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

simoniz · Dec 13, 2003

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

Dragoon GST · Jul 6, 2008

flinguist said:
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.

You are correct, sir! Apparently my back window leaks and it literally pools up back there. Is there a fix for the back windows leaking, maybe putting some sort of sealant on the inside of the window?

Also my a-pillars no longer leak!! +1! Removing the rubber stoppers and using an entire can of scotchguard fixed that right up.

thatboyjose · Sep 7, 2008

Hey all,

My wife's 98 GS-T convertible top had bent control arm links (on both sides). After thorough research I found of all places (Ebay.com), a kit that replaces the weak OEM control arm links. I was skeptical and thought it wasn't worth the money but decided to buy them. The installation took about 2 hours but I swear they made the biggest difference in the world. The top no longer rattles! Before the install I suggested to my wife that we should sell the damn thing since it sounded like it was falling apart; but now feel like it is really solid and extremely tight. I've reconsidered selling it now. I haven't given it the leak test since it has leaked before, but am confident that the custom links have helped. We don't drive the GS-T in wet weather but will report once I get an idea if the leaks are remedied. Well worth the money! Don't be a cheap @$$.

You can find the seller of these links on Ebay. You can find him here:

eBay My World - uneedparts

I'm a newbie to this site and am hooked. Please hit me up if you have any questions.

Jose

xojaycavox · Oct 30, 2008

okie guys .. i made a custom fiberglass top for the spyder!!! its like a hard top.. but it sits on top of the canvas of the convertable. i didnt really have time to read all of the post so sorry if someone had already done this... i will post pics when i get home tonight from work.. feel free to pm me if you have questions.. its not finished.. but the actual shell is finished.. all it needs is a sand, paint some straps to hold down the top... i have an idea on how to hold it down.. i will finish the working project this weekend... paint and all lets see how it turns out..

the good:
1. it doesnt leak at all!!!
2. you can paint it whatever color you like!!
3. you only have to put it on if it rains!!
4. you can drive with it.
5. it cost me about $180 bucks to build

the bad:
1. its heavy 35lbs. (its not that heavy but!! the size makes it hard to carry)
2. there is no back window!! unless you make a custom plexiglass (which i probably will)
3. you have to look at the weather channel or weather.com atleast once every 3 days. to know when to or not to put the top on.. or you can just drive with it all day..

xojaycavox · Nov 4, 2008

here is the pics before the vinyl.. with the straps that i fiberglass in:
<HTML>
<BODY>

<img src="http://photos-p.friendster.com/photos/55/30/3080355/1_921247158l.jpg">
<img src="http://photos-p.friendster.com/photos/55/30/3080355/1_731022128l.jpg">
<img src="http://photos-p.friendster.com/photos/55/30/3080355/1_526789715l.jpg">
</n>
and these are the pics with the vinyl.. its in the dark but its on the car.. i just havent finished the sides and the under body of the fiber glass.. but the top side of the fiberglass if pretty much finished. i just have to do some odds and ends on the bottom side of the fiberglass.. some pictures are are while the top is going on.. so if it off centered.. that means that im showing you the difference.. but actually the top fits the mold of the top of the cavas convertable top.. and it fits sort of like glove!!!
</n>

<img src="http://photos-p.friendster.com/photos/55/30/3080355/1_621621547l.jpg">
<img src="http://photos-p.friendster.com/photos/55/30/3080355/1_818948766l.jpg">
<img src="http://photos-p.friendster.com/photos/55/30/3080355/1_340763950l.jpg">
<img src="http://photos-p.friendster.com/photos/55/30/3080355/1_617119267l.jpg">
<img src="http://photos-p.friendster.com/photos/55/30/3080355/1_798213422l.jpg">
<img src="http://photos-p.friendster.com/photos/55/30/3080355/1_380532275l.jpg">
<img src="http://photos-p.friendster.com/photos/55/30/3080355/1_655988629l.jpg">
</BODY>
</HTML>

qnz · Feb 8, 2009

thatboyjose said:
Hey all,

My wife's 98 GS-T convertible top had bent control arm links (on both sides). After thorough research I found of all places (Ebay.com), a kit that replaces the weak OEM control arm links. I was skeptical and thought it wasn't worth the money but decided to buy them. The installation took about 2 hours but I swear they made the biggest difference in the world. The top no longer rattles! Before the install I suggested to my wife that we should sell the damn thing since it sounded like it was falling apart; but now feel like it is really solid and extremely tight. I've reconsidered selling it now. I haven't given it the leak test since it has leaked before, but am confident that the custom links have helped. We don't drive the GS-T in wet weather but will report once I get an idea if the leaks are remedied. Well worth the money! Don't be a cheap @$$.

You can find the seller of these links on Ebay. You can find him here:

eBay My World - uneedparts

I'm a newbie to this site and am hooked. Please hit me up if you have any questions.

