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.............................

 

[hidingfrogleap]

Ok so we just had a big thunderstorm yesterday here is southern CA and I get back to my 97 spyder and I got little puddles in my seats. So then i look up and i see that water is soaking through the inner layer of my cloth top. Anyone had this happen to them? I was a little wary of the whole cloth top thing when i bought the car, but well, it looked good and seemed to be ok when i washed it and the girl who I bought it from's dad said there were no leaks ...keep in mind, it HAD been pretty bad raining all day but I really don't think it should be doing that after 1 day of rain. I checked the top itself and there are no tears. Any ideas what that could be and how i could fix it? I'd rather not replace the top considering they cost an arm and a leg AND a liver, but carrying towels around everywhere i go and having the stagnant water smell in my car would suck. Any thoughts?

 

[polonez]

I had the same problem with mine! Its a worn out top with the protective layer comming off. Basically to fix it I tried using Scotchguard but that washed off in about 2 weeks. We get lots of rain here on the pacific northwest and it was a big problem. I was able to cure the problem by spraying down the top with a product called Aquatite.This product is used in mainly marine covers and stuff along those lines. Its been about a month and it seems to be holding real well after a few big rainstorms. Give it a try.
Here is a link : Sewing Notions, Flagcloth, Upholstery Supplies, Drapery Grommets, Sunbrella

Hope that helps

 

[hidingfrogleap]

thanks! I ordered a bottle off that site you linked for me. Appreciate the help.

 

[iiiwildfireiii]

I used silicone spray. Clear, and water just beads off. Only problem with it was that it stiffened the top a little but it worked itself out.

 

[hidingfrogleap]

Cool. Thanks for the suggestion. If the Aquatite stuff ends up failling, I'll check into that.

 

[Red Man]

Wow i wished i new that i just order a new, because i to, had to carry around towels.

 

[hidingfrogleap]

Ouch. Sorry man. Leaky roof so not cool. not to mention the only towels I had around my parents place that no one would miss were pink...yeah... we're due for more rain tomorrow so that's gonna be fun. Needless to say, i'm gonna be camping out next to my mailbox for a while.

 

[Dan97gst]

I was just wondering if any of you guys with spyders could tell me what product can you use on your convertible top that has some type of water repellant in it. My top does not leak through unless it is a very very hard rain. Another thing where can you buy the weather stripping aroung the sides of the top and at the front of the top, because water seems to get through there. Thanks

 

[flinguist]

Here's a nice little write up on convertible top care that may help you out.-http://www.carcareonline.com/viewarticle.aspx?art=3

 

[kspharris]

I use Scotch gaurd and the seals have to either come from Mitsu or some place like that. Good luck with your top.

 

[wret]

Scotchguard is good but any canvas water repellant from your local sporting goods store will work about as well.

 

[FrankNstein]

Hi Dan,
Nature abhores a vacuum and convertible tops, they will leak a little or a lot here and there. Cleaning with mild brush, let dry, Scotchguard should be daily driver OK. Collecter car procedures are also available, as referenced. The seams where the rubber seals meet when the top deploys is where you will get the leaks, gravity rules. There are bits on the internet about augmenting these with strips, etc. to tighten the seal. I know where my top will leak when it rains a lot and have hand towels in the car to lay on the leather seats for those freak occassions. Biggest issue with Spyder tops is the bending of the header stays. Make sure yours are straight and you manually flip back the stay on top retraction. Result of not doing this is a tear-away of the headliner and bending of the stays.
E.

 

[91laserrsnt]

Well, its been about a year. How has the aquatite held up? Im about to order it now as I have been experiencing problems with my top for some time now. I would consider a yearly coating to be reasonable.

 

[98spyderblacker]

was that stuff working good ### im haveing the same problem now

 

[hidingfrogleap]

You know, the stuff actually works pretty well. After the application, I went a couple months with no problems. If you use it though, make sure you protect all your plastic trim and paint. It's a real pain to get off (if you somehow manage to do it without f***ing everything else up).

I've been having top problems again though. I think it has less to do with the Aquatite failing and more to do with the fact that the cloth on the top is starting to deteriorate (like, little bits of it come down every now and then). I'd assume that's because of the age and all the sun exposure it gets out here in CA but anyone else having that problem?

 

[mikeymuscles82]

my spyder leaks everywhere from the front brackets to the rear and back windows. Any pointer could i tighten the front brackets?

