More leaks than Wales...

RE: More leaks than Wales...

Despite the hood drains being 'checked'.   I would probe them very gently with a length of curtain wire.  they are notoriously fiddly on the Mk3 and there are flaps close to the outlets to lessen road noise, these can be turned backwards when clearing the drains and will not allow water to pass through.  Thread the curtain wire down and pull it through the outlet, do not pull it back.  Just because someone says they have 'checked' it does not automatically follow that the proceedure has been followed correctly.  I would want to see water from each drain when water is poured gently around the base of the hood.

    Regards  Geoff Peace.

RE: More leaks than Wales...

This is interesting as I was about to raise a similar question.

My sons softtop convertible was leaking into the boot, to the front of the boot, so we did the drains by pulling through a trombone cleaner brush thing pushed through and then pulled all the way through the drains, water runs freely now and no water in the boot.

However I have just noticed that my hardtop convertible is leaking into the boot, not a lot of water but there is water getting in the boot, but it is at the back of the boot, the front of the boot being bone dry. I can only think the the water is getting in round the light clusters.

Has anyone any ideas or guidance.

Mike.

RE: More leaks than Wales...

With water leaks the first thing is to find the scource of the leak.  Not an easy thing to do, but essential, otherwise you are simply stabbing in the dark.  Garages use a type of infra red device.  They would put the receiver in the boot, then go round all the joins until it bleeps denoting an air gap.  Before this was invented the method is to scatter french chalk in the boot, or talcum powder, or another effective method is to stick squares of toilet paper around all likely places.  This soon shows up the leak point.   There are so many misleading things to fool you, I have poured water on cars for hours, no leak, let it rain, that finds the leak.  Id could be the boot seal, the petrol filler cap recess, the radio aerial, the rear lights, the third brake light,  I could go on for a long time,  I can only suggest the talcum powder or paper method, believe me it is the quickest way in the long run.

    Regards  Geoff Peace.

RE: More leaks than Wales...

(yeah but our leeks are very tasty unlike yours car's  )

Definitely, as Geoff's said, do NOT poke up or draw upwards - always pass downwards

Also, re the footwell, if it's coming thru from behind the glovebox then it could be that your car's had a new windscreen fitted at some point
It's not the actual windscreen leaking but a fixing that's split

Pob lwc

RE: More leaks than Wales...

I have followed all of the suggestions, and success for myself.

I have found my leak.

The seal around the bottom of the ariel was the culprit.

Got a new ariel mounting seal set from Mazda for £13 cleaned everything up and fitted the new parts.

Now we are without the optional extra swiming pool in the boot.

Hope this info helps others as well.

Mike.

RE: More leaks than Wales...

Well Done!  Dealing with water leaks are 99.9% diagnosis and 0.1% rectification!  Very satisfying when you find where the water is coming from.  Black silicone is very useful for smearing on fittings to prevent water ingress.

   Regards  Geoff Peace

RE: More leaks than Wales...

Hi there,   I had exactly the same problem - take a look at the link below and there is even a useful link in the listing to advise on how to clean the drain holes which is great as I didn't even know where they were!!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260367200306

mazda_boi