All was fine until this December when after torrential rainfall I noticed the inside of the softtop was wet and condensation on, mainly, the front window. All other surfaces were ok. Though when I got in, I got a drip on my head
Over Christmas I had an opportunity to clean and protect using the autoglym kit.
I cleaned then gently washed off with a hose. Left dry for an hour or so then, when still damp ( specified roof had to be damp ) I applied the protector.
3 Days later - out of garage into rain and no effect. No beading, same thing. Soaked softtop. I did all this in the father in laws.
Fast forward to now - after a bad nights rain I came out this morning to find the inside of softtop very wet and front windows with condensation on inside.
Today is a dry day - so I decided to apply the rest of the autoglym bottle ( I had originally used half as instructed ). Liberally applied. Then 9 as I have no garage ) - I have covered the roof in plastic. I saw mentioned that this is next best thing if no garage - stops any rain getting at it plus stops the protector from drying too fast, lets it penetrate.
BTW - I previously cleared the drains too with trombone brush wire ( pulled through )
So -
Has anyone had same issue - this AUTOGLYM not working first time around?? Is it OK to keep adding protector until it takes hold?
Could you have a roof thats too far gone? How would you know? Though the roof looks great once I previously cleaned it.
With this ridiculous constant rain and storms here at the moment ( Cork, Ireland ) & my MX out in all weather am I to expect a softtop to be compromised? My Q being is their a limit to all softtops regardless?
PS - Not sure if previous owner ever did any of the above. Bought the car December 2014. Was OK until this series of torrential / continuous rain
I did manage to get the Trombone Cale Brush down the drain holes before - the passenger side one no problem ish.
Have you guys who own an NC found a knack to get the likes of a trombone cable brush down into the drain hole? In the NC the parcel shelf covers this hole and it can be hard to guide the cable into the drain …
I have been trying to get the cable into the driver side hole with no success. Either because it is not guiding right OR its blocked. I notice their is wet around the driver side drain hole are … maybe this is the cause of my woes?
Any advice on properly guiding the cable into the drain hole? Why did Mazda cover it …
EDIT - Got the cable down driver side … eventually. BUT area around it behind seat still damp / wet.
I am lucky in that my 07 NC sits in the garage so it is out of the weather, but I have found a couple of things over the years when cleaning the hood drains and the hood itself.
Like you, first time I cleaned and proofed the roof I washed it off first with a hose. Although the roof drains on mine were clear, I still ended up with the floor soaking wet on the passenger side, because the 1/2 inch hose can deliver more water than the hood drains can shift, even if they are clear. I now rinse the roof off being careful as to how much clean water I flush over it at once, ensuring that I don’t flood the back of the roof.
I did find that the proofer took a couple of goes before it really started to bead. The Autoglym one that I have is in a spray bottle so it relies on you hitting all of the roof with a good covering. I noticed that the beading was patchy the first time so have done it a few times since and now it seems pretty good all over. Others on the forum have had good results with Fabsil or other types of proofers that can be painted on. I may have a bash at that option when the roof needs doing again.
If the carpets are wet in this weather it will take a bit of time to dry out. Perhaps some newspaper on the carpet may help absorb some of the moisture and running with the AC on if you have it, and the heater on as well. Roof down is probably helpful if it is dry outside. When I ran a Jeep that leaked like a sieve I found those moisture grabbing crystals did a good job at getting rid of some of the damp in the car.
The hood drains can be a real devil to clean. I find that using an empty cardboard box to hold the hood partially open gives you a bit more access, but even then it can be trial and error. I have found that the more I clean the drains, the easier it becomes to get the trombone brush into the drain. I guess it is down to practice and muscle memory. I usually stand to the side of the car, and try to guide the brush forwards, slightly down and towards the centre of the vehicle. If I aim the end of the brush towards the gear stick that seems to get it going in roughly the right direction.
Although my MX is a garage queen and shudders at getting her tyres wet, my daily Ford Fiesta driver is suffering at the moment with it being so wet. Each time you get in with wet shoes, damp trousers or a wet coat, the moisture has nowhere to go. Even with the heated screen on and the AC running, it is still a bit of a battle for the first couple of miles each morning to get the screen clear.
I hope you get it sorted and the weather improves soon!
