Which hood cover - MX5 is getting wet inside

[Clutchhappy]

Hello,

Please could I have some advice?

My Mx5 (W, 2000) is getting really wet inside from condensation and water is also coming in above the windows where the hood has slightly shrunk. It leaks through space between the rubber seals. I know how to clear out the drainage channels and will do that this weekend but I think the main problem is the slightly shrunken hood. I've spent so much money on this car I cant really do the hood as well right now so I'm thinking to get a hood cover.

I'd like to get a fully tailored one like this: http://amzn.to/2gTNWgI

but wondered if the cheaper ones do just as good a job. e.g: http://amzn.to/2gPpsGE

Do any of you use them or recommend a particular type? Obviously i want it to be easy to put on and off every time I use my car. and it is kept on a public street so I'm also concerned about the expensive one getting stolen.

Your advice is appreciated

Candice

[Joeigglypuff]

I have a half-cover like the ones you linked from Halfords, designed for a hatchback I think but it does the job. Don't have any leaks so can't tell you if it would be completely waterproof, seems to be from what I can tell though - definitely no major amounts water coming through. Had to shorten the elastic which hooks underneath the car but a few knots did the job!

[MX-5 Lazza]

You still need to get that interior dried out. The ecu is in the passenger footwell very close to the floor and if it gets wet it's ruined.

[Clutchhappy]

Thanks for the suggestion on the hood cover.

I don't know how to dry it out right now as I'm at work all day and its dark when I get home...and always seems to be wet. I'm waiting for a free sunny day. Car was off road last year as I was sick and it was....embarrassingly horrid inside, but it cleaned up very well with a valet.

Whats Ecu?

[MX-5 Lazza]

Electronic Control Unit. IE car computer which runs the engine. If it gets wet it's dead and do is the car. Expensive to replace.

Edited by MX-5 Lazza on Sunday 4th December 11:45

[healeyfan]

I had the same problem. Footwell carpet was soaking. Bought a half cover from Classic Additions

https://www.classicadditions.com/en-GB/outdoor-car...

Worked really well. Though you do need to shorten the elastic if you don't want it to drum in high winds.

[Clutchhappy]

I bought this one in the end as it was only £20. Have just put it on today...The fit is not too bad once the elastic is shortened but I'm in two minds whether the one from classic additions would have been a better fit as I like the way that one has got the mirror covers to hold it in place.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222316728724?_trksid=p20...

I cleaned and waterproofed the hood and vinegared the inside of the roof so hopefully this will keep it protected from water ingress now

[Clutchhappy]

Here's a pic from my window - should have taken one in the daytime
Think if I were buying again i'd advise the one healeyfan suggested for perhaps a better fit.

[gforceg]

healeyfan said:

I had the same problem. Footwell carpet was soaking. Bought a half cover from Classic Additions

https://www.classicadditions.com/en-GB/outdoor-car...

Worked really well. Though you do need to shorten the elastic if you don't want it to drum in high winds.

I've had a couple of these and they're brilliant. Highly recommended.

[Clutchhappy]

do you think there is much in it?
should I try and send mine back? The classic additions one is twice the price

[gforceg]

I can't comment on the one you have. But you've used it so I'd so no to sending it back!

What I would do is get a thick marker pen and write your reg number on the cover.

[Clutchhappy]

thats a great idea! Will do.
I might also do a 'permit here' sign as well in case the parking people try and do me for not displaying my permit

[MX-5 Lazza]

Clutchhappy said:

I cleaned and waterproofed the hood and vinegared the inside of the roof so hopefully this will keep it protected from water ingress now

Water doesn't come through the hood unless there are holes/cracks in it or it has shrunk exposing the window seals.
Have you cleared the hood drain tubes?

[Clutchhappy]

yes my hood has slightly shrunk so now the window seals are exposed and that's where water comes through.

Bummer, I didn't know what to look for when I bought it as its my first convertible.

I can see one tiny hole in the hood which I plan to seal with a dab of superglue!

I did clear the drains yesterday which were totally blocked but there was still a bit of condensation inside today

waterproofing just helps a little somehow. the water droplets dont soak the hood they drip off instead.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Waterproofing will make the water run off the hood rather than soaking in but it does not go through the material, just helps the hood live longer and inhibits moss growth. The condensation inside is from the water that's already in there soaked into the carpets. If possible you need to lift the carpet (it's plastic backed so you can't tell what it's like unless you lift it) and if the sound proofing material is soaked, get it out and dried out properly.

Also check in the book, particularly in the wells for any water. Water in there is usually from a different source.

Have you checked that the sill drains are clear?

p.s. Don't put super glue on the hood

[Clutchhappy]

It didn't work

The car was clean and all fresh on Wednesday. I covered it on a dry roof and checked throughout the week and it seemed to be dry underneath the cover.

Today (sunday) when I went to use the car, the inside of the hood was mouldy and there was condensation on all the inside windows. Water droplets on the front part of the hood that you pull to close it. Even my car charger which was in the compartment between the seats, and was new a few weeks ago has rusted!?

The cover is not waterproof, its water resistent. There was some water under the cover but not loads.

I don't know what to do. The carpets seem dry so water doesn't appear to be coming up from underneath. Surely it cant be coming through the window seals with the roof cover on it?

After driving 1.5 hours there and back, the inside of the roof felt damp to touch still. Even after I left the car for 2 hours parked and came back there was condensation on the inside of the back window!

I still have to try and lift the carpet. I'm not sure how to do that so will have to investigate.

The boot seems dry except for condensation on the inside of the lid. It smells a bit. A few years back I had a mechanic take all the fittings out of the car to find where the water is coming in, they couldn't find anything. I resolved that it is just the shrunken hood.

The drains behind the seats I cleared on Wednesday. Are there other drains I should be clearing that I dont know about?

I really can't have mould around me as I already have some health problems and mould will make them worse. I need to get this sorted but am now sure what else to do. I'm thinking if I cant solve this I'll have to get rid of it but a) I dont want to and b) I cant sell it when its not watertight.

I welcome your advice please

[healeyfan]

It takes a long time for a car to dry out naturally unless you remove the interior, carpets and seats. You really need lots of warm sunny days with the roof down. All you can hope for is to stop the problem getting worse. Condensation is always a problem.
Try using Silica gel packs ( Amazon).

[MX-5 Lazza]

Did you do as I suggested and lift the carpet to see if the sound deadening material underneath is wet or dry? Sounds like there is still a lot of water in the car somewhere.

[Clutchhappy]

I haven't lifted the carpet yet. I don't really know how to do it so need to spend some time fiddling when it's actually daylight
I can look on Wednesday
But I do t understand how there can be so much invisible water in the car that the inside roof gets mouldy in 4 days...that's a lot of water.

[Birdster]

Has the windscreen been replaced? I've just had mine replaced and noticed a slight leak from the glove box, a known issue that I'm trying to have the windscreen company resolve.

How's the aerial condition? Mine is non genuine and needs replacing, it leaks into the carpet behind my seats. Check that carpet for damp too? Also the rain rails behind could be the problem? I need to check mine as well.

For those that use the below cover? Does it cover the aerial and bottom windscreen cowl?

https://www.classicadditions.com/en-GB/outdoor-car...

I believe the full covers cause more problems with the paint?

https://www.classicadditions.com/en-GB/outdoor-car...

Edited by Birdster on Tuesday 13th December 11:13