spyder convertible top leaks [Merged 1-8] leak leaking

[simoniz]

I own a 98 eclipse spyder Gs.Every time it rains,the inside of my car gets wet.The water leaks in between the top of the window and the convertible top.I replaced the top,but no change.
...................PLEASE HELP MY LEAKY PROBLEM.............................

 

[Defiant]

Much like a sunroof, a convertible top will leak. There are gutters built into the system for this, but I don't know the adjustment procedures.

 

[FrankNstein]

My 98 GST will leak sometimes too, drips right onto the leather seat. I talked to an experienced auto trim guy and he said you have to just keep tweaking the seals. I have also talked to ASC, but they say it's a Mitubishi dealer fix.
E.

 

[Ard184]

I have a 97 Spyder convertible I just got and I noticed my windows leak around the top when it rains. The guy I bought it from said he adjusted the tracking to make them close a little higher, but it still leaks. He told me its a common problem. Has anyone ever come across a way to fix this? Also, are there any tech/ how to sites that can tell me how to disassemble the dash and give me a fuse diagram for the power antennae?

 

[jimh]

My windows leaked up at the top of the A-pillar and I fixed it by purchasing new weatherstrips. Water hasn't leaked in since changing them out. To get new weatherstrips, try partznet.com (http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?siteid=840)

 

[sirkangol]

hey jimh
my 99 spyder leaked like crazy last week mean my car was soaked i looked at the link you provided but saw no weather stripping.. please help me with my problem is there any way you could post PICS of what you exactly did thanks
mike

 

[redliine]

Story

Well I bought my 97 Spyder last friday. The day I bought it, it had rained for only about 20 mins, and sure enough it got nice and sunny the second i stepped on the dealer lot.. so when I took the car for a test drive, the seats and everything seemed good and dry.. I made sure to look because that was a concern of mine - if the top has any bad seals for water to get thru.

So all weekend I have been cruising around in the sun with my new baby, top down and having a great time.. till today.. rain. I was anxious to see how my car would perform in the wet.. the tires, brakes etc..

As soon as I got out of the underground the rain came, threw the wipers on and away I went.. no leaks while I was driving!.. I came home and parked the car outside for 5 mins to come back to water all over my seats. I was PISSED OFF!!!!!!!!! WTF I drove to work so mad, water getting all over my jeans..

Problem

The leak is coming from the top of the windshield area. On each corner. It just drips. I don't know how else to explain it. I thought maybe I had the thing closed/ sealed wrong when I put it up last. But I don't think so. I washed my car today and observed where the water went. Same spots.. same two corners..

My question... how much will it cost to get someone to fix this problem?? I talked to someone today at a good collision shop and they said they will charge an hour for starters to see where the leaks are coming from.. then you go from there.

THe thing is I bought this car from the dealer, but I didnt get any kind of warantee on the roof.. only 2 years on the motor. I am going to call him tomorrow and see what he has to say. The roof also has a broken bracket so it doesnt close by itself.. I have to guide it down properly.. but thats another story.. the leak is whats pissing me off right now...

Anyone have any suggestions?? Pricing?? Anyone had a leaky spyder??..

Sorry this is long.

 

[redliine]

These areas..

 

[Thomas91169]

umm did you tighten the 2 latch hooks yet? youll need a allen wrench to loosen the nut, then i tightened mine about 2 turns tighter and its hella tight now. before i did it the top made alot of noise, but now its just as silent as a hardtop when up. my freinds spyder was leaking and he had to install brand new weatherstripping around the top. try those latches first. when i told him it tightened mine he shit his pants cause when he did his they were super loose.

 

[redliine]

Really??? Ya the latches when I fasten them, aren't that difficult to lock in. But I mean they are or were enough to convince me that the latch is tight.. But then again, im a noob and m not sure how stiff the latches should be.. im gonna tighten them!! BRB!

 

[Thomas91169]

see i have mine so tight that i have to pull down on the center handle with alot of force and clamp on the latches with the other hand.

 

[redliine]

Ok the only visible screws or anything I saw were 2 star shaped ones on either side of the clamp.. They were already pretty tight, i assumed those were the wrong ones.

