987.2: 2009: Winter left outside issues?

[911hillclimber]

My 987.2 seems water tight.
I say this as I cannot feel water in any carpet inside, front, or boot.
All drain channels are clear.
Car runs absolutely fabulous (!).

It stands outside each winter with a good roof cap fitted, this is it's 4th winter with me. Inside I have a large car box (A4 printer paper carton lid) full of Kitty Litter to absorb some moisture.

So, I know this recent winter weeks have bee a bit tough, but the inside of the screen was iced over a few days ago as was the rear and one side. Also, the boot lid was drenched with condensation and similarly the bonnet.

These panels are always dried after washing.
Car was last washed (no pressure washing) about 3 weeks ago, driven on the road to clear it's throat just twice.

So, is this normal or is there something to sort out?

 

[JMR]

Must admit I've seen ice on the inside of my CR-V and the lads Type R and its something I've never had before.
Whether its just because they are older cars I don't know.

My Porsche is always parked in the garage hooked up to the CTEK charger.

The wife's Clio RS200 also condenses up on the inside of the windscreen a lot, but I think thats because of where its parked too (outside)

Re: the condensation, does the car get very very cold and iced up, then get a blast of the sun on it at times during the day?

 

[Wollemi]

Our cars all live outside, all their lives. My wife’s 19 year old Lupo GTI has always suffered with terrible condensation inside. With the cars hardly being driven at all, this year we bought bags of moisture absorbent crystals, which can be re-activated in the microwave. The club shop sell 350g bags, but you can get 1kg bags from Amazon. All I can say is that they work brilliantly. The Lupo is now completely dry inside, so I’ve put a couple in the Boxster and the Land Rover as a precaution too. Cannot recommend them highly enough. Much, much better than cat litter, and easier as well.

If you are going to drive the car, then it’s better to drive it far and long enough to get it properly hot. (30 miles?) Just down the road and back will do more harm than good.

 

[richardm]

That’s interesting about condensation, all our cars live outside too. My wife’s 2017 Swift does get bad condensation and she uses one of those microwaviable bags. But I’m pleased say, touch wood, that my 986.2 has gone through this winter with no condensation at all. It has a good roof cover bought though the Club, and even when I cleared the snow and ice from it on a sunny day this week, all was fine inside. I like to drive the car at least once or maybe twice a week on essential trips, to keep it (and me) happy! I’ve only charged the battery once with my new Ctek, just to see it working,and get used to the light sequence etc. The battery has been brilliant otherwise.
Just for info, I treated the roof with Fabsil a few weeks ago, having not read the instructions about drying time!! But am glad to say it worked. I will have to do the second coat when it gets milder.

 

[911hillclimber]

Thank you for these replies, most helpful.
I have 2 Skodas, neither suffer, same driveway location.
will order those Amazon Christals today!
Graham.

 

[AndrewCS]

PINGI ID-A300 CAR-DEHUMIDIFIER - PINGI

Came across this when looking up those moisture trap crystals ...

 

[911hillclimber]

That's interesting, I'll try these crystals that are on their way first, but like the look of that, thank you.
Graham.

 

[Motorhead]

An interesting read Graham. I have to say that with these bitterly cold and windy conditions we’ve experienced recently (ultra-low glass temps due to wind-chill) I’m not surprised that even with a well insulated rag top you’ve seen ice forming inside the car since the air will always contain some moisture.

Hopefully the crystals will do the trick!

Jeff

 

[Wollemi]

PINGI ID-A300 CAR-DEHUMIDIFIER - PINGI

Came across this when looking up those moisture trap crystals ...

We have a couple of those type of de-humidifiers, different make but look identical. There are nothing like as good as the microwavable bags, there don't have that much of the crystals inside and take a while to dry out, the microwave bags only take 10 minutes. There would be useful if you don't own a microwave though.

I have a friend who won't have a microwave, he thinks it will send him mad. I tell him it's far too late to worry about that.

 

[kitchens]

A cheap try is a bag of cooking salt in one of those carry out plastic containers ....have then in my garage and draws out a lot of moisture so for under a £2 worth ago ,the big de -humidifier I have does not work below 5 deg.