Trunk leak... still

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10-09-2007, 09:17 AM
trickyrix

Trunk leak... still

After this last big round of rain we had, I opened my trunk to find about 2 gallons of water sloshing around - AARRRGGHHH! Well, I finally found the drain plugs in the trunk, so those are out until I can keep the water out. Now, needless to say, I cringe every time it rains a whole bunch.

Anyhow, I poked and prodded around inside the trunk after the rain the other day, and I think I have water coming in around the driver's taillight - at least I'm pretty sure that's where the drips were coming from. So, today I'm going to hunt down some new gaskets and see where that gets me.

The question remains (and I may be beating a dead horse here), where else can water get into the trunk, besides the trunklid and the taillights?
10-09-2007, 09:18 AM
sammm

Rain rail. Check the drains inside the car (near seat belt towers).
10-09-2007, 09:19 AM
trickyrix

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammm

Rain rail. Check the drains inside the car (near seat belt towers).

OK I'll check those today too. Can the drains just be blown out clean with an air hose?
10-09-2007, 09:20 AM
Titus

I would get it good and dry, lay newspaper all over, close it up, hit it with a hose, and then check to see what areas of the paper are wet.
10-09-2007, 09:22 AM
POS Racing

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titus

I would get it good and dry, lay newspaper all over, close it up, hit it with a hose, and then check to see what areas of the paper are wet.

+1
10-09-2007, 09:22 AM
sammm

Quote:

Originally Posted by trickyrix

Can the drains just be blown out clean with an air hose?

I use a mini-blind 'tilt wand'. Something thin and flexible that you can push thru it and clear out the crud (if there is any).
10-09-2007, 10:00 AM
Treibenschnell

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titus

I would get it good and dry, lay newspaper all over, close it up, hit it with a hose, and then check to see what areas of the paper are wet.

I used that same process with an old girlfriend of mine...
10-09-2007, 10:07 AM
Bell

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titus

I would get it good and dry, lay newspaper all over, close it up, hit it with a hose, and then check to see what areas of the paper are wet.

I was going to suggest getting in the trunk with a flash light next time it rains but I suppose that works too.
10-09-2007, 10:12 AM
black roadster

Rick,

I have a drain brush or you can use a coat hanger to clean out the drains. Also, an incorrectly installed rain rail will cause trunk leaks as well as the tail light gaskets. The tail light gaskets are cheap at Town North but they need to order them.

Come out Wednesday and we can look at your car and try the drain brush. Either that or swing by during the day.
10-09-2007, 10:26 AM
cam76034

Quote:

Originally Posted by black roadster

Rick,

Come out Wednesday and we can look at your car and try the drain brush. Either that or swing by during the day.

Maybe you can find someone willing to climb into the trunk while you go through the carwash:rolleyes:
10-09-2007, 10:56 AM
Titus

Quote:

Originally Posted by cam76034

Maybe you can find someone willing to climb into the trunk while you go through the carwash:rolleyes:

Sounds like a job for Wags! :D
10-09-2007, 12:37 PM
Mingle

its a stretch, but did you check the antenna? my cousins miata was leaking through there.
10-09-2007, 12:45 PM
trickyrix

I plan on being out there for the Wed Nite thing, so we'll turn the hose on Wags and put him in the trunk with a flashlight.

::Banana::

John, you up for that?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mingle

its a stretch, but did you check the antenna? my cousins miata was leaking through there.

That was a thought too, but it appears to be leaking mostly on the left hand side.
10-09-2007, 12:58 PM
black roadster

I'd guess tail light gasket then but the drains or rain rail could contribute.
10-09-2007, 01:04 PM
trickyrix

Quote:

Originally Posted by black roadster

I'd guess tail light gasket then but the drains or rain rail could contribute.

Ah, so the drains and the rain rail are two separate issues? I'm getting ready to go out and check here in a sec... finally.
10-09-2007, 01:21 PM
black roadster

Quote:

Originally Posted by trickyrix

Ah, so the drains and the rain rail are two separate issues? I'm getting ready to go out and check here in a sec... finally.

yep.

Here is a drain brush. I have something similar to this. An incorrectly installed rain rail is harder to describe but I can see if it is not installed right. If it's cracked, the only way to tell is to remove it.
10-09-2007, 02:58 PM
trickyrix

All right... did a little field research and here's what I found out so far.