I put the top down and took the whole piece apart.. I dunno which allan screw u guys are talking about.. can u post a pic?

EDIT: Oh ya I tightened those 2 screws on each clamp, checked to see if it would leak and it still did.. Again, I didnt think I had the right ones..I am not sure which screws actually tighten the hook.. the hooks themselves jiggle around quite freely..

 

[Eclipsed]

My brand new convertable top leaks. It is most likely those latches that need to be tightened down. I need to get on top of that because I didn't think they would make it leak that bad.

 

[ArticNemesis]

Trying waterproofing your top. (Can can be had at walmart in the sporting goods section.)

Also, there is a rubber type cap on each side of the body where it meets the top right above the a-pillar. Pull that off, and try siliconing under it in the general area. There is a drain line that runs under that that gets kinked / clogged sometimes and causes it to leak.

 

[veilz]

I searched around already and have not found any kind of fix or even experimental fixes for this problem most 96-99 Spyders have.

It seems water usually leaks in by the A-Pillar corner near the roof.

Does anyone out there in the free world know of any fix or have any idea on how to fix the leaky roof Spyders suffer through?

Thanks!

 

[x camaro owner]

shim the underneath of the weather stripping to raise it off the surface higher to make a tighter seal

 

[UrMyStlkAl]

Mine top leaks, it blows. It leaks at the A pillars and also it leaks into the little place under my rear window. It just sits there and I have to vaccum it out or something.

 

[lx2539]

damn, I thought I was the only one! shit man, I have a tropical storm in mine when it rains! I m going to replace all the weather strippings, hopefully that takes care of it........

 

[veilz]

shim the underneath of the weather stripping to raise it off the surface higher to make a tighter seal

what would you recommend shimming it with?

i am not too sure what the weather stripping material is made of... maybe if i use the same material? =P

this post should be the ultimate FIXIT for spyder owners s

 

[veilz]

damn, I thought I was the only one! shit man, I have a tropical storm in mine when it rains! I m going to replace all the weather strippings, hopefully that takes care of it........

i did a search on other DSM forums and from what i have seen replacing it may not fix the problem... it comes back again!! and i heard those weather strips are pretty pricey. the guy who responded earlier (scroll up) has a good idea about raising the currenting weather strip higher (i think 1/4 inch??-- i am guessing)... now its just trying to find a place that can do that work..

keep the ideas rolling!

 

[Kookykrispy]

I checked with the itBshitty Stealer (mitsu dealer) and they want over $300 for the top and a-pillar weatherstrip peices!?! That's WAY too much... I tried tightening the latches and that helped a little... If anyone shims up the weatherstrip please post pics etc. so we can learn from you!

 

[veilz]

I checked with the itBshitty Stealer (mitsu dealer) and they want over $300 for the top and a-pillar weatherstrip peices!?! That's WAY too much... I tried tightening the latches and that helped a little... If anyone shims up the weatherstrip please post pics etc. so we can learn from you!

wow!! $300 US for weatherstrips-- in Canadian dollars that translates to $1000 bux ..just kidding =P

i am thinking some custom fabrication might need to be done here--- its finding out what material works best, and what adhesives to use too and how to remove the old weatherstrip without tearing it

 

[UrMyStlkAl]

I tried tighting mine down and that didn't help the leaks any, it just made my top make creaky noises so I loosened them back up.

 

[Defiant]

Well, the site doesn't want to come up just now, but check on DSMtalk- there's a fellow there who's sharp with tops. It's not a matter of tightness, but of having the drainage "gutters" able to do their job. Some of the weatherstripping is hollow, and it's supposed to guide the rain away from the interior.

 

[fixmy97gst]

Well, the site doesn't want to come up just now, but check on DSMtalk- there's a fellow there who's sharp with tops. It's not a matter of tightness, but of having the drainage "gutters" able to do their job. Some of the weatherstripping is hollow, and it's supposed to guide the rain away from the interior.

all I can say ,it's pretty sad for a 28,000 car...mitsu said it was designed as a convertible...I DON'T THINK SO...the water is comming from under the top , that is why you see a little gap between the roof and the window..what happens is there is suppose to be a seal to keep the water from going and collecting under that section and making the way to the front header thus leaking at the windshield pillar...