Thats what I was wondering - are we experiencing so much rain with 7 storms in a row so far that any softtop proofed or not is going to be seriously challenged?
The carpets and the seats and everywhere else is bone dry in the morning. Just some mornings, particularly after a load of rain during the night, when I get into my 5 the INSIDE of the roof is wet and in the main the front window is covered in condensation. It doesnt happen all the time. Beginning to think it is something to do with vehicle park direction and wind / rain direction I have her parked right up alongside front of house, parallel to it for some protection.
I added a 2nd coat of autoglym this morning - had a light shower this avo and at last it beaded. Not sure what a serious rain downfall will do …
I eventually got down the driver side drain with the trombone cable. I tested both drain holes by pouring a cup of water on side roof at each side. Water flooded out under car.
Just to reiterate. My 5 is out in all weathers, have no garage. Here in Cork City, Ireland we have been through 7 storms one after the other - all with torrential rain. Extraordinary and unusual weather. Every where flooded with no drying …
When trying to feed the trombone cleaner it is just a matter of keep trying to find the right place to feed it in to go down the drain tube. Not easy as you found.
When I first bought my Mk3 in Jan last year it had stood outside at the dealers since Nov and the roof was wet on the inside and condensation on the windscreen. First thing that I did was to clear the blocked drains and then reproof the roof. After reproofing the water has beaded and no more damp inside, even when the car has been left outside in heavy rain. I reproofed the roof in March and have now noticed that there are areas where it is starting to wet and not bead. Whilst like you I used the Autoglym kit others have reported good results with Fabsil. I may try this when I reproof.
I suggest that as the car is kept outside then reproofing every 6 months will keep it in good condition and damp free inside.
It may be that your car is leaking into the passenger footwell. The water leaks down from the windscreen cowl on the passenger side, collects on the carpet and this causes a lot of condensation in the car including moisture on the inside of the soft too roof.
I doubt the roof itself is leaking as they have a waterproof membrane between the layers.
I will see how she is tomorrow morning. I proofed her again earlier morning today. Later on she started beading. At the moment it is out getting yet more rain. This rain is never going to stop. This is going on too long now
I intend to proof again over the weekend …
I will have to check the footwell as KR67 suggests.
Thanks for the advice guys … will report progress.
My previous '07 soft top was similarly damp during a very wet spell a couple of years ago. It also lived outside in all weathers.
Once the leaks ( roof drains and windscreen cowl) were sorted and the car was dried out I bought a couple of moisture absorbing bags from eBay. They are large versions of those tiny silica gel sachets you get in packaging. I put one in the passenger footwell and one in the soft top storage recess and never had any moisture problems again.
I went out this morning after a bad night of rain expecting to find a damp softtop on the inside. But not the case yippeee …
It seems the reclearing of the drains ( though didnt seem blocked )& the 2nd covering of Autoglym protector might have done the trick. Car bone dry inside.
We are expecting some more torrential rain tonight so will check again tomorrow. Hopefully this is sorted …
I must also say that I have gone to parking the car parallel with the front of the house wall for further protection. Maybe this is helping too …
Today in Cork Ireland ( South Coast ) it is non stop torrential since early morning. Just continuous heavy downpour for at least last 5 hours and no let up it looks like. Before that it froze hard over night.
Sorry to say but this is probably on its way over to you guys in the UK. Its real heavy rain drops not just a mist. Best of luck with that forewarning
I will see later what she is like after this … hopefully OK
Today in Cork Ireland ( South Coast ) it is non stop torrential since early morning. Just continuous heavy downpour for at least last 5 hours and no let up it looks like. Before that it froze hard over night.
Sorry to say but this is probably on its way over to you guys in the UK. Its real heavy rain drops not just a mist. Best of luck with that forewarning
I will see later what she is like after this … hopefully OK
"THE FORECAST FOR next week is dominated by warnings of snow and sleet in places as temperatures drop.
Although floodwaters are starting to recede there’s a risk of further spot flooding tonight, Met Éireann says.
Potentially heavy and prolonged showers are due to push up from the south, mainly affecting parts of Munster and Leinster, with coastal counties in these areas most at risk of flooding overnight."
I have her parked right up alongside front of house, parallel to it for some protection.