[slothers]

Hi all,
I am a new owner of a 2001 9-3 convertible that leaks a little in heavy rain. I haven't ever had a convertible before, and I expect a little leakage from a ten year old top. But I wonder how much is a sign that something is wrong.

I just came back from driving back from a weekend away all day through heavy rain. The top is really saturated, and I was kicking myself that I didn't waterproof it yet with the Renovo products. I will do that soon.

However, I've noticed something that is odd to me. The leakage seems like it comes from above the rear window, and drips around the rear speaker area. Also once in a while some rain drips in from the driver and passenger windows.

Also, I've noticed as I've tried to look above the headliner material, that there are like "velcro" tabs that don't seem to be holding on to anything. So, perhaps someone has taken the top off before?

Anyways, I'm having some trouble finding threads that deal with 9-3 convertible top leaks. Can someone point me in the right direction for information for this? Or does anyone have any suggestions as to what to do to see if I can improve the leaks?

thanks in advance.
Very happy with the vert otherwise. love the car.

mike

 

[TheGamingArt]

I wish I could let you know but I'm just as clueless. We just had extremely heavy rain in Florida and mine slightly leaked * with no noticeable holes in the roof*. My first convertible too. Let me know if you find something. I just want to know if this progressively gets worse or if I should get a tarp.

 

[ultimated]

You can try reconditioning the seals by spraying a little silicone on a rag and wiping the seals with it. I treated my top w/ raggtopp cleaner and protectant kit and rain beads up beautifully on it now instead of soaking in. Looks a lot better too.

 

[CTarna]

Mine seems to leak into the frame rails, as it pours onto my left shoulder when I take off or make a sharp turn. I was thinking saturated cloth top. I lubed my seals with Honda seal grease and the small window/windshield leaking stopped (as well as wind noise above 80 mph).

As for velcro, I think there is a soft noise dampening liner that attaches to them.

 

[CTarna]

I know this is an old(er) thread, but I do have good news to share.

I was leaking profusely (rails, seals, etc...) and was going to give up and garage my 99 Vert.

This is what I did:
- Honda Shin-etsu ( .com/3p9zwk8) seal grease on all seals
- 303 High Tech Fabric Guard ( .com/303HTFG) on vert top (Cleaned top with a Quickie scrub brush and ArmorAll car wash, let dry overnight, sprayed on 303 in garage, used a 2" paint brush to 'rub it in' evenly, let dry overnight, re-applied 303, and let dry)

This weekend, the poor thing had to sit in the driveway (wife's minivan in garage) through hurricane Irene.

Result: Not a drop of water inside at all. Even when driving in the rain on Sunday (during the last parts of the storm in NJ).

There is hope!


PS- Add T-I-N-Y-U-R-L (without dashes) in front of links

 

[KellyS]

2000 9-3 Saab…

Well this is a good hopeful thread as my top is leaking like crazy. I will try these steps asap.

 

[slothers]

I posted this original thread a few years ago. I wound up doing two things.

First I got a bunch of those moisture absorbing sillica gel beads off of the internet and I spread them all around the floor of the vert. And I drove around like that for a week. I was worried about mold and stuff. But I think that was unfounded. The car dried up pretty nicely.

Then I used RENOVO waterproofer on the top itself. Other stuff would probably work just as well.

Amazon.com: Renovo Ultra Proofer - 500ml: Automotive.

And I have been through a bunch of rainstorms and such often since then, and I never ever had anything come into the car. I've reapplied the waterproofing stuff about once a year.

Of course, when I originally posted this, the vert was left outside in what turned out to be a mini-hurricane in the city and rain that lasted for a long weekend while I was away. I came back and the interior was soaked.

It has spent days in the rain since. And no problems.

Hope this helps.

 

[dgsaab]

Slothers, is the Renovo applied by brush or spray? Thx.

 

[slothers]

It's a little drippy so the way I do it is put it in a spray bottle and then work it in with a brush. So I guess both.
It's really easy to drip off the top so it's like just a few squirts and then work it in. Repeat. Hope that helps.

 

[dgsaab]

Excellent, thank you, that helps a lot. I'll get some.