Why do the windows in my Fabia vrs always steam up after I've left the car overnight?

I dont have any leaks- or at least i havent found any.

Is it something to do with the aircon?

It'll be a beggar to clear if we get a frost in the morning.

Any thoughts please?

Do you leave the air vents closed or leave the car in recirc mode? If not, it does sound like you might have a leak and worth checking to see if the pollen filter is blocked and that the door seals/cards aren't wet....

Chris

I have noticed steamy windows recently since replacing the cabin filter on my Fabia. I bought a pollen filter (white) from the dealer servicing the car to replace the original one.

I think the factory fit cabin filter was a carbon filter which is slightly black when new and when this was installed I didn't experience steamy windows or demisting problems like I have now, particularly the front screen.

My car doesn't have any leaks - they were all fixed under warranty in the summer this year. I am just wondering if the white pollen filters that dealers are selling, restrict airflow to a greater extent than the originals? Has anyone else encountered this?

Sounds like a leak to me, the carpets might appear to be dry though. Its possible the water is coming in through where the pollen filter is located and being absorbed into the sound deadning material underneath the carpet. You need to get underneath the carpet and check that its dry underneath.

Thanks Mannyo.

I'll have a close look at what you suggest tomorrow in the light.

Never owned a car that didn't mist up in the winter/wet weather to some extent. Be no need to fit demisters otherwise, or have a windscreen position for the fan. Saying that though, my Fabia vRS is the worst car for it, but then again my Polo isn't much better, and my old Astra had the reat side windows almost permanently misted. Tried using a demisting cloth? £1.99 from Halfords.

my Fabia vRS is the worst car for it, but then again my Polo isn't much better

My Fabia vRS mists easily, as did SWMBO's 2001 Polo. Our Lupo isn't so bad.

I think the factory fit cabin filter was a carbon filter which is slightly black when new

I *think* the black filters are for AC cars, the white for not. Not 100% certain though. Certainly my A3 with climate had a black filter.

There are two different sorts availalbe.

A paper element for pollen filtration

A paper and carbon element for pollen and odours

My VW Bora was terrible at steaming up. I guess its a VAG thing

Ive found my Fabia to be really bad at steaming up this past few days or so , a few mins with the a/c on and in recirc soon sorts it tho , and I have no leaks in the car whatsoever.....maybe it is the particular weather conditions just now that are causing this? Having said that my Octavias were just as bad , is it something to do with AC equipped VAG cars? , never had a problem with any AC equipped Mitsubishis Ive had! At least I don't have to spray de-icer on the inside of the 'screen like I had to do with my aircooled Beetles!

every car i've ever had (fiat panda,106.saxo,fiesta,2000 fabia and now my 56 fabia are all misty in the mornings and at night).

putting my car away tonight i've noticed that the rear window is wet on the inside but i think this is cause i had the air con on today.

should all the vents be open and where should the air flow be pointing too (windscreen,cockpit,floor etc)

is it something to do with AC equipped VAG cars?

My A3 steamed up very little. That was with climate control on all the time.

Mine does it, both my cars do.

Its the wet weather and temp. As you get in and out your car with wet feet is enough to do it, as the car heats up the water condenses on the colder windows.

You can stop it by putting a heater in the car to dry i out, but it will only happen again when you get in the car in the rain.

Shucks, thought this was a comment on Tina Turner's singing.

Alternatively, what were you doing before you left the car ? (Ah, fond memories).

Seriously, as everyone else says, very damp and cold conditions are responsible. 6 months time (hopefully a lot less) and there'll be no such problems.

Notice something about the house windows, at this time of year, first thing in the morning ?

I find my car dosnt mist up as much if i leave the selector thing to point the air at the feet. Still mists up alot tho! Grr

I reckon it might be due to the fact that the VAG cars are sealed well and therefore the water vapour in the air cannot escape. There is water vapour in all air especially in closed environments.

To test this theory when you exit the car after a drive open all doors for 5 mins to let the water vapour leave the car. I try to put the vents on recirc. and drop the blowers to the floor and shut all vents.

honestly try it, it works a real treat!

having mist on your windows does not in any way mean you have a leak. Obviously it can be an indicator to some degree.

what happens is that when you are breathing in the car water vapour from your lungs gets into the air in the car, when you leave the car the vapour in the air does not have chance to leave the car and therefoe hit the windows and turn to condensation.

Try out leaving a large bag of Silica Gel crystals. inside overnight , takes the moisture out of the air . Just dont leasve it on the Dash , as it will leave a mark over time .

I`m glad someone has brought this up. I don`t have air con, but i`ll close all vents and put it in recirc. My front window and the rear don`t just steam up but are wet.

So i`ll see how this goes. It`s the first car i have owned which has done this.

Never had a problem with any of my cars misting up (AC or non AC!). I always leave the vents open and run the car with AC all the time if it's fitted, as well as giving the inside of the windows a good clean every few months with some Windowlene

Chris

i used my wife's fabia vrs for work today and about 3/4 of the windscreen from the top was wet, lots of water running down the screen, we didnt have any rain last night (that i know of). she does leave her horse riding boots in the boot of the car which are always wet this time of year, should we be taking it back to the dealer to check for leakages?

Contrary to others I find that if I leave my car on recirculate it steams up - badly!

Nice to know its not just my mine ..was starting to get concerned !! Always leave the golf clubs and shoes in the boot and thought it was down to that as they are getting a bit wet playing at the moment....due for 20k service soon so i might mention it.

Any ideas about how to leave vents open?

every car i've ever had (fiat panda,106.saxo,fiesta,2000 fabia and now my 56 fabia are all misty in the mornings and at night).

putting my car away tonight i've noticed that the rear window is wet on the inside but i think this is cause i had the air con on today.

should all the vents be open and where should the air flow be pointing too (windscreen,cockpit,floor etc)

last night when i got i my car after work 10.00pm the windows were clear.i shut all the vents and put the blower in the feet position when i left it a 2pm