Showering while driving - any suggestions?

Today was the first time I've had the Mondial in severe rain. During light to medium rain, the corners of the drivers side A pillar drips a steady flow onto my left arm - mostly when sitting at a light. Today, I got caught in a severe downpour and when I stopped, I litterally took a shower - the water poured on me.

The water is coming from the gap between the top of the windshield and the canvas roof. Besides trying to make a tighter seal - are there any other suggestions to helping prevent water from coming in?

I was thinking about putting one of those super absorbant shammy in between where I close the top...

I'm open to all suggestions - pretty and not so.

Thanks,
Erik

 

My old seal was very hard and a bit out of shape, leaked a bit in the middle. I purchased a new one from Ricambi and had a new top installed. No leaks at all now. The old top probably would have been fine if it didn't have a rip at the rear.

 

I have driven ours in some heavy rain and only had a few beads of water on the inside of the rear windows. I keep the front seal tight by attaching the latches with the adjuster screws loose and then unlatching one at a time and running the paddles back for the tightest seal possible. Difficult to close but air tight.
Dave

 

I might try that - mine just latched by hand, no screwing - that may be why the seal wasn't air-tight.

Thanks,
Erik

 

Ya. The first time I washed my car the interior got soaked...that's how I learned the trick with the screws.

Now I do theprocedure to back out the screws when I close my top and the thing is air tight.

Worst designed top EVER.

But I still love the car

 

.... but how does it do in the rain???

 

I wash Rachel from the waist, down - - and from the boot, back. I vacuum the top and do the windows the old fashioned way so that no water gets into the doors or the body below the rear quarter windows.

Cheers, Hank

 

Rain, what rain. I see grey skies I check rain probability and anything over 50% I stay close to base. I know, I am weird and I have a garage queen but I like her like that. I do admire all of you though, I think it's pretty cool some of you use it as a daily driver.


I did have a spectacular drive today, the leaves are changing co our up hear and it's not too hot.

Lino

 

I take mine to a car wash where they adhere to strict directions to wash from the (top down) doors down with no water sprayed in the engine bay or interior, and they spend upwards of an hour with great reverence to clean her inside and out. $20.

My top leaks like an Italian collender so it hasn't been up for the past month. No rain so far.

 

Great advice. I only was her 2x- 3x a year. I use the opportunity to check the watertightness of the top. I don't know why, shes only once been caught in the rain.

+1

 

No leaks
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

We took a closer look yesterday - the top was pretty tight - it seems like the foam strip between the top and the body is pretty loose - I'm going to see if I can get that replaced.

Erik

 

I've also been thinking about applying a waterproofer to my top. Has anyone ever done this or is there a particular reason why I shouldn't?

 

Same here, but don't adjust too tightly as the rear corners of the roof may be overstressed and tear/pull out of their insertions.

Ask me how I know.

I presume the gasket is unobtainium? Is the gasket a formed piece? Or is it merely a channel gasket? How thick is the material supposed to be originally? Has my top been loosened or has the gasket compressed and regressed away from the top?

 

I purchased a new one from Ricambi.

 

Carry a good shampoo, make sure you have a towel to dry off. Don't close your eyes as this could lead to an accident.

If done properly you can save a significant amount of time in the morning on your commute.

 

I was considering that!



Erik

 

Do as Joe did and get a Testarossa. Solves the leaking problem.

 

There is no way I could drive that everyday. I seriously considered it for a while, but after driving one for an extended time, I knew if I ever got it, it would be for a once-in-a-while ride.

Still, every so often I take a look at them and nearly pull the trigger.

Erik