rear window steam

[kmohr3]

As the weather is colder here now, I've been noticing that the rear window right under the defogger grid and near the high brake light grid stays steamed up most of the time.

Does this happen to anyone else? I hope it's not a heater core issue. None of the other windows steam up and I'm not smelling coolant inside the car. I'm not seeing any other moisture on the carpets or in the trunk either.

Is this a somewhat normal occurrence with this car? (It's a 2002 w/ 3.5 and 59k miles)

[phewop118]

I've had it happen ever since i got my Intrigue a year and a half ago when it's a bit cold and humid out. I don't have the third brake light on the shelf back there, but it's aways foggy there when the rear defrost is on. Just figured cause the difference in temp between the heated and regular glass and humidity.

[lunasea808]

Originally Posted by phewop118

I've had it happen ever since i got my Intrigue a year and a half ago when it's a bit cold and humid out. I don't have the third brake light on the shelf back there, but it's aways foggy there when the rear defrost is on. Just figured cause the difference in temp between the heated and regular glass and humidity.

Yea I agree. I live in a very dry environment and it still is the same way.

[Solonys]

It stays steamed up because there is no defogger grid lines there, if there ARE defogger grid lines where there is still fog, you might have a severed line, which is a pain in the arse to fix.

[llst]

Have you checked for wet carpets? I have a leak, I assume it is a door gasket on the right rear and my rear window fogs up. Door gaskets seem good but carpets are wet and the dog does not ride in this car.

Larry

[kmohr3]

yes, the floors and carpeting are the first things I checked. I'm starting to think it's pretty normal for this car.

[llst]

I had a 92 Oldsmobile that would fog up a lot. One day my neighbor took the rear window out with his lawnmower and when I went to replace the window, I found an area where the silicone had not been applied properly and there was signs of water penetration. I think it was better after that however if the car sat for a while without being operated, the humidity levels would get high.

Larry

[llst]

Well after a rainy Friday night and two inches of water on the rear floor, I decided to look a little harder. Removed the front passenger seat and lifted the carpets and noted that someone else had already been there as I found a pair of bloomers tucked in to where the leak was showing. Ran a little water on the windshield and sure enough, water was coming into the car from an opening around the windshield. Took the plastic cover off the area where the windshield wipers sit and found a seam just under the windshield (just follow the side edge of the hood lid down to the body) that was not filled. Put some silicone caulk into it and ran some water with no sign of any leaks. Spent about an hour squeezing water out of the sponge under carpet and am now waiting for the rains to come back.

Larry