Ok.. so i've searched and read a few threads involving the interior moisture issues ...

 

My car fogs up on the inside a bit much... I live in a snowy area, and always assumed it was that, I have looked and never noticed any patterns of arrival.

 

I cant pinpoint any leak or source other than my snowy feet. There could very well be another source, but my issue is more with how to get rid of the moisture. yes a band-aid

 

So What i didnt find in other threads was how do most of you deal with excessive moisture?

heater?

chemicals?

some sort of dehumidifier?

 

 

 

looks like i may have to buy a small space heater to dry out the car!

I have a 99 forester and I have the same problem. My problem only occurs during the snowy season and I assume it is due to all of the moisture boought in on my and my passengers feet. Once the snow leaves, the problem is gone. If you only have the problem during the snowy season and you aren't getting any coolant smell, I wouldn't think you have a bad heater core. Some of these cars are so well sealed that the moisture cannot get out. Use one of the Dap Rid containers. Place it under the driver or passenger seat and it will absorb the moisture and helpo you keep the fogging to a minimum.

if you can bear the cold, drive wit the windows down, crack open the rear ones at least, put on the floor heat, get some air moving through the car

the ac is responsible for removing the moisture from the cabin. when you turn on the defrost it comes on automatically (it also opens the outside vents and cancels 'recirculation' if it was on). if it is not working correctly then you will not remove any moisture. turn on the AC with the heat? maybe that will help.

 

there is also the chance that the moisture dripping from the ac is dripping inside the car, not the out side as it should.

I found that leaving my vents on "fresh" keeps things from fogging up. This is also covered in the manual.

Ok.. guess i didnt word my initial post properly.

 

My car has Excessive moisture build up.

 

I dont drive my car very often, and usually only very short distances, so I dont have the opportunity to really get it all dried out.

 

I understand how AC and defrost works as well as leaving the vents on fresh air, sorta common sense, but doesnt solve the problem.

 

I'm quite sure the AC is draining correctly, or was in the summer.

 

I have been trying to leave the windows down when i actually have the car on long enough to defrost the ice on the floor.

 

I shake out the snowy rubber mat and the floor mat after every few drives, and obviously attempt to keep the snow out to begin with.

 

The main problem is it doesnt warm up enough outside to get all the moisture out combined with not driving long enough.

 

So I was wondering what Other options there are? and that people have experience with. What do others that live in persistently cold and snowy areas do?

yes a general car question i suppose. thanks...

Edited February 16, 201016 yr by D13

Dehumidifier?

Do you have a sunroof? They are designed to leak...and then drain. If you do, keeping the moisture out is going to be tough especially if you're not getting the car warm enough to evaporate it all.

 

Hence, yeah, the dehumidifier chemical thingys.

In my case I park my car in an unheated garage and leave the windows open so that any moisture inside has a chance to get out. If you don't have a garage then you'll just have to either live with it or figure out a way to get it dry inside. Until you do get it dry you'll have the moisture build up.

Do you have a sunroof? They are designed to leak...and then drain. If you do, keeping the moisture out is going to be tough especially if you're not getting the car warm enough to evaporate it all.

 

Hence, yeah, the dehumidifier chemical thingys.

 

+1 the sunroof can aid you and the dehumidifie stuff..

thinking back i had a very small bout of this once, but it cured itself so i didn't have to figure it out. occasionally my climate control gets stuck and doesn't want to change from windshield/floor to anything else. i avoid using that button as much as i can.

 

so you have 2 problems, excessive moisture and you don't drive it long enough to eliminate the moisture.

 

maybe the excess is due to a malfunctioning AC unit. specifically the vent doors under the dash that vent to the outside are not opening as they should. and so you never eliminate any moisture and it accumulates in the car.

 

a cheap diagnosis may be to leave the car running at idle in the driveway for 3 or 4 hours (it probably won't take this long) with the AC and heat on full. if this does not eliminate the moisture then something is not working right. and it would only take 2 - 3 gallons of fuel to find out, less than 10$.

 

any way, good luck with it and let us know what you learn.

if you have ongoing moisture, or it gets soaked in war,mer weather, i have found that athleets foot spray will kill and prevent mildew smell in the car. just something to consider if your moisture becomes stale after a bit.

thinking back i had a very small bout of this once, but it cured itself so i didn't have to figure it out. occasionally my climate control gets stuck and doesn't want to change from windshield/floor to anything else. i avoid using that button as much as i can.

 

so you have 2 problems, excessive moisture and you don't drive it long enough to eliminate the moisture.

 

maybe the excess is due to a malfunctioning AC unit. specifically the vent doors under the dash that vent to the outside are not opening as they should. and so you never eliminate any moisture and it accumulates in the car.

 

a cheap diagnosis may be to leave the car running at idle in the driveway for 3 or 4 hours (it probably won't take this long) with the AC and heat on full. if this does not eliminate the moisture then something is not working right. and it would only take 2 - 3 gallons of fuel to find out, less than 10$.

 

any way, good luck with it and let us know what you learn.

 

+1 here.. but crack all four windows an inch or so and let it run for awhile in the driveway with the heat on full blast. that should help evaporate any excessive moisture..

 

also, is this a wagon or sedan?? check where the spare tire is and see if its full of water/ice. you may have a leak in the back somewhere that causes water to stay in the car. had it happen on one of mine years ago... it was a leaky taillight in a sedan that caused the water to get in the rear compartments in the floor..

Edited February 18, 201016 yr by themoneypit

Well.. I have taken the obvious steps.. dry out the floor matts and get them outta there to let the rest dry out. and leaving the windows down as much as possible. It doesnt fog up excessively anymore.. and has dried out a bit.. but the drivers side floor is still quite wet..

 

The good news is I will be taking a four hour drive next week, so that should give me an opportunity to dry it out. without just letting it run in the parking lot. So It should be all dried out by next week.. hopefully spring will arrive soon and Ill just have to worry about rain and slush.

 

Most of the other tips on what the check have been helpful, hopefully i wont find anything to worry about.

if you can get ahold of a shop vac, use that to suck out water soaked into the carpets/insulation underneath. sucking out the water with a shop vac is almost like using a steam carpet cleaner., if you use any cleaning products while at it. i still recommend the athletes' foot spray if the car starts to smell musty