No Roof + Rain = ?

[greg]

Hi All,

I'm pretty new to the world of soft tops with the car and was after a bit of advise about what preparation (if any) is required to make the car survive in the weather without the roof on.

i.e. are there any dash components that will cause me trouble if they get wet?

Note: I'm just talking about rain and splashes, i don't plan on submerging the dash in rivers or anything.

Thanks.

[grimbo]

they are actually pretty good as is to survive splashes. i have been known to spray the interior of mine out with a high pressure hose. Basically spray everything down and haven't had any dramas. Also have been in rivers with water flowing through the cab up to my chest and still haven't had any dramas wwith the electrics even the stereo still worked although the tapes were a sad looking bunch.

I'm not sure about the cap engine and its electrics. Also you may want to put the battery in a battery box if it already hasn't been. Really just make sure all your electrical connections are heat wrapped, use a marine grease around any terminals if you like.

[Courtancer]

Whenever I take the top off I just fold it up and put it behind the back seat. That way if it starts raining I just stop and put it on in 30 seconds.

[Gonzo]

Note: I'm just talking about rain and splashes, i don't plan on submerging the dash in rivers or anything.

you should prepare for it, it will happen some day...

[greg]

Whenever I take the top off I just fold it up and put it behind the back seat. That way if it starts raining I just stop and put it on in 30 seconds.

Ideally i don't want to be carrying around the soft top, and i'd also like to be able to park the car for weeks on end in the weather without putting the top on too...

[N*A*M]

just chuck a tarp over it when you're parked for long periods

[greg]

just chuck a tarp over it when you're parked for long periods

Don't worry mate - i've thought of that too - plus it would reduce the likelihood of finding the back of the car full of rubbish when i return to it too

[matte]

get a bikini top. that way you can still drive the car when its raining. and the front cabin area wont get too wet.

[droopypete]

Now you are talking my language Greg, I have had a soft top 4x4 since the early eightys and even in sunny Melbourne the roof was only on for about 3 to 4 months of the year, it is only now in the new home that I have under cover lock up parking, and the they hold up very well.
I have vinyl seats no carpet or underfelt no electronics (CB, UHF, CD, stereo, big tosser speakers, doof doof wank wank ), I have removed the plugs from the floor so the water drains, one problem with this, is at speed any water on the floor gets blown up your leg from the updraft comming through the hole (try a rubber floor mat).
I regularly pressure wash the interior of my car, and I don't spare any thing, clean water is OK it will dry, it is the dirty water that electrical contacts dont like, the instrument cluster will fog up and, depending upon the weather, may take a while to clear, but it will still work fine.
When you park it, lean the seats forward so the rain runs down the back of the seat and ends up on the floor where it will exit through the holes in the floor, easy.
Leave a rag under the dash to dry the seat, steering wheel and top of the wind screen, I usualy throw my bikini top in if the weather looks a bit sus,
it only takes a minute to put on, by the way for all those who have a bikini top with the hard plastic strip that push's into the rail on the top of the windscreen, take a saw and cut the plastic strip in half, it makes it much easier to fold and store
Greg your seats internals will corrode as well, give the reclining ratchet mechanism a bit of lube from time to time, same goes for the seat belt buckles.
Peter.

[Rainbow Warrior]

Get a Bikini top made up, it just covers the roof of the front cab, keeps you from getting lobsterised in the sun and wet if it does rain short of storms, and you still get full outdoor aircon.

[Guy]

I usualy throw my bikini top in if the weather looks a bit sus,
it only takes a minute to put on, by the way for all those who have a bikini top with the hard plastic strip that push's into the rail on the top of the windscreen, take a saw and cut the plastic strip in half, it makes it much easier to fold and store Peter.

Nah .. all that time in the weather has had nooo ill effects on Pete

I pressure was mine as well .. I will be dong a striptease an my Zuk as well to put it on a bit of a diet, But I am keeping some of the wanky stuff like a radio etc and putting it in my overhead console .. but the amp carpet .. possibly even the back door will go (replaced by an alloy fold down tailgate and plastic "buttoned on" windows in the back ..

[greg]

Great info there peoples... thanks very much.

I already have a bikini top (it's the only roof i have), but just wanted to know about leaving it off all together...

Basically what i didn't want to hear back from you folks is that if water touches <insert button / dial name here> on the dash all you light start flashing and power to the engine stops... But since i didn't hear that - it looks all good

[Guy]

Great info there peoples... thanks very much.

I already have a bikini top (it's the only roof i have), but just wanted to know about leaving it off all together...

Basically what i didn't want to hear back from you folks is that if water touches <insert button / dial name here> on the dash all you light start flashing and power to the engine stops... But since i didn't hear that - it looks all good

I dont think anyone else has a "super bling" (super bing is a technical term ) motor and wireing loom like you do either, I imagine that your ECM etc is well sealed up ..

[greg]

The computer has been put somewhere quite sensible to reduce the liklihood of it ever getting wet - so i think i should be right there

[droopypete]

The computer has been put somewhere quite sensible to reduce the liklihood of it ever getting wet - so i think i should be right there

That would be, gaffa taped to the front bumper, beside the cold air intake
Peter.