Hardtop Leak ?

[Frank Dreano]

Ran about a week with the hardtop on the '02 bird this month and hit a typical Florida monsoon and thought nothing of it. Put the rag top up yesterday and it was dripping water at the rear with mildew starting (ugh - an hour of scrubbing). I NEVER put a top down in the storage well while it is wet (or even damp).

I'm assuming that the hardtop leaked during that storm....I inspected and conditioned the hardtop weather strip at all points when I bought the car and it looks pristine (this is a garage kept 19,000 mile car). Anybody else experience this ?

Now - the only mod I've made to the body is one of those thin stainless steel adhesive strip 3-piece kits that go around the top storage area onto the paint to hide/prevent scratches from the previous hardtop installations. I'm wondering if those pieces raised the top enough to cause this...?!?!

[007Cruiser]

I doubt that the stainless strips are the problem. Many of us have used them with no problems. When you put the top on you must pull the levers under the portholes all the way forward. Do not stop at the first indent that you feel. Continue forward to the second indent.

[steelblue5505]

If you are not the 1st owner of this car then you may have to check & make certain the drain holes are not blocked with stuff/junk, leaves & so forth. Never know where or what the car was originally exposed to.

[Frank Dreano]

If you are not the 1st owner of this car then you may have to check & make certain the drain holes are not blocked with stuff/junk, leaves & so forth. Never know where or what the car was originally exposed to.

Good point, even though the car is low mileage and was maintained decently I have found some neglected areas, I changed the cabin air filter and the old one looked like it was dragged through a swamp.

Uh! Where would those drain holes be ?