E85 Hardtop Leaking

[jamiecarpenter]

I have put on my hard top every winter now for the past 10 years. Every winter I find that my car boot lid to be soaking my rear window to be wet and also my front screen.

I thought that I had identified all possible area where the car could be letting in water and replaced or repaired them.

These include Boot lid brake light, Seals on both doors and new membrane’s as well as door outer seals and new boot vents.

The drains are clear at the rear of the car.

Has anyone else with a Hardtop had the same problem and if so where should I be looking?

Thanks Jamie

 

[Z44Jon]

When I looked at my sons recenlty, It tracked it down the the screws that hold the rear light trims.

 

[Sidewaze Samm]

Every winter I find that my car boot lid to be soaking my rear window to be wet and also my front screen.

How damp is the boot carpet, and is there water in the battery well? If the boot carpet is only slightly damp, it could just be the condensation dripping from the boot lid when closed - caused by the same issue that is causing condensation on the windscreen; whatever that is.

But if there is water ingress building up in the battery well, then have a look behind the rear bumper. There are 5 or 6 screws that hold on a piece of trim by screwing into some white plastic thingies (technical name). On my son's zed, one of these was letting in sufficient water to put over two inches of water in the battery well. Took ages to find but two minutes to fix with a dab of silicone on the thread of each screw. Two years ago now, and it's been dry ever since.

 

[jamiecarpenter]

Hi all.

So further updates after some rain, boot carpet is dry as is battery. The top of boot lid is getting condensation which I’ve wiped away this morning.

Inside the car the rear window has some condensation and behind the driver seat the carpet is damp.

What has surprised me though is the passenger sides side covers for the hardtop by the seat belt and edge of the window seal is wet and so is the material above it, very wet from the bottom edge up about a foot which kind of suggest the top is leaking, but as its one piece apart from the spoiler and window I'm a bit miffed.

 

[Sidewaze Samm]

Hi all.

So further updates after some rain, boot carpet is dry as is battery. The top of boot lid is getting condensation which I’ve wiped away this morning.

Inside the car the rear window has some condensation and behind the driver seat the carpet is damp.

What has surprised me though is the passenger sides side covers for the hardtop by the seat belt and edge of the window seal is wet and so is the material above it, very wet from the bottom edge up about a foot which kind of suggest the top is leaking, but as its one piece apart from the spoiler and window I'm a bit miffed.

Are you sure the window is sealing correctly when the door is closed? If not, perhaps the top needs slight adjustment in positioning. Is the gap between the bottom edge of the hard top and the rear quarter panel the same and consistent on both sides of the car?
Also, is the front edge of the roof consistent along the top of the windscreen?

 

[jamiecarpenter]

So I've now removed the hardtop and investigated the issue further.

I removed the headliner which was easy enough after removing some screw in clips.

I've now discovered that the hardtop was once silver so it's had a respray.

I've then found water marks running from where the spoiler is screwed through the top. All screws had some amount of rust.

So it appears they removed the spoiler to spray it then reattached it without using any rubber seal or sealant.

The headliner could do with being recovered in a new liner and backing sponge. Anyone any idea on cost or where this can be done?