Clubjazz - Honda Jazz & HR-V Forums

Honda Jazz Forums => Honda Jazz Mk1 2002-2008 => Topic started by: guest7457 on February 02, 2018, 10:01:15 PM

Title: Rear door windows steaming up
Post by: guest7457 on February 02, 2018, 10:01:15 PM
Looking for a fix for my steamy windows. Only just bought the car and well impressed apart from the windows in rear keep steaming up. Heater blower on 3, heater control set to demist, bakes us in front but rear windows still steaming up. Is this a  common fault with this model, it's a 54 plate. Thanks for any info.
Title: Re: Rear door windows steaming up
Post by: MartinJG on February 02, 2018, 11:03:45 PM

Yes. I have the same problem. Demisting is just not great I am afraid. Think it is down to the greater expanse of glass. Great for all round visibility when it's not, well,  misted up...
Title: Re: Rear door windows steaming up
Post by: Jocko on February 03, 2018, 08:44:32 AM
I never have problems with the rear windows misting. Check for water in the spare wheel well. The roof rails leak on some cars (see other threads for repairing) and this leads to water getting into the rear.
I keep 2 large bags of silica gel in the car, to absorb the day to day moisture caused by wet clothes and the like.

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81CsEio30kL._SL1500_.jpg)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00AZZB5UY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00AZZB5UY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
Title: Re: Rear door windows steaming up
Post by: MikeG1944 on February 03, 2018, 09:17:02 AM
I had that problem with a Voyager once; turned out to be a leaky heater rad. Had a few mechanics fooled for a while. I keep a couple of those silica gel pads in the car, that helps a lot, they do work.
Title: Re: Rear door windows steaming up
Post by: Beaver on February 03, 2018, 12:06:30 PM
I'm not implying that you don't keep your car clean but it might be worth putting a decent polish on the inside of the rear windows.   On a previous car, I found that helped to keep them clear.

Also, is the recirculating air option active, or do you just have external air coming in?
Title: Re: Rear door windows steaming up
Post by: guest1372 on February 03, 2018, 12:34:15 PM
Misting is dampness, either you, the dog, or a leak (spare wheel well) as noted above.  Mk1 seems to prefer fan on 1 or 2 and set on fresh air.  Also worth checking the cabin filter to make sure it's not full of decaying damp leaf debris.  Just pull glove box liner straight out forward then unclip filter from housing behind.
--
TG
Title: Re: Rear door windows steaming up
Post by: VicW on February 03, 2018, 02:00:20 PM
It is essential for efficient demisting that you do not have 'recirculated air' selected, if it is all you are doing is recirculating the same air in the car all the time which is full of moisture.
In the boot at the back on a level with the boot floor there is an air exit for internal air so that the internal air stays fresh.Make sure that these vents are not blocked.

Vic.
Title: Re: Rear door windows steaming up
Post by: culzean on February 03, 2018, 02:21:27 PM
As long as you have aircon turned on (and working correctly)  recirculating the air will still dehumidify it, and will be quicker than if sucking in New damp air from outside. It is when aircon is off that recirculation gets car all steamed up. The prime suspects would be water in wheel well (my wife had that on her GD and a 6mm hole drilled at lowest point cured it) also if the cabin filter (pollen filter) not been changed that can do it. Opie oils do pollen filters at a good price. A leaking heater matrix would make car smell of antifreeze (the only car I have had that happen on was wife's fiat punto lol).

Recirculating air will also cool car quicker on a hot day as the system is not pulling in hot air from outside car. I rarely use recirculation as I think car can get too dry for the health of my sinuses and a bit stuffy.
Title: Re: Rear door windows steaming up
Post by: guest7457 on February 03, 2018, 04:01:54 PM
Thanks for all the tips and advice. Will check car out and follow the tips given. Will report back later.
Title: Re: Rear door windows steaming up
Post by: culzean on February 03, 2018, 06:52:11 PM
If no water in wheel well check the pollen filter, (check it anyway it is easy to get to and  takes about 10 minutes......  if it is the colour of coal may never have been changed  :o  )


Choice of pollen filters from coxmotorparts  or eurocarparts

https://www.coxmotorparts.co.uk/honda-shop/genuine-honda-jazz-pollen-filter-2002-2008/

https://www.eurocarparts.com/pollen-filter

The air flow through filter is important (a proper filter should be layered, it should go through coarse filter first then fine) there are arrows on filter and airflow is from top (the dirty face) down through filter.
Title: Re: Rear door windows steaming up
Post by: guest5079 on February 04, 2018, 03:34:22 PM
I bought a Crosland cabin filter from Europarts and it had no directional arrow. When I asked them which way it should be installed they refunded my money.
Cox will be dearer but will be excellent quality. I bought a Blueprint? or was it Blue spot? however that did have a directional arrow but was not cheap.
Title: Re: Rear door windows steaming up
Post by: Jem on February 04, 2018, 05:23:25 PM
I really need to get around to fixing the water in the boot. I keep meaning to do it but I have never got around to it.

