I have a 2024 Fabia Mk4 (picked it up in June) and during the summer the aircon was fine, kept the car nice and cool.

Now whenever its cold outside the windows fog up even with the aircon (climate control) always on.

I've even put a couple of damp traps on the floor to see if they collect any water, nothing in them

so far.
I previously had a 2017 Octavia and never had issues with condensation inside.

The Fabia has a panoramic roof, I don't know if that makes a difference, obviously it gets

colder inside (because the glass is cold) but I wouldn't have thought the windscreem would

fog up.

 

Has anyone else had the same issue.

 

2 hours ago, trevorrg22 said:

the windows fog up even with the aircon (climate control) always on.

Is the car set to air recirculation mode?

What helps, is if you meticulously clean the inside of the windscreen.

Then it is fresh air ventilation when moving.

 

You can also use a moisture absorbing bag on the top of the dash.

Look here for examples:-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=car+damp+absorber+reusable

 

HTH

 

Thanks. AG Falco

3 hours ago, AGFalco said:

Is the car set to air recirculation mode?

What helps, is if you meticulously clean the inside of the windscreen.

Then it is fresh air ventilation when moving.

 

You can also use a moisture absorbing bag on the top of the dash.

Look here for examples:-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=car+damp+absorber+reusable

 

HTH

 

Thanks. AG Falco

 

Thankyou AG Falco

 

I very rarely put the air in recirculaton mode (only when I'm behind a smoky diesel)

I do have a couple of those damp absorbing bags on the back parcel shelf (the back window still mists up)

I'll try giving the windscreen a thorough cleaning but in the Octavia there was never an issue, maybe the

aircon in the Fabia just isn't as efficient.

 

3 hours ago, trevorrg22 said:

I do have a couple of those damp absorbing bags on the back parcel shelf (the back window still mists up)

Sounds like the car is damp.

 

After the sunroof was left open one rainy night, I had water in the bottom of the footwells of a previous car.

I ran a dehumidifier in the car to remove it.

 

Thanks. AG Falco

The observation about demisting issues is bang on. When we updated to a 2023 Fabia mc we thought that starting in the cold weather would be a much improved experience over our 22 year old old diesel.  It has proved to be a considerable disappointment and I cursed that I never investigated this. There was nothing mentioned in the many reviews I looked at.  I was expecting naively innovations like heated elements in the windscreen.  Like most cars ours is left outside and initially, winter 2023 it could take me 15 minutes to feel safe about driving off.  On a few occasions I'd reckon we were all set but find within about 100 metres that vision was again badly compromised and would have to pull in and wipe the windows again.

 

Things that have helped :

 

1 A moisture absorbing pouch left in the Fabia towards the front of the dashboard.  The ill conceived surface of the dashboard means it slides off in motion.  However, we had considerable problems with setting up a sat nav which wouldn't attach to the dash.  We bought a circular shaped Nav-mat which when turned 180 degrees provides a  secure base for the bag.  The car does mainly local trips but sat nav attachment problems were initially a major source of annoyance.

 

2 Immediately whacking up the temperature on the air con to around 27 degrees with boost on front and rear.

 

3 An extendable handle windscreen wipe pad with a swivel for the pad.  This is invaluable because much of the windscreen and side windows is out of reach from the driver's seat.

 

4 A small Vileda squeegee to wipe the outside of the windows.  Well worth the expense.

 

5 Patience. Trying to remember before leaving the house to allow for time lost  before driving.  It takes at least 5-10 minutes, depending on the conditions, before it's safe to leave. 

 

6 Looking on this forum in hope of more ideas.

 

If the damp traps dont collect moisture then there is not water leaking into the cabin, what has been described sounds like the film that can build up on glass after a car has been valeted for sale, there wont be condensation as in drips but a foggy haze that builds up as soon as you breathe in the car or if wearing damp clothing or if said clothing has been left in the car.

 

A thorough solvent cleaning of all the glass will probably yield a marked improvement.