Both rain drains appear to functioning just fine. I poured about a quart of water on to each side of the top and let it drain down into the rain rail, then down onto the ground. The water flowed nicely down each drain hole. On the flip side, I saw water that appeared to be seeping out from behind the rain rail. That led me to pull up the carpet on the package tray and stick a paw up under there. It was pretty damp and funky, but not rusted or anything. Soooo... can this water somehow find its way into the trunk? It looks to me like that area is sealed off from the trunk. I R confused...
:confused:

Taillight gaskets look a little old, so I'm going to go ahead and replace them for the hell of it - a cheap easter egg hunt. Also, now that I look at my trunklid seal, it seems to be a little flat-spotted in some places, so I may go ahead and swallow the $50 for that, too... couldn't hurt, I guess. I'd like to take a look at someone else's before I order it, though - someone with a dry trunk!

Thanks for the help so far...
10-09-2007, 03:01 PM
POS Racing

Quote:

Originally Posted by trickyrix

On the flip side, I saw water that appeared to be seeping out from behind the rain rail. That led me to pull up the carpet on the package tray and stick a paw up under there. It was pretty damp and funky, but not rusted or anything. Soooo... can this water somehow find its way into the trunk?

Yep that water can make it back to the trunk!

The purpose of the rain rail is to collect water running down the back of the top, and channel it to drain tubes that empty to the ground just behind the doors. With time the plastic becomes brittle and cracks. If it leaks, water will drain onto the rear deck below the carpet, and from there into the trunk. Remove the rear deck carpeting and check the padding below. If it is wet, that is the cause. Without removing the carpet, if the car smells "damp" inside, there is a good chance this is the cause.
10-09-2007, 03:02 PM
trickyrix

Quote:

Originally Posted by POS Racing

Yep that water can make it back to the trunk!

Yikes! Where does it come through???
10-09-2007, 03:05 PM
POS Racing

Quote:

Originally Posted by trickyrix

Yikes! Where does it come through???

Opps sorry added more to my above post! ;)

Let's review : The purpose of the rain rail is to collect water running down the back of the top, and channel it to drain tubes that empty to the ground just behind the doors. With time the plastic becomes brittle and cracks. If it leaks, water will drain onto the rear deck below the carpet, and from there into the trunk. Remove the rear deck carpeting and check the padding below. If it is wet, that is the cause. Without removing the carpet, if the car smells "damp" inside, there is a good chance this is the cause.
10-09-2007, 03:10 PM
sammm

Here's what happens if you ignore a leaky rain rail. :rolleyes:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/439697/4
10-09-2007, 03:38 PM
trickyrix

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammm

Here's what happens if you ignore a leaky rain rail. :rolleyes:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/439697/4

Jeez! That's a little disconcerting... :punchout:
10-09-2007, 03:44 PM
trickyrix

Quote:

Originally Posted by POS Racing

Opps sorry added more to my above post! ;)

Let's review : The purpose of the rain rail is to collect water running down the back of the top, and channel it to drain tubes that empty to the ground just behind the doors. With time the plastic becomes brittle and cracks. If it leaks, water will drain onto the rear deck below the carpet, and from there into the trunk. Remove the rear deck carpeting and check the padding below. If it is wet, that is the cause. Without removing the carpet, if the car smells "damp" inside, there is a good chance this is the cause.

OK... water under the rear deck carpet, check.

Car smells "damp" sometimes, check.

Suspicious water draining from outside the top behind the rain rail, check.

Hmmm... sounds like I need a new top sooner than I thought! Good times!

But I'm still cloudy about where it gets into the trunk from the deck area... hidden screw holes? Around the trunk release cable? Wiring pass-throughs? Now I think about, I can see how, but still... :confused:
10-09-2007, 04:17 PM
sammm

If it's that bad, I'm guessing crunchy rain rail.
10-09-2007, 04:48 PM
black roadster

Quote:

Originally Posted by trickyrix

But I'm still cloudy about where it gets into the trunk from the deck area... hidden screw holes? Around the trunk release cable? Wiring pass-throughs? Now I think about, I can see how, but still... :confused:

The rear deck is not water tight. I believe it can leak through to the tunnels on either side of the fuel tank and from there on to the trunk.
10-09-2007, 04:48 PM
trickyrix

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammm

If it's that bad, I'm guessing crunchy rain rail.

