This is my first post, so apologies in advance for the lack of any etiquette or adherence to rules etc etc.
My mk1 mx5 has a leak over the spare tyre, through a small hole directly above it. I’ve read on other forums and threads this may be down to a leaky antenna gasket, but the area around the underside of the antenna is completely dry.
The only other place I can think the leak may be coming from is the rain rail, resultant from the drain holes becoming clogged due to build up of debris. However, the interior of the car is dry.
I had a leak from the boot seal. I sorted it by taking the seal off and refitting it, shifting it, so that the “top” of the seal was at the bottom.
If investigating the rain rail; remove the real carpet. Under the carpet is a rubber sheet, so the carpet can feel dry to touch, but the wadding underneath can be sodden. Rainrails might back up due to blocked main drains, but they can also just fail. By now, if a Mk1 still has the original rainrail, its probably in a pretty shakey condition (its made of cheap plastic), and if the roof has been replaced (it will have, I’m onto my 3rd replacement), the rain rail would have been patched by the fitter with bits of tape, sealant or whatever.
I too have just discovered I have a leak which I thought was just in the boot but the wadding underneath the carpet on the “parcel shelf” is sodden. I suspect it’s the rain rail as the car had a new hood fitted in the summer. Definitely check yours as there was no sign of dampness until I peeled back the rubber underlay.
If a fitter put in the roof, they might not have tightened the spreader bars correctly. There is a sequence, so might be worth loosening and retightening in sequence (but note the torque).
Okay so during the summer I replaced the soft top due to a crack in the rear window and should have replaced the rain rail at the same time. On inspection the rain rail had a hairline crack between stud 9 and 10. Before this I have had no issues with leaks from the rain rail, despite not fastening the rain rail bolts to spec (although I have followed the pattern).
So I ordered a new rain rail from moss (the robbins rain rail) and installed it and still water is getting through onto the parcel shelf and into the boot seemly through stud 9.
If the stud was so over tightened that the bar was distorted, maybe take everything off, and take a look at that stud. Maybe something needs tapping back.
