Car mists up when fan is on & vents are open

[NeilMcK]

Not posted for a while as the car has been going well, apart from needing a new radiator and ARB bushes.

Passed it'm mot last week at 103k miles and needed - a stop lamp bulb.

I've had my Toledo for about a year now, and I've fixed all of the known water leaks - replaced the door ancillary carrier seals, cut small wedges in the door botton seals below the drain holes, got the cable grommet re-sealed etc. and my car seems totally dry inside.
It was an indoor swimming pool when I got it, but the stealer nicely dried it out before I picked it up.

However, after it has been raining the car rapidly mists up with a nasty damp smell coming from the vents. The only solution is to open the windows or stick the air-con on.
It then clears and the wiff goes away.

I suspect I have water in the ventilation system and suspect the pollen filter is wet, but on checking it is always dry.

I think it may be the seal between the pollen filter housing and the bulkhead, but before I start ripping things apart I was wondering if anyone else had this issue and what it was.

I have searched the other threads but no joy.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Cheers,

Neil.

 

[car_guy143]

I had this problem like you but seems to have gone away since i had the skuttle panel removed while i changed my wiper motor. When i removed my panel i found a lot of the foam soundproofing was soaking wet through and all mouldy with a bad musty smell. I removed all this foam and the car is now slowly drying out and doesn't steam up anywhere near as much as what it used to. I just need to sort out my door seals and then i'll be just fine

Did you use a guide on here for the door seals?

 

[NeilMcK]

Thanks for the feedback, I will check that out. It's really frustrating as the carpets are totally dry.

Yes, I used the door seal guide from here or VW vortex.

It's a relatively easy job. It took me about 30 mins per door.

I went the route of buying the sealing cord from the dealer, I can't remember the part number unfortunately, but it was well worth it. I think they undercharged me as it cost only £15 rather than the £28 + vat quoted elsewhere on the forum.

The key thing is to use something to scrape the old seal completely off both the door and ancillary carrier when you prize off the ancillary carrier and I used alcohol to totally clean it as well. I didn't bother with the cheaper silicone sealant fix as I like to do things only once.

I also got new trim clips as well as I broke a few, they're only pennies and means you can get it all back together with no rattles. A door trim tool from halfords was also a good investment as well.

The doors are 100% dry now.

Good luck and welcome to swimming pool cars ;-)

 

[car_guy143]

Good luck and welcome to swimming pool cars ;-)

I'm used to it, my first car was a 106 with a sunroof. It leaked whenever i went round a right hand bend, not bad for me, but the passenger didn't like it! lol But i couldn't complain for the 200quid the car cost me. lol

If you do decide to have a look at the foam i was on about, here's a quick guide for you:-

1. Remove wiper bolt covers using a flat headed screw driver.
2. Remove the wiper arms by undoing the nuts and removing them. They will be on very tight. I used a center punch on the wiper nut with lots of gentle tapping from a hammer along with someone else gently pulling the wipers up to remove them. WD40 helps here.
3. Remove the pollen filter cover.
4. Remove the skuttle panel by gently pulling upwards, it's easier if you start on the passenger side.
5. Once you removed the skuttle panel you will see two small trays underneath it, remove these by pulling them gently towards you in a downward motion.
6. You will then see the wiper mechanism, pollen filter, wiring etc. If you feel under the windscreen from the bonnet you will feel the foam in question. It was hanging down on mine it was that wet!
7. To refit simply do the above in reverse. When you come to refit the skuttle panel, you will see a grove on the bottom of the windscreen seal. You will see a notch sticking out along the bottom of the skuttle panel, simply push this down hard into the groove to refit it. To refit your wiper arms, make sure the wiper motor is parked (turn your wipers on and off). Then it's simply a case of trial and error to get the wiper arms back on in the right position. Check and adjust the wiper arms by testing your wipers and keep doing it till you get them on so they don't catch on anything.

Hope this helps.

 

[ironside]

If you do what has been suggested above its worth checking the seal around the bottom of the pollen filter housing,whip the filter out,there are 2 plastic nuts holing the housing to the scuttle,around the bottom is shitty foam seal simalar to the aux panals on the door will prob have perished ,this lets water into the heater box,it SHOULD drain out via a weep drain (look directly below the filter on the bulkhead under the sound insulation)-make sure this is clear,if not water will sit in heater box and cause misting up and smell.Worth checking the drains at the ends of the scuttle panal at each end are clear of leaves etc.

Hope this helps

Dave

 

[l18oud]

hi i have the same problem if you want to clear it quick prss the air con button and check the pollen filter at the top right of the bonnet

 

[car_guy143]

hi i have the same problem if you want to clear it quick prss the air con button and check the pollen filter at the top right of the bonnet

I would do if my aircon works lol

 

[l18oud]

oh i have also heard that the rear can leak mine has a slight leak around the boot seal check the bottom for splits or look at the bottom of the door seals for signs of water coming through i hope this helps

 

[ruairidoc]

Yeah Mine also does that!. If you keep one of the Windows Slightly open it helps!
Would Cold Air or Warm Air clear it faster?

 

[l18oud]

hi put you air con on at 26 and fans on level 2 or 3 and put it on mid fan the button in between the up and down arrow my parents have a seat Alhambra and theirs steams up in this weather i think its a SEAT fault