- My model of MX-5 is: Niseko MK3 2008
- I’m based near: Leicester
- I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: Hi, I’m wondering if anyone knows where or what is causing this leak inside. It’s on the passenger side, seems to be coming down the side onto the carpet making it a little wet. It’s not too bad right now but would like to fix it before it gets worse. Doesn’t always leak if it’s raining, only sometimes which is weird. Also tried using the hose to see if it comes through anywhere but it doesn’t seem to leak when I do that also. It must be a very slow leak just don’t know where.
Scuttle grommets!
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Front NS drain hole, located just above by windowscreen wiper. Just youtube it , theres loads of guides
I’d be looking inside that fuse box too, behind that little door. All kinds of electrical gremlins can happen if water gets in there.
As mentioned search the forum for NC scuttle grommet sealing.
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Video here!
That’s good. Nice and clear.
I did it almost the same way, except I didn’t try and remove the plastic clips because they were well jammed in.
Instead I carefully raked out all the perished gasket with a bit of old tough denim folded to give a nice “saw” edge that would not damage the paint.
I also cleaned them down with some Isopropyl Alcohol to remove all traces of greasy contaminants such as diesel. (No brake cleaner left.)
I used a scrap of cable tie cut-off to work the silicone deep into the slot between plastic flange and body, finally puddling it as well. That’s two NCs I’ve done now.
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I managed to get the grommets out, plastered with silicone, refitted, applied more silicone and re-assembled.
I’d say it was good for about 3 years, but then started leaking again.
So on my second attempt, I cut a 3" piece of bitumen flash band and applied this with a heat gun to assist the bond.
That was probably about 7 years ago, and seems to be holding strong.
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Agree - flashband or a high modulus sealant that never sets solid ( Puraflex 40 ) is best for this job.
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I bought replacements in preparation for the job so it didn’t matter if the old ones got damaged coming out.
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First time I found the scuttle leak was during final car prep in the morning before we were going away on a long trip the next day. No days for a purchase to maybe arrive.
I had no choice but to seal the existing plastic while being careful not to disturb it from its “pulled-up-expanded” well-gripped location. And also the grey sealant was an old tube I happened to have to hand, left over from sealing the stainless sink flush into the worktop.
I let it set overnight, and put it all together again at 6am!
It didn’t leak in the remaining eight years I had the car.
I hope my seals in the 25AE last as well.
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