Trunk leak... still

**sammm** · 10-09-2007, 03:10 PM

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

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

**trickyrix** · 10-09-2007, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by sammm

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

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

Jeez! That's a little disconcerting...

**trickyrix** · 10-09-2007, 03:44 PM

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...

**sammm** · 10-09-2007, 04:17 PM

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

**black roadster** · 10-09-2007, 04:48 PM

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...

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.

**trickyrix** · 10-09-2007, 04:48 PM

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...

**johnwag** · 10-09-2007, 05:51 PM

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.

**cwisenheimer** · 10-09-2007, 07:27 PM

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

**Mingle** · 10-09-2007, 07:52 PM

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.

**Titus** · 10-09-2007, 07:54 PM

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.

**trickyrix** · 10-09-2007, 08:11 PM

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?

**synaptik** · 10-09-2007, 08:15 PM

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

**trickyrix** · 10-09-2007, 08:16 PM

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...

**trickyrix** · 10-09-2007, 08:19 PM

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...

**synaptik** · 10-09-2007, 08:29 PM

money is always an issue for us starving students out there ... lol

**Mingle** · 10-10-2007, 06:19 AM

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.

**black roadster** · 10-10-2007, 06:42 AM

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!

**trickyrix** · 10-10-2007, 07:13 AM

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?

**Titus** · 10-10-2007, 07:31 AM

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.

**trickyrix** · 10-10-2007, 07:36 AM

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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