 

[Defiant]

This is still one of the best Spyder top leak posts I've seen, from 2001 on DSMtalk:

"If you are leaking water into the car the most probable cause is that the rubber stuffers in the A-pillars have compressed, actually causing a dam up of the water drain.
More than likely that's it if it's leaking right at the corners where the top stack meets the window. You have to remove the A-pillar rubber seal and remove the rubber stuffer (it's about halfway up the seal)

The other major problem I see with the 95-99 Spyder design is in the convertible links and the bow strap kit.

The elastic strap that pulls back the #2 bow weakens and elongates, allowing the #2 bow to come back on the links, bending them.

I've done so many of those things it's not even funny. They're not that hard, though. If you hurry you can do both sides in about 20minutes. Be careful, though. You can get the links on backwards. You also have to install a new updated strap kit (uses canvas strapping instead of elastic)

According to Mitsubishi, a leak that clings to the inside of the glass is considered "seepage" and is normal.

Only water that hits the seat would be considered abnormal.

The way Mits. wants us to check is using the "Rule of 5"

Take a hose and point it straight up. Turn the water on until you have a 5" column of water. Go back and forth from the front to the back of the window 5 times, taking 5 seconds to go from the front to the back.

Needless to say, I've done ALOT of tops.

That's a good point about washing the car. It's very easy to overcome the seals in the topstack assembly.

Also, it is VERY important to NOT use any kind of strong detergents on the top stack cover. It will destroy the protective seal and you will have even more leaks."

-Posted by "Bill", awd92gsx
Help! rain leaked in and soaked my seat - DSMtalk Forums

 

[OddNotion]

That pretty much describes my top. The front rubber A-pillar seal certainly does not drain. It is very compressed after many years of being clamped by the latches, which I've tightened progressively to help stem the leaking.

That did not, nor will it ever fix the problem. The new seal is going to cost me $200+ which I am going to pay because I'm sick of getting my left leg wet.

The links are absurdly expensive. I would up making like 10 passes with a mig welder on each one make them stiffer, which it sort of did.

The top itelf is shrinking like a pair of Gums with gingivitis. I believe that once the little weatherstrip which the top cables rest on is gone, you can expect water to come in from each joint on the top structure.

My top shrank away from those strips and repeated opening and closing has rubbed most of them away.

SO- my new front seal, new top, weatherstrip, carpet, and floormats are going to set me back like $1300

At least then I can keep my car for another 10 years....

 

[spyder97gs]

Has anyone experienced rain actually soaking through the top? It seems as though mine is doing this in one area. The top LOOKS WISE is in great shape. The rear window is leaking as well but the stitching all seems to be intact. I'm gonna try spraying it when the weather breaks again.

It leaks down onto my passenger floor board and seat. I'm almost positive its somehow getting through the top

 

[wret]

Water does not "soak" through the fabric. An impermeable material is bonded to the back side of the canvas. If water is getting through, you have a hole.

 

[spyder97gs]

Water does not "soak" through the fabric. An impermeable material is bonded to the back side of the canvas. If water is getting through, you have a hole.

I really don't get it. Wouldn't the headliner be wet? It's not wet anywhere, yet if I stick my hand between the top and headliner it's wet. It could be that its running down the bow from the side perhaps. When I owned my last Spyder there was a write up on doing something to help stop the leaking. I'm gonna search for that and do a nice inspection of the rubber when it dries out here.

 

[FrankNstein]

After unbending my top stays again, one eventually broke and almost went through the fabric. For $100 at uneedparts.com (search ebay) I got a set of cables to replace the stays and elastic. Install was 20 minutes and works great.

 

[Dragoon GST]

Okay, so I have read everything going on here and just bought a 96 Eclipse GS-T Spyder. It's amazing how when you go look at a car and test drive it/check it out everything is fine, and then THE NEXT DAY stuff starts going bad. Now my car rattles, chirps constantly, and leaks horribly. I will try looking at the seals at the A pillers like everyone has said, but heres something new. When I go around turns I hear a "sloshing" sound like the water is just built up sitting somewhere. Is this normal!?

 

[flinguist]

There might be some water in the area behind the back seat. If your back window is leaking water will accumulate in the vinyl pouch, or whatever you want to call it, behind the seat. Poke your head back there, and take a look.

 

[spyder97gs]

Rattles can be fixed alot easier than the leaking. I too have alot of leaks in my 96 GST. Top is in good shape, but water is getting through. Gonna try some fixes in a week or two when I get time.