boot leak

[soulfader]

currently having a disaster in my mx5 due to the boot leak..

is it quite common? haven't figured out where its leaking from.. any ideas? come on summer!!

[poison]

My NA would leak if I parked it facing uphill, I think it was because the
middle of the top drain was a couple of mm lower when facing uphill. Another
leak can be the seal around the lights as the drain channel feeds down on
top of them.

And thirdly is the carpet below the back window wet? If yes there are two
likely causes (excluding a leaky roof),
a) there is a drain rain/strip that runs around the bottom of where the roof
attaches. This is to drain the water run-off from the rear of roof to the
drain holes behind the doors. both need to be cleaned out now and agin while
the roof is down. This drain strip is very flimsy and will break down over
time letting water into the rear and down into the boot, I've heard it is
also unreasonably expensive to replace.

b) Again if you park facing uphill the water can not drain to the doors and
will sit in there and slowly leak through which will also eventually cause
rusting around the rear fixings.

[Mark]

b) Again if you park facing uphill the water can not drain to the doors and
will sit in there and slowly leak through which will also eventually cause
rusting around the rear fixings.

Same for my NB. I expected that the rain rail was cracked, but after checking the drains beside the seat belt mounts, it's pretty obvious that you don't have to be on that much of an uphill slope for the drains to be higher than the back of the rail. Checked on the flat with a hose (not on full) and there's no problem.
A new rain rail costs $325 on trademe.
There are some tips on crack repairs at miata net.

[poison]

My na boot would leak when I parked the car facing uphill. It was fine
on the flat. The seals around the tail lights are a possible source of
problems as the boot gutter feeds down to them.

[jif]

I've got a used Voodoo knob going spare if you're interested... it's a regular sized one..

[WideOpenThrottle]

Mine was leaking via the tail light as there was no gasket.You also might leak thru your aerial & rear finish panel as this has rubber-backed holding clips which deterioate over time.

[zorruno]

is there a shop in nz who sells voodoo gear knobs?

Hi soulfader

Gary Morrison used to be the NZ guy for Voodoo knobs. He is still around & still has an MX5 - PM him if you like - he may even have some stock left
http://www.mx5forum.co.nz/profile.php?m ... file&u=122

(PS, please keep different topics in separate posts... see ettiquite item 12, thanks http://www.mx5forum.co.nz/viewtopic.php?t=85)

[Euen]

Hi Soulfader

It certainly sounds like the drains from the rain rail are blocked. I had a similar problem on my sons car. The link below was posted by Mazdad a few months ago and has some helpful photos to show where the drains are (alongside the seatbelt turrets)

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=330455

A carefully directed hose and a length of welding or fence wire will generally clean them from the top although it also pays to clean the drains in the sills from time to time as well. You will hear water sloshing around in the sills if they get blocked.
Good luck
Euen

[soulfader]

i have just found out that the boot leak issue is more servere than expected!! the whole boot is wet!!

to start with the boot is flooded and i have just unpluged the drain thingy. i'd say there was about at least 2L of water inside the boot

and even worse i have found out the battery was wet as well.... same goes to the other end, there were no dry spaces. i'm a bad owner aint i

also i have found that there is a rubber tube (on battery end) which seems to be disconnected from somewhere.. no idea where...

anyone have a diagram of boot layout?

[sprsta]

the rubber tube is a breather for the battery

[Ben.Nakagawa]

That rubber tube is likely the original vent for the Panasonic battery equipped as OEM. Many used cars does not have this original type and using standard ones like mine. That case, those vent tube can not go anywhere but sitting there disconnected.

It's noting to worry about.