Okay so my 20 odd year old roof was cracked above the doors and the window had crease in so when I saw someone local was breaking their Mk2 I bought the roof of them complete on its frame.
I fitted it this morning the with baited breath I did the hose pipe test (only on sprinkle!) - shouts of STOP from my son inside !
It is leaking very slightly at back - the fabric of the roof is inside the rain rail and there are no holes in it (except for the bolts) - its as though water is getting behind the rail then trickling down the body work on the parcel shelf - ANY THOUGHTS ? - metal plates are back on the inside edge of the rain rail and tightened up in the recommended order.
Meanwhile, at the front, lots of water coming in above the doors, but I think that can be fixed by tightening the adjusters on the roof latches
Finally now I have a heated glass window I guess I should use it but the connector on the window does not match the one on the loom poking out from the left seat belt pillar - its that a Mk1 / Mk2 alteration or should I suspect that the previous owner changed it for some reason?
Did you silicone or use any washers on the studs before you slide the rain rail in place, if not it will leak at those points? Also any cracks in the rain rail, they are very brittle?
The heated window pigtail will differ Mk1 to Mk2 I believe.
Lot people reline the rain rail with heavy plastic sheeting so any leaks can be contained within the plastic liner (inner rain rail basically) As above mk1 and mk2 pigtails are different
You need to remove it and get some silicone on there. I did mine, it leaked when I bought the car, bone dry after the treatment. For good measure I also put silicone on the front before securing the rain rail back with the nuts.
Also if your original hood was riveted to the rain rail it will leave holes in the rail, these need to be sealed plus any cracks or it’s sort of like leaving a plug out of a sink when trying to fill it.
In 20 years, never needed to apply silicone to the studs. The only silicone I have used was to patch up holes when reusing a rainrail. Check the beltline weather seal isn’t distorted; it can end up directing water to behind the rain rail. Also double check the rain rail retainers are properly seated (how much stud is actually showing with the nuts tightened). Also, if that front isn’t adjusted correctly, I think it more likely you will have apparent leaks around the back, due to tracking around the back of the weather seal
Hi all, I am going to seal the rain rail on my car this week and have been reading the above.
I ordered a set of these https://shop.doctormx5.co.uk/rain-rail-sealing-washers-for-mazda-mx-5---full-set-8102-p.asp , the description was
" Full set of 13x silicone sealing washers " Now I look at the diagram two posts up again, it looks like there are 26 used, items 9 and 10.
Does anyone know if I need to order another set? Haveing looked on the web on how to replace the rain rail these don’t seem to get much of a mention. If I do only need 13 do they go on the studs first as in item 9 above ( stud seal outer ) or item 10 ( stud seal inner )?
I also got some Fernox LS-X sealant.
Any help or comments much appreciated.
Many thanks as allways.
D.
