Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: philsteward on 19 September 2011, 20:33:39
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Don't think this has been covered before, I have done a load of searching and not found anything.
The story...my Omega has an annoying habit of steaming up when it rains. Climate settings can be anything, as long as ECO is on (air con off). I can be driving down the motorway, and if it starts raining, within 5mins the car will be badly steamed up. Only two ways to get rid of it, open a window slightly or put the air con on. I have changed the pollen filter about 2 months ago, so that should not be the issue.
I recently had the pleasure of meeting Marks DTM Calib who did the gearbox updates for me. He mentioned the recirc trick, and I tried that the last few times but no joy.
Any ideas from anyone as it is very frustrating, and only going to get worse with winter setting in!
Cheers in advance :D
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I had/have the same problem with my saloon. Check the passenger foot well and see if the carpet is damp if poss lift said carpet and check the thick padding under it mine was damp but when i cut a piece out and took it from the car it was dripping out. Have you checked the drain at the bottom of were your pollen filter is mite be you getting water in that way but not enought that you would notice. Do you ahve a sunroof ????
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Don't think this has been covered before, I have done a load of searching and not found anything.
The story...my Omega has an annoying habit of steaming up when it rains. Climate settings can be anything, as long as ECO is on (air con off). I can be driving down the motorway, and if it starts raining, within 5mins the car will be badly steamed up. Only two ways to get rid of it, open a window slightly or put the air con on. I have changed the pollen filter about 2 months ago, so that should not be the issue.
I recently had the pleasure of meeting Marks DTM Calib who did the gearbox updates for me. He mentioned the recirc trick, and I tried that the last few times but no joy.
Any ideas from anyone as it is very frustrating, and only going to get worse with winter setting in!
Cheers in advance :D
That will cause internal condensation even more so in damp/wet conditions
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Don't think this has been covered before, I have done a load of searching and not found anything.
The story...my Omega has an annoying habit of steaming up when it rains. Climate settings can be anything, as long as ECO is on (air con off). I can be driving down the motorway, and if it starts raining, within 5mins the car will be badly steamed up. Only two ways to get rid of it, open a window slightly or put the air con on. I have changed the pollen filter about 2 months ago, so that should not be the issue.
I recently had the pleasure of meeting Marks DTM Calib who did the gearbox updates for me. He mentioned the recirc trick, and I tried that the last few times but no joy.
Any ideas from anyone as it is very frustrating, and only going to get worse with winter setting in!
Cheers in advance :D
Can you hear the flap operating when you press the recirc button?
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Steaming up/condensation is caused when high humidity warm air contacts a cold surface.
With the aircon OFF there is very little movement of air in the cabin, if it is raining the humidity is high, add to that the fact that you are breathing out warm, moist air, the humidity inside the car rises quickly, the windscreen gets cold due to rain and forced air cooling as you drive through the atmosphere .. so you have just made a cold surface for the warm, humid air to condense on.
There are 3 solutions.
Use the aircon as it will dry out the air, dry air has nothing to condense out (it also increases air movement)
Open a window/sunroof, this will also allow the temperature to drop and the humid air to escape.
Stop breathing. :)
HTH :)
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I had/have the same problem with my saloon. Check the passenger foot well and see if the carpet is damp if poss lift said carpet and check the thick padding under it mine was damp but when i cut a piece out and took it from the car it was dripping out. Have you checked the drain at the bottom of were your pollen filter is mite be you getting water in that way but not enought that you would notice. Do you ahve a sunroof ????
Will check the passenger carpet, but do not think it is damp. I have cleared out the drain under the pollen filter, it was a bit clogged, but clear now. Yes do have a sunroof...why?
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Can you hear the flap operating when you press the recirc button?
Thinking about it, I do not remember noticing much when I push the button. I know on other cars normally the fans get louder or there is some noise to show something has happened, I think I just thought it was a posh quiet system. I shall check tomorrow.
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Don't think this has been covered before, I have done a load of searching and not found anything.
The story...my Omega has an annoying habit of steaming up when it rains. Climate settings can be anything, as long as ECO is on (air con off). I can be driving down the motorway, and if it starts raining, within 5mins the car will be badly steamed up. Only two ways to get rid of it, open a window slightly or put the air con on. I have changed the pollen filter about 2 months ago, so that should not be the issue.
I recently had the pleasure of meeting Marks DTM Calib who did the gearbox updates for me. He mentioned the recirc trick, and I tried that the last few times but no joy.