My wife's 2015 Fabia gets this, first time I encountered it I couldn't believe how long it took to clear before I could safely drive off, 

 

Now the car has two Pingi dehumidifiers on the dash, I also use a damp synthetic chamois to clear the screen on the inside, tilt the sun visors towards the screen to reflect the blower air to screen rather than roof, booster on full (4), air-con on, ETA: non-recirculate mode [fresh air from outside the car], I may also put the front windows down.

 

Now fighting against VWŠkoda back door leak but hopefully your Fabia is too young to have that yet, just two of the VWŠkoda Fabia's less desirable features.

   

Edited 25 December, 20241 yr by nta16
typos

On 21/12/2024 at 22:22, AGFalco said:

Sounds like the car is damp.

 

After the sunroof was left open one rainy night, I had water in the bottom of the footwells of a previous car.

I ran a dehumidifier in the car to remove it.

 

Thanks. AG Falco

Thanks, AG Falco.

My roof is panoramic but it doesn't open, it's just a fixed glass roof - it's nice to have the extra light inside.

On 23/12/2024 at 10:08, bazz2004 said:

The observation about demisting issues is bang on. When we updated to a 2023 Fabia mc we thought that starting in the cold weather would be a much improved experience over our 22 year old old diesel.  It has proved to be a considerable disappointment and I cursed that I never investigated this. There was nothing mentioned in the many reviews I looked at.  I was expecting naively innovations like heated elements in the windscreen.  Like most cars ours is left outside and initially, winter 2023 it could take me 15 minutes to feel safe about driving off.  On a few occasions I'd reckon we were all set but find within about 100 metres that vision was again badly compromised and would have to pull in and wipe the windows again.

 

Things that have helped :

 

1 A moisture absorbing pouch left in the Fabia towards the front of the dashboard.  The ill conceived surface of the dashboard means it slides off in motion.  However, we had considerable problems with setting up a sat nav which wouldn't attach to the dash.  We bought a circular shaped Nav-mat which when turned 180 degrees provides a  secure base for the bag.  The car does mainly local trips but sat nav attachment problems were initially a major source of annoyance.

 

2 Immediately whacking up the temperature on the air con to around 27 degrees with boost on front and rear.

 

3 An extendable handle windscreen wipe pad with a swivel for the pad.  This is invaluable because much of the windscreen and side windows is out of reach from the driver's seat.

 

4 A small Vileda squeegee to wipe the outside of the windows.  Well worth the expense.

 

5 Patience. Trying to remember before leaving the house to allow for time lost  before driving.  It takes at least 5-10 minutes, depending on the conditions, before it's safe to leave. 

 

6 Looking on this forum in hope of more ideas.

 

Thanks Bazz2004

 

I've cleaned the inside of the windscreen this morning with autglym glass cleaner and used an artificial chamois type cloth to thoroughly dry it.

I will dry out my moisture absorbing pouch (it's one of those you microwave or dry in the oven) and put that near the windscreen.

Edited 25 December, 20241 yr by trevorrg22

On 23/12/2024 at 11:30, J.R. said:

If the damp traps dont collect moisture then there is not water leaking into the cabin, what has been described sounds like the film that can build up on glass after a car has been valeted for sale, there wont be condensation as in drips but a foggy haze that builds up as soon as you breathe in the car or if wearing damp clothing or if said clothing has been left in the car.

 

A thorough solvent cleaning of all the glass will probably yield a marked improvement.

Thanks, J.R.
I've cleaned the inside of the windscreen with Autoglym glass cleaner this morning

 

20 hours ago, nta16 said:

My wife's 2015 Fabia gets this, first time I encountered it I couldn't believe how long it took to clear before I could safely drive off, 

 

Now the car has two Pingi dehumidifiers on the dash, I also use a damp synthetic chamois to clear the screen on the inside, tilt the sun visors towards the screen to reflect the blower air to screen rather than roof, booster on full (4), air-con on, recirculate mode, I may also put the front windows down.

