Condensation in instruments

[Carl Reading]

Not taken the Stag out in the rain for a long long time. It lives in an unheated garage and stays dry. But, I just took it for a spin and condensation appeared inside the instruments all except the speedo and clock. Any idea what may be going on?
Incidentally I did have trouble starting the car over the last couple of weeks but that seems to have gone away now?
Could the 2 phenomena be connected?

[JeffW]

Hi Carl

All mine did that too until I had them reconditioned by Alan at the Gauge Shop. I assume it is a seal that gets replaced in the process. However, I also replaced my gauge bulbs with LED's but I do not know if they two are connected - ie if I had not had the gauges reconditioned would they have not steamed up with the LEDs as they do not put off any heat....

HTH

Jeff

[DJT]

They all do that sir....... There should be some cork plugs in the back of the cans, but these have probably crumbled and dropped out by now. ISTR somebody saying they had popped some small desiccant bags (those you get in some new items) inside the cans to absorb moisture, but I don’t know how effective they are long-term.

[richardthestag]

They all do that sir....... There should be some cork plugs in the back of the cans, but these have probably crumbled and dropped out by now. ISTR somebody saying they had popped some small desiccant bags (those you get in some new items) inside the cans to absorb moisture, but I don’t know how effective they are long-term.

those ones that have do not eat written on them.

[Paul Kelley]

Hi Carl. Even if your garage is dry, being unheated there will be lots of moisture in the air (humidity is often 85-95% during the winter). Also gets into the wiring and causes fun and games! My solution is a dehumidifier on a timer for a few hours evening and early morning, plus I try and use the car during the winter when the weather permits and they haven't salted/gritted the roads for a while. I have also put about 10 of the desiccant bags in and around the car. So far so good, virtually no mist in the instruments whereas I used to get that too.

[blue 464]

the condensation is created when the lights are on by the heat created by the bulbs, change them to led and the problem will go away. do they show green or white? if white then it means that the green bulb covers inside the cans have broken. in that case you can get green bulbs. loads on e bay to choose from. Derek

[Andy S]

the condensation is created when the lights are on by the heat created by the bulbs, change them to led and the problem will go away. do they show green or white? if white then it means that the green bulb covers inside the cans have broken. in that case you can get green bulbs. loads on e bay to choose from. Derek

Thanks Derek,

I knew this was the cause of the gauges steaming up and was going to ask if anyone could confirm that swapping to LED bulbs would indeed cure the problem.

Andy S

[KOY 23]

No it won’t, most of the heat is caused by the bimetallic heating element in the fuel, temp and voltmeter.

[Andy S]

It only happens when I put the lights on in my car. If it was the bimetallic strips it would happen all the time in cold weather.

Andy S

[fussydave]

Andy fitting LED bulbs does stop the misting up of the lamps, I know because it has solved my misting. Plus, as you say if it was bimetallic strips it would occur all the time. Dave.

[DJT]

It’s pantomime season again........ Oh no it isn’t..... Oh yes it is.......

I’m with KOY on this. Mine mist up during the day, without the lights on.

[fussydave]

It looks like most things Stag related, it works for some and not for others. Has worked for me and others have had similar success. I only got misting with the lights on. Maybe you and Koi have some other underlying moisture problem with the instruments? Dave.

[Ritchie6]

I've just had the Stag out of the garage for the first time in 3 months and I noticed that there's a little bit of condensation in the Voltmeter. It's definitely nothing to do with lights because they've only ever been on for the MOT. It will probably disappear later in the year when we get some warm sunny days.

Richard

[Phil S]

had this when I got my stag as the car had been kept outside for 4 weeks.
with use they dried up fairly quickly.
the heat that causes the problem also cures it.
Phil

[RobinLegin]

I keep my Stag alongside the Alvis in my garage. I sealed as many of the “holes” as I could and use and keep the dehumidifier going 24/7. As well as the dehumidifier I run a small oil filled radiator during the colder months.
Having run the Stag out twice in the last week, the instrument panel steamed up. It took some 10 miles to clear. My Christmas present is a set of LED dashboard lights.