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Old 11-04-2011, 12:50 AM   #1
BSOD2600
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Default 2011 WRX - excessive moisture inside?

Is there a known leak problem with the 2011 WRX's?

I seem to have an excessive amount of moisture inside my car. yes, I've made sure all the windows and sunroof are completely shut. no, I haven't spilled anything nor keep wet things in the car. for example, in the morning there is moisture inside the front window. get home from work, drive around doing errands, get out of a store 10 min later and the back window inside is fogged up.
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Old 11-04-2011, 02:17 AM   #2
Shewillbemine
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The moisture buildup is INSIDE the car? Have you been experiencing rainy and humid conditions up there?
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Old 11-04-2011, 10:03 AM   #3
BSOD2600
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Well sure, it's Seattle... its always overcast in the winter.
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Old 11-04-2011, 10:10 AM   #4
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no i dont think this is normal. There is something wrong or something happened that you didnt realize. If i were you tho i would put a dehumidifyer in the trunk for a few hours
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Old 11-04-2011, 10:11 AM   #5
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BSOD...

One thing I was always told...make sure that all debris is cleaned away from the air vents within the engine compartment...if they get blocked with decaying debris it can cause moisture inside the vehicle.

Jen
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Old 11-04-2011, 12:47 PM   #6
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Have you or did someone else put a downpipe on the car? The boy genious that had my car before me put a downpipe on it and decided to reroute the A/C (and defrost) drain from the engine bay to under the carpet.
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Old 11-04-2011, 01:26 PM   #7
BSOD2600
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Actually do have a dehumidifier (used in my old 94 legacy sport sedan). I'll put it in the car for a few days, but it still seems like a bandaid to a larger problem.

The car exhaust is still completely stock, unless you count the factory install SPT exhaust.
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Old 11-04-2011, 01:56 PM   #8
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Car is still under warranty I assume, why not bring it back to the dealer?
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Old 11-04-2011, 02:04 PM   #9
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Why? Because I don't have definitive proof of water leaking/pooling into the cabin so don't want to waste my/their time.
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Old 11-04-2011, 03:58 PM   #10
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If it is very damp outside and the car has been sitting outside, then what happens is moisture will accumulate under the cowl-panel and when you turn on the car, the cabin ventilation system engages and pulls some of that moist air into the car.

Also, when the car is colder than the outside air and that slightly warmer/moist air passes through the cowl-area, it is effectively cooled thus causing excess moisture to drop-out and then it accumulates onto the windshield.

On occasion, use the defroster setting: full or split, or use the a/c in conjunction with a desired temperature setting to effectively pull the moisture out of the car.

You more-than-likely do not have a leak.

Also, do you have the cabin ventilation set to fresh-air or recirculate? It should be set on fresh-air most of the time and to recirculate on occasion - read the owner's manual.
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Old 11-04-2011, 04:30 PM   #11
darren94
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My 09 had a leak in the tube that drains water from the gunnell around the sunroof right off the showroom floor. After a good rain, there would be standing water in the drivers floorboard. There is a TSB from Subaru about it.
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Old 11-04-2011, 09:47 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Big-E View Post
Also, do you have the cabin ventilation set to fresh-air or recirculate?
Fresh air.

I typically leave the environmental controls on full auto, which means often it decides to turn on the A/C.

The example from the other night running errands and continuously getting moisture buildup, I always had the A/C on.
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Old 11-04-2011, 11:08 PM   #13
BlazeRex
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BSOD2600 View Post
Why? Because I don't have definitive proof of water leaking/pooling into the cabin so don't want to waste my/their time.
If the dealer is close enough, and youre sure that its excessive moisture, why not complain? You paid for the car and the wanrranty, might as well take advantage, thats my feeling.

And I had a similar problem with my first 02 WRX, I doubt its the same issue, but my Vent to Recirc slider had the wrong stickers on it from the factory, so at vent it would recirc and vice versa. It took me a good month to figure it out and why my car was always damp and foggy!
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Old 11-05-2011, 01:31 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BSOD2600 View Post
Why? Because I don't have definitive proof of water leaking/pooling into the cabin so don't want to waste my/their time.
Unless you have mods you don't want them to see, I would play the "dumb owner" act. Just take it in and tell them you have moisture buildup in the car and let them figure it out. If its under warranty I wouldn't worry about wasting their time.
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Old 11-05-2011, 02:52 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by D-rock240 View Post
Unless you have mods you don't want them to see, I would play the "dumb owner" act.
Nope, nothing to hide.

Guess I'll take it in. Good opportunity for them to fix the damn back shelf rattling too.
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Old 11-22-2011, 10:33 PM   #16
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Got the car back from the dealer today. They fixed the shelf rattle, yay! Apparently they, "raised rear shelf, made foam blocks to place in a checkerboard pattern under shelf".

