misted screen

Hi Folks
Happy new year to you all.
I have an o2 reg freelander, the aircon needs a regas and service, the heater pushes out heat and the screen vents all seem to be working.
The car is always steamed up, but having cleaned the inside of the screen with glass cleaner and vinegar, a few hours later a fine layer of film appears that wont disappear with the wipe of a cloth, its like a grease, I have even bought screen wipes but no difference, the car doesn't appear damp inside and the sunroof has been sealed.
could the heater matrix be at fault or will a regas and service solve the prob

thanks Andy

Is the coolant level dropping? If so I would suspect a leak in the heater matrix.

Both of my Freelanders suffer from misty windscreens, it's like the old days when I ran Mini's...

If it mists up with the blower on and its a greasy feeling mist that wont wipe off, its pretty certain that the heater matrix has a pinhole leak. It only takes a tiny leak from the matrix to fog the screen up all the time.

Also check the pollen filter if it has one? Other cars I have had used to do this til I changed the mucky filter. Reminds me- I gotta do mine soon.

by the sound of it its just damp inside

Try putting a dehumidifier in it. That's what I do to mind. Also make sure the mods have been done to allow ventilation flow.

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f9/tired-condensation-front-windscreen-67379-5.html

Nice one hippo gunna take mine apart tomorrow now

as soon as you get into the car drop your window as a lot of the time it is your breath that mists the window up in the cold weather

Mine does the same. But it's not a greasy felling to, it's just condensation.
The car isn't damp at all. Might give the pollen filter a gander now......

Run the aircon if you have it, it will dehumidify the car interior.

Have you checked the fishtank?

Kizzeh said:

Have you checked the fish tank?

Click to expand...

Good point. It's fish and chips night tonight.

Have you tried cleaning the inside of the windscreen?

Do that with a little wash up liquid in the water and some vinegar.

Then put neat wash up liquid on a clean damp cloth and smear it over the inside of the screen, allow to dry and your windscreen will never mist up again

what's the best for condensation

the air con doesn't clear that and i dont really want to wipe it because it leaves it streaky then a pain when the sun is on it

matt1295 said:

what's the best for condensation

the air con doesn't clear that and i dont really want to wipe it because it leaves it streaky then a pain when the sun is on it

Click to expand...

Aircon, if it's working will demist the interior as it dehumidifies unless there are very wet carpets, it will even dry them if the ingress is stopped.

The best option is to allow a flow of air though the car to wash out the damp. Putting the heater on max heat all the time isn't a good option as the rise and fall in temp seems to promote damp in the car. Air con will help but a free air flow will do more. A dehumidifier will clear out the damp quicker, even from the carpets. I put a normal fan in to swirl the air around to help the dehumidifier work quicker. You may have to do it once, then repeat after leaving the car for a few days. If there's a lot of water then it's easier to get the seat out and raise the carpets bit with blocks of wood. then squeeze the carpets and mop up what comes out. There's about 1 inch of foam on the rear of the carpet that loves soaking up water and hiding it. If there is a leak somewhere or there isn't a free flowing air flow while yer driving then the damp will keep returning. Filling the boot full or covering the vent hole in the boot and putting air fans on internal circulation only are all ways to increase the damp, by reducing air flow. There's a fred on ere about the vent mod in the boot to make sure the foam is cut back correctly to allow air flow. If yer been though water above the sills then water could have got in somehow. If the metal cover above the fool tank, under the rear seats isn't fitted or screwed down then water will get in when it splashes up. If the rear end has had a bump or yer been oft road and whacked the rear eggsource bear barrel then you may have split the boot floor seal to the fish tank, which will allow water in when it splashes up. See the you tube vid of someone with a hose pipe finding their splint. Also roof rails can leak. Some have had the rear side windows leak. Others have a poorly fitting rear window and seal. Get the watering can out and investigate. Also take the plastics off around the bottom of the door apertures and feel under the carpet for damp. Check sunroofs and their drain holes are clear.

non of the carpets are wet after i fixed my water leak but on a morning first thing like today was sat in the car for 20 mins before it was clear enough to move and then it was 100%

my air con works a treat but doesnt seem to be much use on a morning

I was lucky to pick one of these up about 4 years ago. It was something like £45 in the sale at the time. They do have a smaller cheaper unit but it's under powered for the volume of space inside a Freelander. Peeps who have reviewed it have said so. Mine can take out 0.5L when I have screen misting problems. Normally on a damp night when coming out of work. Screen is full of water droplets. So I fold the rear seat horizontal, put the dehumidifier on the now horizontal upright section of the rear seat, and small fans in to swirl the air more. It sounds mad but it works for me. When water got in when oft road I got about 3L out. Mine is garaged over night.

Buy Argos Value Range 10 Litre Dehumidifier at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for Dehumidifiers.