ND drain question. Vers: My Butt Is Wet

Every time it rains real good, my butt gets wet.  Looking around online there seems to be a large amount of drain cleaning videos for the ND, but my issue seems to be strictly from the top, not water pooling due to the drain.

Are there multiple issues with the ND and I'm just constantly finding the more common one?

Anyone have search terms I may be missing? Links to vids on how to fix?

Anyone?

It kinda looks like you are getting water intrusion through  the top. Are there any split seams, bad seals, etc that would allow water in between the layers? I don't speak a whole lot of Miata, but that's where I would start.

There must be something going around, I just posted something about drains in my NC.

I'd put the top in a half-open, half-closed position and very carefully look at the seals between the panels. Could be as simple as some sort of debris stuck in there creating a channel for the water.

FWIW, I haven't has any such issues with mine, but it does live indoors. It's been outside in a number of heavy rains, however, and stayed dry.

It looked like it was gonna storm yesterday (it did) so I went out and futzed with it.

The driver's side where it meets the glass looked collapsed, almost crimped?  The passenger side stood up nice and proud.

I messed with that and sort of molded it back with my fingers and it helped some.  Still got some drops when I got in to drive home, but it was dry when I got in it after lunch.

I'll get some pictures later.  Not sure what a solution will be if that is the issue.

Ok, got pics.
I was... busy this weekend.

So, I did this with the top, normally when I do this while its raining it very clearly drains out of the seal.

And the driver's side looks like, see the little sad face the seal is making?

Passenger:

I'm thinking I'll try and find something hollow and firm-ish, trim it down and shove it in there? I'm thinking the kind of straw that comes with boba tea, or the kind that comes with your amusement park drinks?

Mr_Asa said:

Ok, got pics.
I was... busy this weekend.

The blue hair looks good on you. But did it really take all weekend to color it?  

Remember all of the above?

Remember when the state looked like this:

Well my attempt at a fix was some refrigerator water line down the collapsed seal.  My butt is soaked 

Anyone have any further thoughts on how to fix this leak?

Is this a new car? My friend's wife had a brand new VW beetle ragtop that was on the verge of a lemon law claim due to a leaky top.. but they eventually sorted it out under warranty. 

Is it the misalignment of the smashed part across from it's ok brother that allows the water in?

At some point the rubber stuff has to mash together to form a seal, and refrigerator line is usually a bit stiff, so to me you had the same problem going the other direction.

Instead of refrigerator line, I'd think soft rubber small diameter vacuum hose of the appropriate size might work.

Edit: yes, warranty those seals if possible.

I don't know this car, but judging from photos, it appears driver's side seal is getting more compressed than passenger. I'd look for the why. Perhaps something is aligned differently? I'd also investigate stitching leak. Garden hose to troubleshoot. 

As to squishy round material, how about caulk backer rod. Many sizes to choose from.

To me, it looks unlikely that water is coming in at that window seal because then it sort of has to get "up" to the top to drip from where you are showing. And we know water doesn't normally go up.

What about the center top of the windshield? Like a over the rearview mirror? Could water be getting in up there and running around the side before it drips off on your seat?

In reply to OHSCrifle :

2018 w/65k on the clock 

ГУЛАГ мальчик УР следующий said:

Is it the misalignment of the smashed part across from it's ok brother that allows the water in?

At some point the rubber stuff has to mash together to form a seal, and refrigerator line is usually a bit stiff, so to me you had the same problem going the other direction.

Instead of refrigerator line, I'd think soft rubber small diameter vacuum hose of the appropriate size might work.

Edit: yes, warranty those seals if possible.

Its actually crushed the refrigerator line over the past ~2 months.  Part of the problem is (I think) that it needs to drain from front to back, so with the seal being crushed it can't drain.

Robbie (Forum Supporter) said:

To me, it looks unlikely that water is coming in at that window seal because then it sort of has to get "up" to the top to drip from where you are showing. And we know water doesn't normally go up.

What about the center top of the windshield? Like a over the rearview mirror? Could water be getting in up there and running around the side before it drips off on your seat?

You're correct that it doesn't go up, but I think it is filling.

Could be another portion of the top letting the water in, but I don't see anything on the passenger side at all, so... ??

Sorry, missed this the first time. There's very little in the factory manuals about the drain system. I can tell the manual I want diagnostic information for water leaking from the convertible top and it gives no results.

I know Mazda has revised the rubber window seals for the RF (in 2019), I don't know if they did the soft top. Part number for the rear weatherstrip is N243-R1-422B, FYI. I can provide a PDF on the change procedure if you drop me an email. It's pretty involved because it tucks down behind some interior trim.

I would definitely check the drains, though. There's a filter in there and if it's clogged, it may be possible that water from the top is backing up. "The drain cover is located inside the tire house trim", which is the trim that's basically underneath the seatbelt. Four removable fasteners and then you yank it out.

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Line dropped, thanks for the help.

I'll see if I have the tools to pull that filter this evening.