My leaking Rag-top roof... Eclipse Spyder

[Computer]

I have a 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GS rag-top convertible and the
roof is leaking. I have a tarp on it when it's parked and I try not to
drive it in the rain.

How much might it cost to fix this leak?

Assume it's just the seal, and the whole roof does not need replacing?
Assume the whole roof needs replacing?

[Mrcheerful]

there are loads of firms on the net nowadays, about 250 quid for some
vehicles.

[Douglas Payne]

Can you see where the water is coming in? Is the seal physically
damaged? Can you see rips or tears in the hood? Is it a cloth or vinyl
hood?

--
Douglas

[Computer]

By "hood" I assume you mean the fabric of the roof.

I am not sure whether it is cloth or vinyl. It is a cloth-sort of
material, but smooth and stiff like it is made with plastic, too.

There are no rips or tears, or any other visible damage in the hood or
the seal. I can not tell where the water is leaking in.

There seems to be 2 layers of cloth/vinyl, one on either side of the
roof frame. One on top facing the weather, and one on the inside.
Water seems to pool between these two layers, sits on top of the
inside layer, and then drips down by the windows. The inside layer
doesn't look like it is supposed to make a seal, and the outside layer
is the part of the roof that is supposed to hold out the weather.

[Douglas Payne]

Computer wrote:
> On Aug 7, 2:39 pm, Douglas Payne <doug...@cheerful.com> wrote:
>> Computer wrote:
>>> I have a 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GS rag-top convertible and the
>>> roof is leaking. I have a tarp on it when it's parked and I try not to
>>> drive it in the rain.
>>> How much might it cost to fix this leak?
>>> Assume it's just the seal, and the whole roof does not need replacing?
>>> Assume the whole roof needs replacing?
>> Can you see where the water is coming in? Is the seal physically
>> damaged? Can you see rips or tears in the hood? Is it a cloth or vinyl
>> hood?

> By "hood" I assume you mean the fabric of the roof.

Yes.

> I am not sure whether it is cloth or vinyl. It is a cloth-sort of
> material, but smooth and stiff like it is made with plastic, too.
>
> There are no rips or tears, or any other visible damage in the hood or
> the seal. I can not tell where the water is leaking in.
>
> There seems to be 2 layers of cloth/vinyl, one on either side of the
> roof frame. One on top facing the weather, and one on the inside.
> Water seems to pool between these two layers, sits on top of the
> inside layer, and then drips down by the windows. The inside layer
> doesn't look like it is supposed to make a seal, and the outside layer
> is the part of the roof that is supposed to hold out the weather.

I'm not familiar with the Eclipse Spyder, but convertible roofs often
have arrangements within them to tension the roof when its closed.

I have an MX-5 and a common cause of leakage is broken steel tensioning
cables which run above the window inside the roof. The cables pull the
roof and rubber seals tight across the top of the window.

Another common cause of wet floors on MX-5s is blocked drainage
channels. Water runs from certain parts of the roof into a channel on
the inside of the car, down the A pillars and through the sill.
Blockages cause the water to stack back into the interior.

I also recently re-waterproofed my hood with an Autoglym fabric roof
proofer. It hasn't made it any more or less leaky (it didn't leak
anyway) but it has meant that water soaks into the fabric of the roof
much less.

--
Douglas