As for my moisture problem, they said its a known issue and I should turn off the auto [fan] setting, which will prevent the evap moisture from contacting the windshield. The service guy said this type of thing has been a problem since the 2005 OB. Really? Why the hell isn't the HVAC computer smart enough to close the outside doors when the car is turned off?
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Old 11-22-2011, 10:40 PM   #17
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I've never had this problem. Weird to hear it's always been a problem.
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Old 11-22-2011, 11:16 PM   #18
hkalienati
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I own a 2011 wrx and usually have my fan mode on auto and have not seen this issue too. As for the shelf rattle, are you talking about the shelf on the passenger side door? Because I was getting a rattle on my side panel when I play any songs with a low base. it seems like if I put something inside the door well it can slightly fix it but is this a common problem?
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Old 11-22-2011, 11:41 PM   #19
BSOD2600
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hkalienati View Post
As for the shelf rattle, are you talking about the shelf on the passenger side door?
No. 4 door WRX, the shelf in the back above the seats which separates the trunk from passenger compartment.
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Old 11-22-2011, 11:42 PM   #20
OK11WRX
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I have not had any moisture issues, this is the first I've heard of it as well.

Not to thread jack, but I had some similar rattles. After multiple failed trips to the dealer to get them all fixed, I spent some time trying to reduce them last weekend. So far, the results have been great!

I am glad that your dealer is apparently FIXING the problem. Mine claimed that the rattle from the rear deck was my license plate....

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=2272086
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Old 11-23-2011, 12:45 AM   #21
hkalienati
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BSOD2600 View Post
No. 4 door WRX, the shelf in the back above the seats which separates the trunk from passenger compartment.
Can you take a picture of what they did? If it can be seen with the seat down? I think I have a similar issue but I only hear it when I'm revving too low. Is that when you heard that rattle too? I just assumed it was my catback that was causing too much vibration but if it's not, its good to hear it can be fixed
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Old 11-23-2011, 04:18 AM   #22
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double post.

Last edited by davidmount; 11-23-2011 at 04:29 AM. Reason: oops, hate this computer....
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Old 11-23-2011, 04:27 AM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Big-E View Post
If it is very damp outside and the car has been sitting outside, then what happens is moisture will accumulate under the cowl-panel and when you turn on the car, the cabin ventilation system engages and pulls some of that moist air into the car.

Also, when the car is colder than the outside air and that slightly warmer/moist air passes through the cowl-area, it is effectively cooled thus causing excess moisture to drop-out and then it accumulates onto the windshield.

On occasion, use the defroster setting: full or split, or use the a/c in conjunction with a desired temperature setting to effectively pull the moisture out of the car.

You more-than-likely do not have a leak.

Also, do you have the cabin ventilation set to fresh-air or recirculate? It should be set on fresh-air most of the time and to recirculate on occasion - read the owner's manual.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BSOD2600 View Post
Got the car back from the dealer today. They fixed the shelf rattle, yay! Apparently they, "raised rear shelf, made foam blocks to place in a checkerboard pattern under shelf".

As for my moisture problem, they said its a known issue and I should turn off the auto [fan] setting, which will prevent the evap moisture from contacting the windshield. The service guy said this type of thing has been a problem since the 2005 OB. Really? Why the hell isn't the HVAC computer smart enough to close the outside doors when the car is turned off?
+1 for Big-E's instructions. The HVAC computer doesn't really work that way in Subaru's. The controls to close the vents only work with the vents in the cabin, the area where external air enters the system for "fresh air" are always open. At least that's what my old shop foreman and one of our techs explained to me. Hence the need to set the system to fresh air mainly and recirc occasionally.
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Old 11-28-2011, 10:45 PM   #24
BSOD2600
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Ever since getting the car back from the dealer on the 22nd, I've been turning the fan to OFF (instead of typically leaving it on AUTO), as they instructed to prevent the moisture. Overall I thought it was helping...

Today, according to the local weather stations its only rained 0.01" and had a high of 51F. After leaving the car sit at the local park and ride for 10 hours, this is what I returned to find. Please excuse the crappy cell phone picture. All the moisture is on the inside. The picture is before the HVAC system was turned on, so there was no moisture transfer from the cowl-area to window.



This is still far from acceptable in my book.
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Old 11-29-2011, 09:03 AM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BSOD2600 View Post
Ever since getting the car back from the dealer on the 22nd, I've been turning the fan to OFF (instead of typically leaving it on AUTO), as they instructed to prevent the moisture. Overall I thought it was helping...

Today, according to the local weather stations its only rained 0.01" and had a high of 51F. After leaving the car sit at the local park and ride for 10 hours, this is what I returned to find. Please excuse the crappy cell phone picture. All the moisture is on the inside. The picture is before the HVAC system was turned on, so there was no moisture transfer from the cowl-area to window.


This is still far from acceptable in my book.
Your temp indicator says it's 40F outside. If it was 51F when you parked, the air inside had enough moisture to condense @ 40F. Rain doesn't matter, what was the humidity and dew point for the day?
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