Condensation

Before I begin, I have read several threads on this topic on LandyZone and have checked what I can following those threads' tips. I can't find any pooling of water or damp anywhere inside the vehicle.

It manifests as follows: when it's damp in the air or raining, if I leave the car parked up, when I return shortly after, the front windscreen is soaking wet with condensation on the inside. Same for first thing in the morning, and evening if it's been left, and conditions are damp. No condensation when conditions are like today - cold but crisp.

My other vehicles just don't do this in the same conditions so I don't know what's going on. The other night I was at a supper, - very cold night, comparatively dry, hadn't rained. We all came out, they all jumped in their cars and immediately drove off, I was sat there with my aircon on the screen full blast and the heated screen thingy on, and sat there... and sat there...

Is this normal for Freelanders? What might be the cause? And what might I do about it?

If you have rubber mats in the car, check under the front passenger side one.

You may find the carpet sodden, due to a leaking heater matrix - mind you this would also be accompanied by drop in coolant, so if you are not loosing coolant, then that won't be an issue.

I'm guessing it is a 3 door? let me put it to you this way, it's a land rover, with moving or removable roof parts, it's destined to leak like a sieve.

Meerkat1234 said:

Is this normal for Freelanders? What might be the cause? And what might I do about it?

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Knowing what Freelander it is would help.

GrumpyGel said:

If you have rubber mats in the car, check under the front passenger side one.

You may find the carpet sodden, due to a leaking heater matrix - mind you this would also be accompanied by drop in coolant, so if you are not loosing coolant, then that won't be an issue.

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Yes, I have done that as part of all the checks - completely dry. All footwells and carpets are dry.

Nodge68 said:

Knowing what Freelander it is would help.

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It's a GS SD4.

Jayridium said:

I'm guessing it is a 3 door? let me put it to you this way, it's a land rover, with moving or removable roof parts, it's destined to leak like a sieve.

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It's a 5 door. I had a Range Rover many moons ago, and that never did this. This is my first Freelander though, and I've only had it a few weeks.

How is the cabin filter, have you checked it also?

Stance said:

How is the cabin filter, have you checked it also?

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No I haven't, how may I do that?

Stance said:

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Thanks! I'll have a check.

Pollen filter most likely to be soggy because the a/c drain is clogged with bacterial jelly. On a right-hand drive FL2 the drain is under the carpet on the LH side of the drivers footwell. Dig it out, unclog it, and stick it back in with some sealant.

Meerkat1234 said:

It's a GS SD4.

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Mine also fogs up sometimes, this was 10 this morning, after it had been parked for a couple of hours.
I've put down to excess water in the atmosphere (it was absolutely chucking it down this morning), or weeping heater matrix, which would also explain my slight coolant loss.

Nodge68 said:

Mine also fogs up sometimes, this was 10 this morning, after it had been parked for a couple of hours.View attachment 278731
I've put down to excess water in the atmosphere (it was absolutely chucking it down this morning), or weeping heater matrix, which would also explain my slight coolant loss.

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How could I check the weeping heater matrix? Mine is a *lot* worse than that! All over the windscreen and quite "thick" if you know what I mean, in damp conditions if I pop to the shops for about an hour.

Meerkat1234 said:

How could I check the weeping heater matrix? Mine is a *lot* worse than that! All over the windscreen and quite "thick" if you know what I mean, in damp conditions if I pop to the shops for about an hour.

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Mine only gets it if I've been driving in the rain, and only ever after the car has cooled off.

You can get a special dye you put in the coolant, which is fluorescent under UV light from a UV touch.
The idea being that the AC drain will also carry away any coolant from the heater matrix, which can then be seen to glow on the floor beneath the car when lit with the UV torch.
It's on my to do list.

Do you see 'steam' coming from the vents in the dash? If you do, it is a soggy pollen filter caused by blocked a/c drain or leaky matrix.

No steam coming from the vents. Garage checked it over for me - they say all the filters etc are fine. Weather has changed, I bought one of those humidifier "bean bag" type thing, problem is less but I don't know if the bag's working or there wouldn't have been condensation anyway as the weather changed so drastically.

Mine mists up easily when parked. Way to solve it is to the run the air con with fresh air coming in. Or open a windiw while driving to flush fresh air in.

Fill an old sock with kitty litter (preferably not used) and leave it on your dash to soak up the excess moisture.