Jose

+1 for this ebay member. he also makes other spyder-top parts that he doesnt sell in his ebay store. if you need something for the top, just give him a shout.

gridbum · Feb 16, 2009

Hey everyone,

I just bought a 97 GS-T Spyder, everything was going pretty dandy up until I left it out in the rain for a bit.

I get in, and everything's flooded. I grab a towel, dry everything off, and start heading home. But mother nature wasn't done pissing me off yet, crazy amounts of water started spilling down from where the top meets the A-Pillars.

I did some searching before posting, but I havent found a commonly used way to fix this.

Anybody have any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

fedj18 · Feb 16, 2009

you most likely have a bad seal on the front edge or the top is out of adjustment. Just my opinion. Not too familiar with the GST tops but I have worked on other convertible leaks at work.

knochgoon24 · Feb 16, 2009

I'm not sure if there are drains on spyders along that lip like there are on the sunroofs. They often clog on sunroofs and cause similar symptoms.

Also, change your avatar to a picture related to your DSM as per the rules of this forum.

gridbum · Feb 17, 2009

knochgoon24 said:
I'm not sure if there are drains on spyders along that lip like there are on the sunroofs. They often clog on sunroofs and cause similar symptoms.

Also, change your avatar to a picture related to your DSM as per the rules of this forum.

Sorry! Disabled it till I get one of my car.

Ive read about the clogging, im gonna check it out tomorrow.

ratatack · Jul 9, 2009

ArticNemesis said:
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.

what is the name of this product i need to do this bad,and do you know by any chance a way to reasonably fix the leaky weatherstrip problem? :confused:

Thomas91169 · Jan 18, 2010

so ill resurrect this one.........seems its the only vert top leakage thread.

I have an odd issue though. Rained hard yesterday and i left the car outside (it usually stays in the garage but i was at gf house). A few weeks ago i noticed if i left it outside in light rain, the interior fogs up with moisture when nobody is in it.

Well this morning as i leave to go home with heavy rain, the top is leaking like a siv. Everytime i braked, turned or did anything i would get soaked with drips coming from the vert side of the a-pillar. The whole interior was soaked, and the under-top felt part was dripping wet, and there was moisture on the water barrier side of the outer top fabric.

Got home, and checked the a-pillar trim gutters using a cup of water and pouring it down from the center of the windshield, it routes directly into the gutters and does not leak or clog up, and empties into the front door jambs (on the exterior side) and out. So id imagine that kinda rules that out as being the issue, especially since there is water EVERYWHERE inside the cabin, not just a few drips here and there from the a-pillar area. On the pass side a-pillar gutter area, it does sometimes (with lots of water flow) back up into the lower drainage hole (the one that gets blocked by the vert top when closed), i went ahead and plugged that with a small 1/4" piece of vacuum hose with RTV to see if that helps the drippage on that side, since its doing the same thing it does when the top is closed, except its not relying on the seal from the top itself.

ive also tightened the clasps (like i said years ago with my 97 GST, this is on my 98), and that doesnt do shit.

I was looking under the top and noticed that when i look through the top and into my shop lights, i can see millions of tiny holes in the fabric. I went ahead and applied a few more coats of RaggTop sealer to see if that helps.

Guess well have to wait and see what happens. Im wondering if the top itself has become just old and unable to provide a full weather barrier and is letting moisture through which is causing my issues.

egotalon · Jan 19, 2010

You have the exact problem I have. It is not that the top leaks around the edges, or at the trim, no, it actually leaks THROUGH the material. I have tried a whole can of RaggTop on it. It helped but did not really solve the problem. I have a bottle of a different convertible top sealer, but I don't have it with me to give the name, and I haven't used it yet to comment on its effectiveness.

My reason for posting is to confirm what you are seeing, is penetration through the fabric. That is why your drains aren't working. When water penetrates the top is take different paths that don't lead to drains. On are I get lots of water is in side the metal top header, where the cutout for the "handle" is right above the rear view mirror. I can stick my hand in there and feel 1/2 " of water or more sometimes (if I have been caught at work and it rains for a while).

Good luck trying to seal the fabric. If i ever get the time to clean the top really good and put a few coats of the new stuff I have on it, I'll post back my results.

Egotalon

nfljohnl · May 20, 2010

Mine leaks if you go straight up from the emergency brake it forms a puddle right in the middle of the top and then that leaks onto the seat but thats prettyb much it. Do I new top?

97gst_spyder · May 20, 2010

The answer for you last three is on the first post, and on the 2nd page.

FrankNstein · May 20, 2010

Convertible top is under tension and attack from UV and weather, also major bird shit depending where you park, ask me how I know. The uneedparts cable fix is well worth the money for a permanent fix to the stays. Age of the top, how cleaned and conditioned is what you see for the fabric. The rubber seals one to another and to the windows will always be car specific. I know mine will leak in two spots and lay towels down if exposed. I have not yet experienced water in the windshield frame or draining issues.
Just getting warm enough to drop the top in Indiana, nothing like a ragtop with a nice foosh from the BOV and burble from trailing throttle.
E.

gst_man · Jun 18, 2010

Man that makes me miss my convertible. But when it rains here I am reminded of why I got rid of it.

