Common causes of leaks.

[kentishS2]

I think it could be useful to list here some common causes of water ingress into the S.

My hood leaks through the targa panels, I need to fit a new rubber seal where they both overlap. I also have leaks around the door glass, again I need to find a better rubber profile for where the top edge of the glass meets the roof.

Another leak I had is the wiper spindles on the bulkhead, sealed these with "seak and seal", seems OK now.

Mine's OK but I know some people have had the roof fabric soak up water and leak into the car, this can be solved with a Renovo hood reviver and sealer kit or with Thompsons water seal, available from DIY stores. Could also use Fabsil, or could be called Fabseal available from camping stores (used for sealing tents).

Any other leaks found by anyone and cures for them?

[Roy C]

Through the wiper spindle holes where the sealant needs replacing.

[kentishS2]

Roy C said:

Through the wiper spindle holes where the sealant needs replacing.

Try a can of "seek and seal"

It's clear and comes in a smal oil type can (like 3in 1) with a nozzle.

>> Edited by kentishS2 on Monday 13th September 12:04

[FAT MATT]

I tried the Renovo and was not overly impressed. The dye "did what it said on the tin" but waterproof qualites have not proved v.good. The rear part of the hoop must degrade the ability of the proofer as the roof goes back and forth.
Think the fabsill i used last year was better and am considering Boulstering the renovo with the Thompson stuff for this winter.

[niels]

I 've recently done some rubber replacing trying to get the S as waterproof as possible. I think the rubber which runs on top and on the sides of the targa bar is a good one to check aswell. This one was pretty deformed, especially in the middle where the panels meet. I've replaced this one along with the rubber between the panels and the ones where the windows meet the panels. I found some thick ones with a sort of L-shape that covers the top of the window. Works pretty well.

Now I still have to get the window wipers done.

Cheers

Niels
S1
Netherlands

[WildfireS3]

Thompsons cured all my roof worries, but I have been using Renovo recently. I may switch back to Thompsons as the Renovo seems not to bead the water off, rather just stop it coming through.

[Roy C]

WildfireS3 said:

Thompsons cured all my roof worries, but I have been using Renovo recently. I may switch back to Thompsons as the Renovo seems not to bead the water off, rather just stop it coming through.

I use Fabsil which works really well and lasts for a couple of years (car kept in garage).

I tried the Renovo waterproofer, but it's not as good.

[shnozz]

rain. that was the most common cause on my old S

[Podie]

shnozz said:

rain. that was the most common cause on my old S

odd…

[Pies]

.....holes

[WildfireS3]

shnozz said:

rain. that was the most common cause on my old S

The rain caused leaks!! Ithought taht was down to hoes. You must have some pretty hard rain.

[blackadder]

"The rain beats down so hard it makes your head bleed!"

"So some sort of hat is probably in order."

[/blackadder]

[kentishS2]

WildfireS3 said:

shnozz said: rain. that was the most common cause on my old S The rain caused leaks!! Ithought taht was down to hoes. You must have some pretty hard rain. [blackadder] "The rain beats down so hard it makes your head bleed!" "So some sort of hat is probably in order." [/blackadder]

Bloody acid rain again!

[bugsy]

Easy answer, leave the hood down all the time and keep it in the garage, watch the weather forecast before leaving home, any doubt, use the daily driver.
From my recent experiance, its the only way to stay dry.

[WildfireS3]

bugsy said:

Easy answer, leave the hood down all the time and keep it in the garage, watch the weather forecast before leaving home, any doubt, use the daily driver. From my recent experiance, its the only way to stay dry.

No garage. 1 car.

So TVR it is then.

[FAT MATT]

Is there an obvious place of ingress that causes water to build up in the channel to the sides of the footwell? Last year i had quite a significant build up water here and behind the drivers seat. Have spent hours trying to proof the roof but am at a loss as to where the footwell is filling up from?

[BERGS2]

FAT MATT said:

Is there an obvious place of ingress that causes water to build up in the channel to the sides of the footwell? Last year i had quite a significant build up water here and behind the drivers seat. Have spent hours trying to proof the roof but am at a loss as to where the footwell is filling up from?

I searched this for ages !

Three likely possibilities, in my opinion:

1) the front of door drainage channel - this is pretty tricky to explain without diagrams; the seal that goes accross the windscreen and down the front of the doors can trap water as it turns to run along the bottom of the doorframe - I found that cutting a couple if 5mm gaps in the rubber seal allowed the water to drain out the correct (i.e. door side) of the channel and prevented it from spilling into the car

2) door hinge - if you have slightly dropped doors (as I currently do ) water may be getting in through the lower door hinge where this is mounted in the bodywork in a glassed in bobbin(poor design)- a temporary fix I found was to run a thin line of sealant around the hinge to prevent water from flowing in - but ultimately it will need to be reglassed

3) bulkhead cable routes - the various bolt/cables etc which run through are all possible water routes - again the best option is an inverted V of sealant above them which will divert the channel of water away from the gaps

Good Luck!

Tim

(and a temporarily dry S2...)

[martyn-s1]

Any chance of a photo of the seal mods as luckly (touching wooden things) this is the only leak I get.

[Tripps]

Used the Autoglym pack from Halfrauds, came with a cleaner and protector as well as an "aggresive sponge" for a want of a better term. Cleaned the roof and gave it two treatments around a year ago and its still beading. I've got the Ronseal type stuff ready to use, but haven't used it yet as no need.

The back rubber on fold-down section of the roof was ripped to shreds which caused a drop on my left elbow (just behind the cubby), had that replaced and its been fine since.

I've seen a tiny bit of moistness in the driver footwell in very heavy rain, but I think that might been the smell of fear!

Just writing a post-it so I remember to give the roof protector to the new owner...