I have a Note 1.6 ntec which I got in Dec 2009, it was registered in Sept 2009.  Last winter I had a lot of trouble with ice on the inside of the windows, really annoying as it meant scraping both sides of the windscreen.  I took it to the local dealer who said he had never seen the problem before but thought it was due to the exceptionally cold weather.  I live in Scotland and the extreme weather started again this year at the end of November and I've had the problem again but this time with water albeit, about a quarter of a cupful coming through the hole for the sun visor fitment.  This  happens about once every couple of day.  I  took it to the Nissan dealer today and started to explain the problem.  He was aware of this problem and informed me of a modification kit and said he expected it to be available within the next few days.  He said it was caused by condensation on the roof of the car then running down the sun visor fitment hole. 

Does anyone else suffer from this problem and has anyone any knowledge what the mod is?  Would be grateful for any info, getting really annoyed and thinking of changing back to Citroen.

Cheers 

Neil

hi, i had a qashqai same problem, it was more annoying as the heater ducts to the windscreen are only about the centre and it left about 150-200mm uncleared each side of the window until the heater warmed the interior. i now have a note, just got it last week and it has the same problem but not as bad. i dont think its anything to do with the sun visor hole  at all, all these cars are severely checked for water leaks and i cant see it in lots off cars maybe in one off but not lots.

i think its the weather, at the moment and if using the air con to clear the windows,when you get out the car cools quickly causing condensation which freezes as the temp drops.

my friends citroen picasso (c4) does the same. i suggest getting up a little earlier and letting the car come up to operating temp before you set off.

it will soon be spring then spring then winter again !!!!!

hi neilr,

i work at the factory, i know my car was only built 2 weeks ago, i think any mod would be in the new cars already, keen to know what your dealer is going to do. lets know. cheers.

hi, mine did this too, figured it was just down to the cold, using aircon and build up of condensation.

it only did it a few times and it as a shock as it landed on my inner thigh when driving.

would be keen to know what mod would be done though

Thanks John, would be interested in what they find and as previously stated I will keep chasing my dealer until the mod is installed.

Cheers

Neil

Hi,

As you will see we have a discussion on this very topic.  I also have a Note registered in Sept 2009 with the same problem.  With regard to your queries.

1.  This is a known problem which we think Nissan have been slow to acknowledge but have done so now.

2.  The fix is a strip of foam in the roof area, sorry but thats as much info as I have.  My car is booked in for this mod on 19th January and I will post the results on the forum.

3.  The smell (like rotting fish) I believe to be dampness and until the problem is resolved or the weather gets better will remain.  I've tried putting absorption crystals in my car, but it doesn't seem to be making any impact.

4.   I don't know if the Arnold Clark you bought your car from is a main Nissan dealer, if he is not , it is unllikely that he will know of the modification.  If he is not a Nissan dealer find your nearest one and they should carry the work out under warranty.

Hope this helps, Johne on the forum has his car booked in today and it is meant to be in for a couple of days.  He will put a post when he gets it back

Regards

Neil

if theres a smell in the car put a tray of carbon (bbq coal stuff) leave it over night the smell will go, silca gel is the best thing to get rid of mosture too

My car is booked in tomorrow, they told me it is a big job and want the car for the full day.  Interesting that you still get the ice on the inside John, I  take it that Nissan are saying it will take the two weeks to dry out but what if the weather gets really cold again does that mean it will take longer?.   I was thinking about running a lead from my house to the car and putting a fan heater in the car for about 4 or 5 hours.  Do you think that would work?

Although I like the Note and it's got lots of toys, I am seriously thinking of binning it and going back to Citroen, but I'll give the mod a chance.

If there is any more progress with your car let us know.

Cheers

Neil

Hi Neil,

It is my understanding that this is an official mod.  Why don't you get your dealer to phone Alex Noble Nissan on 0131 440 5353 as they are the dealer installing mine.  I cannot see a dealer doing something off his own back as it will cost him money.  I'm pretty sure it is approved and distributed by Nissan. 

Cheers

Neil 

Hi All

my partner has a note 10 plate and last year like everone else started to get really bad condensation and frost inside. we were told its because we did not have the air con on over winter and it was damp inside because of all the snow that would of been on our boots. Ended getting it looked at the other day and the matrix box was not attached to the heater. this has still not cured the problem and now my Quasqui is doing the same thing and that is not even 2 years old. I have never in my life experienced anything like this before but get told from the mechanics its normal if you dont run your air con in the winter. think its a load of twaddle mysef and not a happy bunny at mo. not heard about this filling in may suggest that to them. Please let me know if it works. Their next suggestion for our note is to bake it in a hot oven and dry it out. Wish i had stuck with what i know a FORD.