Any ideas from anyone as it is very frustrating, and only going to get worse with winter setting in!
Cheers in advance :D
You've answered your query mate ;)
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Steaming up/condensation is caused when high humidity warm air contacts a cold surface.
With the aircon OFF there is very little movement of air in the cabin, if it is raining the humidity is high, add to that the fact that you are breathing out warm, moist air, the humidity inside the car rises quickly, the windscreen gets cold due to rain and forced air cooling as you drive through the atmosphere .. so you have just made a cold surface for the warm, humid air to condense on.
There are 3 solutions.
Use the aircon as it will dry out the air, dry air has nothing to condense out (it also increases air movement)
Open a window/sunroof, this will also allow the temperature to drop and the humid air to escape.
Stop breathing. :)
HTH :)
Might leave that one for now! ;)
That all makes perfect sense, and is a valid explanation. But does beg the question why no other car I have ever owned had this problem!
I always always have the internal fan on when driving, drives me mad seeing people with their fans off and the car all steamed up!
Does that mean it is a poor air flow issue? As it does clear when I open the window or sunroof even just a little bit. I found on another thread about the external air vents on an estate being in the spare wheel well, is that correct? If so would my torridal LPG tank cause an issue?
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I had/have the same problem with my saloon. Check the passenger foot well and see if the carpet is damp if poss lift said carpet and check the thick padding under it mine was damp but when i cut a piece out and took it from the car it was dripping out. Have you checked the drain at the bottom of were your pollen filter is mite be you getting water in that way but not enought that you would notice. Do you ahve a sunroof ????
Will check the passenger carpet, but do not think it is damp. I have cleared out the drain under the pollen filter, it was a bit clogged, but clear now. Yes do have a sunroof...why?
It mite be that the sunroof drains are blocked and this could cause the carpet padding to get damp also not sure were they are i still have to do mine but its sat in the garage sorn at the min.........My carpet felt a little damp was not till i got my hand under the padding that i found it was soaked.
It mite be damp from before you cleared the drain out do you have a wet vac??? As you could always try it on the carpet and see if you get any water out of the carpets just an idea mate.
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Steaming up/condensation is caused when high humidity warm air contacts a cold surface.
With the aircon OFF there is very little movement of air in the cabin, if it is raining the humidity is high, add to that the fact that you are breathing out warm, moist air, the humidity inside the car rises quickly, the windscreen gets cold due to rain and forced air cooling as you drive through the atmosphere .. so you have just made a cold surface for the warm, humid air to condense on.
There are 3 solutions.
Use the aircon as it will dry out the air, dry air has nothing to condense out (it also increases air movement)
Open a window/sunroof, this will also allow the temperature to drop and the humid air to escape.
Stop breathing. :)
HTH :)
Might leave that one for now! ;)
That all makes perfect sense, and is a valid explanation. But does beg the question why no other car I have ever owned had this problem!
I always always have the internal fan on when driving, drives me mad seeing people with their fans off and the car all steamed up!
Does that mean it is a poor air flow issue? As it does clear when I open the window or sunroof even just a little bit. I found on another thread about the external air vents on an estate being in the spare wheel well, is that correct? If so would my torridal LPG tank cause an issue?
Yes mate. :y Not sure about the tank.
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wouldn't making sure you use the climate control to the level you want solve this issue???? :-/
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Does that mean it is a poor air flow issue? ....
Is there a load of 'stuff' in the boot behind the driver's side panel where the first aid kit would live? There's a vent there. :y :y
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wouldn't making sure you use the climate control to the level you want solve this issue???? :-/
If you mean using the air con then yes it gets rid of the steam straight away. However my view is that this should not be happening, so if it is it needs fixing not just finding a way round it! 8-)
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Does that mean it is a poor air flow issue? ....
Is there a load of 'stuff' in the boot behind the driver's side panel where the first aid kit would live? There's a vent there. :y :y
Not a bean in my boot, except the spare wheel. I have not even opened the little cubby holes though, so will have look tomorrow, thanks :y
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wouldn't making sure you use the climate control to the level you want solve this issue???? :-/
If you mean using the air con then yes it gets rid of the steam straight away. However my view is that this should not be happening, so if it is it needs fixing not just finding a way round it! 8-)
fair enough mate. but as said before if the heater and aircon are off and its cold outside is it not inevitable that its going to mist up due to the already mentioned warm air from breathing?? :-/
:)
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It mite be that the sunroof drains are blocked and this could cause the carpet padding to get damp also not sure were they are i still have to do mine but its sat in the garage sorn at the min.........My carpet felt a little damp was not till i got my hand under the padding that i found it was soaked.
