Technical Barchetta Roof Leaks

[jvmills]

Hi all

Am new to the forum, I bought my Barchetta last summer and despite loving it to bits am now becoming familiar with its *ahem* characteristics.

Mine, as well as the well known variator issue also has a leaky roof. This is not a huge problem as I live in southern Spain, but winter is drawing on again and when the heavy rains come I end up with a wet backside as I drive to work.

Does anyone have any experience of fixing a leaky roof on a barchetta?

Is it a big job, do I need to find a soft top specialist or is it something I could attempt with a bit of instruction and perhaps some new seals?

Any advice appreciated.

Jamie

 

[nicholasb]

hi Jamie, any chance you could post some pics of the roof damage? The repair will depend on how far you want to go. You may want to replace the soft top or just patch it up. Are the rubber seals mainly okay or is the fabric that is damaged?

There are quite a few threads with information on this topic but I am sure people will chip in.

A quick fix for ripped fabric could be waterproof fabric tape. My favorite fix for rubber seals that are worn is to smear vaseline over them to create a seal.

Good luck

 

[MattB2k]

I fitted my hardtop again last weekend and I love the fact that it is pretty much leak proof and gives the car a different character. You should consider buying one to cure your leaks.

 

[Nino_1975]

You can buy hood repair kits from Halfords, rather like fixing a bike inner tube.

I have a huge hole in mine, but I am wondering what to but 1st a hood or hardtop. Also my B is a project to restore and do what I really want this time.

 

[jvmills]

Thanks for the response guys.

nicholas b : no the fabric is fine, it is the seals around the windows that seem to be an imperfect fit. The seals themselves seem OK just seem to be a bit gappy.

In light rain it is OK, but heavy rain, say overnight, leaves me with a wet backside and an unhappy girlfriend ( i give her a lift to work!).

Here is the only pic I have of the car on my pc - ironically its with the roof down!!

The vaseline idea seems cheapest and easiest, but maybe I need to find a local equivalent of Halfords and buy the repair kit.

Cheers for the feedback.

 

[MattB2k]

If you'd mentioned yours were red I would have been more constructive. Lovely car!

 

[Shelxs]

Welcome!
It sounds like you might be able to solve your problem by adjusting the windows so that the rubbers fit more snuggly - there are instructions on here somewhere and I'm sure someone can point you in the right direction.
xs

 

[Rustbucket]

The Halfrauds repair kit is a waste of time..and it comes in white (what genius marketed that?) you have to buy special paint with it. I got better results on a ripped roof with waterproof tape held down with industrial 2-part superglue (ordinary waterproof tape won't stick to the top surface). Fit a glued layer of tape on the top and the inside and it works fine.

Make sure the tape has a good overlap all round the rip otherwise the water will work its way in.

 

[jvmills]

MattB2k: thanks! It is lovely to swan round in it in the sunshine, though parts of it are showing some fading from the sun. Daren't even think about the respray cost...

Shelxs: Adjusting the windows sounds probably the right solution. I will search around the forum to see if I can find guidance, but if anyone knows the actual thread mentioned, a link would be greatly appreciated.

 

[LittleRedB]

Hey Jamie, welcome to the forum :wave: - great to know that you have the best coloured b by far eh! Quite an exclusive club you have joined!!!

Sounds to me like you need to adjust the windows rather than replace the rubbers. I find that once I have had the roof down on mine I need to 'lift' the vertical rubbers on mine to ensure that they meet their horizontal neighbours on the top.

There are a couple of threads on the forum about adjusting windows to meet the roof rubbers, spend a little time trawling through the forum and I think you may find an answer/cure for your issue!

Nice car

 

[Shelxs]

Morning All
I had a search around for jamie as I'm sure someone posted diagrams of how to adjust the windows but I can't find it. Anyone know which thread it was? Might be an idea to put it in the guides when we find it as it is one that gets asked fairly often.
xs

 

[LittleRedB]

I had a search but cannot find it, it was one that KC started.................

 

[Shelxs]

Thanks LRB you pointed me in the right direction
Here you go Jamie I hope this helps...

schematic
http://fiatbarchetta.com/windowadjustment.html

a thread with instructions
https://www.fiatforum.com/barchetta/95070-hardtop-leaking.html

xs

 

[barcaba]

Hey Jamie

Welcome from one Spanish Barchetta to another. There still aren't enough of us to rival the French based ones but in time, in time...

Your reg plate letters are remarkably similar to mine (I am DYG), of course I imported mine but I can pretend I am driving around in a 3 year old car....

Hope you got your roof sorted before this last weeks weather, I discovered all sorts of leaks I didn't know I had this week, had to bale out the roof compartment for the first time since I left the UK (and changed the hood) and now I seem to have water inside the driver's door cos the key is coming out wet each time. Time for some serious TLC methinks

Maddie

 

[jvmills]

Shelxs and LRB: thanks for the links, looks like I've got a solution!

Hola Barcaba! Nice to meet another Spanish Barchetta owner, yep last weeks rain soaked my driver and passenger seat and left the car with that horrible "dog in the rain" type smell!!!

Oh well, its a good job I love that car. Not sure my girlfriend feels the same.

Thanks all for your input, this seems a friendly & helpful forum.