Cause of fogging gauges...

[Richard H-D]

I had a 2002 Electra Glide Classic; after washing it a few times and always careful around the front of the dash, the gauges would fog up. Posts on the forums show this to be a common problem so I didn’t think much of it.

Now I have a 2003 Ultra and would like to prevent the gauges from fogging up, if possible. Does anyone know if by washing the bike and having water on the front of the fairing and windshield, can water or moisture get into the fairing by way of the windshield mounting area? Seems to me that if any moisture can get into the back of the dash, maybe that’s why the gauges eventually fog up. Any thought if this is possible?

[fcoxwell]

I have had my fairing off to hide the antenna and it is not sealed around the windshield or any other area. Face it, your fuel gage is going to fog and there is nothing you can do to prevent it. You may delay it temporarily or you could put in the hotter bulb and clear it up faster, but its going to happen. Why couldn't be that POS air gage that fogs instead of the fuel gage?

[Markcuda]

My 03 Ultra does the same thing, I ain't going to worry about it any more

[FLHT]

They all do it and they dry up after riding for a while... Just a good reason to go for a longer ride. Your drying your gauges

[Flyer]

Reason for foggin up is the gauges are vented, not sealed. Had a long chat with the MoCo rep about it.
That's just the way it is.
The speedo and tach on the other hand...........

[SIDEKICK]

If you lived in a nice dry climate like I do (Fla.) you would find them all full of fog just about every day of the year.

[tsuter]

I've had the fuel gauge and temp gauge both fog on long wet rainy rides and I won't put up with it.
I have had two fuel gauges replaced and one temp gauge. All done last year and no fogging this year on any gauges yet. Did 400 miles in the rain and no fogging in May.
It is a warranty issue and the only way to get it fixed is to have your dealer replace them and send them back.
When my first fuel gauge fogged, the dealer said - "oh it'll dry out" and I said "let it dry out in the box going back to the "moco".
Don't put up with it!
Do the guages fog on my Porsche - I don't think so!
VW? - I don't think so!
So why should they leak and fog on the HD?

[Richard H-D]

tsuter;

I like your response; everyone with fogging gauges should do the same thing. Eventually H-D would use a better gauge rather than keep paying out the warranty claims.

Any one here try the silver gauges? I have no reason to think they would be any different but if someone has them maybe they could post if they fog up or not...

Thanks!

[Thealien]

My bike came stock with the silver factory fogging guages.

[tsuter]

VDO gauges don't fog. The moco just needs to change suppliers. But VDOs cost more and right now they got 2/3 of the dealers telling everyone fogging is normal.
Don't put up with it.

[Ed Y]

tsuter:

C'mon, give us a hint. What's in the bottle in the avatar??

[Flyer]

I don't think HD uses VDOs. More like Stewart Warners. We use the same kind on our transit buses.

Porsche and VW has an "interior", something that all HDs.......lack.

[ZIGZAG]

Mine gets synthetic fog and requires artificial drying time.