stickman007 Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Feel like an idiot now :(I forgot that I left my cabrio roof open when I parked the car yesterday afternoon, and it rained all last night. Forecast calls for more rain in the next few days. Anything I need to do other than plugging in a fan trying to dry out everything?Izzy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bilgladstone Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 There's stuff you can get from an RV store - comes in a bag or tub - that adsorbs moisture. Also, in areas where you can, pull up the carpet and let it dry from underneath. When you get the car going again, run the a/c continuously. Oh, and put up the roof :)Bil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 Can you get it out of the rain? Garage, overhead deck or even just a tarp. If so, (try hard to make it so) lower the windows a couple of inches, set a space heater and a big fan running inside. You want some heat to build up inside so don't lower the windows too much, you also want the moisture to escape so you need them down a bit. Couple of inches feels right.Lift as much of the carpet as you can and block it up with wood to allow maximum airflow. Move the fan around a few times.It is crucial to get at this immediately to prevent mould from setting in!And learn from your mistake! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianjay Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 I agree about getting the carpet up as much as possible. The carpet is backed with a spongy foam which will be absolutely saturated. Did the battery box get wet. Water will be in there too. This is going to take a few days, minimum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stickman007 Posted June 13, 2012 Author Share Posted June 13, 2012 Thanks for the tips guys!Unfortunately, I can't park the car in a garage. With the way my drive way is setup, if I go down behind the house, I won't be able to make it back up when its wet...way too muddy.So far all the electronics work...I'm going to leave a fan in the car running overnite...took most of the carpets in the house to dry. Hoping for the bestIzzy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CANMAN Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 Izzy, Pasted below is a link to an article by 2seatragtop, it details problems and solutions caused by water in the SAM (fuse box). http://clubsmartcar.com/index.php?showtopic=24307&hl= I would recommend you at least inspect it for water damage. Canman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 Get a heater in there! In cool damp weather very little drying will take place without a heat source. Do something with a tarp, garbage bag, old raincoat, whatever so you can have at least one window partially open. Don't dither about, it is crucial that this gets dried out ASAP to prevent a permanent mould problem and likely expensive electronics damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John & Angela Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 Get a heater in there! In cool damp weather very little drying will take place without a heat source. Do something with a tarp, garbage bag, old raincoat, whatever so you can have at least one window partially open. Don't dither about, it is crucial that this gets dried out ASAP to prevent a permanent mould problem and likely expensive electronics damage.Been there done that. First hot day remove the rubber floor mats and put the top and windows down. It'll dry out in a few days. :)I sprayed or manually wiped on WD40 on every metal surface i could reach or get to in an effort to try and give the metal a little rust protection in case I do it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 Get a wet dry shop vac and remove as much water as possible. There will be standing water under the carpet and in the battery well. I would spend the money to get it into a car detailers shop for a few days with heat and fans which will allow you to open it right up. You can purchase a water wicking material to stuff under the carpets that will pull the water out, its used under mattresses on boats. get the water out as quickly as possible or there will be many issues that will arise. Best of luckAlan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stickman007 Posted June 13, 2012 Author Share Posted June 13, 2012 Ran the fan all night and still have vapour on my windows...I'm sure there's still a lot of moisture in the car hidden, but at least I can sit in it without a wet bum.Its a bit warmer today, I parked the car out in what little sunshine there is today...plugged in the fan and continue hoping for the best. So far everything still works. Will I have to pull the shifter out, water get trap in there?Alex: I'm frantically trying to find a portable heater! The cold doesn't give up much of the moisture.CANMAN: Thanks for the link, that was pretty much the first place I went to for info. I will be pulling everything out tonite for inspection.Henry: Not a bad idea...I'll hunt around for a detailing shop!I will be driving to Kamloops this wkend, so I guess a couple of hours with the top down will probably help on the freeway, (unless it rains...my kind'a luck)....Izzy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CANMAN Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 Not that it would have helped in your case, here is a link to my cabriolet roof Disabler mod, to prevent accidental openings. http://clubsmartcar.com/index.php?autocom=...ticle&id=29 Canman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bilgladstone Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thomar-604100-Dehu...y/dp/B002OC2REY Looks ideal for reducing moisture. Can absorb up to 1 litre. When fleece surface gets wet indicating fully absorbed, remove and dry out - e.g. put over home air vent until dry - and then reuse. Fastens in place with Velcro strips. Foil reverse side prevents leaks. Great idea for high humidity regions. Bil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kabrio Posted June 27, 2012 Share Posted June 27, 2012 (edited) Hi Izzy,I realize it has been several days since your initial post, but I have to chime in here. If the car sat in pouring rain all night, you really, really need to have the car gone over by a good detail or auto body shop