Exige Condensation in Boot
Discussion
This is a copy of a post from Exige.com, so if anyone can point me towards a solution I would be most grateful.
"Hmm, make slightly damp - soaking wet! Water dropping of the underside and condensation in the lights, as per Tugboats OP.
My spoiler bolt heads were all rusty, so I removed the spoiler and could see that the mastic sealer is not intact.
I have superglued some pond liner rubber to the underside of the spoiler bases and will refill the bonnet holes with silicone sealant after refitting tomorrow.
I hope this solves it but at the moment I'm not sure that this is the only method of water ingress?
I have dried the carpets and the boot but can't seem to solve the condensation in the lights, even with a hairdryer - happy days!"
"Hmm, make slightly damp - soaking wet! Water dropping of the underside and condensation in the lights, as per Tugboats OP.
My spoiler bolt heads were all rusty, so I removed the spoiler and could see that the mastic sealer is not intact.
I have superglued some pond liner rubber to the underside of the spoiler bases and will refill the bonnet holes with silicone sealant after refitting tomorrow.
I hope this solves it but at the moment I'm not sure that this is the only method of water ingress?
I have dried the carpets and the boot but can't seem to solve the condensation in the lights, even with a hairdryer - happy days!"
Not very much you can do about condensation in the boot other than use the car regularly to get everything warm and drive moisture out that way.
If you've ever slept in a glassfibre boat you'll understand the problem of condensation in glass fibre structures.
If you've ever slept in a glassfibre boat you'll understand the problem of condensation in glass fibre structures.
Edited by TIPPER on Sunday 23 December 23:27
I had the exact same problem on my brand new Exige S. The problem is caused by water that should drain through a hole that is not quite a hole!. The reason is the mould the car is made from was worn & didn't quite create a full hole. The dealer re-driled the hole & put silicon sealant around the outside & no more wet boot.
Phil
Phil
Having seen a similar post to this last week I was looking at my car and someone (previous owner or dealer I assume) has drilled two big holes either side of the ridge the boot rests in (probably 10mm holes, quite big)...anyhow, that serves very well at all water running down and away from the boot!
Thanks all for the replies.
I already have the 2 x 10mm holes above the boot rubber to drain the channel, so I am convinced the water has been getting in via the spoiler fixings?
OK, so I carried out the re-install and refill with silicone sealant and after 1 wash and a good hosing, there doesn't appear to be any water getting into the boot - fingers crossed if it is dry in the morning, it may be problem solved?
PS: if anyone else tries this, buy some clear sealant - I used white (because I had some) and as you do the bolts up it squeezes out on the outside and takes a fair bit of cleaning up afterwards!!
I also had the drivers side-pod off as well and found that 2 of the bolts didn't have any rubber washers. Re-fitted with tap washers and superglued some pond liner rubber to the small tab on the lower fixing bracket (where the mesh touches the bracket) and hey presto, no more irritating rattle/buzz at all speeds above 60mph - result!!
So chuffed I went for a 100 mile razz round and the car looked like a tractor when I got it home. Just the heater lighting to sort out now!
I already have the 2 x 10mm holes above the boot rubber to drain the channel, so I am convinced the water has been getting in via the spoiler fixings?
OK, so I carried out the re-install and refill with silicone sealant and after 1 wash and a good hosing, there doesn't appear to be any water getting into the boot - fingers crossed if it is dry in the morning, it may be problem solved?
PS: if anyone else tries this, buy some clear sealant - I used white (because I had some) and as you do the bolts up it squeezes out on the outside and takes a fair bit of cleaning up afterwards!!
I also had the drivers side-pod off as well and found that 2 of the bolts didn't have any rubber washers. Re-fitted with tap washers and superglued some pond liner rubber to the small tab on the lower fixing bracket (where the mesh touches the bracket) and hey presto, no more irritating rattle/buzz at all speeds above 60mph - result!!
So chuffed I went for a 100 mile razz round and the car looked like a tractor when I got it home. Just the heater lighting to sort out now!
nsm3 said:
so I am convinced the water has been getting in via the spoiler fixings?
