Mist inside

[Johannes]

I have this mist problem in my W 124 Combi ´96 which I want to ask if anybody have explaination on, :

If temp is around 0 C like it is most of the time up here and it is raining outside I get this constant mist or steam inside all windows, when I try to get rid of it by turning the heat up high and direct airflow up to the screen it only can dry the lower half of windscreen and all other windows start condense so much mist that water start to run down them. This only happens when its raining which gives me clue that there is no leak in my central heating element. There is no leak of water into the car I can find. It is no matter if I push the airdryer knob or EC knob. Could there be something wrong with the went ducts in the rear sides ?

Thank you

One who is drowning inside his W 124

 

[jberks]

Hi,
Make sure the windows are clean. If they are dirty they will steam up very quickly. I'd check the carpets and seats very carefully too as the only time my car steams up badly inside is after I have cleaned it with a wet detergent and the fabric is still wet.
The moisture must be coming from somewhere, so, it must already be in the car through a leak somewhere (seats/carpets etc) and evaporating as the air warms up.
If it was just air moisture, the dehumidifier in the air con would sort it in a couple of minutes. - assuming its working properly.

 

[OlafMaxwell]

Is there air con and is it still working?

 

[Beresford]

I have the same issue in the cold scandic north of the EU, Sweden.
However i have discovered that if the car is free from internal moisture( as much as it can be in the rain and snow) the mist clears away imeadiately.
Also i have discovered that using the AC will only create more condensation..The dry hot air is more effective at clearing the mist. I am going to try and put some newspaper on the floor mats to try and obsorb some of the water next time i'm out.

I also read that one should check for leaks in the heater radiator (workshop job).

Best Beresford.
PS. This is my first Merc and i am highly impressed.
I have driven mostly VW' (new and old) of which i love however i cannot see myself going back.MB E220 solid car!!!
E220 '94 154,000

 

[panason1c]

Might be worth checking that the 'recirculation' switch isnt 'on'....check that air is entering from outside and not being recirculated
Also, check that the pollen filter is not blocked....if it is you would have the same symptoms as if the 'recirculation' switch was on.

 

[Johannes]

Tank you all. I will have change to take my car inside tomorrow and I will check these things. What Beresford in N Sweden says is wery simular what I have, which makes me think that every time I have taken my Golden Retriever for exercise in the car like in dry weather and she is wet and sweathy when back in car, moisture builds up which point to jberks explanation, i.e. dirty windows . Then panason1c may have someting cause I have never checked the pollen filter and the car had been standing all autumn in the shade of many trees at the car sale area in Germany, and OlafMaxwell, there is a AC and it was at least working these days in Germany and Denmark before the ferry up here.

Thank to you all, I will check all these things to morrow.

Johannes and his E 280 ´96 combi

 

[Johannes]

Hi all !
I had my car inside for 8 hours, all floor mats out and doors open. Cleaned all windows, checked the pollen filter which was not blocked. I took the car then outside in to heavy rain and drow it 500 km and it is wery short story...... all windows started to steam up immediatly and lasted so for first 200 km or 100 km longer than the rain lasted. Yesterday it was dry wheater but frosty and there where no steam or mist. I mentioned this to my neigbour who has Honda with top hatch like my W 124 has !!!!!!!. We opened the hatch and there was little bit of water under it like where it slides back and forth. Could this be my problem ? There is never any mark of water on the fabric in the ceiling at least !!
Could me and Beresford in North Sweaden beeing having this problem ?

Thank you

 

[panason1c]

The pollen filter can look good when in fact it is blocked by fine dust particles, if it has not been changed recently then it would be wise to change it now as they are not expensive and you can then eliminate that as the cause of your problem (which i still think it is).

Possibly you could remove the pollen filter for a couple of days to see if the problem goes away............?

The next step would be to check that the 'recirculation' flap is not closed

 

[Geoff_Slade]

I've got a 1993 W124 300D with air con. Will it have a pollen filter fitted and if so where is it (I've looked in the Haynes manual but it doesn't say anything about pollen filters)

Cheers

 

[Johannes]

Hi
English is not my native language but I understand this filters are under front windscreen (under back edge of bonnet) on each side of the viper.
In my case it is not clogged because yesterday it was raining like hell here and my car had been untouched for all day until I had to drive a little and in the first left turn water poored over my head !"#$%&/&%%$$
I went to the dealer this morning to ask for new gasket but they dont have any on stock but it will be in soon.
Im happy about this cause I thougth it was the heater radiator and it would have been a major case for my wallet.

 

[MBSIX.3]

Believe it or not, we have the same problem of steamed up windows in Australia.

A solution that I have found very reliable is to use the AC on MAXIMUM to dry the air, and the heater to warm it.

Just the heater is NEVER going to do the job as well as the above.

Works on Saab, Subaru and Mercedes Benz.