Technical Leaks !

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Technical Leaks !

coco112

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Jan 29, 2008
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Eaglesham
Hi all, looking for some help as absolutely demented now!

My 98 Barchetta is letting in lots of water where the hood sits when it is down. This means I have to take hood down to get in to this area and scoop out the water every time I go out now. It is a nightmare and the lovely west coast of Scotland does not look like it is going to be sunny any time yet! Does anyone know why water is know going in there, is there a blockage, it never used to do this and I have had my car for 3 years now. My lovely roof on the inside is showing mould due to the damp and visibility driving is dangerous aswell as frustrating because of all the condensation.

Anyone got any top tips ??

thanks.
 
One of the more common reasons is if you normally park on a hill, facing downwards - the rain runs down the boot and under the supposedly watertight seals. I'd check the condition of those rubber seals that sit between the roof and the car when you've got the roof up.

Hehe I think you're right about the West Coast. I was there last August, and then up to the Outer Hebrides and it definitely wasn't anywhere near as balmy as the rest of the UK at that time!
 
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Do you mean that water is getting into the compartment where the hood is stored when down?

I would check the seal round the compartment for signs of wear and check the hood is tightly sealed against the car when it is up. Could you lean the seat forward and use a sponge to soak up water rather than take the hood down.

How much water is getting in?

Leaks can be a nightmare. I'm sure other people here will have ideas. They are good like that.
 
Helloo - its not just me!
My car is in the garage at the moment with that very problem. Water was also getting in my footwell. And I have a hardtop. And after advice on here I was parking uphill, but it still got in.
I'll be getting the verdict sometime this week so will let you know what happens.
xS
 
Hmm, yeah.

I discovered about 3 inches of water in the hood compartment last week.

I put it down to not have driven the car for a few weeks and the condensation from the plastic window dropping down into the compartment.

The car was parked on a flat bit of road so I can't see that amount of rain being able to get in.
 
Thanks for that, it would make sense that it is the rubber seal which is worn and allowing the water in. Will look at this and the possibility of replacing it.

I have also had water in my footwell, god, i hate this weather!

thanks for your replies, appreciate it. I am a newie to the forum and within 5mins have great responses.

Cheers.
 
Well I've just spoken to the garage and I'm not sure I'm any the wiser.

They say they have checked the seals and they are all ok. They spoke to Fiat who said that is a known problem, but not very common (right!), but that sometimes in very bad weather conditions water will get into the car.
The man from the garage more or less said that is something you have to live with if you have a convertible in this country. He also said something about the boot, had I noticed the unusual way it fits? And that this might encourage water to sit there. I'm not really sure what he meant.

So anyway, they have sprayed my car to see if water is still coming in and say not, although I'm not sure why not because I don't know what they have done or changed. This is turning into a very unhelpful post!

I had been thinking about getting one of those little half covers, but if it comes in through the boot not much point! And I've read that a full cover can damage the paint because of it keeping in moisture - any views?

xS
 
Mine gets water in sometimes. It seems to collect and seep through at the bottom of the plastic window. The join causes a slight lip and when it rains enough the water which gathers there seems to come through.

Well, that's my theory anyway :)

I use an old towel to soak it up and when the builders are gone I'll store it in the garage again!
 
Hi all,

On the sublect of leaks - does anyone have the part number for the replacement soft top hood seals for a 1999 barchetta?

Mine are leaking (as is the tonneau cover) and I've decided that as finacially painful as it is I need to get them all replaced.

regards

Rich
 
Rich, you might be able to find the part number via the ePER link up there.

To be honest whenever I try and have a poke around the catalogue it confuses me but you might have better luck.
 
Hi all, looking for some help as absolutely demented now!

My 98 Barchetta is letting in lots of water where the hood sits when it is down. This means I have to take hood down to get in to this area and scoop out the water every time I go out now. It is a nightmare and the lovely west coast of Scotland does not look like it is going to be sunny any time yet! Does anyone know why water is know going in there, is there a blockage, it never used to do this and I have had my car for 3 years now. My lovely roof on the inside is showing mould due to the damp and visibility driving is dangerous aswell as frustrating because of all the condensation.

