Water Damage

Water damage, as it relates to convertible roofs, usually means damage sustained by the car interior when the top was left down and the car was caught in a sudden downpour.

Most often, this is damage to leather upholstery, which can incur water staining, sometimes this is bad enough, especially on older vehicles, for the leather to require re-colouring.

If you have a convertible car with leather upholstery, we recommend investing in a good leather condition and ensuring that your seats are treated every few months to help keep them supple and protected.

What it means

Water damage is the overall deterioration that happens when a car has been wet where it should not be. It goes beyond the simple fact that there was a leak. Once water gets into carpets, soundproofing, wiring looms, control units, seat bases and hidden cavities, it can cause staining, mould growth, rust and electrical issues. Even after the visible water has dried, the damage to materials and connections may continue to show up months or years later.

Why it matters

• Can be serious and long term: Rust, mould and corroded wiring do not appear overnight, but once they start they can lead to expensive repairs and ongoing reliability problems.
• Affects health and comfort: Mould, mildew and persistent damp smells make the car unpleasant to sit in and are especially unwelcome for anyone with allergies or breathing issues.
• Damages value: Evidence of water damage – from stained carpets to rusty seat frames and damp smells – is a major red flag on inspections and can significantly reduce resale value.
• Not cured by a quick valet: Shampooing carpets and spraying air freshener over an untreated leak and soaked underlay simply masks the symptoms while the damage continues underneath.

Where you’ll see it

You will see water damage mentioned in leak reports, insurance assessments and vehicle inspection notes. Typical comments include water damage to carpets and underlay, water damage to wiring and modules under seat or evidence of historic water damage in boot. It is commonly associated with failed membranes, blocked drains, perished rubbers, poorly sealed bodywork and cars that have been flooded or left with leaks for a long time.

Context

Water damage is the consequence of water ingress that has not been dealt with promptly or thoroughly. The proper way to address it is to find and fix the leak, strip out and inspect affected trims and soft materials, remove or replace saturated soundproofing and foams, dry the vehicle shell under controlled conditions, then clean, decontaminate and reassemble. Depending on how far the water has reached, this may also include repairing or replacing corroded connectors, wiring, modules and in severe cases dealing with structural corrosion. Treating only the visible surfaces while leaving wet or rusty areas hidden is a false economy and often leads to repeat problems.

Common mistakes

• Assuming that once the visible water has gone the problem is over, without checking under carpets, in foams and behind trims for trapped moisture.
• Relying on a quick valet or air freshener to sort out smells caused by deep-seated water damage instead of proper strip-out, drying and decontamination.
• Ignoring early signs such as damp carpets, misty windows and musty odours until electrical faults or visible rust make the problem much more expensive.
• Buying a car with obvious signs of historic water damage without budgeting for potential long-term issues with wiring, modules and corroded structures.

Written by Danny Argent. Last updated 05/12/2025 15:49