Soaked convertible

[Gromit]

The one thing I've feared, happened yesterday. I came home from work, parked my convertible outside with the top down. I was going to go for a drive later but instead dozed off (at home, not in the car ). When I woke up, it had rained heavily for an hour or so - grabbed some towels and went to look at the damages.

Luckily no pools of water, the leather seats a bit damp and the folded down wind deflector was soaking wet etc, but my main concern is the rear floor carpet. I lifted its edges and the foamy underside was soaking wet. I have now had the car out for a whole sunny day, but the floor is still damp. Underneath the rug, there are these rubberish panels. What are they for and am I looking at possible rust issues? If anyone has experienced the same, where else should I look for moisture? Should I remove the seats and the whole carpet or will it dry up itself with the edges lifted up for ventilation?

[Jos]

I spilled a litre of water in my 206 and the soft foam stuff didn't dry for over 2 months, I would suggest you lift the lot out. I wouldn't take it all out, take the seats out and lift the carpet from the back to the front of the car and allow it to sit exposed, don't bother taking the carpet out from the dash, it should be pretty dry under there anyway and it's a lot of hassle to get back in. As far as rust goes provided the paint is 100% intact you shouldn't have any problems, but I wouldn't risk it.

[E30Mark]

The only way to dry out the carpet is to take it out in my opinion.

This happened to me years back when i had my 323i Cab, left it with the roof down & went shopping. A storm appeared from no where, by the time i got back to my car the leather seats were holding 2" of water...

There was water sloshing about everywhere! took the seats & carpet out in the end. Carpet took 3 or 4 days to dry out in the hot sun, will takes weeks to dry out in the car.

[BlackCabrio]

Happened to me last summer when I had a slight leak in the roof and went off to France for a week - it pissed down all week and when I got back the rear n/s footwell was soaked.

I didn't take the seats/carpet out, but I did try:

- lifting the carpet at the rear edge, inserting kitchen roll, and pressing down on the carpet, then throwing the paper towel away (repeat 97 times)

- propping up the carpet with wooden blocks to get air to the underside (4 weeks later, still wet ...)

- inserting hair dryer and trying not to melt the spongey plastic under the carpet.

This combination of actions eventually worked. Totally dry and no long term ill effects

And I got the hood fixed and reproofed, of course ...

[elliot]

you could hire a dehumidifier, pop it in for the day and hey presto, dry car!

[Gromit]

Thanks fellas! Here's an update from today. After two days in direct sun light (weather's been relly nice), the rear footwells seem totally dry. The carpet edges were pulled up as much as possible without removing the front seats. I stuffed bottles underneath to keep it turned up for ventilation. I pushed my hand all the way under the carpet, no moisture.

Feeling releaved, I started wondering about the back seat. I removed it and the cushion was still a bit moist with some drips underneath, nothing severe though. I took the seat indoors and the car is in a warm garage.

Anyway, seems ok now, the front seats are fine especially after grilling mine and my co-worker's ass off with the seat heaters on the way to work.

[mrLEE30]

A big thick sunday newspaper will do the trick, stick it under the carpet, remove after an hour and stick the sport section in (its faster!), then followed by the holiday section and repeat untill all is dry!

mrlee

[ZS]

Ah, the old Holiday section trick. Should have mentioned that earlier.