I took my S3 out for it's first drive in heavy rain today. It ran fine, with no discernible leaks. The only thing that I didn't like was the condensation inside the glass of all the gauges, making them very hard to read. Is this a common problem? & more importantly is it a sign of a deeper malaise? Like rust bubbles around the windscreen are, which my car hasn't got BTW, thankfully! But should I be concerned about how the moisture is finding it's way inside my gauges? & what's the best way to stop it happening? Because, serious or not, it's bloody annoying, & I want it gone!
Ideas?

 

Don't know, never had it and I drive in all weather.

 

I think the speedo's hand needed tightening to get the RWC. So the glass would've had to have come off for that to get done. But that doesn't explain why all the dials have it.

 

As I recall the gauges have rubber seals (like O-rings) to keep moisture out. Yours have probably shrunk a bit over the years.

Plus, there's obviously some moisture in the cabin....amount and source yet unknown. It wouldn't take much.


Cheers
DD

 

I don't want to be an alarmist. You have singled out a window leak as not probable.


That leaves at least two suspect points:


1. The heater matrix. Run the demist/defroster. Sweetish deposit on the windscreen interior? That is coolant!!! Been there in anther critter. Swapping out the Matrix only a bit fiddly, far easier than on Jaguars.


2. Clogged Gaiters from the air intake pan. Water pond there from which air laden with moisture is drawn in.


Carl

 

How long was the car stored and under what conditions? Your descriptions suggest that the car sat inside a cold damp enclosure.

The quick cure is to let the car sit in bright hot conditions with the windows open.

 

If possible, always store the car in a ventilated garage or shed and leave at least one window open. In that way, moisture can escape from the car, instead of condensing on cold surfaces.

 

ITS VERY,VERY, VERY,VERY COMPLICATED....
Just turn your lights on for about two minutes while driving and it will all go away from the heat.
Your lenses have a gasket but its because your car sits in a damp climate..Had them all, drove them all , do the above and all will be fine!

 

We're talking tropical downpour here. It was absolutely bucketing down & I could barely see the road with the wipers on full speed! So there was plenty of the wet stuff about. The car's stored in a dry, well ventilated shed. But in those conditions the atmosphere is so damp (95% humidity!) that moisture just gets everywhere. I guess all the gauges rubbers are perished, which isn't surprising given thee age of the car. I'll just try some of the easier fixes first, though I doubt the lights on trick will work, as my lights were on from the moment I drove out of my drive.

 

Its a 30 year old british car, its against the law to drive it in the rain.....surprised you made it!

 

I have a series 2 that also suffers from the same problem of misting of the instruments every winter. I would add that it very rarely gets driven these days. Nevertheless, when I took it for its annual MOT last month, sure enough, the instruments were misted. The UK is, of course, well known for its high humidity - especially in winter.

 

The seals are gone. Water gets in or condensation forms in the right conditions. In the tropics it should be no surprise.

I once had the same problem with a headlamp on a 12 y/o VW.

Nope, it ain't unique to 30 y/o British cars at all....

 

Well I found out where the water's been flooding in. My Boot/Trunk Seal's gone. It still looks good, not perished or anything. But the water's just gushing in over the lip that runs below the rear window. It's draining out alright, through the hole in the spare wheel well. & it doesn't look to have caused any corrosion. But then it lived in a shed where I bought it from, & was only used on sunny days for club runs. & it's been in my shed since it got here too. So it probably never got wet before. It certainly didn't smell mouldy when I bought it. I wouldn't have sussed it except I took it for a run in the rain, & even then it wasn't until I lifted the boot/trunk lid a couple of weeks later that i saw how damp the carpets were. The sound dampening panel that sits up under the rear parcel shelf had fallen off, & was just a swollen smelly lump on the floor. The only visible casualty inside the cabin is the seats have gone mouldy. But that's actually a blessing as it proves they're real leather, because I was sure they were vinyl.
So, does anyone know the best (i.e. cheapest) place to get a new seal? Or is there anyway to resurrect my old seal, so it becomes watertight again?
Thanks

 

Google "BBC44411 Jaguar" and see what comes up


Cheers
DD

 

Many thanks Doug. Jagbits did have the cheapest I could find, which is strange, because I couldn't find it on a search of their website, previously. Anyway it's ordered & winging it's way to me by snail mail (who knew they had wings?)
Are there any tips & tricks I should know about replacing the rubber, or is it as straightforward as most other cars?

 

It's the easiest thing you'll ever do on your jag. Just pull the old one off and press the new one on. Your fingers are the only tools needed!

Cheers
DD

 

Cool. & many thanks