[deeve]

Hello,

I originally posted this thread regarding my 2023 Forte taking a long time to warm up. The reason why it bothers me is because I always seem to have excess condensation on the inside of the windows. Sometimes it is fogged up, sometimes it is almost actual drops. When it is below freezing there is sometimes ice...all on the inside windows. I live in the northwest where it rains a lot but none of my other cars have ever has this problem. I have felt around the floor for wetness but cannot find anything. The windows have never been left down so that rain got in so I cant figure out why I am seeing this. I have tried defrost only, defrost with AC on, recirculate both on and off, regular vent with AC on and off...nothing seems to make a difference.

I have a short commute (like less than a mile 90% of the time) but have taken the car of several longer drives to really heat things up and hopefully dry out, but it seems to always come back after I am back to the short commute. For example, yesterday I took it to work at 6 am and it wasn't too bad. After work at about 6pm I had to wait for the front window to defog on the inside to drive home.

I did get a couple of digital hydrometers to put one in my truck and one in the Forte. The one in the truck is reading 53% and the one in the Forte is 69% which seems excessive. I would image both should be close to the same, so for some reason there is more moisture in the Forte. I am going to make an appointment today at the dealer to have it looked at but am curious if anyone else has this problem or suggestions on where to look. So far I have checked the in cabin air filter and ac drain. Not 100% sure on the ac drain, but I think it is working. Hard to tell as it has been wet here.

 

[2023BD]

are you running the recirc alot? What are your avg daily temps?

 

[deeve]

Have tried the recirculation (AC on and off) along with everything else, but it didn't seem to make a difference. Average temperatures during the winter are probably mid 30's. Gets down into the 20's sometimes and up into the 40's, but otherwise pretty mild.

 

[Larry48]

This is really odd. I have a 23' GT-line and while I garage keep mine and drive about 20 miles each way to work I don't have any weird condensation issues after it sits outside all day at work. I also live in the Northeast. Have you taken the car through an automatic car wash to check for leaks? Just run through one of the touch less ones.

 

[2023BD]

I would run the a/c on the floor setting at high speed with a comfortable temp for the majority of your drive then turn a/c off but keep fan on high for last 5 minutes of drive to dry out the evaporator before you shut it off. Do this for a couple days and I think it might fix your issue. Double check that that passenger floor is not wet under the floor mat and make sure there is no water in the spare tire well. Do you have a garage at home? If yes leave the windows open at night for those couple days your trying to dry it out. Make sure the climate system is not in recirc mode at all.

 

[deeve]

I will try that with the ac. I do not have a garage, unfortunately. I have tried to feel the carpet and what I can get to is dry but it also feels like there is something under the sound deadening matt. Also feels plastic.

Surpringly I was able to make an appointment for this Thursday morning, so we will if they can find something.

 

[dual-clutch]

What's inside the car? Anything wet? Umbrellas? Jackets? Towels?

 

[dual-clutch]

Also how's the condition of the seals/weather stripping around the windows?

 

[deeve]

They all look good. No tears and brand new. Door look perfect too. Comparing the humidity to my other cars I am at 40% in one, 48% in the other. The Forte is 68% currently. For comparison, my Ecobee thermostat shows 47 in the house. Outside shows 78% so the Forte is on the higher side by a significant amount.

 

[dual-clutch]

Do you have a sunroof?

Do you have a heated windshield?

The source of the greenhouse effect might be the windshield.

 

[GenTornado]

https://www.lowes.com/pd/DampRid-64-oz-Unscented-Bucket-Moisture-Absorber/50449432

throw this bad boy on your rear floorboard

 

[deeve]

No heated windshield or sunroof. It's a basic LXS. I had thought about those Rid Damp things but would like to get to the source first.

 

[dual-clutch]

If it's a leak somewhere or might take a long while to find it. In the meantime... They say kitty litter would absorb the moisture inside your car?

I would honestly at this point have them give you a new car.

 

[deeve]

Not sure it qualifies for a new car yet but not against pursuing lemon law if that's where it gets to.

This morning I needed to go to a doc appointment so a good chance to really heat things up. It was cold-25f and the windows were iced over on the outside with a humidity of 91%. The sensor in the car read 64%.I had the heater set to AC on and Defrost then to AC on floor once the windows thawed. The humidity sensor in the car kept rising to a high of 80% as I drove. When I got out of the doc it was down to 40% and by the time I got home with the heat cranked, AC on and blowing on the floor it got down to 34% and 77f inside.

Makes me wonder if water somehow gets into the venting system and blows out raising the humidity? It has been suggested the AC vent might be blocked.When I got home I let it sit for 15 min and have not seen any drops under the passenger front area so maybe that is the problem?

 

[2023BD]

You could have a blocked/frozen evap drain. If the problem continues that is the most likely culprit.

 

[deeve]

I'm leaning more to that. I think the info I got will help the techs figure out what is wrong....I hope

 

[Steve g]

Evap leaking condensation into the cabin? Camry had a huge issue with this a few years ago

 

[RandyM]

Plugged evap sounds very plausible, but here's another thought, courtesy of an old VW Beetle driver.

In the Beetle's handbook it recommends slightly opening a window in winter for maximum heating and defrosting. Sounds counter-intuitive, but that car was so tight that heated air could not get into the cabin unless it had a way to get out. I've seen Beetle drivers in winter with fogged up windows (sometimes dripping like it was raining inside) who never read the handbook.

The Forte is likewise a tight car. Under the back glass on the package shelf are two vents to let out the incoming air. See if those are blocked.

 

[deeve]

Ok. I will look. I saw that vents but never explored them. Thank you.

 

[RISING STAR]

Not sure, what trim do you have, but this initially happened with my GT-Line as well. The car has humidity sensor on the windshield. You can pull out the cover and check if no damages to wires.

Then make sure you have activated Auto Dehumidify feature in multimedia system.