 

Now fighting against VWŠkoda back door leak but hopefully your Fabia is too young to have that yet, just two of the VWŠkoda Fabia's less desirable features.

   

Thank you.

I've got one dehumidifier pad like that, will get another. 
I cleaned the windscreen today with autoglym glass cleaner and synthetic chamois (I'd forgotten that was in the car).

55 minutes ago, trevorrg22 said:

Thank you.

I've got one dehumidifier pad like that, will get another. 
I cleaned the windscreen today with autoglym glass cleaner and synthetic chamois (I'd forgotten that was in the car).

 

Sorry I've just seen a typo, I meant to put I set the air to come from outside not not recirculate.

 

My wife's car hasn't got a glass roof, I'm sure things would be even worse if it did.  My neighbour's car had a full length glass roof (but with an internal cover) and I don't remember the condensation in that being anywhere near as bad as in the Fabia but that sat on the opposite side of the road so different conditions.

 

The Fabia is parked in a loose routine of opposite end in i.e. boot or bonnet road end but I rarely drive it so have no idea if this makes any difference, it makes a difference to potential of front being on windscreen if the windscreen cover and in 16 years of another neighbour's car being parked in the same position it made a difference to the amount of underside rust on his car, one side had more than the other, so when I drove it I would park it facing the opposite way to try to even things out a bit, the fading on the upholstery showed it was parked one-way for many years. So perhaps you could try parking in a different position or way round and see if that helps any.

 

As we've lived in the same place since 1982 I have a good base of reference and I've noticed in the last 7 years or so the winters have been more mild and damp so that moss has grown on the back 'garden' path where it never grew in the previous 35 years.

 

Edited 25 December, 20241 yr by nta16

The suggestion of a glass cleaner to prevent condensation developing is interesting.  It's finding something suitable that's the  challenge.  Promises of sparkling crystal clear windscreens on the bottle and enthusiastic Amazon Vine reviews aren't reliable guides.  Anybody know of a lasting treatment that will help prevent condensation or reduce its persistence?   I'm thinking that there may be no such product.

9 minutes ago, bazz2004 said:

Anybody know of a lasting treatment that will help prevent condensation or reduce its persistence?

I've found Rain-X anti-fog quite good. Ok, it doesn't prevent interior fogging, but does reduce density and persistence.

The thing with a cleaner is that the next time the car is used the glass is less clean, or even sitting not used.

 

I have no proof, other than using 20-50+ year old cars as dallies for 30+ years, that more modern cars have so much more glass on them, being bigger bloated vehicles, and the fantastic-plastics used in them give off more stuff to scum-up the windscreens more and and for more years into the life of the car, all part of the changes to life, manufacturers profits and executives wages, bonuses and pensions have to come from somewhere. 😁

 

8 hours ago, bazz2004 said:

Anybody know of a lasting treatment that will help prevent condensation or reduce its persistence? 

Any glass cleaner first, then when dry:-

Wipe the windows with new unused clean paper towel for every wipe you do, works for me.

 

 

6 hours ago, nta16 said:

modern cars have so much more glass on them

They are better insulated so will hold the humid air inside the car.

 

If you want to have no condensation in the car every morning then you can:-

Leave the windows slightly open all night.

This will then even out the temperature difference between the outside and the inside of the windows.

Then there is no cold surface for the condensation the form on.

 

Ventilation is the key to stop any build up.

 

After installing a PIV ventilation system in my property, I have never had any condensation appear any where.

https://www.nuaire.co.uk/residential/positive-input-ventilation

 

 

Thanks. AG Falco

Remember to take damp coats, dehumidifiers, clothes etc. out of the car when you get home.

The dehumidifiers need warming to dry the crystals out and don't put wet kit, or

windscreen covers in the boot and leave them they all connect to the cars cockpit.