Got my car done today.  I thought it would be more than just a strip and that they would put a layer of insulation between roof lining and roof.  But as John says in an earlier post it is just a strip of foam and like John when I got my car back it was absolutely streaming with condensation. I can't fault the dealer Alex Noble in Edinburgh, they were very efficient, dropped off the car at 6.50am got a courtesy car, they phoned me when it was ready and washed the car.  Probably one of the best companies I've dealt with for car service.

Although the jury is still out on whether the mod will work. Still there must be people at Nissan who know much more about cars than I do.   Nobody mentioned that it might take two weeks to dry (as was told to John).  But I intend to put a fan heater in the car for a few hours each day over the weekend and then wait and see.  I think this will be the first time I've ever wanted to see sub zero temperatures and snow.

I will keep the post updated and appreciate any inputs re the problem.

Cheers

Neil

thanks for that neil I hope the filler works and will be letting my dealer KAP in Folkestone know about this or see if they have heard about it and just not telling. It is so frustrating.

jayne

First night after getting the mod done had to scrape the ice of the inside of the car this morning at 6.30am.  Left car at work between 7am and 3pm, it was iced inside when I went home, outside temp was 2oC, but the car was parked in the shade , so it was probably below freezing all day in the car.  I also have white damp stains on the rear seats which I think would indicate there is a lot of moisture still inside the car.  Spoke to dealer who told me it would take time for the mod to take effect.  I assume that means till the car dries out.  At the moment I have an electrical lead coming out of  my house connected to a fan heater inside the car which I will leave running for about 3 hours tonight and will repeat over the next four days.  Doing wonders for my electric bill.

Will keep you informed.

Cheers

Neil

Hello I just joined,

We have this problem as well I asked them to look at it on the first service in November but never got told anything so I will have to get back to them.

Has anyone contacted Nissan directly?

Looks like this is a problem on all Nissan cars, suggest you keep at your dealer.  Nissan have not been contacted direct as they have provided a mod via the dealer and I suppose you have to see whether the mod resolves the problem.

Since I got my car done, I've had a fan heater in it  for about 2 - 3 hours everyday.  After I received the car back but before I had used the  heater I still had ice.  After two sessions with the heater and a heavy frost, I had no ice inside the car!!!.  This was a first for this winter in sub zero temperatures.   I've also noticed that the car does not appear to mist up as much as it used to.  The inside of the car is still quite damp, when I touch the carpets there is moisture on my hand.  I'm persevering with the heater and hopefully will be able to see if the problem has finally been resolved.

For people who have this problem, I would recommend that they contact the dealer, maybe mention that there is a lot of feedback on the forum and that it seems to be a design flaw in the car.  If you get no satisfaction send an email to Nissan raising your concern.  Also if your warranty is nearing its completion,  I would also ask your dealer to make a record of your complaint in case it does not get resolved and you get the same problem next year.  I believe you would then have a reasonable case for an extension of warranty till the condensation issue has been fixed.

Cheers

Neil

hi,

i had exactly the same problem in a 58 (09) qashqai, worst car i ever had for this problem, i now have a new note, so far has frosted up once inside but the heater cleared it pretty quickly, does look like a problem though on all cars, i did notice on the qashqai (and the x trail are i think same) in that the heater duct to the windscreen doesnt go full length of the screen its stops a good 200mm short (approx from memory) from the ends of the screen. so its more difficult to demist these cars, the note duct is longer, first thing i looked at when buying.

i mentioned the problem at work, and a few had the same trouble, but others never had anything.

i dont think its me because other cars i owned have never had this problem.

definately needs to be addressed though. i will keep an eye on mine.

Thanks for the email update John.  My Note does not seem to be quite as bad with misting up as it was, but I'm not sure if its to do with the change in weather.  What we need is a really good hard frost for a few days to really test the mod.  I never thought about leaving the window open, but by chance I fed the cable for the fan heater through the window and consequently it was open a little.  The smell of rotting fish is not there anymore.

We wait the test of time.

Cheers

Neil

Hi Graham,

Suggest you go back to your dealer and tell them that Alex Noble (Main Nissan Dealer in Edinburgh) knows about the fix and they should contact them for details.  I have had the modification carried out and received paperwork stating it has been done and have noticed a marked improvement.  Their telephone number is 0131 440 5353. 

It may also be a good idea to let Nissan know that their dealers do not appear to be aware of this modification and it is not doing Nissan reputation any good.

Hope this helps

Neil

Hi Tomy,

I don't know about service, my car was only put in for the modification.  I think if you look in the service book you will get a list of what gets done.

