Elise S2 - leaking roof
Discussion
My soft top leaks at the front on the driver's side. They are annoyingly big drops that in heavy rain come in at about one every three seconds or so. Light rain is fine. I can't work exactly how they are getting in (other than through a gap - I can work that bit out). There is an adjustable thread on that corner of the soft top - how much do I need to tighten it (I assume)? A little or loads? Or is it more complex than that?
My car is a 53 short roof 111S.
My car is a 53 short roof 111S.
I had the same issue with my S2 roof (an 08 car!) - it was not quite as much water as you describe but heavy rain would saturate and drip through, both driving but more when parked up.
I bought a shower cap but obviously that only helped when it was parked up.
I then got the auto glym cleaner + waterproof pack for roofs -> and it has not leaked since then.
I did focus a lot of the waterproof spray in that corner and since then no water gets through (and in heavy rain I can see the water beading off). I think basically my rubber sills are not quite right as the passenger side is bone dry and my drivers side used to feel wet... but the waterproof spray does work to stop the water collecting and finding its way through.
Its worth a shot - though may not solve the problem? I think the autoglym stuff cost me £20 and an hours worth of time to clean the roof and apply the spray.
I bought a shower cap but obviously that only helped when it was parked up.
I then got the auto glym cleaner + waterproof pack for roofs -> and it has not leaked since then.
I did focus a lot of the waterproof spray in that corner and since then no water gets through (and in heavy rain I can see the water beading off). I think basically my rubber sills are not quite right as the passenger side is bone dry and my drivers side used to feel wet... but the waterproof spray does work to stop the water collecting and finding its way through.
Its worth a shot - though may not solve the problem? I think the autoglym stuff cost me £20 and an hours worth of time to clean the roof and apply the spray.
I don't believe it is coming through the roof - it is getting in somehow/somewhere around the top of the A pillar/driver's door window and roof seal. Thanks for the top tip on the Autoglym - I'll give that a go. My untrained eye investigating tightening the cable would suggest that doing so will pull the roof away from the window and possibly make the problem worse.
The Commander said:
I don't believe it is coming through the roof - it is getting in somehow/somewhere around the top of the A pillar/driver's door window and roof seal. Thanks for the top tip on the Autoglym - I'll give that a go. My untrained eye investigating tightening the cable would suggest that doing so will pull the roof away from the window and possibly make the problem worse.
If it's coming in there and you don't have the newer seal (which was introduced in MY04, so some 53 plate cars will have it, some wont) then the only hope you have for fixing it is to adjust the angle of the side window slightly or fit the newer seal (which is rather expensive). My 2001 S2 used to leak when I first bought it just like this on the passenger side. It seeped through in heavy rain. If I re-proofed the roof every year it wouldn't. The best stuff to go for is the Renovo kit, which comes in three bottles - a cleaner, a blackener and a proofer.
I made the mistake of trying to do this once when the weather was a bit dodgy, and if you do this, make sure when you apply the blackener that you put some dust sheets or similar down inside the car under the area that leaks. Otherwise if it rains before you get the chance to apply the proofer (which you should only do in dry weather) the blackener will leak through and spatter your seats/interior.
I made the mistake of trying to do this once when the weather was a bit dodgy, and if you do this, make sure when you apply the blackener that you put some dust sheets or similar down inside the car under the area that leaks. Otherwise if it rains before you get the chance to apply the proofer (which you should only do in dry weather) the blackener will leak through and spatter your seats/interior.
My s2 leaked whilst driving in heavy rain, the wind would drive water past the rubber seal on the drivers side. In the end I put loads of Vaseline on the rubber seals and carried a towel around to mop up and drips that got past the vaseline. At the end of the day, you're driving a hand built British sportscar. Could be worse, a mate at work bought a brand new Merc SLK and the first night he had he came down to a flooded car, after every seal on the retractable hard top pissed water in!
Try Vaseline on the seals or do what I did and buy an Exige
Try Vaseline on the seals or do what I did and buy an Exige
Mine leaks on the passenger side where the roof doesn't quite meet the seal in the top windscreen corner. I got some black silicone sealant and built it up a little to an "ear" on the door frame seal and a line along the rubber seal on the roof.
The ear will fall off as the rubber and silicone don't bond that great. I then just glued it with superglue and it hasn't leaked since.
The ear will fall off as the rubber and silicone don't bond that great. I then just glued it with superglue and it hasn't leaked since.
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