Valve stem cap lost and morning cold problem

fairly common, if they are not tight. you can pick them up cheap at an auto parts store

feel free to wipe down the windows with a clean towel

 

they shouldn't pop off if they were tight. if loose, yes.

the other thing is, who airs up your tires. they don't always get replaced

a clean try clothe shouldn't leave a residue. check the rain x packaging to see if it works on the inside.

once you remove it, the hvac should keep it clean

 

Condensation on window, at least in your local is easy to get rid of I would think. Just keep the window open.

 

Do you check your tires PSI?
Do others...ever check it?
It's not uncommon for valve caps to become lost. But if they are screwed back on properly, it's not going to happen.
But at a Service Appointment that might include a "complimentary" tire pressure check, whether a technician carefully puts the caps back on is questionable.

I know, because recently I had to have a tire patched at a tire shop. When I got home, I noticed that 3 of my 4 tires had Black colored valve stem caps, but mysteriously one was now grey. The technician was so unobservant or in such a hurry they actually put someone elses cap on.
I didn't complain because they patched the tire for free. And because valve stem caps are really, really cheap...I have spares.

But anyway...I would say...losing a valve stem cap? It happens...especially if they aren't put back on right.

As far as defrosting...we just had a thread with multiple and diverse answers.
There is a considerable art of Feng Shui settings.

My simple advice is cleaning and drying the interior of your windows. Even if they look clean. Any substance on the inside of the window will trap moisture and slow defrosting.

I'll leave the debate about "settings" and vent angles to everyone else.

 

That would be too fast. I like to take the 10 mins to check how many likes received on self fees to boost my confidence level then drive away with clear windows.

 

Mental note to self: take valve caps off whenever taking car in for service. I do that now when getting replacement tires btw.

I've never lost a valve cap that was snugged down, likely someone neglected to replace it. Or petty vandalism?

For the morning warmup idling to clear the windshield: any chance you could get the car into a garage? We never get frosted or dewy windshield, parking in an attached garage. West coast winters aren't that harsh, so I'm not sure if that'd apply elsewhere.

 

That is the solution. You need the clean your insides. Wish I can quote myself in my signatures.

 

Hey, I recently had to prep for a Colonoscopy. (too much information?)
But trust me, I know the devastating outcome of cleaning your insides.

 

I always remove my valve caps whenever getting a tire or rotation service. Too many times I get back someone else's caps or none at all. I tell the service personnel that I have the caps so they don't go hunting for some. I use a metal cap with captive O-ring.

Is the mist forming on the exterior or interior of the window? If exterior, a quick squeegee would clear that up. Interior would be another problem, mainly water accumulating inside the vehicle, vaporizing, and depositing on the glass. Gen II was known for leaks around the back hatch area, and all generations can develop a plugged A/C condensate line that backs up and leaks into the interior.

 

Good idea for a "pro" brake fluid change too: remove the bleed bolt caps. Give them a heads-up, so they don't go nuts looking for them after, lol.

Last time I had pro brake fluid change, they managed to lose 3 of them IIRC. No mismatched replacements, nada. Oh and they left one corner with non-functional brake. Not a fly-by-night place either, an accredited Honda dealership. In Port Moody...

 

With my Honda Fit, I bought some metal caps, that I thought looked great.
Now I can't remember whether it was here or some other automotive forum, but I remember a thread where a person showed pictures and warned about metal caps that had rusted onto the valve stems, resulting in the person having to destroy his valve stems just to get them off.
After that?
I somewhat reluctantly went back to the plastic-but non-rusting-regular valve caps.
Maybe I was scared off needlessly?
But sometimes it's a better life through the use of plastics.

 

My son used aluminum valve stem caps that corroded onto the brass valve stem threads due to the electrolytic reaction of dissimilar metals. Since that was an aluminum-brass reaction, it occurred in the span of 1-2 years. I was using metal valve stem extenders coated with chrome and also had them corrode into the brass threads of the valve stems, but that process took 4 years. For both my son’s tires and my tires, the cap (or extension) could not be removed without rupturing the valve and causing a leak, so replacement of the valve and TPMS sensor was required. So I have made and now am using about 2 cm longer plastic caps.

 

HAHA!!!... Okay, there's enough quotes now to update my signature.

But your right, on the molecular level having clean windows inside the car will minimize fog to moisture up so inside also.

 

Yes, the thread I'm remembering was very similar to this.
I don't know if my metal...can't remember what it was...chrome or aluminum or whatever, would of ever become a problem, but the I defaulted to even if I like the look of the shiny metal?
Hey, they are just valve stem caps.
Black is nice too.
And plastic is light, cheap, durable and won't corrode. So I switched back.

 

RainX makes non-fogging wipes for interior glass. They work well here in Idaho.

SM-T720 ?

 

I've never had that problem. Checking tire pressure every few weeks, even just once a month should
stop that from happening. Sticking that is, not discoloration.
I never coated them with anything.
It's when they are together long periods of time the reaction continues to work. But removing them, reinstalling
them stops the process, THAT process. Another will start sooner.
But you shouldn't have any real problem with the plastic ones. And if you didn't, they're easy to cut off.

 

An older threads on metal caps:

Metal valve stem caps. Ugh... | PriusChat

Not the one @The Electric Me contrib'd to, but I do recall that one.

 

You made me go back and look at the package, and after a more careful reading discovered something even more menacing. I purchased these at a local car parts chain store (O'Reilly), where I can't even find them anymore. Part # X-Tra Seal 15-4915 at Amazon. They are High Heat Dome Caps, whatever that means. I was hoping to find a metallic composition listing, instead the first bullet on the back of the package says Do not use with TPMS valves. Wonder why I didn't see that when I bought 'em? So now I'll have to figure out why these aren't recommended. No clue, other than adding an additional .32 ounce to an already heavy spot around the diameter. I have no worries about any untoward galvanic processes between cap and stem. This is a desert I live in after all.