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Condensation in windows

Discussion in 'Prius c Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by cutter44, Dec 14, 2020.

  1. cutter44

    cutter44 Member

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    Hello, all. It's been a while since I've posted, but lately I've noticed something that I figure some folks here may be able to shed some light on. A few weeks ago I first noticed it, and I just came back from a short ride in which I noticed it again and I decided to post here.

    I wish I could recall the specific conditions, but I think it occurs mostly when we have a warmish day, followed by a colder day. I go out to run an errand or something and the rear tailgate window is...well, wet. At first i thought it was outside, but no, it's inside. And I've noticed it also on the other windows. Is the car that airtight that it could be causing that kind of condensation or is there something else I should be looking at?

    The car has 149k miles on it and it's been pretty much trouble free. I change the oil every 10k miles. Just changed the transmission fluid again about a thousand miles ago (did it previously at about 37k miles). Put the snow tires on for the season just yesterday. As I said, it's been very good to me, but I am curious about the condensation thing. It may have happened in previous years and I just didn't think twice about it.

    Any thoughts?
     
  2. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    usually that means the car has some water or moisture inside the cabin. Check the trunk take the hatch out like most Prius you have a leaker.
    I assume it lives outside no garage?
     
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  3. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Gen2 Prius have leak problems, but Prius C do not... Perhaps you or a passenger spilled some water? Out here in the PNW we're more humid year round than near anywhere else in US, so it's easy to grow mold inside a Prius.

    Had that problem with a car that was sitting here for a while so I put my 60 pint home dehumidifier in the car and plugged it in and it dried out real fast.
     
  4. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    I don't know if this translates to the C model, but I've seen a few Gen 2's that have had taillights swapped out and become serious leakers around the tail light seal. Rain, car wash, anything that puts water over the tail lights was putting water into the trunk area.
     
  5. cutter44

    cutter44 Member

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    Thanks, all. I had the leaking taillight thing early on and replaced both. No problem with that since then.

    As for other moisture inside, now that you mention it, I recall a month or so ago reaching for a roll of paper towels I kept behind the front seat only to discover that they were soaking wet. Where do i begin to look for a source of a leak? Would it be coming up from under the floor? I don't look forward to pulling up carpeting or for that matter, what I might find if I did.
     
  6. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Yea, saw moisture inside the 2013 Prius C lights that I detailed this weekend...
     
  7. cutter44

    cutter44 Member

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    Yes, it lives outside. No garage. Hmmm...exactly what do you mean by "like most Prius you have a leaker"?
     
  8. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    All G2's have leaks and many G3's on this site report leaks too. G2 is the worst. Take your trunk apart and look.

    If you used after market tailights I can almost guarantee you they will leak. They need to be monitored and most fixes like Camper said require sealant. I have one in my g2 leaked real bad had to goop the hell out of it.

    g2's have bad cabin leaks from cracked roof joints and other areas.

    Prius trunk LEAKS pictures compilation - common problem areas. prius 2004-2015 | PriusChat
     
    #8 edthefox5, Dec 14, 2020
    Last edited: Dec 14, 2020
  9. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    It's a Prius C, not a gen2 or gen3 and I worked on one for the first time this weekend. Way less places for leaks to happen compared to regular Prius.
     
  10. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    This might be a plugged AC drain line.
    Might also be a coolant leak in the heater core.
    Any chance that a water bottle leaked or a window was accidentally left down in the rain ??
     
  11. cutter44

    cutter44 Member

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    Well, my taillights were both OEM replacements and I drilled a hole in the bottom of each for draining. I'll check for leaks.

    I was so hoping I had a water bottle or window left open, but there wasn't.
     
  12. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Start by removing all contents from the car, at least anything that can hold moisture. Paper towels, cloth towels for wiping windows, coats and boots and other winter or rain clothing, sweaty gym clothing, water bottles, even floor mats that hold tracked-in or spilled water. Dry them all out in the house or garage, or anyplace but the car. Sometimes the culprit makes itself known during this process.

    Dry the car's interior as much as possible. If floor carpets are wet, soak up as much as you can. Check the trunk or spare tire space under the hatch floor for any pooled water. This process reveals some more culprits.

    If these steps don't find the actual culprit, they should at least narrow down what place is most wet, helping to focus the search for body leaks.
     
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  13. cutter44

    cutter44 Member

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    That plan makes sense. What's confusing to me is how with the way gravity works, why I wouldn't see a leak coming from somewhere at the top of the car. Where the heck would it be leaking from underneath?
     
  14. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Excellent points... It inspires this rant:

    It always amazes me how many people have cars filled with needless junk... And not only can you keep car more dry by keeping it empty, but a methed-out smash and grab thief has no interest in busting your window if there's nothing in your car to rummage through.

    I kind of think people who don't lock their doors and get robbed aren't any different then people who have lots of clutter in their car and have a window smashed due to a thief's craving to rummage through someone's stuff.

    Since when did cars become storage lockers? Car are suppose to transports you, not assist your hoarding aspirations.
     
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  15. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Gravity means that you see where the water goes to, where it collects, not where it comes from.
     
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  16. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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  17. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Already post in #8
     
  18. cutter44

    cutter44 Member

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    A little update for those at all interested.

    The condensation's been pretty bad the last couple of days and since the temp is in the mid 40s today, I figured I'd do some investigating. The good news is, I pulled everything out of the trunk area, including the spare, and there's no evidence of any water in there now or in the past. So I moved further up. Cleared out the few things behind the seats (ice scraper, air pump, washer fluid, lug wrench), and pulled up the mats. Well, well, ice crystals, which I'm sure formed as a result of water.

    So my question is whether the water is somehow coming up from the undercarriage of the vehicle, or if it's coming from window seals or elsewhere and just settling on the floor. How do I begin to investigate that? I really don't want to pull up the carpeting if I don't have to. When it gets warmer, I'll try the dehumidifier if it's still a problem, but I'm hoping i can discover the cause and fix it before then .

    [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  19. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    See reply #15... Also is that really ice? You said it was 40 degrees out?
     
  20. cutter44

    cutter44 Member

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    Sorry, I should have clarified. It was mid-twenties overnight and still around freezing when I took the pics. It was 40-something when I posted.

    As for reply #15, yes I understand that part of it. I'm curious as to how I determine the source if I don't see actual dripping.