Sorry I can't be more help

Neil

tomy wrote: Hi there just out of interest,how did the rest of the service go. What did they replace (just oil & filter?) - any other issues? Mines due to go in soon for 1st service as well. cheers

1st service is just oil and filter and there checks, you may get a check it  kit  whats a litre of oil and funnels I had mine picked up and delivered back fully valeted too, cost - £199

when you have it seviced can you post what oil thay use ? as my dealer uses magnatec

Hi Tomy

Service took a couple of hours including wash & hoover. It was on the free service offer so did not get invoice only a tick list with no advisory notes. I suspect its only oil & filter and visual check but its franchise so must be OK. No specific oil mentioned.

Only other issue was a canary singing under the bonnet on start up on damp mornings. "Drive belt adjusted" under waranty.

Neil -  Am here & there for a couple of weeks so will copy your comment on condensation and re-engage them soon

Had our first bit of cold weather since I had the modification fitted and once again I have had to scrape the inside of the windscreen.  I have noticed that the car appears to steam up easily during the day even when it is sunny.  Not sure that it has dried out properly or more possibly the original problem has not be resolved and the car is just getting so cold that moisture builds up on the inside. 

I have now emailed Nissan Uk, will keep you informed with the reply.

Neil

Hi All

Had the note fixed and all was ok untill the other morining when the weather was a bit chilly. Think the real test will be winter again. have decided I wont be buying nissan again. Been a real dissappointment and the after sales at customer service in Folkestone is poor.

Jayne

Does it carry on however much you wipe off the water from the window? Shame it carried on j ford.

one thing though, not a dig but these Nissan's of today aren't exactly Nissan  owned and designed by Renault who aren't exactly brilliant... I will happily suggest you try one of the older Nissan's (before 2000), beleive you me now they are proper  no icey problems, just things like heater resistors and Mass Air Flow meters! 

Had a mild frost last night, 0 degrees C so I  put a cover over my windscrren.  Took it off this morning windscreen both outside and inside clear.  Went to scrape the side windows and by the time I got back into the car there was a thin film of ice inside the windscreen.

Not a happy bunny.  My car's entertainment system (sat nave, bluetooh and radio etc) packed up a few days ago and I am starting to think it was caused by dampness inside the car.  It is going into the dealers tomorrow when they will have a look at it and if they can't fix it, they will order a part and get me booked in again, possible two visits for the same problem. 

 I have been in contact with Nissan and we are waiting to see what they find with the entertainment system before they suggest a course of action.

Will keep the post updated.

Neil R

Thanks for the update John.  After I started to get the problem again I contacted Nissan direct and was assigned a "Case Manager".  The result being a phone call from my local dealer, telling me he had been contacted by Nissan and wanted my car back in for at least two days to do a complete check in their body shop.

That was the good news, the dealer said they would book it in at the same time as my Sat Nav was being replaced.  When I asked when that would be I was told that the Sat Nav would be in by the end of the month !!!!.  This was on the 2nd March and they expected me to wait over 4 weeks on top of the 10 days I had already been without the unit.  When I expressed dissatisfaction with this, I was told that the end of the month was the maximum, but it could arrive within a few days.  Still not happy as they cannot give me a realistic time frame.  Will be contacting Nissan again.

I also have the concern that as the spring approaches and unless we get a really bad period of snow and ice, I will not know if the problems fixed till next winter.  Luckily the warranty will still be valid but I think there would be a case for extended warranty on that particular fault and any associated faults.

Just to cheer you up a bit further, I was told the the Connect Unit (Sat nav, cd etc) costs £3000.  Imagine if your car is out of warranty and that goes, it doesn't bear thinking about.  I like my toys in a car, but my next one will not have inbuilt bluetooth or sat nav, I'll just buy a Tom Tom, it will be cheaper in the event of a failure.

Will keep you updated.

Cheers

Neil

Sent two emails to Nissan and eventually after 7 days they got back to me.  To be fair the lady who phoned did apologise and told me the delay was due to her being out of the office.  Maybe Nissan should have a back up system where someone else can take over the workload when your main contact is away.

I told her that I was unhappy with the time it was taking for my Nissan Connect system (radio,cd,sat nav etc) to be replaced.  She is looking into it and will phone back on Monday.  I now have been waiting over 3 weeks for the part.  Makes you wonder if there is a reliability problem with the unit, at £3k each it is frightening if it fails outwith warranty.

You don't know how much you miss the radio/CD until you don't have it.

Will keep forum updated.

Neil

when you have it seviced can you post what oil thay use
? as my dealer uses magnatec

Never got my promised phone back from Nissan, once again they failed to deliver.  It is a really simple thing to pick up the phone, but by not doing so Nissan have one really p***** off customer.

Will let you know if they eventually contact me, I have sent another email to them.

Neil