MY MX-5 LEAKS MAJORLY! HELP

[Jimmynb]

My 1999 nb8a Mx-5 soft-top leaks majorly, i am fairly confident it is not the top itself, but instead the trim. The gutters are clean and empty. I have noticed a leak in the window seal and in the front windscreen, front right of the drivers position. Any more questions to help i can answer, i need to fix this urgently! I can upload any requested photos soon. HELP!!! HAAHAHA, thanks!

[Jimmynb]

It is soaked in the drivers footwell, drivers seat, passengers area behind the seat. HELP!

[Magpie]

Are the drain holes clean of junk or blocked? You have said the gutters are clean and empty.

A good test is to pour some water into the drain area and see if it comes out of the drain holes.

[93_Clubman]

Btw, have you fixed the two small holes & slight leak in your soft-top yet?
viewtopic.php?f=75&t=67337
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=67308

Gutters can be clean & empty but it's the drain down pipe that gets blocked, so check/ clean all drains, ie soft-top drains & drain pipes, as well as sill drains & front windscreen frame rubber side drains.

Area behind seats getting wet is usually due to blocked soft-top drain down pipes. Seat getting wet is usually due to water dripping in from soft-top rubber top window seal. Wet driver side footwell is usually due to water running down the black plastic panel next to the accelerator pedal.

My soft top leaks near the windscreen/window junction. Is there a way to adjust the latches to increase tension in soft top which could give me a better seal?

Re soft top latch adjustment:
http://www.miata.net/garage/garagetops.html

If you haven't already, then also clean all the water drain points to ensure that water isn't getting into the car by overflowing from blocked drains:
viewtopic.php?f=28&t=35601
http://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/forums/p/270/439.aspx#439

[hks_kansei]

First off take the roof off and inspect ALL the rubbers. Assuming they're ok the next step is to clean all the drains (you should do this every year at least)

There are 4 drains in total.
two neat each seatbelt shoulder mount (hidden deep in the corner, feel around with your finger)
and one at window corner (near the soft top latch, they are hidden inside the little scoop bit of rubber on the windscreen frame)

To clean the rears I use a length of PVC hose for sprinklers (about 6mm diameter) it's rigid enough to push out leaves and crap, but flexible enough to go around corners.
I normally hose the roof off to get water into the drains (soften any dirt etc) then slowly jiggle the hose down the drain until it comes out the bottom of the car, I then just "floss' it by moving back and forth a bit to clean it. Then slowly draw the pipe out and rinse again, you should see the water flow out the bottom (along with some more gunk)

The front ones I do the same, but you need to be careful since the drain is just a thin tube as a part of the rubber, so any force can split it.


Also check that the latches are adjusted tight enough to seal the rubbers properly.

[beavis]

have you removed the trim under the wipers?
maybe it leaks under the windscreen.
spray a hose around that area and see if you can see it leaking under the dash,
might need a windscreen dude to come reseal the windscreen.

[bruce]

Definite leaky seal around windshield. Probably caused by rust in that area (they tend to rust there). You will need a new seal/windshield, as it will need to come out for repair.

[Jimmynb]

Sorry guys, my brother has been driving it, Ill check everything, those 2 faults in my soft top have been fixed, no leaks. Ill check it all shortly, thankyou all