Anyone got any top tips ??

thanks.

Hello CoCo and welcome to the forum!! (y)

The likely issue is a degraded tonneau seal, they have a tendency to 'go' in the corners. If my memory serves me correctly they have a drain in them (but don't quote me on this, I would need to double check in the car and its too dark and too cold!!). To check fold down the hood, flip the tonneau cover to open and prize the tonneau seal apart, it will be quite evident if it has given up the ghost! The point about parking facing downhill is also a good point, in heavy or consistent rain I have had water trickle into the hood storage area behind the drivers shoulder (if you look closely there is a gap where the hood seal ends).

Well I've just spoken to the garage and I'm not sure I'm any the wiser.

They say they have checked the seals and they are all ok. They spoke to Fiat who said that is a known problem, but not very common (right!), but that sometimes in very bad weather conditions water will get into the car.
The man from the garage more or less said that is something you have to live with if you have a convertible in this country. He also said something about the boot, had I noticed the unusual way it fits? And that this might encourage water to sit there. I'm not really sure what he meant.

So anyway, they have sprayed my car to see if water is still coming in and say not, although I'm not sure why not because I don't know what they have done or changed. This is turning into a very unhelpful post!

I had been thinking about getting one of those little half covers, but if it comes in through the boot not much point! And I've read that a full cover can damage the paint because of it keeping in moisture - any views?

xS

It not coming into the car compartment from the boot - I can say that with certainty!! The hood and the passenger compartment are separated by 2 bulkheads with the fuel tank in between them!

I have a couple of ideas if the water is not getting on through the hood seals or window seals. I had to remove the cover over the window wiper linkage today and there are a couple of places where water could leak into the footwells. I would suggest removing the cover and taking a look, the heater fan intake sits in the gap between the cover and the bulkhead, there is a bloody great rubber seal around it, if that seal is split you could have your problem. If you want to investigate drop me a PM and I will tell you how to get the cover off.........(y)

Hi all,

On the sublect of leaks - does anyone have the part number for the replacement soft top hood seals for a 1999 barchetta?

Mine are leaking (as is the tonneau cover) and I've decided that as finacially painful as it is I need to get them all replaced.

regards

Rich

Hi Rich, the forum kindly hosts a ePer online - all the FIAT part numbers you could ever wish for!!!!

Take a look here;

http://eper.fiatforum.com/

Hours of fun trying to figure out the part you need!! Good luck (y)
 
If you don't find the Part No's soon I'll check eper but I'm sure that they have already been posted so search first.

As for the water in the hood compartment......as you raise and lower the hood it can catch on the tonneu seal this gives an area where water can ingress so check carefully for cracks.
 
Hopefully these are the side rubbers five, six and nine.
 

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Defo the rubber seals. Checked them out albeit in the dark, under a street lamp and with torch in hand and they look pretty knacked. One side looks a bit ripped so will have a good look at weekend (if there is any daylight up here!). Will look at the those websites and thanks everyone for their comments.

I thought about getting a cover aswell but realised it didnt really cover where I needed it to. Need to clear that garage out and get her housed in there for the foreseeable future.
 
Hello CoCo and welcome to the forum!! (y)
I have a couple of ideas if the water is not getting on through the hood seals or window seals. I had to remove the cover over the window wiper linkage today and there are a couple of places where water could leak into the footwells. I would suggest removing the cover and taking a look, the heater fan intake sits in the gap between the cover and the bulkhead, there is a bloody great rubber seal around it, if that seal is split you could have your problem. If you want to investigate drop me a PM and I will tell you how to get the cover off.........(y)

Thanks LRB. It looks like i might not be able to pick up the b till the weekend so I'll be in touch then for the instructions. The garage said they could see if they can lock the keys in the boot for me so I can pick it up after work when they are closed, but as I've never actually tested my spare blipper I'm a bit worried about letting them do that!
xS
 
Hi All

Some one gave me the link for a half cover that fits the b - I think it was you lrb? I've lost the thread - can you remind me of the link? I'm picking up the car later so it will be interesting to see if it is full of water again after todays weather! By the way the coolant leak turned out to be a small split in a hose somewhere.

xS
 
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