Author Topic: 98 Convertible top leak  (Read 7670 times)

Offline ruppstang

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98 Convertible top leak
« on: November 04, 2015, 11:13:09 PM »
Our son has a 98 convertible that leaks in to the well liner. The top is not in bad shape so I can not figure out where the water is getting in. Has anyone had any experience with this?

Offline GT500KR

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Re: 98 Convertible top leak
« Reply #1 on: November 05, 2015, 12:20:46 AM »
 My daughter's 2003 had the same problem, and it drove me nuts. I spent many hours before discovering the problem. While the top looks fine, over time the light abrasion where the top meets the moldings in the back causes water to seep in. Looks fine.... Can't see it, it just happens.

 I replaced the top.
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Offline ruppstang

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Re: 98 Convertible top leak
« Reply #2 on: November 06, 2015, 09:21:23 AM »
My daughter's 2003 had the same problem, and it drove me nuts. I spent many hours before discovering the problem. While the top looks fine, over time the light abrasion where the top meets the moldings in the back causes water to seep in. Looks fine.... Can't see it, it just happens.

 I replaced the top.
Thanks that is what I was afraid of.

Offline 67gtasanjose

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Re: 98 Convertible top leak
« Reply #3 on: November 06, 2015, 09:35:59 AM »
My daughter's 2003 had the same problem, and it drove me nuts. I spent many hours before discovering the problem. While the top looks fine, over time the light abrasion where the top meets the moldings in the back causes water to seep in. Looks fine.... Can't see it, it just happens.

 I replaced the top.

Interested in following up on a solution without replacing the top (I own an '05, with no problems YET)

Couldn't a person disconnect the top from the trim and apply a form of sealant over the abrasion?
Richard Urch

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Offline Mike_B_SVT

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Re: 98 Convertible top leak
« Reply #4 on: November 06, 2015, 04:44:48 PM »
I have experience with this.  I have an '03 cobra convertible and if it ain't raining the roof is down.  Around here (Portland, OR) that makes for a lot of up / down on the ol' soft top!

Ok, most likely where your leak is coming from is the bottom corner(s) of the back window insert section of the convertible top.  This section can be patched temporarily with some success, but you will eventually need to replace that section - which is separate from the top section, so no need to replace the whole top. 

To find your leak, put your roof about half way up / down.  Now lift the folds / flaps along side the window.  Look closely down in the lower corners where the top meets the sides ~ you will probably see cracks / splits where the canvas top transitions to the under-layer (seems to be a heavy duty vinylized / plasticised canvas).  Cracks / splits are bad and will spread and let water in.  You will need to seal these up, which is a temporary measure.  You may also notice that there is a piece of plastic "support" or reinforcement that is kinda sharp and pokey on the ends and rubs on the top as it is lowered.  This can wear holes as well.

From inside the car, if you look behind the headliner at the back window you will see a sort of fold in the top that runs down the sides of the back window. Feel along there and you will probably find a frayed spot or two, or small hole, which is where the water dribbles in. Check THOROUGHLY for multiple holes behind those side sail panels (mine had multiple holes on each side) and seal all those up.

Another way to find the inside holes is to hose down the back window and then look for where the water is dripping in from.

In the past I used Tear Aid (Type A, clear) to patch the holes and it worked well.  It is a rubber sticker patch for repairing camping gear that you can cut to size. I patched inside and out.  Be sure to clean the area good with alcohol before applying the patches.  This stops the water coming in for a while ~ depending on how often you cycle the top. I'm finding that after the summer season of many top up / down cycles, the patches need replaced by the Fall / rainy season. So I was re-patching every fall for 3 or 4 years before the splits got so bad that I couldn't completely seal them anymore.

You may try a fabric eppoxy instead / in addition to the Tear Aid, since the outside holes can be difficult to cover with a patch because they are so close to the back window seams.  I never did try the fabric epoxy though.

The good thing is that the holes are hidden from view, so you can use anything you want in order to get the job done :-)

Good luck!
Mike B.

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Offline ruppstang

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Re: 98 Convertible top leak
« Reply #5 on: November 07, 2015, 08:47:24 AM »
Thanks for the information Mike we will give it a try. We have nothing to loose.

Offline rrenz

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Re: 98 Convertible top leak
« Reply #6 on: November 11, 2019, 09:11:41 PM »
Curious if anyone has any kind of success "patching" a top. I recently obtained a 2000 convertible which has a fairly new top within the last few years. however the back glass has begun to separate at the bottom. is there anything I can do to re attach this or does the entire window need to be replaced?
Ryan
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Build Date Jan 21st
2001 3.8 Mustang Convertible
2004 40th Anniversary

Offline KevinK

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Re: 98 Convertible top leak
« Reply #7 on: November 12, 2019, 12:17:49 AM »
I tried to recluse the rear window on my 92. All was going well until the other side fell off. Lesson learned. Either glass adhesive or spent the $160 for a new rear window panel.

If it’s an original top and window, the top unzips and the bottom bolts in at the tack strip. A used original is an easy install.
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