Yep... it would appear so. I guess the smart thing to do would be to go fetch the hard top out of storage and run with that until I get a new soft top? That should take all this rear deck monkey business out of play...
10-09-2007, 05:51 PM
johnwag

Don't buy a new top unless it's necessary. You can purchase a rain rail separate. One of the first things I did to my car was replace the plastic window and rain rail. The window had been slashed, and the rain rail was all broken and brittle from being old.
Installing the rain rail is fairly easy and doesn't take very long.
10-09-2007, 07:27 PM
cwisenheimer

Darn! If only somebody (*cough*, *Titus*, *cough*) was parting out a Miata with a tan top and selling everything cheap. Darn the luck!
10-09-2007, 07:52 PM
Mingle

thats what mine looked like before i replaced everything. it even rusted the bolts round. that was a fun weekend. suprisingly nothing that had paint on it rusted at all. just that stupid cover thing.
10-09-2007, 07:54 PM
Titus

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwisenheimer

Darn! If only somebody (*cough*, *Titus*, *cough*) was parting out a Miata with a tan top and selling everything cheap. Darn the luck!

CraiginTX called first dibs on the top and is reviewing pictures of it now. If he desides to pass, it's trickyrix move. ;)
10-09-2007, 08:11 PM
trickyrix

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnwag

Don't buy a new top unless it's necessary. You can purchase a rain rail separate. One of the first things I did to my car was replace the plastic window and rain rail. The window had been slashed, and the rain rail was all broken and brittle from being old.
Installing the rain rail is fairly easy and doesn't take very long.

It's necessary in this case. Not only is the rain rail giving me fits, but the crappy vinyl is starting to split out and pop stitches everywhere. And besides that, I really want a tan top! Titus and I have talked, but Craig has dibs... so no worries right now.

So the debate is raging as to whether I need to just suck it up and get a new top or hold out for a nice used one. I could stand to wait till spring, but this new leaky thing has me thinking "Hell, I could but the hard top on now and not worry about it but, jeez, then I'd miss the very best of the topless weather here!"

Ah, vanity... ain't it a bitch?
10-09-2007, 08:15 PM
synaptik

Quote:

Originally Posted by trickyrix

It's necessary in this case. Not only is the rain rail giving me fits, but the crappy vinyl is starting to split out and pop stitches everywhere. And besides that, I really want a tan top! Titus and I have talked, but Craig has dibs... so no worries right now.

So the debate is raging as to whether I need to just suck it up and get a new top or hold out for a nice used one. I could stand to wait till spring, but this new leaky thing has me thinking "Hell, I could but the hard top on now and not worry about it but, jeez, then I'd miss the very best of the topless weather here!"

Ah, vanity... ain't it a bitch?

probably a little off topic but i saw a posting on ebay for a new top for 150 plus shipping not sure how the quality is compared to the more expensive ones, was thinking about getting one myself but not sure if i should
10-09-2007, 08:16 PM
trickyrix

Quote:

Originally Posted by black roadster

The rear deck is not water tight. I believe it can leak through to the tunnels on either side of the fuel tank and from there on to the trunk.

Ah! Good info! I'll check that when I can... I'm just looking for telltale signs of leakage - ie: if water comes in Point A, where does it end up?

BTW, I ran a bunch of water down along the left side of the trunk lid, but I didn't see anything coming in through the taillight - argh! I swear I felt drips there the other day...
10-09-2007, 08:19 PM
trickyrix

Quote:

Originally Posted by synaptik

probably a little off topic but i saw a posting on ebay for a new top for 150 plus shipping not sure how the quality is compared to the more expensive ones, was thinking about getting one myself but not sure if i should

IMHO, you should keep checking here for good used tops if price is an issue... they do pop up from time to time. Also, check with Mazda Heaven out in Mansfield - they usually have some good Miata stuff out there. In any case, make sure you get a good/new rain rail, as they are very delicate and prone to leak if you eff them up...
10-09-2007, 08:29 PM
synaptik

money is always an issue for us starving students out there ... lol
10-10-2007, 06:19 AM
Mingle

moss motors has an unbreakable rain rail for sale, never used it though. if i was going to keep my car that would be the way to go.
10-10-2007, 06:42 AM
black roadster

Lots of folks upgrade to a used NB top. NB tops are direct bolt ins, have glass no zip windows and a much more durable rubber rain rail.

I have an 03 cloth top and love it!
10-10-2007, 07:13 AM
trickyrix

Speaking of glass windows... I've seen both zip and no-zip glass windows (Robbins offers both). Anybody have a zippered glass window in their top? Was that ever available from the factory in an NB?
10-10-2007, 07:31 AM
Titus

Interestingly, The top in my donor has a zippered window, but can be lowered without un-zipping it. I never new you could have the best of both worlds like that. I haven't found a marking of the brand.
10-10-2007, 07:36 AM
trickyrix

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titus

Interestingly, The top in my donor has a zippered window, but can be lowered without un-zipping it. I never new you could have the best of both worlds like that. I haven't found a marking of the brand.

Oooh... now that's what I want! I like having the "top up/windows wiiiide open" option.

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