In cabin condensation

[jeebsy]

This is my first winter with my 718 Cayman so on a bit of a learning curve with it now things are getting colder.

Probably should mention I live in Scotland where it is a) cold and b) wet

With the temperature dropping a bit recently, i've noticed a lot more condensation inside the cabin. Yesterday the car was fine when i started it, drove it half an hour, parked up for a few hours and when I got back the inside of the windscreen was covered in condensation - almost to the point of dripping.

I always have the AC and it isn't on recirculate. Have looked on Google and there doesn't seem to be any obvious drain hole issues on the Cayman. Have had a feel and there aren't any obvious wet spots on the carpets. Quite a few people say it's just one of these things and to get a dehumidifier bag to leave in the car to deal it, but i'd rather try and find the cause if possible.

Does anyone else get this on their coupe? Any tip/tricks/suggestions?

Edited by jeebsy on Sunday 26th November 08:55

[gsewell]

I have always assumed it is condensed water on the evaporator that hasn't cleared from the previous drive.
Mine has done this every winter from the day I bought it, new, 12 years ago. Just allow an extra few minutes to demist before moving away.

[steveo3002]

if you have carpet mats are they wet? you can bring in a fair bit of water on your feet

i always try and air out my cars on a dry breezy day , seems to help a little

[Discombobulate]

I suspect you have a leak somewhere. As above, check carpets in front footwells and behind both seats.

[nxi20]

Try changing the pollen filter. I always do this in Autumn & rarely get major condensation problems (although I'm a soft southerner so not as cold & wet as up north)

[jeebsy]

gsewell said:

I have always assumed it is condensed water on the evaporator that hasn't cleared from the previous drive.
Mine has done this every winter from the day I bought it, new, 12 years ago. Just allow an extra few minutes to demist before moving away.

I only really drive mine at weekends and it's always noticeable after driving it so wonder if it's this. If it was a leak you'd expect it to get worse the longer the car was sitting? Can't feel any obvious wet areas on the carpets anyway.

[Discombobulate]

jeebsy said:

I only really drive mine at weekends and it's always noticeable after driving it so wonder if it's this. If it was a leak you'd expect it to get worse the longer the car was sitting? Can't feel any obvious wet areas on the carpets anyway.

I had a leak due to faulty rear sun roof drain and hadn't noticed wet behind passenger seat (it was soaked). My symptoms were no condensation when the car was left sitting, but dripping screen after parking up following a run. Takes an age to clear then all seems well. Until the same thing happens next time. I never noticed any condensation if the car wasn't driven.

[Ed.Neumann]

This will sound strange, but taste the condensation, if it is sweet you might have a lack on the heat exchanger, they are known to leak but doubt it on a 718 due to age.
But test to count this out.




The air conditioning system on these is known to be a bit pants, Forever Manual on Youtube discusses this a few times.

I quickly found this, which was the first time he talked about it....

https://youtu.be/BYxmdAwtZW4?si=GuSk_Z4ociaXsUEH&a...

[jeebsy]

Discombobulate said:

I had a leak due to faulty rear sun roof drain and hadn't noticed wet behind passenger seat (it was soaked). My symptoms were no condensation when the car was left sitting, but dripping screen after parking up following a run. Takes an age to clear then all seems well. Until the same thing happens next time. I never noticed any condensation if the car wasn't driven.

from a quick google this morning, the cayman doesn't seem to have any drains that overflow into the cabin - the ones on the boxster are known issue but doesn't seem to be a problem on the cayman. will

i'm pretty anal about the car and hoover the inside pretty thoroughly ever week or two, and haven't noticed any damp patches but will keep a watch out for them.

[neilf]

Not very helpful but it may be a 718 thing.

Maybe not to the degree you are describing, but all three of mine suffered worse than average condensation compared to other cars I’ve owned.

Was very winter weather dependent. Some days terrible, others nothing.

[jeebsy]

neilf said:

Not very helpful but it may be a 718 thing.

Maybe not to the degree you are describing, but all three of mine suffered worse than average condensation compared to other cars I’ve owned.

Was very winter weather dependent. Some days terrible, others nothing.

yesterday was the worst it's been, but it was also barely above freezing and the first seriously cold day of the year so not taking that as typical. a few folk on the 718 forum said that's just how they are and to keep one of those wee dehumidifier bags in the car so got one today.

maybe it's just the residual heat from the engine in the cabin hitting the windows when the temps drop and there's no air con running to move the air?

[Discombobulate]

jeebsy said:

from a quick google this morning, the cayman doesn't seem to have any drains that overflow into the cabin - the ones on the boxster are known issue but doesn't seem to be a problem on the cayman. will

i'm pretty anal about the car and hoover the inside pretty thoroughly ever week or two, and haven't noticed any damp patches but will keep a watch out for them.

That's good news. The front drains, if blocked, will led to ingress into the cabin. I don't think the Cayman has any in the rear that could.
And the bottom of the doors can get soaked too. Worth a feel.

[Jefferson Steelflex]

I get this on my one too, not dripping but the rear window and rear side windows will get a decent covering of condensation when left after a drive. I’m down south but it’s still cold enough.

I always put this down to the large amount of glass area in the cabin, especially with the rear window directly over the boot but have always put this down to normal behaviour.

[CanAm]

Discombobulate said:

I had a leak due to faulty rear sun roof drain and hadn't noticed wet behind passenger seat (it was soaked). My symptoms were no condensation when the car was left sitting, but dripping screen after parking up following a run. Takes an age to clear then all seems well. Until the same thing happens next time. I never noticed any condensation if the car wasn't driven.

You have a Cayman with a sunroof?
Bliss

I'm looking for one of those 80's moonroof kits and a big can opener.

[ChrisW.]

Jefferson Steelflex said:

I get this on my one too, not dripping but the rear window and rear side windows will get a decent covering of condensation when left after a drive. I’m down south but it’s still cold enough.

I always put this down to the large amount of glass area in the cabin, especially with the rear window directly over the boot but have always put this down to normal behaviour.

I have the same, it is worse after I have collected fish and chips ... maybe that's a clue ?

On Saturday I collected "six times" and it was particularly bad.

I have not detected any coolant leakage ... so it's either limited aircon or the large glass area or ???

[Freakuk]

Had the same on my 981 and now 718, they all do that sir....

Already mentioned but I would check the drains are clear, I had a 987.2 Boxster S some years ago and there was water ingress into the cabin due to a blocked drain, fried the ECU under the passenger seat and caused all sorts of damage to the car.

I had a quick drive in the GT4 yesterday and had to wait a few minutes for the screen to clear, probably not a bad shout putting a dehumidifier block in the car.

[ChrisW.]

I assume that there are no drain pipes on a Cayman ??

[jeebsy]

ChrisW. said:

I assume that there are no drain pipes on a Cayman ??

Limited information - certainly none at the rear like the boxster, and the front shows drains on the diagram but apparently there's only one with a pipe. This thread is about the best I've found on it -https://www.porscheclubgb.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=1136608

The guy says the only one with a pipe is the fuel cover, the ones on the cowl just drain straight out. Obviously they could still get blocked but they seem a bit more open. I'm off work on Wednesday so will try to get a good butchers then.

Edited by jeebsy on Monday 27th November 12:53

[DallySingh]

This is the first winter with my GT4 and the condensation is ridiculous - to the point where I can't do my 10min drive to the gym in the mornings as it just doesn't clear up.

I'm considering getting one of those dehumidifier cushion things from Amazon but how well do they work?

[scrounger73]

I've 2 in the passenger footwell.

Works ok for me but also consider using this on the inside of your windows.

https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/gyeon-q2-anti-fog