and presumably similar VAG cars) the vertical 'director' is the only 'volume' control so you need to close that control to 'down' to ensure all the airflow is through the demist vents.

you may find the first 30 seconds or so while the compressor builds up pressure the aircon adds to the mist but it should clear it pretty quickly after. Most of the cooling effect you got from the aircon is buy lowering the humidity. I find just pressing the demist button sorts everything out aslong as you've got a realstic temperature set on the climate control

The concept of platicizers on the windows is a good one, except nthat mine was autoglymed (free) when new, and I use two different types of Autoglym glass cleaner regularly. After 15 months I would have thought they should be clean?

Have tried the RainX anti fog in the past and wasn't terribly impressed!

http://www.theultima...src=google-base

Makes it a lot easier to see!!! [/Quote]

But never put it on the outside of the screen.....you can't really use the wipers any more after that....they start jumping like hell....

Also using the Recirculation button doesn't help.

It maybe useful to use it to speed up the clearance of fogging on the windscreen, the flip side is it can leave condensation.

I have a cloudy film in my new estate, will be putting the carlac glass kit to it at the weekend to polish and seal it, it drys to a fine haze and takes a good buff and leaves it very clear.

Think this is an "undocumented feature" of the MkII Octy, my March 08 VRS estate still mists terribly, had it into dealer and they claim there is nothing wrong. Mine is very bad if I have been driving for a while and stop for around 10 mins, when I start the car it seems to actually blow steam onto the windows, particularly with A/C on. I find directing air to floor for first few minutes lessens this particular one. I have just learned to live with it, the Vrs is such fun I can forgive it !! (tho build quality is not as good as my last MkI Vrs!!)

cheers

This time of year I regularly come out to the car after work and find the windows condensated up. I end up wiping the worst off the front and letting the aircon do the rest.

On the occasions I've tried the aircon on it's own it's taken ages to clear.

Thanks for all the replies. It does appear that this excessive misting (and long time to clear) is a common problem with Octavias. I'm almost tempted to check the pollen filter for damp but as the car is only 2 months old I would be pretty peeved if it was.

I'll try most of the above and see if it makes any difference. Obviously, wiping the excess moisture off the screen first should help too!

I'm still doubtful that my air con is actually working as it makes no difference whatsoever but I imagine an error message would tell me if something was wrong.

I'm going to take it on a long drive today and clear the air con - then check to see if it does work at low temps.

Cheers

My vRS has exactly the same problem over the last couple of days. (so the missus tells me)

I thought there might be water getting in somewhere but the car is bone dry inside.

Gonna clean the aircon system and see if it needs topping up over xmas. Plus it's in for a service and cambelt change soon so will get them to check it over too before the warranty runs out.

Carl

Edited 12 December, 200916 yr by vRSCarl

Your aircon will be working Morris but as others have said and also me too that its the severity of it that makes the aircon struggle to clear it.

Mine was like this when i finished work at 5.00am this morning and the car was very condensated inside and the poor old aircon struggled for at least 5 miles to clear it but very slowly but the rear screen was still fogged even though the HRW was on but auto shut off and was still the same.Its the time of year and an Octavia problem.

having said that my MK1 never suffered as bad as this MK2 and it didn,t have aircon either.

2004 Octavia II here, only had it a week but it did strike me as a little odd as to how much condensation I was faced with in the mornings. Takes a while to clear even with the air con.

I guess it's just a feature of the Octavia II reading this thread.

My FL Octavia has been bugging me with this as well; but only some times. On long service intervals so it will be a year come August before I get a chance to ask about it.

Anyone tried to remove the pollenfilter?

Known problem on some cars.

Have you guys tried leaving the aircon OFF rather than on and letting the cold turn it off? Mines been fine since I applied carlack glass treatment.