It mite be damp from before you cleared the drain out do you have a wet vac??? As you could always try it on the carpet and see if you get any water out of the carpets just an idea mate.
Not got a wet vac unfortunately, will just have to feel! Is there a guide to clearing the sunroof drains on here?
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Does that mean it is a poor air flow issue? ....
Is there a load of 'stuff' in the boot behind the driver's side panel where the first aid kit would live? There's a vent there. :y :y
Thats the saloon, methinks the OP has an estate ??? don't know where the external vents are in the estate .. :(
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... methinks the OP has an estate ??? don't know where the external vents are in the estate .. :(
Oh yes! I've no idea where they might be either :-/ :-/
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... methinks the OP has an estate ??? don't know where the external vents are in the estate .. :(
Oh yes! I've no idea where they might be either :-/ :-/
In spare wheel well fellas. :y
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... methinks the OP has an estate ??? don't know where the external vents are in the estate .. :(
Oh yes! I've no idea where they might be either :-/ :-/
In spare wheel well fellas. :y
how do you get the air flow then? :-/
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how do you get the air flow then? :-/
That was my thought as well, even before it got blocked up with my LPG tank! :-?
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fair enough mate. but as said before if the heater and aircon are off and its cold outside is it not inevitable that its going to mist up due to the already mentioned warm air from breathing?? :-/
:)
Just reread this...heater is NOT off, just the air con (ECO button pushed). I can have the air blowing at the screen and it makes little difference.
And I do understand the physics, but why does it not happen in cars without air con at all!?!?!? :-/
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Damp in the car in my case mate. Wait till the ice and snow come. :'( :'( :'( I have ice on the inside of the windscreen and icycle hanging from the sunroof glass. :'(
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... methinks the OP has an estate ??? don't know where the external vents are in the estate .. :(
Oh yes! I've no idea where they might be either :-/ :-/
In spare wheel well fellas. :y
how do you get the air flow then? :-/
No idea mate but thats were they are. ;D ;D
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No idea mate but thats were they are. ;D ;D
;D ;D ;D
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... methinks the OP has an estate ??? don't know where the external vents are in the estate .. :(
Oh yes! I've no idea where they might be either :-/ :-/
In spare wheel well fellas. :y
how do you get the air flow then? :-/
Maybe that's the problem ;D
FWIW my Estate steams up very quickly when the weather is cool and it starts raining.. The fan on full whack on the windscreen clears it (without the aircon) but you have to have it like that all the time otherwise it comes back instantly..
All the drains I can find are clear and so on and the carpets don't appear to be damp so I just put it down to .. well I couldn't figure out what to put it down to! Certainly I've never owned any other car that did the same thing in the rain, even before cars had A/C :-/
Really should get that regassed..
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Just an idea i'm gonna throw out do any of you clean the inside of the windscreen offen ???? I only say this as this was the first thing i did with my saloon because if your windscreen is full of crap on the inside this gives the moisture more to stick to so it mite be an idea to give it a good clean. Don't get me wrong i'm not saying its gonna clear it once and for all but mite make it a bit better. :y
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Valid point - it does make a big difference, especially when the weather is cold :y
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Had a similar problem when I first got my car - also mysterious sloshing noises when cornering. Cleaning out the scuttle drains (http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1167524083) did the trick for me.
The pollen filter was also soaked, so replaced that as well.
:y
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My estate has always steamed up easy as well if "eco"is pressed,car is dry as a bone inside but has always done it,mind you our Ulysses is the same hence runs with aircon on most of the time
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This has been covered a couple of times before but a couple of years ago so can't find the posts. Mark DTM posted an explanation to do with a voltage drop causing the control flaps not to recognize the correct starting positions. IIRC it required to air recirculation button to be pressed for a few seconds but maybe Mark will confirm. I've had this problem with Omega's over the years and this has always worked.
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This has been covered a couple of times before but a couple of years ago so can't find the posts. Mark DTM posted an explanation to do with a voltage drop causing the control flaps not to recognize the correct starting positions. IIRC it required to air recirculation button to be pressed for a few seconds but maybe Mark will confirm. I've had this problem with Omega's over the years and this has always worked.
Switch on Auto mode, switch-on the air recirculation by pressing the button A once (3 round arrows will be indicated, without "A" in the middle). Now the ECC will recognize the correct flap position. Wait 1-2 s and then switch-off the air recirculation by pressing the button A again.