Thats what Bell & Colvill found was the problem with my Exige S when i took it into them about 2 months ago with the same problem.Basically when the car had left the factory not enough seal had been put around the bolts that fix the spoiler on and water was slowly working its way through & dropping in which then made it damp inside making more condensation.
I dried the luggage space out and B&C removed the spoiler & refitted using a better sealant around the bolt / fixings and now no more leaky rear luggage space

Hmm, close but not quite there yet. After refitting all the dried boot carpet and foam, I gave the car a good wash and hose down (including underneath as recommended in the manual).
12 hours later, initial inspection revealed that the tops of all the carpets were dry, so the spoiler bolt hole problem seems to be solved?
However, a closer look revealed that there was new water beneath the foam pad on the boot floor? There are a few rivetted washers in the boot floor which are all completely rusty and the one on the right "seems" to be letting water in - anyone had this as the source of the problem and what is the fix?
Getting a bit cheesed off with this now as keeping water out of the "dry bits" shouldn't really task a modern car manufacturer - thankfully they don't manufacture boats!
12 hours later, initial inspection revealed that the tops of all the carpets were dry, so the spoiler bolt hole problem seems to be solved?
However, a closer look revealed that there was new water beneath the foam pad on the boot floor? There are a few rivetted washers in the boot floor which are all completely rusty and the one on the right "seems" to be letting water in - anyone had this as the source of the problem and what is the fix?
Getting a bit cheesed off with this now as keeping water out of the "dry bits" shouldn't really task a modern car manufacturer - thankfully they don't manufacture boats!
Edited by nsm3 on Tuesday 25th December 17:19
nsm3 said:
Hmm, close but not quite there yet. After refitting all the dried boot carpet and foam, I gave the car a good wash and hose down (including underneath as recommended in the manual).
12 hours later, initial inspection revealed that the tops of all the carpets were dry, so the spoiler bolt hole problem seems to be solved?
However, a closer look revealed that there was new water beneath the foam pad on the boot floor? There are a few rivetted washers in the boot floor which are all completely rusty and the one on the right "seems" to be letting water in - anyone had this as the source of the problem and what is the fix?
Getting a bit cheesed off with this now as keeping water out of the "dry bits" shouldn't really task a modern car manufacturer - thankfully they don't manufacture boats!
The water on the boot floor and rusty rivets will have come in from the spoiler mounts and not from below. My boot is like this thanks to a small hairline crack around the bootlid. 12 hours later, initial inspection revealed that the tops of all the carpets were dry, so the spoiler bolt hole problem seems to be solved?
However, a closer look revealed that there was new water beneath the foam pad on the boot floor? There are a few rivetted washers in the boot floor which are all completely rusty and the one on the right "seems" to be letting water in - anyone had this as the source of the problem and what is the fix?
Getting a bit cheesed off with this now as keeping water out of the "dry bits" shouldn't really task a modern car manufacturer - thankfully they don't manufacture boats!
Edited by nsm3 on Tuesday 25th December 17:19
Note to self - don't slam the boot when sulking!
When the weather is better remove your boot carpet and foam padding and leave them out in the sunshine for an afternoon. Job done

Having given the car it's first proper wash (by me), water is still getting into the boot, even though I have silicone sealed the rusty rivets/washers on the floor.
I am confident it isn't via the spoiler bolts as they are bone dry, so can only assume it is the rubber seal around the edge?
On top of that, I have just noticed that the roof leaks, around the bolted pad at the centre rear of the roof. The headlining around this area is now dripping wet!
This can't be right surely? Are you supposed to plug the intake before washing (but then what happens when it rains)?
I think this will now have to go back to the dealer for sorting - I give up!
I am confident it isn't via the spoiler bolts as they are bone dry, so can only assume it is the rubber seal around the edge?
On top of that, I have just noticed that the roof leaks, around the bolted pad at the centre rear of the roof. The headlining around this area is now dripping wet!
This can't be right surely? Are you supposed to plug the intake before washing (but then what happens when it rains)?
I think this will now have to go back to the dealer for sorting - I give up!
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