Dash Dial Glass Fog - How to prevent it?

[velozi]

I know it is common for the clock plastic to fog but my temp dial fogs depending on the day.

One day is clear, the next is slightly fogged. My gas dial also does the same thing.

This may be some type of condensation but how can I prevent it?

In SCUBA you spit in your mask to prevent it, should I spit all over my dials too?

[mdrburchette]

Since the fog is on the inside, spitting on it probably won't help. The gauge is not sealing anymore. There is a way to remove the bezel to clean the glass. Maybe one of the fellas that has done this will chime in. I tried several years ago and destroyed two clocks so I just live with the fog in the other gauges.

[punes]

Mine does the same...usually in the colder months...I just live with it. But to let you know, your not alone.

Frank

79 Fiat Spider

[rlux4]

You could try putting a bag of desiccant (they come packed inside a lot of products to attract the moisture) in front of your dash. If you could buy the material and put it in a small sock it would lay across the dash, right above the steering column. I think it would attract enough of the moisture to keep it from going to the inside of your clock face.
I have wondered if this would work, seems like it would. I live in a desert, so I never had a chance to test my theory.
Ron

[htchevyii]

I replaced my stupid noisy clock with a a/f gauge. It's brand new and it fogs just like the rest. I took my gauges apart recently to clean them and they aren't sealed. You could heat them up with a hair drier to get the moisture out, but I don't think you can prevent it.

[DMECMAnderson]

I've got another CLOCK issue. My clock works fine. But as of yesterday the darn set knob just died. I can't feel the gear engaging with the system and I can't set my clock. A clock that's on the wrong time is no good!!!

Took it out, looks sealed. A new one at IAP is $230!!! Any suggestions on how to open it up for repar? Or a lower cost replacement alternative?

[rlux4]

To get to the inards is the same as replacing the clock face, very carefully pry the bezel off with a very small flat head screw driver. Once the bezel is off you should be able to take the nuts off the back and drop the mechanism out. I think you'll find it's not a difficult repair, probably the gear has shifted slightly. It wouldn't take much to loose contact. If you find it's more than you want to handle, I think you'd find a clock repair shop would not be a major expense.
Good luck.
Ron

[kilrwail]

Has anyone ever tried drilling a tiny hole in an inconspicuous place in the clock face, to prevent fogging? I would think it should work by equalizing the temperature and humidity inside and out.

[rlux4]

Yes, Veglia did. The adjuster knob comes through a small hole in the clock face. It's a good theory Kilrwail, you're right, with equal temp and humidity on both sides of the glass condensation wouldn't happen. So the inside face must have a slightly higher temp, probably from the clock motor.
Ron

[alexGS]

If I had a clock I couldn't set, I'd just disconnect the battery - and reconnect at the right time

All my gauges had a certain amount of 'permanent fog' inside, probably due to evaporation of oils from the mechanisms.

I cleaned all my glasses with soapy water and made a new lens for the clock - since the 'fog' of the clock lens is the plastic itself, in most cases I'm sure.

If you're getting water condensation, I think dessicant sachets inside the gauges would be the best bet. I haven't had that problem - the fog on mine was permanent and not related to temperature/humidity.

[OrangeCrush]

This http://www.rainx.com/Products/Windshiel ... i-Fog.aspx solved a fog related issue for me on another non-fiat restoration project.


Ray

[alexGS]

Well I actually DROVE my Spider last night for the first time since cleaning/re-doing all my gauges - and you can guess what happened - all gauges except the clock and the revcounter fogged over! There was heavy condensation on the inside of the lenses.

So now I understand the fogging problem... it was bitterly cold last night, should probably have put the hood up. Apparently it was just 1 degree (celsius).

With the sun on the dash today, the condensation has disappeared, but I guess it will be back... the only wonderment is, why did the rev counter not fog over...

-Alex

[htchevyii]

Maybe you can unhook one of your defrost vents and aim it at the back of the gauge cluster?

[Snoopy]

Maybe your heater lose a little bit water an because of that its wet ?

[sptcoupe]

I haven't tried this yet, but I have been told that if you coat the inside of the guage lenses with RainEx or some equivalent, it will prevent the fogging for a a good period of time - a year or two. Anyone tried this?