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This has been covered a couple of times before but a couple of years ago so can't find the posts. Mark DTM posted an explanation to do with a voltage drop causing the control flaps not to recognize the correct starting positions. IIRC it required to air recirculation button to be pressed for a few seconds but maybe Mark will confirm. I've had this problem with Omega's over the years and this has always worked.
Switch on Auto mode, switch-on the air recirculation by pressing the button A once (3 round arrows will be indicated, without "A" in the middle). Now the ECC will recognize the correct flap position. Wait 1-2 s and then switch-off the air recirculation by pressing the button A again.
Thanks Rob, that was it. :y
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Thanks for all the replies and advice. Not had a chance to look at the car today, hopefully tomorrow!
I have cleaned all the windows in the car, first thing I did when it started steaming up as as people have said it makes it even worse!
I have tried the "resetting" the recirc button, but makes no difference. Mark Calib said that the recent update to the Climate Control system should help as well, it has a bit but still steams up.
Will check my scuttle again, check the condition/wetness of the 2 month old pollen filter, check under the carpets, check operation of the recirc flaps and see if I can find the external vents in the rear...phew that is a long list..but if it cures it! ;D
Cheers again, shall update when I know more :y
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Thanks for all the replies and advice. Not had a chance to look at the car today, hopefully tomorrow!
I have cleaned all the windows in the car, first thing I did when it started steaming up as as people have said it makes it even worse!
I have tried the "resetting" the recirc button, but makes no difference. Mark Calib said that the recent update to the Climate Control system should help as well, it has a bit but still steams up.
Will check my scuttle again, check the condition/wetness of the 2 month old pollen filter, check under the carpets, check operation of the recirc flaps and see if I can find the external vents in the rear...phew that is a long list..but if it cures it! ;D
Cheers again, shall update when I know more :y
If you try switching the recirc on and off with the fan on full speed there should be a noticeable difference in the sound (IIRC the recirc flap pulls air from the passenger footwell and huffs and puffs quite audibly ::))
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My car does exactly the same as yours Phil, the aircon will clear it instantly but on eco it'll steam up so that you can't see out within 30 seconds! My scuttle drains are clear and there's no damp carpets, I think it must be an Omega thing :-/
Never experienced this in any other car quite as badly :-/
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My car does exactly the same as yours Phil, the aircon will clear it instantly but on eco it'll steam up so that you can't see out within 30 seconds! My scuttle drains are clear and there's no damp carpets, I think it must be an Omega thing :-/
Never experienced this in any other car quite as badly :-/
This is what I was begining to suspect. But it cannot surely have happened from when the cars were brand new? Anybody on here had an Omega from brand new with this issue? I reckon not, therefore it must be possible to stop it!
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I never turn off aircon - bad for the pump.
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I never turn off aircon - bad for the pump.
I do, it's bad for my wallet :)
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I never turn off aircon - bad for the pump.
I do, it's bad for my wallet :)
Also bad for the A/C seals as they dry out which in turn will lead to leaks in the system
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I never turn off aircon - bad for the pump.
Think this is a bit extreme. The pump has a clutch which is designed so the engine can run without the air con pump working, hence it will be fine.
I think the point you are making is that as RobG has said the seals can dry out if air con is not used, however this would take a period of time, over a couple of weeks in extreme conditions, using air con once every two weeks should be more than sufficient.
In fact your air con system can loose upto 15% of its gas each year, so if you are running the pump but not had your system regassed in the last two years, you could well be doing more harm! :o
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I never turn off aircon - bad for the pump.
I do, it's bad for my wallet :)
Also bad for the A/C seals as they dry out which in turn will lead to leaks in the system
Does this apply in the winter, when you don't use it to cool?
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I never turn off aircon - bad for the pump.
I do, it's bad for my wallet :)
Also bad for the A/C seals as they dry out which in turn will lead to leaks in the system
Does this apply in the winter, when you don't use it to cool?
Yep, slightly more so in fact as the cold weather cools the seals, and then the heat from the engine warms them, so they are getting constant changes in temperature but no lubrication.
You only need to use the air con for long enough for it to blow cold, that is enough to circulate the oil. I normally use mine once a week for about 15mins.
During the summer I use it when on the motorway (as it is cheaper than having a window open), and in the winter I use it to clear the steam from the inside of the window.
By the sounds of it, it is a necessity to use it through the winter in an Omega! ;D