Condensation in the boot

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pmanson

Original Poster:

13,387 posts

259 months

Thursday 13th November 2008
quotequote all
Our boot keeps filling with condensation results in a wet carpet...

Any ideas on how to stop it?

I've taken the carpet and the parcel shelf carpet out and dried them both but but it keeps returning.

There is a piece of sponge type material that sits behind the spare wheel (far right hand corner of the boot) this was wet as well but I couldn't seem to remove it.

Would this cause it or have I got a problem else where?

Condensation is forming on the underside of the boot lid.

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

225 months

Thursday 13th November 2008
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Make sure your roof drain-tubes are clear and the rain-rail isn't damaged.

pmanson

Original Poster:

13,387 posts

259 months

Thursday 13th November 2008
quotequote all
MX-5 Lazza said:
Make sure your roof drain-tubes are clear and the rain-rail isn't damaged.
All clear and I kept an eye on the rain rail when the parcel shelf carpet was out - dry as a bone on the rear shelf - no visible leaks.

The rear shelf is still dry...

Previously when it's been leaking the boot carpet has got wet but it hasn't led to condensation on the underside of the boot lid.

MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

225 months

Thursday 13th November 2008
quotequote all
Ok, now make sure the seals around the rear light clusters are intact.
If you are getting enough moisture in the boot to make the carpet wet it's more than just condensation.
During this week I've been using the PlanetMX5 Motorsports car which has a very leaky roof. When it was raining Mon & Tue it has been dripping in and causing pools on the floor and making both seats wet. Despite this, by this morning the seats are completely dry and the floor is also pretty much dry. Like I say, if your car isn't drying out then more moisture is getting in from somewhere.

GravelBen

15,850 posts

236 months

Friday 14th November 2008
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I find my boot actually seals quite well moisture-wise, when it got damp in there (from throwing wet jackets etc in) it alternated between condensing on the lid when it got warm and freezing in the carpet when it was cold overnight but didn't actually dry out until I left the boot open in the sun for a few hours. Still seems to let a bit of dust in though.

Blackbullet

159 posts

252 months

Friday 14th November 2008
quotequote all
pmanson said:
Our boot keeps filling with condensation results in a wet carpet...

Any ideas on how to stop it?

I've taken the carpet and the parcel shelf carpet out and dried them both but but it keeps returning.

There is a piece of sponge type material that sits behind the spare wheel (far right hand corner of the boot) this was wet as well but I couldn't seem to remove it.

Would this cause it or have I got a problem else where?

Condensation is forming on the underside of the boot lid.
Wow what a coincidence! Only last weekend I was washing my 5, and opened the boot to find it absolutely sodden. Few months ago, just after I’d bought it, I had found holes in the floor of the boot, old battery fixing points etc which we sealed up. Had found offside light cluster seal was letting by too so thought we’d resolved it.

So pulled out boot interior and spare wheel again. Noticed there was a small pool of water sitting inside the spare wheel. Ran hand under boot seal, above where wheel sits, and there was a lot of moisture, more that I would expect from condensation. As you say Pmanson also found the ‘sponge’ behind spare wheel soaked. Then found moisture above all this sitting on fixing bracket bolts for my rollover bar which protrudes from the above parcel shelf. So now inside the car poking around behind drivers seat. A bead of water then runs down the carpet behind the seat! Half hour later all material behind seats has been removed. The insulation material that sits on the parcel shelf is drenched. Put it on washing line and water is pouring off it!

So interior is now sporting a semi striped racer vibe while I keep an eye on any water ingress over the coming weeks. Now had new Mohair roof installed by Hothoods month or so ago as old vinyl one was shagged so hoping cause of dampness was due to old hood. During that heavy rain shower earlier this week had a very slight weep from roof seal, but not enough to cause what I’ve seen so far.

Andy



pmanson

Original Poster:

13,387 posts

259 months

Friday 14th November 2008
quotequote all
Andy,

Recommend you check/complete the following:

1. Remove boot carpet and parcel shelf carpet and dry (took nearly a week for the parcel shelf to dry due to the insultion)

2. Check the rear drain holes behind the seats aren't blocked (use a coat hanger or similar carefully). I think half the problem I had before was that the drain holes got blocked, then the parcel shelf got wet so then it dripped down through to the boot.

3. Check that the fixing brackets for the hard top aren't leaking - when the boot was filling with water this was where ours was leaking (quick dose of sealant stops it).

4. Check the rain rail isn't leaking - get in the car with the roof up (obviously) and the carpet removed from the rear shelf and get someone hose the roof down

I think my leak is either the boot lid seal or one of the rear lights - probably drivers side.

The reason I say this is that i'm getting no condensation in the car at all. I'll take the carpet out again tonight and dry it overnight.

Blackbullet

159 posts

252 months

Monday 24th November 2008
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pmanson said:
Andy,

Recommend you check/complete the following:

1. Remove boot carpet and parcel shelf carpet and dry (took nearly a week for the parcel shelf to dry due to the insulation)

2. Check the rear drain holes behind the seats aren't blocked (use a coat hanger or similar carefully). I think half the problem I had before was that the drain holes got blocked, then the parcel shelf got wet so then it dripped down through to the boot.


3. Check that the fixing brackets for the hard top aren't leaking - when the boot was filling with water this was where ours was leaking (quick dose of sealant stops it).

4. Check the rain rail isn't leaking - get in the car with the roof up (obviously) and the carpet removed from the rear shelf and get someone hose the roof down

I think my leak is either the boot lid seal or one of the rear lights - probably drivers side.

The reason I say this is that i'm getting no condensation in the car at all. I'll take the carpet out again tonight and dry it overnight.
Well have had the interior out for a fortnight now, and have had no dampness in the cabin. Rear parcel shelf is bone dry too. Only had the tiniest weep at the back of the parcel shelf when we had that really heavy downpour on the 10/11th Nov. However have noticed a lot more squeaks and creaks coming from the rear of the car which I expected. Was trying to reproduce them by pushing the back of the car up and down (Surprised how much flex there is. Thought I was going to put my hand straight through!), and noticed a bit of movement of the bootlid. Is this making some of the noises... I don't know, but might be causing some of the water ingress. Can the locking mechanism be adjusted to get a tighter fit, or is it the seal losing it bounce?

Just hoping Parcel shelf dampness was down to old knackered vinyl hood which has since been replaced with a mohair one by Hothoods. I remember the chap with a watering can checking my drainage holes while he was changing my hood.

offroading.net

2,702 posts

196 months

Monday 24th November 2008
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If there are no leaks leave some charcoal in the boot, it soaks up all moisture.

Fruitcake

3,850 posts

232 months

Monday 24th November 2008
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offroading.net said:
If there are no leaks leave some charcoal in the boot, it soaks up all moisture.
And some burgers and steaks for when you pull over.

OnlyMX5ives

1,142 posts

198 months

Tuesday 25th November 2008
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Remove carpets.

Dust with talc (or put newspaper dowb)

Spray with a hose.

That will tell you where its coming from.