What is the name of that stuff I need?
Title: Re: Rear door windows steaming up
Post by: culzean on February 04, 2018, 05:54:44 PM
I really need to get around to fixing the water in the boot. I keep meaning to do it but I have never got around to it.

What is the name of that stuff I need?

A battery drill with a 6mm drill - put a hole in lowest point of wheel well -  it worked for me. 

otherwise.......

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sikaflex-caravan-motorhome-sealant-purpose/dp/B001EXJZ2Q/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1517766769&sr=8-5&keywords=sikaflex+512
Title: Re: Rear door windows steaming up
Post by: guest5079 on February 05, 2018, 09:21:38 AM
If you follow Culzeans excellent remedy, make sure you put some paint on the bare metal otherwise the metal mice will move in.
Title: Re: Rear door windows steaming up
Post by: Jocko on February 05, 2018, 09:42:31 AM
I think drilling holes is a bit extreme, but sometimes it has to be done or is the easier option. My FIAT 126 had drain holes under the carpet and they were lipped to face away from water coming up off the road. I had to drill another, in the front, so when I did, the final act (before painting with red lead) was to stick the drill shank in the hole and bend the floor round the hole so that the underside faced the rear, if you get my drift.
This is the nearest I can find to a photo that explains it.
(http://www.benzworld.org/forums/attachments/w202-c-class/400467d1317261039-rainwater-drainpipe-location-1998-c280-w202-drainage-hole.jpg)

Basically you don't want it scooping water back up from outside.
Title: Re: Rear door windows steaming up
Post by: richardfrost on February 05, 2018, 09:52:29 AM
Our Jazz gets damp through lack of use and the air-con being not worth repairing. The other night after only two hours the condensation froze up on the inside! I must investigate the cabin filter though. I suspect that won't have been changed in many a year.
Title: Re: Rear door windows steaming up
Post by: Jocko on February 05, 2018, 09:54:19 AM
Air con? What's that? One of the things I miss most about my Jazz.
Title: Re: Rear door windows steaming up
Post by: culzean on February 05, 2018, 10:28:11 AM
If you follow Culzeans excellent remedy, make sure you put some paint on the bare metal otherwise the metal mice will move in.

Yeah, a bit of zinc paint and / or hammerite won't go amiss.

Title: Re: Rear door windows steaming up
Post by: Michaelflat1 on February 13, 2018, 01:27:22 PM
Check for water inside the car, you don't want any leaks.
As for HVAC, set to outside (fresh air) and keep it on speed 2. If there's no leaks then it should not mist up at all. Check the spare wheel well for water. Some have found a swimming pool there!
If you have airconditioning then outside air and ac on will do the trick and use the heat to "reheat" the air. You may get away with speed 1 here with ac on.

Here are some temperature observations:
10+c can require air conditioning to demist in rain.
5-10c can do either, aircon can help you drop the fan speed.
Below 5c air conditioning is less effective, if you have it you can still run it but to save a bit of fuel, put it off and use the fan at a higher speed.

ALWAYS use fresh air mode, the only times it is supposed to be used are these:
Air pollution (outside stinks)
Fast airconditoning (re-conditioning cool air enhances ac performance).

And in general have the fan on all the time, it should be silent enough on speed 1. There is a large difference between off and 1. It really slows down the misting.
Title: Re: Rear door windows steaming up
Post by: culzean on February 13, 2018, 01:36:30 PM
If the car is really wet inside then aircon + recirculate can actually dry it out quicker because it is not having to deal with new moisture drawn in in from outside (just like in hot weather initial cool from re-circulation is better because it is not drawing in hot air from outside - it will be drawing in already cooled air from inside the car).  If you substitute heat for moisture in previous statement the aircon will be dealing with already partially dried air and drying it even more, it can make the inside of the car much drier on recirculate (too dry for my sinuses,  I have tried it LOL).

One of the reasons I don't use 'auto' climate control setting very often is that it often turns the fan speed down so low that the inside of car feels stuffy,  and I like to choose which vents the air comes out of as well.