I need some help with a new problem. Last night was the first night that I have plugged the new truck in (temp 29 degrees). When I woke up this morning the windshield was completely covered with condensation on the inside. This wasn’t that big of a deal but it has been covered all day with condensation on the inside. I drove to work and as soon as I parked it (not plugged in) it developed condensation. It has been this way all day. I have wiped it off at least 5 times only to have it come back within 30 minutes. It’s not just a little condensation. It is covered with heavy condensation. I’m at a loss. No one else is having this problem that I work with so something is going on with my truck.

Any ideas?



Britt

 

That's only happened to me when the inside of my vehicle has gotten wet. Usually that's from 4 wheelin in deep water, or putting all the snow-covered snowboard gear in the cab, and not putting it away for a few days... then it takes until all the water dries out for it to stop. Perhaps you have a leak somewhere that's letting water in? May or may not be related...

 

yeah that was my first thought too. i checked all around the inside of the truck and couldn't find any water. only started this after i plugged it in. probably not related.


britt

 

Turn on the defrosters right away. They should clear it up in a hurry. CHeck your A/C condensate line. Sounds like it could be leaking into your cab. Is the floor carpet wet?

 

Condensation...

The result of saturated air coming into contact with a cooler surface and cooling beyond the point where it can hold water.

So... Either you have some very wet carpets or pads that are evaporating moisture into the vehicle, or:

1. Heater/AC box is flooded because of a blocked drain.

2. AC coil is frozen and melting after the truck has been shut
down. (My best guess.)

3. Heater core has developed a leak.

I'd expect your nose to detect a glycol aroma should your heater core have a leak. That, and the coolant level would be down.

Should that not be the case (and I don't think it is), then the block heater and condensation make a lot of sense. This is the one time you're not forcing air through the system. Thus, any moisture within range of your heater coil will be affected by the resulting warmth and begin to evaporate. Warm air rises and your cold windshield is directly above. That's the place where it begins to "rain".

Double check your AC drain. It may be plugged or blocked by ice.

Since your compressor will come on anytime you call for defrost, I'll bet the charge is slightly low and you're freezing the coils. This would be most evident in weather that hovers right around the freezing mark.

I've read that a few trucks have experienced problems with a probe that's supposed to shut down the AC so as to prevent a coil freeze. It's possible you have one of these.

Bottom line... It's probably less of a real problem than you think.

 

thank you for the insightful reply nord.

i have a little extra time today so i will check around the truck a little more.

the best i can tell is the inside of the truck has no moisture in it at all. carpets and pads are dry everywhere i have checked.


thanks again guys!


britt

 

Can you select recirculating or outside air on the 3rd gens?

Buddy of mine and I had identical Tacomas (before I got the Dodge).
At work, we both worked at the same place, his windshield would freeze up inside while mine was nice and clear.

Found out, after a couple nights of trying different things, that he left his in "recirc" while I had mine set on "outside air".

Worth a shot if possible, easy fix.


phox

 

you can phox but it only works with air conditioning (i think?). i haven't run with mine on recirculation even in the summertime.

here is a pic of the controls:




**Update**

i checked all around the truck and can't find anything. everything looks fine. everything is dry and all drain holes are open. it didn't do it last night but i also didn't have it plugged in. the one thing that i did think about was the night that i did have it plugged in i had the control set to defrost. do you guys think that might have had something to do with it? the only thing weird was it did it all day yesterday while parked and the control wasn't in the defrost mode.



britt

 

Mine usually helps keep the windshield from fogging or icing up when it's plugged in. Seems like you must have some kind of pin hole somewhere in the heating system that's allowing the steam to escape when the heater is plugged in. But, it seems that it would do it while you are driving around too as it getts much hotter then....

 

I have the same problem in my truck... but not just on the windshield. Every window in my truck will be VERY fogged up. Luckily the defrost usually clears it up but its still a pain.

I dont think the inside of my truck has ever seen a drop of water.

 

One more time guys... "Me too's" don't help with the situation. Facts do!

Warm moist air coming into contact with a cold object produces condensation. Witness a cold glass on a muggy summer day.

Your truck is providing a source of warm moist air and some nice cold surfaces for condensation to happen. For all I know it's your son and his girlfriend heating things up in the back seat for the better part of an evening.

If not, and there are no living breathing bodies in your vehicle, then we have to look elsewhere. And since the truck fogs the windows only when the block heater is used, it's only fair to conclude that it's somehow involved in the process.

The block heater heats not only the block, but also circulates warm coolant to the heater core. Immediately after the heater core comes the AC evaporator and its surrounding drain shroud. Anything within the AC area that could hold water (hairballs included) will be of prime concern as the evaporation process is bound to take place. Leaves, paper, carpet fibres, or anything else that provides surface area will greatly assist evaporation.

If the box is clean and the AC evaporator isn't a block of ice (caused by a slightly low charge condition), then there's got to be another source of moisture. I don't know about anyone else, but I'd be looking at the air intake plumbing with an eye toward a plugged drain.

Just to eliminate the AC coil from the list, disable your AC compressor for the day. Plug the truck in at night and see what happens in the morning. Running the heater through the day with fresh air should dry the AC area. Then using the block heater at night with no condensation in the morning should settle the issue.

I'd be willing to bet no condensation. If there is, then I'm wrong and the source of the moisture is elsewhere. At that point I'd have to go back to the air intake and recheck the drains. I'd also begin to heavily suspect the heater coil, but I'd think the smell of antifreeze would be obvious.

It doesn't take much moisture to make things look like a rain forest. If you've been feeding moist air into the cabin throughout the day, then the total humidity is already high and the block heater is only putting the finishing touches on the problem.

Disconnect the AC and the problem will disappear. When that happens, then run your truck down to your friendly DC dealer and have him up the charge in your AC unit. As a rule that's the only problem... And it's very common.

Best of luck!

P.S. -

I just reread your initial post and have a couple of other thoughts.

1. A warm block equals a warm heater core. This could explain your problem during times the block heater wasn't plugged in.

2. I'm now wondering if you don't have a malfunctioning air door. If yours has somehow stuck in recirculate mode, then cab humidity will be very high and condensation guaranteed as things begin to cool.

Heater/AC boxes have been a problem in some vehicles... Mine was a problem at delivery. So far the only problem.

 

Don't forget also that cab marker lights were also a source of water leaks in many trucks, make sure these aren't leaking. Likewise I seem to remember a bulletin about body sealer on the rear roof being to thin and allowing water to leak, as well as water leak at one of the grab handles, (check out http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2004-index.htm ) You may not be able to even feel water but that doesn't mean it's not leaking in behind interior trim panels.

 

After looking at your controls I wil bet that it is because you have the system in OFF position. In other words your fan has to be turned on in at leaset low for the dampers to open. Try putting it in low with the rest of the controls where they are, then plug in the heater at night and see what happens