DearestNameless · Feb 20, 2011

I have a couple of questions on top leaks. I have a few myself.

My first leak is around where the top, the windshield, and the door meet in the corner and also sometime where the latches are.

I read this thread about some straw in the a pillar but I can't seem to find it can someone find me a picture?

I also read that you can tighten the latches. I removed the two star screws and removed the alan set screw for the hook but it wont screw in nor out but just a little and I'm afraid of breaking it. Any ideas?

My next leak is on both sides right above the rear speakers I'm not sure where exactly it is coming from up top but somewhere in that region. Has anyone ever seen this before.

My last leak, or at least it seems like a leak to me, is below the rear window. The catch behind the back seat fills up with enough water it sloshes around and I have to vacuum it out every rain.

And one more question that isn't leak related. The first brace (bar) from the windshield back is loose. When I got the car it didn't set right, by that I mean the hump was uneven. I kinda pushed it up and it made it look better but every time I put the top down it wants to get caught in between the arms and never lays down right. Is this normal? Can I fix this?

Thanks to anyone who can help in advance.

DearestNameless · Feb 22, 2011

Well I never got any answers but it rained hard yesterday and the whole car was soaked from the radio to the back glass. It felt like it may have been soaking through the canvas this time. So my question now is should I replace the top for 380$, try some Aqua-Tite, or Scotch Guard. The top looks great on the outside but on the inside there is a material on the back of the canvas that keeps flaking off in good size pieces. Is this the waterproofing? Also since I can't figure out how to fix my latches I need some new ones if anyone knows where to find them, except for the dealer. Thanks

spyderturbo007 · Nov 16, 2011

Back from the dead.

Does anyone know where this "rubber stuffer" thing is in the A-Pillar that you're supposed to remove? Better yet, does anyone have a picture because I really, really like pictures?

My Spyder just became my daily driver and the freakin' top leaks. It's coming in where the windshield meets the window and the top along with right behind the drivers head where the arms separate when you lower the top. It only does that on the drivers' side which I'm assuming might have something to do with the control arm that bent on me awhile back. I'm going to order the strap kit and see if that fixes that problem. But I'm confused on the whole "stuffer" thing.

spyderturbo007 · Dec 7, 2011

Never mind, I figured it out.

97gst_spyder · Dec 7, 2011

You figured out where the rubber stuffers were??

spyderturbo007 · Dec 7, 2011

No, but I think I fixed the leak. At least on one side.

JCUB18 · Mar 12, 2012

Mine is only leaking on the drivers side too, and in the same location. I really wish I could see a picture of the stuffer everyone is talking about because I pulled down the weatherstrip and wasn't able to find anything of the sort.

GMoose · Apr 18, 2013

Alright I'm pretty confident that this thread is dead? If its still alive in some way, here is my problem, that I might have a conclusion for. Where the water comes in on my Spyder is where the top meets the frame of the car. It's not like it pours in, it just starts to drip once it has rained a lot. I stick my hand in that handle where you can pull the top down to latch, and its full of water. So when I'm driving turn, or hit the brakes that's when it just pours, till its empty. My conclusions to this that I've narrowed down is, in the rear on the passenger side the aluminum bar that helps the top go up and down, keeps it aligned. Well that bar has snapped. So in my mind I'm thinking, well because that is broken, there isn't enough tension being pressed on the A/B pillars. The leak doesn't start at the drivers side, it starts and happens the most on the passenger side, probably because of the aluminum bar....could this be right? Also as far as the latches, my driver side latch pulls the top down very well. For the passenger side now, the latch doesn't even seem to do anything other than prevent it from flying open, any tips to get that to be more of a seal? The screws on it are as tight as I can get them before I start stripping the dang things haha.

sproutrocksit · Apr 28, 2013

I'm really hoping this thread is still alive... I could sure use some advice. My top is shrinking and pulling away from the side frame bars. Is this a weatherstripping fix? Has anyone found a solution? Please be as specific as possible, I'm new to DSMs and have been searching for days for an answer.

I also have a couple of holes and the rear window is coming unstitched. I plan to fix these myself as well, since I can't afford a new top. Has anyone had luck with rubber/canvas patches that either glue or iron on? Thanks, I REALLY appreciate any suggestions!

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

simoniz

Dragoon GST

thatboyjose

xojaycavox

xojaycavox

qnz

gridbum

fedj18

knochgoon24

gridbum

ratatack

Thomas91169

egotalon

nfljohnl

97gst_spyder

FrankNstein

gst_man

DearestNameless

DearestNameless

spyderturbo007

spyderturbo007

97gst_spyder

spyderturbo007

JCUB18

GMoose

sproutrocksit

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