Ah crap... I got soaked

[MadMonkey]

I headed for Hurst a little while ago, figured I'd get a top-down run to the hobby shop in while the rain was stopped. The trip down was fine... I did hit a little rain on the way back which didn't cause any problems (I was going 70 or so, it wasn't hitting much of my interior).

Problem was, my sister had asked me to stop by her house on the way back (she had baked me a cake... okay...). So being the good little brother that I am, I stopped by. And since the rain was stop and it looked to be clearing up AND I thought I was only going to be there for a second, I left the top down.

Yep.

I was inside yakking to her and my mom when I heard pouring rain... I ran out in a panic and sure enough, I already had puddles in my seats. I put the top and windows up, but there was already a lot of water inside.

Call me stupid, I know you're going to anyway.

So my question is, whats the best way to dry out a Miata interior? I don't have a garage and the rain isn't showing any signs of letting up in the near future... any suggestions? I suppose a sunny drive to California would do the trick, but I have to work tonight. Would it be a good idea to pull the seats and bring them inside since they were hit the worst?

Luckily, I still haven't replaced my carpet, so it'll have to be torn out anyway.

Thanks for any help (and constructive suggestions.. ).




My butt is soaked

[MiataMike]

Shop vac.
vac from a car wash.
Towels
hair dryer

[sammm]

Leave the top down and let it air dry.

[randy7601]

From a different tread, posted just today:

Actually I'm about to drive my car too, so I'll probably hear a lot of water also.

[Radio-Active]

Go to your local car wash that keeps the equipment up in working order.

Spend about $2.00 on the vacuum cleaner at their place. It has got a lot more power than your typical shop vac and a better nozzle to boot.

[Radio-Active]

From a different tread, posted just today:

Too Funny!

[MadMonkey]

From a different tread, posted just today:

I was hoping nobody would notice that...

[Treibenschnell]

Turn it upside down... it worked for me!

[saffikeagan]

And here I got sunburned with the top down today

[Treibenschnell]

And here I got sunburned with the top down today

You should fill out your info so that those of us that are soaked know where you're getting your sun from!

[saffikeagan]

Let's see; I got burned in North Dallas probably an hour before MM's car got soaked (well, about an hour before the downpour hit here at least)!

Off to fill in my profile....

[channelmaniac]

Been there, done that...

Took the seats out, center console up, rear deck carpet out, and lifted up the floor carpets and had them held up by the ebrake handle. (the holes in the carpet just fit over it)

Once that was done I shop vac'ed out as much water as possible from the carpet, padding, and floorboards then placed a fan on each side and let it run for a day to help dry it out under the carpets.

The seats were harder. I used the shop vac to pull as much water as possible then I put my knee in the seat and used the shop vac to suck up all the water that my knee displaced. Once done I left the seats to dry in the sun.

It all worked out just fine. No mildew or other damage.

Consider yourself lucky. I had an inch of water on TOP of the carpet when I left my top down and got woken up at 3am by a HUGE clap of thunder.

RJ

[Nexus Flux]

Vac up as much as you can, they pray for some some sun, and let the rest air dry. If you have cloth seats, a hair dryer might help. If they are leather let them air dry because the hair dryer might dry the leather out unevenly and cause stretching.

[cam76034]

ummmmm....cake.

[bnordin]

Any one that runs with the top down will eventually get the inside wet. The interior materials of a Miata are designed to get wet. Dry it with vac and towels and as much air as is possible for your environment. Get your self a beer and relax in knowing that you own one of the best built cars ever made!

[Mingle]

yea, mine got soaked too, and i was doing so well this past week!

[MadMerv]

Turn it upside down... it worked for me!

Pictures??????

[Treibenschnell]

Pictures??????

It was easy to do back when it was all in boxes...