Cover fault or condensation....
Discussion
My Rapide sits with the back end (up to mid way of the rear doors) outside of the car port and therefore exposed to the wind, rain, frost etc. I though a quality cover could only be a good thing so recently purchased one from a well known Aston retailer.
However I have an issue, the retailer has been responsive to my issue in that they have sent my pictures to the manufacturer, who have suggested it's simply condensation. I'll not name them directly as they are being very good. However, the latest suggestion was to run a hose over it and if it runs off it's ok, and that's what they would do if I sent the cover back. As the issue seems to be standing water, clearly this will achieve very little.
This doesn't sit right with me, on the top of the nearside quarter the cover is soaked through and the paint underneath has water droplets on it, in comparison, the boot lid has water beads sat on it but remain droplets and haven't soaked in, they remain beads on the cover and don't penetrate it like on the 'haunch' .
Ironically, my two other cars also sat in the elements are bone dry whilst the Aston sits cold and wet.
Anyway, has anyone else had experience such as this? Does this look right to you or do I have good reason to be dissatisfied?
Yellow area lined area is where it's soaked through, the material is darker and the water isn't sat on the top in droplets like on the boot lid. The boot is dry under the cover.
However I have an issue, the retailer has been responsive to my issue in that they have sent my pictures to the manufacturer, who have suggested it's simply condensation. I'll not name them directly as they are being very good. However, the latest suggestion was to run a hose over it and if it runs off it's ok, and that's what they would do if I sent the cover back. As the issue seems to be standing water, clearly this will achieve very little.
This doesn't sit right with me, on the top of the nearside quarter the cover is soaked through and the paint underneath has water droplets on it, in comparison, the boot lid has water beads sat on it but remain droplets and haven't soaked in, they remain beads on the cover and don't penetrate it like on the 'haunch' .
Ironically, my two other cars also sat in the elements are bone dry whilst the Aston sits cold and wet.
Anyway, has anyone else had experience such as this? Does this look right to you or do I have good reason to be dissatisfied?
Yellow area lined area is where it's soaked through, the material is darker and the water isn't sat on the top in droplets like on the boot lid. The boot is dry under the cover.
Edited by BGB autosport on Monday 12th February 17:59
My experience of covers has never been perfect.
The different materials vary in effectiveness, but intense rain for a few days is only kept out completely by a waterproof plastic type tarpaulin. Obviously that type cannot breath, so water condensation occurs on the underneath side in certain atmospheric conditions, therefore making the car wet. Cannot win.
Can your car port be lengthened, even if just using timber and perspex corrugated sheets?
Your car might then be better protected, because even if it did become damp, natural air circulation would dry the car after the rain stops. Condensation or dampness under a cover, just remans until the next time the cover is removed. Rather like putting a wet car in a garage. Often takes longer to dry, than if it had been left outside.
It looks remarkably like my cover. Great at first, but then the waterproofing wears off, the damp goes through and there's moisture on the car when you take it off. I thought they all did that. After a couple of years you'll find the elastic round the bottom starts to lose tension too.
You could have an impermeable cover, but they seem to be disapproved of because the car has to breathe, or somesuch. I'm not entirely convinced. I must try my £99 Chinese one from Amazon again...it looks like a giant bin liner, but is waterproof...
You could have an impermeable cover, but they seem to be disapproved of because the car has to breathe, or somesuch. I'm not entirely convinced. I must try my £99 Chinese one from Amazon again...it looks like a giant bin liner, but is waterproof...
Suggest this is an ideal case for a Carcoon. https://www.carcoon.com/product-range/vehicle/outd...
Consists of a light plastic bubble with a waterproof layer outside it. The bubble is kept inflated by a couple of computer-type fans that keep everything off the car while circulating filtered air over it. A soaking wet car can be stored in a Carcoon and will dry off quickly.
The only faff is that the car has to be driven onto the thick plastic bottom mat and the top layer, with all the fans etc, being zipped on afterwards. Not ideal for a car in constant use, but ideal for storage. The system also needs mains power, to keep the fans running and to power the included battery conditioner. Should the mains fail, the fans are kept running from the car's battery.
Consists of a light plastic bubble with a waterproof layer outside it. The bubble is kept inflated by a couple of computer-type fans that keep everything off the car while circulating filtered air over it. A soaking wet car can be stored in a Carcoon and will dry off quickly.
The only faff is that the car has to be driven onto the thick plastic bottom mat and the top layer, with all the fans etc, being zipped on afterwards. Not ideal for a car in constant use, but ideal for storage. The system also needs mains power, to keep the fans running and to power the included battery conditioner. Should the mains fail, the fans are kept running from the car's battery.
huntsen said:
Suggest this is an ideal case for a Carcoon.
Quite an elaborate and probably expensive solution, but I can understand that iit should work well.
The essential requirement is to have an air gap, between the car and whatever is keeping the rain out.
Obviously a basic cover can never achieve that requirement.
This looks like an issue with the cover, made worse by the recent weather.
I have been using an outdoor cover for a few years now.
The condensation / moisture issue crops up from time to time, but some covers are worse than others - my basic eBay one was so bad that ice would form between the cover and the car, and the cover would freeze in place.
I’ve recently been using a specialised car cover which is great - it isn’t completely waterproof, but is the best I’ve had so far. I went out and checked the car this morning and there was some moisture on the rear haunches (under the cover) which evaporated in a few minutes.
It’s also worth waiting for the car to cool down before you cover it - with my previous cars that sometimes leads to more condensation!
I have been using an outdoor cover for a few years now.
The condensation / moisture issue crops up from time to time, but some covers are worse than others - my basic eBay one was so bad that ice would form between the cover and the car, and the cover would freeze in place.
I’ve recently been using a specialised car cover which is great - it isn’t completely waterproof, but is the best I’ve had so far. I went out and checked the car this morning and there was some moisture on the rear haunches (under the cover) which evaporated in a few minutes.
It’s also worth waiting for the car to cool down before you cover it - with my previous cars that sometimes leads to more condensation!
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