Hi all
I have a 2012 Venture edition since new, in Metropolitan Grey since you ask
A year or two ago the soft top started getting a bit wet on the inside, just the first few inches from where it meets the top of the windscreen. I assumed it was penetration from outside as it occurred after a lengthy rainy period. Could have been condensation I suppose, anyway I bought a kit and followed the two-stage process - clean then proof. All ok for at least a year, then it happened again. Re-treated, let it dry, all ok when it rained for a few weeks, now we’ve had more heavy rain and it hasn’t been used for a while (parked outside) and today - no rain for two days - it was dripping inside on to the seats and my head when driving. It is now wet pretty much all over on the inside.
What do I do apart from taking it to the main dealer?
Thanks
Have you checked for water ingress elsewhere? These hoods are pretty much watertight.
I was thinking of condensation forming on the inside of hood. Check the carpets in the foot well if if you’ve not already done so.
Thanks Mick, I’ve now found a couple of posts on this topic and I think you’re right. The car is parked under trees and drains may be blocked. Will investigate further
If your’e frequent to the forum, then you may already be aware that the MK3 is prone to a leak on the bulkhead, resulting in the passenger carpet being wet.
If not, then worth a look.
Thanks, I have now found that and it matches my experience, and seems more likely than a roof fault
I bought my Mk2 which had stood out over winter unloved. It had a very old (original I reckon) vinyl hood which was minging inside and very wet and mould starting to form. I dried it out, still on the car, cleaned it inside and out an and treated it in the outside with some vinyl hood treatment.
It never leaked again, I always kept it in a garage but it had been out in some heavy showers.
Yours probably needs similar TLC.
All sorted by Matt here Mazda MX5 Specialists | Parts | Styling | Service | Renovation | Beds | Herts | Bucks | Sulston Hills (mx5works.co.uk)
Thanks for all suggestions
What was the cure?
They replaced the scuttle grommets with ones they made up themselves. The car is parked near a big pine tree and there were loads of needles near where the passenger side grommet is so they vaccuumed them all out saying it’s possible they were blocking a drain causing water to get into the car via the heater I think. They cleared out the drains at the back of the car either side also.
Seems to be all ok now and I park the car the other way round which will reduce the needle fall somewhat.
Sounds like you could do with a half cover, one that covers the hood. It’ll protect it from the elements and that tree.
They probably made some new gaskets to replace the biodegradable originals that seal the inserts, aka grommets, that the plastic scuttle cover screws into.
Once these gaskets break down, water can and does then make its way directly inside the car.
It doesn’t have to get in via the heater.
Its a simple job to replace the original gaskets with much longer lasting silicone sealant, yourself
On the cover point I don’t want a full one, I’m told they can cause too much condensation and further problems. One like this though will stop the pine needles and leaves getting into the spaces around the scuttle and wipers 
On this point yes, they made their own gaskets but not out of hard plastic - they’ve done many of these and say they’ve never had anyone come back.
‘Simple job’ means one thing to most people on this forum, another to me. Matt at www.mx5works.co.uk is happy for you to watch him at work anytime and having watched him I can see it’s an easy job for an expert. I did once change a radiator on a Moggy Minor but even I could see it just had four bolts, two hoses with jubilee clips and that was it - all accessible with a foot or so space to work around the whole thing! I’m happy to pay an expert who does a good job and knows all the little things that can go wrong - even with a simple job
Just as easy as your Morris radiator imho.
Hard plastic wouldn’t seal, the original material is black foam.
No doubt they cut out their own out of longer lasting material than the original Mazda stuff that disintegrates after a few years.
Yes they do that.
I am a lot older than I was then (1970s!) and now I am happy to have a pleasant drive into the country, chat to an expert and watch him fix the car. Keeps him in business for when there is a big job too.