Condensation and tinted windows

[des]

I'm plagued by condensation on the cold days (can't be the only one), the heater does work and clears the front windscreen, but the side windows are a constant problem, does anyone know if getting them tinted helps ? I was thinking the plastic film on the inside should help. Or anyone got a better idea ?

[Scoobasteve7]

Be careful if you tint your windows.
The new NCT laws are strict on trying to stop people tiniting the front windows nowadays.

I have the same problem in my corolla. I normally just open the windows all the way down and wear a good warm jacket. or a little bit and they clear quick enough.

You could try using shampoo. Thats what rally drivers use to stop their windscreens fogging up on the stages. I presume it would help with the side windows too.

[keith]

check for damp inside the car.... under the carpets & the underlay. if you can manage to park it some place *secure* and dry, leave the windows open 2cm. including the rears if they open.

[Frisco]

Yeah really bad condensation on the inside usually means there is a leak somewhere. Fitting tints won't help

[daveq]

You could have a leak or you could have normal condensation due to the weather, if its not a leak then you need to get the moisture out of the car.

Warm air holds more moisture than cold. When it hits a cold surface below its dew point (i.e. the glass) it condenses and the water is removed from the air and deposited on the cold surface. If your clothes/shoes/carpet whatever are damp or have rain etc on them that is brought into the car and therefore the air in it. When the car is warm the air absorbs the moisture and then dumps it onto the cold glass. That's why its always worse on a cold wet day when you get into the car. If you turn on the demister and heat the glass it warms up the glass to the same temp or higher as the air, therefore putting the moisture back into the air, so it never actually leaves the car. Clean the glass to remove extra moisture, and any oils from finger prints etc. Then next time you're out for a drive, get the car nice and warm and drive around with windows open or whatever to get the moisture out. If this doesn’t work after doing this 2 or 3 times, then you could have a leak, bad seal - door/window, cracked glass or something letting in moisture.

Why is there no condensation in the car before you get in, in the morning and start it?
Because the air in the car is as cold as the windows so all are holding the same amount of moisture.
Where is the moisture then?
All over your car, think of what is on the glass spread throughout all the carpet, seats, roofliner etc they don't feel damp because its so spread out over such an area.

[DAVEY_C]

would it be from breath also?... as said above, 1 of the things about mini's is the nessesity to drive at times with the side windows down to help defog and decondensate the side windows, its part of the parcel.

although if you do have a leak and if you leave it to persist the car will go mouldy so best to sort it.