to clean the entire interior with a bacteriostatic and mold-killing detergent. A car that has moisture sitting in the carpets, seats and nooks and crannies will grow mold rather quickly- which will get sucked into your ac if run on recirculate. Mold in a car can make you sick, and at a minimum will smell bad, especially on hot, humid days. Edited June 27, 2012 by Kabrio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadwing Posted June 28, 2012 Share Posted June 28, 2012 Hi Izzy,I realize it has been several days since your initial post, but I have to chime in here. If the car sat in pouring rain all night, you really, really need to have the car gone over by a good detail or auto body shop to clean the entire interior with a bacteriostatic and mold-killing detergent. A car that has moisture sitting in the carpets, seats and nooks and crannies will grow mold rather quickly- which will get sucked into your ac if run on recirculate. Mold in a car can make you sick, and at a minimum will smell bad, especially on hot, humid days.+1 ....... I was in the carpet and upholstery cleaning business a few years ago, and Kabrio is correct. Get it looked after SOON. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stickman007 Posted June 29, 2012 Author Share Posted June 29, 2012 Thanks for all the tips guys!I ended up yanking all the carpets out, put a heater and fan in the car....for 2 days. I then drove down to Kamloops (3hr drive) with the top down. I checked and put dielectric grease on every connectors I could find. So far no weird smell or any electrical gremlins...yet.Izzy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulicevic Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 Hello there,I just recently purchased 2005 cdi convertible from Hundayi dealer (it was trade in from original owner). Part of deal was that they will do a detailing and clean car inside and out which they did. Reading this great forum I found out that moisture under the carpet is not good for Smart so just checked and sure enough there was some moisture. Sponge like lining seems saturated and metal underneath is some what wet. I could not remove completly carpet out of the car rather just lift its sides (seems its glued to the floor) as I was afraid to rip something. I don't know how they clean the car but for sure they soaked carpets somehow....we had recently rain/snow here in Toronto and car seems watertight! In addition I just washed car from outside carefully at coin wash place making sure I don't overpower any seal joints around windows and roof. Car didn't leak a drop. So my thinking here is that they either soaked the carpeting from inside and vacuum debris with shop vac where excess water they didn't scoop ended unfortunately in sponge lining. Second possibility might be that there is some kind of opening from bottom of the car where water might coming in but I hope this is unlikely. Have anybody had similar issue, any suggestions you have would be highly appreciated. Sorry for my long post but this is my very first one so still learning.....many thanks, Ivan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 The windshield has been known to leak, usually along the bottom seam where it's not obvious.More likely is just accumulated moisture from wet feet, umbrellas (evil things, those brollies!) or poor carpet shampooing. Get it dry with the techniques listed above, then get a nice big slush mat, with ribs and sides to hold the water until you can dump it out.The carpet is not glued down, so it is stuck by moisture and stuff(complicated variable chemical and physical reactions). Lift it up, using a thin flexible blade if needed. Talcum powder will help to prevent that.Once dry and clean monitor it for water ingress, just to be sure you don't have a leak. Paper towels arranged under the edge of the carpet can help to pinpoint the source, but most likely it is just sloppy care, not a leak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulicevic Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 The windshield has been known to leak, usually along the bottom seam where it's not obvious.More likely is just accumulated moisture from wet feet, umbrellas (evil things, those brollies!) or poor carpet shampooing. Get it dry with the techniques listed above, then get a nice big slush mat, with ribs and sides to hold the water until you can dump it out.The carpet is not glued down, so it is stuck by moisture and stuff(complicated variable chemical and physical reactions). Lift it up, using a thin flexible blade if needed. Talcum powder will help to prevent that.Once dry and clean monitor it for water ingress, just to be sure you don't have a leak. Paper towels arranged under the edge of the carpet can help to pinpoint the source, but most likely it is just sloppy care, not a leak.Thanks Alex will try your suggestion to eliminate and trace potential leak. Best regards, Ivan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeT Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 The thing to watch for in the convertibles is that the tailgate is properly latched on both sides. On one side, if it's unlatched, the interior light will remain on, and if it's on the other side, the interior light stays off...but in either case, the car leaks like a sieve if one side or the other is not latched. The car will lock with one or the other side unlatched. The leak wets the hatch area and that in turn wends its way down to the floor.Check the seat belts to see if they're moist when rolled out to the end. If so, your soft top needs adjustment, which the dealer can do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2seatragtop Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 We had a leak from around the windsheild that caused exactly what you describe and also some damage to the SAM which I had later to fix. The dealer had the glass taken out and then reseated which solved the problem but is risky in case the glass breaks (mine didn't) but he did mention that we should really do it agqain and have a body shop refinish the paint where the tridion had corroded a bit. As money is tight I haven't yet got around to that but it's been a couple of years since we had any water inside.2seat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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