Talk Morgan Forums Community General Photo Gallery Misting Gauge

I've never driven a Morgan before and I was quite surpised to see misting in two out of three gauges. However this seems to be a known issue:

Maintenance and Servicing: Workshop note - Misting gauges

Is this a common issue or a rather rare occurrence?

Correct it's aMorgan sir they all do that!

It's very common. so much so that if one's instruments don't mist up it's a cause for comment.

The causes and possible solutions have been discussed for generations, but no-one so far has come up with a definitive explanation (beyond the obvious, which is that there's warm moisture laden air inside the instruments which is being cooled to its dew point by the cold air in the upper part of the cockpit).

DaveW is currently drilling holes in his instruments in a strategy to promote better air flow. I've put in LED bulbs in an attempt to reduce the temperature inside the instruments. Others are toying with alternative solutions like wiring in additional fans.

The smaller gauges are worse than the larger ones. My large ones only mist in extremely cold weather when the roof is down. The fuel gauge seems to generate the most heat/condensation.

It's also worth knowing that this isn't just a Morgan thing

A quick search on the internet reveals that just about every classic car forum where the vehicles tend to be open cockpits have similar posts.

the ingredients are:

open cockpits
glass fronted instruments (hence why modern polycarb intrument fronts in open cars dont do this)
weather- very cold mornings and then driving in warmer conditions

There are two really good things about this happening: 1. You are alive; 2. you are driving your Morgan

The gauges on my 4/4 have always misted.
It's never been an issue for me, as my spectacles also mist up.

Thanks to all for your feedback on this topic.
I'm delighted to hear to own the real thing and not a real lemon instead!

_________________________
Nick Burns
4/4 Two Tone Green 80th #68

If you were to find one of the rare ones where the gauges don't mist up and it doesn't let any water in when in heavy rain then you must have the Morgan equivalent of a Friday afternoon car. Some of the better dealers will manage this under warranty for you.

In my 10 years of ownership the gauges of my 1980 model have never misted up. I don't often have the roof on but we drove back from Goodwood on Saturday through some very heavy downpours and we suffered no water ingress.

Don't bother making me offers, I'm never selling!

~iw

At the risk of seeming a fraud, my2009 is totally waterproof after the installation of various bits of neoprene and draught excluder!!!

However the instruments do mist up!!!