My guages steam up!

[blue 464]

Hi all,
the small guages steam up after using the lights for about 10 minutes and become unreadable.
this is obviously due to condensation caused by the heat from the bulb, as I am just stripping the dash ready for a visit from santa I would like to cure this problem at the same time.

Had thought of drilling a small hole in the top and bottom of the casing to allow a flow of air, but is there a better way to cure it?

Thanks Derek

[richardthestag]

mine do also. interested to see if there is a fix. for some reason the vomiter is the worst

[coldstreamer]

the vomiter ,thats a sickener

[Andrew S]

In the back of my dials, I have two round pieces of cork that look like they are stoppers and maybe these are fitted this very reason. I am sure Alan can tell us when he comes on line

[martin]

Condensation's pretty much inevitable in these old darlings, I don't get it any more cos I've switched to LED bulbs, no heat apart from the volt meter, If you take them indoors, and tape up any gaps in a warm atmosphere that could do it. Martin.

[V Mad]

I think Martin's mod is the answer, use LED lamps.

[Guest]

Having driven mine on colder evenings, usually with roof off, a few times recently I have seen the gauges mist up, and then partly demist after about 1/2 an hour or so. The misting is, of course, water condensation which forms when moisture laden air meets a colder surface - and the warmer the air, the more moisture it can hold. In the case of the dials, there must be moisture present and the bulbs heat air in the guage and the glass to a higher temperature than the air in the cabin so that the mositure laden air within the guage then condenses on the glass. Switching to LED's isn't elimiating the cause but is addressing the symptom - LED bulbs don't generate enough heat to condense the moisture present in the dial.

The real solution is to eliminate the moisture - which is easier said than done of course. If you can trace how water gets into the car and seal off, and keep the car in a dry garage you are almost there, so that removing the gauges once and allowing them to dry out properly before refitting should do the trick. I haven't done this yet but guess that putting them in the airing cupbard for a week would do it.

I think that probably when swapping to LED's the gauge may be dried out a bit anyway thereby reducing the problem, but maybe I am wrong. Could someone tell me what the cost is in changing to LED's and exactly what it entails please?

[Andy Rundell]

Mine are fine, perhaps the daily use helps - plus i usually warm up the interior for 10 mins with a fan heater before setting off for work when it is very cold (so far only 4/5 times this year as it has been so mild)

............. Andy

[new to this]

would replacing the rubber seals not cure the steaming up of the gauges

dave

[martin]

Having driven mine on colder evenings, usually with roof off, a few times recently I have seen the gauges mist up, and then partly demist after about 1/2 an hour or so. The misting is, of course, water condensation which forms when moisture laden air meets a colder surface - and the warmer the air, the more moisture it can hold. In the case of the dials, there must be moisture present and the bulbs heat air in the guage and the glass to a higher temperature than the air in the cabin so that the mositure laden air within the guage then condenses on the glass. Switching to LED's isn't elimiating the cause but is addressing the symptom - LED bulbs don't generate enough heat to condense the moisture present in the dial.

The real solution is to eliminate the moisture - which is easier said than done of course. If you can trace how water gets into the car and seal off, and keep the car in a dry garage you are almost there, so that removing the gauges once and allowing them to dry out properly before refitting should do the trick. I haven't done this yet but guess that putting them in the airing cupbard for a week would do it.

I think that probably when swapping to LED's the gauge may be dried out a bit anyway thereby reducing the problem, but maybe I am wrong. Could someone tell me what the cost is in changing to LED's and exactly what it entails please?

My main reason for changing to LEDs, was so I could see the damn things, you lose the dim facility but that's no loss. It took, altogether, about an hour, and cost about £25, but you do wind up with spares. There are three types of bulb used in the main instruments, for some you need to change the holders, easy, 80p ea with spade terminals. in the tach and speedo you need the original holders so need bulbs to fit. the clock uses a small bayonet so no need to change. I haven't managed to find LED match heads for the multi lamp unit, but they're pretty much OK. If you have a modern instrument, oil pressure etc. you need to check. If anyone's interested, I'll happily list the bulbs, holders and suppliers. Well worth doing. Martin.

[martin]

would replacing the rubber seals not cure the steaming up of the gauges

dave

No, that just gives the instrument a soft mount. Martin.

[new to this]

No, that just gives the instrument a soft mount. Martin.

martin

i meant the seal behind the glass

dave

[Andrew S]

What about putting some of those moisture crystal things inside, you know the sachets they put in camera bags to absorb any moisture and then it dries out when its warm

[Gresley]

Mine steam up too! Sounds like Martin's LED fix is the answer...

[martin]

martin

i meant the seal behind the glass

dave

It still doesn't help mate, the damp gets in the back. I don't believe it's a leak thing, just an old car left out in the damp, neither hood nor hard top are completely draught proof, and a damp draught is all it takes. Martin.