Windows steam up in winter

[AJay]

Hi,

I've had 3 Subies, 1999 latest. In the winter after about 5 minutes of
driving the windows start to get covered with condensation. The rear
windows are the worst because I can use defroster on front window.

Does anyone know how to prevent this?

Thanks,
Ajay

 

[Todd H.]

Hi,

I've had 3 Subies, 1999 latest. In the winter after about 5 minutes of
driving the windows start to get covered with condensation. The rear
windows are the worst because I can use defroster on front window.

Does anyone know how to prevent this?

Do you have the recirculat eswitch on? Stuck on? Are your fresh air
intake vents along the outside wiper ridge covered by snow?

 

[Mark T.B. Carroll]

I've had 3 Subies, 1999 latest. In the winter after about 5 minutes of
driving the windows start to get covered with condensation. The rear
windows are the worst because I can use defroster on front window.

Does anyone know how to prevent this?

I had a bit of a problem with my STI in the winter. I blew outside air
into it with the a/c and heater on, which helped a bit. I also used that
rain-x interior glass treatment, which helped a lot.

-- Mark

 

[AdvarP]

CAUTION

If you use Rain-X and have tinted windows chances are you will bubble up the
tinting. Check with Rain-X although they won't redo the tinting for you if
tgeir product screws it up. Any experiences anyone would like to tell us
about ?

 

[Ragnar]

Hi,

I've had 3 Subies, 1999 latest. In the winter after about 5 minutes of
driving the windows start to get covered with condensation. The rear
windows are the worst because I can use defroster on front window.

Does anyone know how to prevent this?

Thanks,
Ajay

Stop breathing, it causes condensation.

 

[y_p_w]

CAUTION

If you use Rain-X and have tinted windows chances are you will bubble up the
tinting. Check with Rain-X although they won't redo the tinting for you if
tgeir product screws it up. Any experiences anyone would like to tell us
about ?

The product referenced was probably Rain-X Anti-Fog. It shouldn't
cause a problem with factory windows where the tint is in the glass.
I will say that you have make sure it's really clean because it seems
to make it worse if it's on and water condenses on dirty glass.

If it was really bad, I would just get a murky looking condensation on
the Rain-X Anti-Fog treated window.

 

[pheasant]

crack your window 3/8" to let hot air out.

 

[FH]

Hi,

I've had 3 Subies, 1999 latest. In the winter after about 5 minutes of
driving the windows start to get covered with condensation. The rear
windows are the worst because I can use defroster on front window.

Does anyone know how to prevent this?

Thanks,
Ajay

I had that problem once in an other make, and it turned out to be a
pinhole leak in a heater line. Finally was diagnosed by the smell of
ethylene glycol in the car.

 

[isquat]

Stop breathing, it causes condensation.

alternatively move the action into the bedroom

 

[Ron N.]

I've had 3 Subies, 1999 latest. In the winter after about 5 minutes of
driving the windows start to get covered with condensation. The rear
windows are the worst because I can use defroster on front window.

Does anyone know how to prevent this?

There might be something wet inside that's warming up and
raising the interior humidity while the windows stay cold.
I would make sure the car's interior is bone dry by leaving it
in a dry and heated garage with the windows wide open for an
extended period (or out in the sun with the windows cracked if
it's sunny and warm enough for the interior to greenhouse).

If you have wet stuff, put it in the truck or enclosed
container, not the back seat. If you get in wet, then let
the car warm up a little and run both the AC and heat to help
dehumidify the interior and dry yourself out. If the humidity
is lower outside the car than inside, don't run recirc.

Make sure the interior glass is really clean (less condensation
nuclei). I use a small squeegee and clean the glass twice.

I had a friend who had a leaking heater core, but you should
be able to spot that by the smell. Another old car had AC
ducting with a low spot that would gather a puddle internally.


IMHO. YMMV.