PS the car is not necessarily airtight so in effect the dehumidifier packs will try to dry out the planet!😄

Edited 29 December, 20241 yr by gumdrop

Not a vacuum, or air or H20 tight, but still gets flaps behind at the rear & before the rear bumper to let out pressure.

 

The Damp Traps can do a good job.

Slightly down windows can help but then Wind Deflectors are needed really. 

(means you can put an extension lead into the car when parked upand use a Green House heater in the coldest weather set above 0*oC and stop glass icing up. Remember to remove before driving off...)

 

 

Edited 29 December, 20241 yr by Ootohere

Thanks for 

On 24/12/2024 at 14:31, nta16 said:

Now the car has two Pingi dehumidifiers on the dash.

   

 

Thank you for the information. I didn't know about this type of reusable dehumidifier for the car, only the single use boxed ones for the home. I,ve bought a "wannabe pingi" (wonder if there is a difference in quality or if you just pay extra for the name, any experiences?)  curious if it makes a difference. 

 

We started with one Pingi bag but I reverse the information instructions on the bag (my mid often does this, left/right, up/down) and I put the bag in the micro wave when it was dry and melted the bag  so when I opened the microwave door I spilled loads of tiny balls off the plate onto the floor.  So when I replaced it I bought two instead of one, more effective with two in the Fabia.

 

A neighbours uses a pair of cleaned old socks to hols cat litter and puts that in their car, I don't think it works and the damps socks give the car a musty smell that they seem to have got so used to they don't notice it, but I do.  I dried the socks and cat litter out, sprayed the car interior with air freshener and it was better but the socks still had a slight pong.  I have difficulty persuading him that often internet wisdom, Facebook, internet reviews and not always to be trusted and like many that Amazon isn't the only supplier in the world (and often not the lowest priced provider).  At least he's not as bad as another neighbour that spends no end on Temu and usually get crap products.

 

I tried the suggestion of slightly opening the windows when starting but encountered an issue in that small adjustments are very difficult.  The Fabia 4 mc has four electric windows and they all shoot up and down failing to cooperate by stopping where I want them to.  

You want one or both front windows fully down, if not one or both half, third, quarter down depending on what the weather is and which way things are blowing.

 

For the one-touch (automatic) drop window setting see your Owner's Manual' for operation and perhaps setting, you might have to anticipate it a bit, like when the older of us had to park the windscreen wipers, but you soon learn to allow for the delay.  When you had cars without air-con dropping the windows was the air-con, often known as 4/60 air-con -  drop four windows and drive at 60 mph.

 

VWŠkoda Owner's Manuals. - https://manual.skoda-auto.com/004/en-com/Models

 

 

 

I was just looking for suggestions for my mk3 2019 Fabia.
Its ****ing terrible for misting up. I don't think there any leaks, not that I'm aware of.
I try and leave the windows cracked open when i can and crank the heater up with the windows down a bit in an attempt to evaporate any moisture in the air system. 
Was looking at that anti fogging stuff you can get but read more negative reviews than positive so held off buying some.
Anyone tried it?

Just now, Gonzini said:

Was looking at that anti fogging stuff you can get but read more negative reviews than positive so held off buying some.
Anyone tried it?

Yes, and I found Rain-X Anti-Fog quite effective.

@Gonzini if you've not already read it see my post of 24 December.  I've only used Rain-X anti-fog in the 1990s on my mother-in-law's VW Golf and I didn't find it any good at the time but have always been a fan of the exterior rain repellent, Rain-X at that time (mainly for making the windscreen and headlights (glass lenses) easier to clean on the old cars I had with more upright windscreens that caught all the bugs but took more speed to get the rain water spreading off the screen.  I think the German marques have liked their fantastic plastics on interiors (and engines) for many decades that give off gawd knows what for many years, plus the more modern cars have so much glass on them and as someone else put are more sealed now.  I've never thought a lot of the airflow inside modern cars so prefer having the window(s) down a bit at least when possible.  Plus the weather is different now to even 10 years ago.