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Condensation On Side Windows Isn't Cleared When Rolling Windows Down

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by stream, Oct 23, 2009.

  1. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    I parked my car outside overnight the other day, and when I tried to remove the condensation on the side windows by rolling them down (so I could see out), it didn't remove the condensation.

    This is the first car I've owned that didn't clear moisture from the side windows when rolling them down. Is this a Prius/Toyota issue? Anybody have better luck than me with this?
     
  2. chrisj428

    chrisj428 Active Member

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    On mine, I roll the window down a bit & then start driving. Since I also have the V, the "Lotus Effect" (I love that!) on the front glass usually takes care of everything else by the time I hit a main road.
     
  3. danl

    danl New Member

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    Haven't had this issue on my prius. But on my civic, I had the same issue and I had to sorta push outward against the glass while I roll down my windows to get rid of the condensation.
     
  4. mikepaul

    mikepaul Senior Member

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    When I was a kid in the '70s, station wagons used to use the squeegee-in-the-window as a selling point. I notice that the squeegee has apparently been left out of windows lately...
     
  5. kgall

    kgall Active Member

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    Stream,
    My 99 Corolla has this problem, so maybe it's a Toyota feature.
     
  6. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

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    I know Most GM cars do it. My Prius does not remove one bit on anything on the window when i roll it down. I wonder why? It was a really nice feature.
     
  7. Holbrook22

    Holbrook22 Junior Member

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    I too park my Prius outside and now with the cooler weather I find the car covered with dew on many mornings.
    Unfortunately, as stated, rolling down the windows does nothing to wipe away the outside condensation as it will on many other cars. Also, outward pressure on the window does nothing to help the situation either.
    I guess the easiest thing is to carry a small squeegee in the car and use it to clean the side windows.
     
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  8. LoraJ

    LoraJ Active Member

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    I used to keep a towel in my Corolla for this reason. I'd just quickly wipe all the windows. Now that it is getting colder, I'll have to start keeping one in the Prius.
     
  9. garygid

    garygid Senior Member - Blizzard Pearl

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    Rool down and back up does help mine either. Very annoying "feature".
     
  10. Butter

    Butter Junior Member

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    I'm experiencing the same problem and just like you this is the first car I've seen that did not clear the condensation by rolling down the windows. Usually Toyotas are so well engineered so I am surprised and disappointed that this basic detail was overlooked.
     
  11. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    do not know.. maybe a 2010 feature? Our other Toyotas would clear the window. This could also mean that the rubber seal isn't rubbing against the window when it's winding up or down. This could be a good or bad thing.
     
  12. Penny's Dad

    Penny's Dad New Member

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    I too have noticed that the windows have no squeegee effect at all. I wonder if water gets into the door somehow when it rains...I guess I will ask the dealership about this.
     
  13. jon_lancaster_toyota

    jon_lancaster_toyota Nate Riesen

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    The Prius IV & Prius V have a water repellant feature on the side windows. This feature is like permanant Rain X. I suspect that having a squeegie in the sde window would degrade the treatment applied to the glass.
    The benefit to the glass is better visibility when it rains, but the dew condensation on your window probably stays put until you start driving & those small bubbles sitck to the glass better than the large rain drops.

    Not a defect, not a mis-engineered window/ door. I suspect they don't want anything constantly rubbing on the glass in order to protect that fanacy water repelling feature.

    you kids with the IIs and IIIs have the same door & window assembly. You don't have the benefit or water repelling glass but for shear simplicity there was no squeegie feature built into the window.

    Sorry, I'm sure I didn't spell squeegie correctly.
     
  14. stream

    stream Senior Member

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    Comments below in bold.

     
  15. jon_lancaster_toyota

    jon_lancaster_toyota Nate Riesen

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    All right, let's take a door apart then.
     
  16. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    At what speeds? At 40-45mph or so, combined w/ defroster, mine clears in a few minutes at above-freezing temps. I have a harder time w/ the first minute or two w/ the windshield recondensing after being wiped until it warms up - which is a problem in any car.

    While I miss the feature, I also know that I can drop the windows for 20-30 seconds while I'm backing out, making a turn, etc. if safety is a concern.
     
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  17. SDM44

    SDM44 SeƱor Member

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    IMO, I like this feature. Reason being when after washing your car, you don't have to worry about all of the streaks when you first roll down your window. My Land Crusier is the same way, but my BMW does streak like crazy and it also wipes condensation off if you roll the windows down. But that's not a problem for me since my cars sit in a garage all day long (at home & work).
     
  18. SW03ES

    SW03ES Senior Member

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    My Lexus is the same way. I suspect its to keep from scratching the glass or having moisture build up inside the door...
     
  19. Joe166

    Joe166 New Member

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    I thought I had thought of (and heard), every possible thing to complain about on our cars. Congratulations. Please apply to Guiness.
     
  20. Penny's Dad

    Penny's Dad New Member

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    Hey no complaints here! Its just different from what I have experienced as a norm...that's all. Whats great about a forum is that you can be reassured (or terrified) by what fellow posters say about a condition. This was immediatly a new deal for me after my first morning covered in dew. Note I have never owned a Toyota so I have no base line for comparison. I appreciate knowing that my Prius is not defective! I am very appreciative and glad this tread came up!:rant: