Water ingress drivers footwell MX5 Mk III '09

[CopperBolt]

Hi

Had a small pool of water just inside the door sill right in front of drivers seat. Also the removable mat that side was damp with mould/mildew spots on it. Have taken that out and hung to dry. Only noticed this in last week or so (dont drive car every day) so I would say its happend while the car has been parked up.

Had a look round on 'net and on here and it may be the "filter drains" need cleaning? How can I check this? Where abouts are they?

Many thanks.

[Revisitph]

Not sure if applicable to the driver's side (assuming you have a UK RHD model) but there is a known problem with water getting into the passenger's side and if there are similar trim fixings either side, then this may be relevant:

https://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/yaf_postst88153_Mk3-...

I had this problem with a 2012 NC.

[CopperBolt]

Revisitph said:

Not sure if applicable to the driver's side (assuming you have a UK RHD model) but there is a known problem with water getting into the passenger's side and if there are similar trim fixings either side, then this may be relevant:

https://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/yaf_postst88153_Mk3-...

I had this problem with a 2012 NC.

Thanks for that. the leak on that thread seems to be well forward, sort of under the glove box area.

The water on mine is further back, inline with the front of the drivers seat. Also I pulled the seat forward last night and the area behind the seat was damp. A baseball cap Id lost was jammed halfway down behind the drivers seat and that was damp and mildewed.

I half opened the roof and saw what I think was the roof drain hole. Got a bottle of water and carefully poured it into the tray around the hole. the water ran straight out and then out from under the car.

So not sure whats going on really. Its due a service so get it booked in and mention the water issue I think and see what they say.

[Revisitph]

Ah, yes, sorry, I didn't read your post carefully enough.

The MX-5 fora have lots of stuff on the drain holes and how to clear them but I didn't pay much attention to that when I discovered the thread more relevant to my problem.

[227bhp]

Scuttle grommets as per the link, guaranteed. Shame those s at PB have ruined everyone's pictures.
It's such a common NC problem someones written a blog about it and the other done to death daily issues.
You have to remember water doesn't stay still, it runs around and wicks.

[CopperBolt]

227bhp said:

Scuttle grommets as per the link, guaranteed. Shame those s at PB have ruined everyone's pictures.
It's such a common NC problem someones written a blog about it and the other done to death daily issues.
You have to remember water doesn't stay still, it runs around and wicks.

Like you say, the pictures are illegible now so I had no idea where that meant. Where are the scuttle grommets?

Thanks

[snotrag]

The scuttle area is between the top of the bonnet/engine bay area, and the bottom of the windscreen. Where your wipers are attached.

Underneath the plastic panel are two grommets (one per side) into which a self tapping screw is attached.

Buy two new grommets (couple of pounds) rather than clarting old knackered ones up in tonnes of sealant.

The rubber seal goes hard/brittle over time and lets water throuygh, it ends up coming out under your dashboard.


Replacing these, plus rodding out the rear drain holes each side, should be done by every single person who buys an NC and then inspected every year. So, so common, but easily and cheaply fixed.

Mine was about 2 inches deep under the carpet too - once you've fixed the leak, its best to remove the seat (4 bolts and one large electrical connector) and then lift the carpet and dry it out. I used a fan heater to dry the whole lot after mopping up the worst.

[Evoluzione]

http://myroadtrip.net/mazda-mx-5-fixing-a-leak-und...

Do both sides, seal it with silicone or similar, don't replace crap foam washers with new crap foam washers.

The aforementioned top ten: http://www.duratecnc.co.uk/?p=52
So you'll know what to do before it happens because you're going to have some fun now with a soaking wet carpet, underlay and floor pan at this time of the year. Really the whole lot needs pulling out to dry as it'll just hold water against the floor pan from now on.

[CopperBolt]

Further update,

Opened the car Saturday morning and the drivers seat, centre console and passenger seat had drops of water all over them. Happened to look up at the roof lining and it was covered in drops of water waiting to fall.

If it was the scuttle area or roof drain holes, I would not see this would I? It seemed to me as though the roof was no longer waterproof. But surely the roof has rubber in it so could not ever degrade to the point of letting water in?

Thoughts?

Thanks

[snotrag]

That's just condensation, same as on the inside of the glass.

[227bhp]

Your car is piss wet through inside, of course you will see condensation dripping from everything and everywhere.
Are you not reading any of the posts in this thread or what?

[CopperBolt]

<backs out of thread sheepishly>

[CopperBolt]

<creeps back into thread>

Main dealer have just rung, saying they've found its the windscreen scuttles and they are going to seal them. £50 ish. (hopefully inc VAT.)
With a service (£159) and new battery(£130) going to be an expensive visit this year.

I will ask what exactly theyve done and how easy to get the carpets out to hang up to dry.

Got to drive a MkIV as a courtesy car, bit gutless, presume it must be a smaller engined variant. Nice inside though with all the extras, air con, etc.

[Evoluzione]

That's where independent specialists come in, you're paying approximately double there than from anywhere else.

[Tyre Smoke]

Same problem with the wife's 5. Passenger footwell sopping yesterday after all the rain this week. Ordered two grommets from MX5 Parts.

Little job for next weekend. Along with the interior light which has steadfastly refused to work.