Forums/Z31P/z31-repairs-forums cosmetic-interior-exterior-aa/T Tops Leak
Imported from Z31Performance.com Forums{{#if:Marissasimos| — original post by Marissasimos}}{{#if:2014-08-15 18:08:44|, posted 2014-08-15 18:08:44}}{{#if:23| · 23 post{{#ifeq:23|1||s}}}}{{#if:/Z31performance_archive/forum/z31-repairs-forums/cosmetic-interior-exterior-aa/24169-t-tops-leak.html|
Local archive: view archived thread on dev.z31library.com}}
Marissasimos: (2014-08-15 18:08:44)
So, like most Z owners experience, my T Tops leak pretty often. Normally it's very little, but there are times where I find my seat drenched and the floor beneath the seats soaked as well, which really concerns me. Sometimes when I'm driving I also get water dripping on my elbow, and it's annoying. Basically I just want to prevent water from coming as much as possible for obvious reasons. And as most of you are aware, new weather striping will cost A LOT. I just don't have the money for that and my Z is not show room condition anyway. I was wondering if anyone has used something like Flex Seal to fix leaking issues? Something along the lines of liquidized rubber? Or are there other solutions to this? I want to try a can of flex seal, but I'm worried about what will happen if I put it on my car. If anyone has any tips that would really help. Thanks guys
PulseCode: (2014-08-15 19:24:18)
FlyingT mentioned using black RTV gasket maker, which is a great idea. Obviously, you want to thoroughly clean everything first with denatured alcohol/ acetone etc. for a good bond.
Z_Karma: (2014-08-15 19:29:14)
Flex seal is a silicone based spray. Once silicone has bonded to the porous rubber seal and fully cured, the application of more silicone
(in case the first attempt was not successful) will not adequately bond to the first layer of silicone. It's a sketchy fix at best.
In a pinch, I've successfully used silly putty near the corners. It seals, it's waterproof and comes back off (and into it's egg) when not needed.
The seals are adjustable, there are screws hidden beneath the seals that allow re positioning.
The pin latch mechanism also is adjustable, to give the t-tops more clamping force against the seals.
There are some photos here
https://dev.z31library.com/xenonzcar_archive/z31/t-topsealreplacement.html
and more help in the FSM.
https://dev.z31library.com/xenonzcar_archive/z31/reference.html
I'm not aware (or have just forgotten) of any writeups on how to adjust the seals.
les_joey_paul: (2014-08-15 19:29:16)
Yeah I've used rtv on mine. They've been leak free for over a year.
reddzx: (2014-08-15 19:34:20)
Before you smear that goop all over your seals, do the card test. Put a business card in the gap where the t-top edge seal and the door rubber seal meet. If it's loose and falls out, that's where the leak is. Pull the t-top off and lay it upside down and remove the trim cover over the release handle. Peel back the rubber on the edge and look for four screws. The two on the ends have slotted holes. Loosen them and stretch the rubber and tighten screws while holding the rubber. Also use compressed air and blow out the drain holes in the t-top channel on the A and B pillars. Check them for cracked sealer around the drain hole. This can be sealed with caulk.
FlyingT: (2014-08-19 00:09:33)
RTV is liquid rubber and you can add layers if needed. I used it to patch holes in the WS, fill in any low spots, and to "paint" the rest of the gasket with new rubber so it would be all the same color. The RTV is slightly different color. Mask off the gaskets you want to rejuvenate and clean them well.
I did mine 2.5 years ago and not a drop since.
Pauls: (2014-09-03 12:51:26)
My ttops don't leak, but as I'm restoring the car would like to replace the weatherstrips that wrap around the targa tops and down both sides of the door windows.
Does anyone know where I could source these New?
Cheers.
mtherkamp: (2014-09-03 13:12:16)
^ http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/CTGY/classic03c
Not 100% available, but its something! Be prepared to pay up, these are not cheap!
FlyingT: (2014-09-03 15:30:38)
Replacing all of the weather stripping will cost more than some have paid for the entire Z31.
jaqattack02: (2014-09-04 02:35:26)
Are you positive it's the tops and not the drains?
Urstin: (2014-09-05 18:52:10)
Mine are doing the same thing! There is a massive gap between the front of the T-top, and the end of the A-pillar/roof at the top of the window glass. I'll try Tim's method tonight and see if I can counter that gap with anything. Ugh it's fucking frustrating rolling to work and getting all wet. In fact, the water will leak onto the shoulder of my seat, onto the seat-belt, and stain shirts. One time I came into work with a giant yellow stain across my chest unknowingly. I'm sure everyone thought I had just been pissed on by a group of wild stray dogs. I'm sure they thought that.
Edit: I've also HEARD of people using vasoline to bring life back to the seals. But others claim this completely destroys the seals after a few years. Is this true?
floridaZ: (2014-09-06 01:00:03)
Petrolium based products eat rubber. I've also heard it makes the seals swell up, helping with lesser leaks.
Silly putty bro. Silly putty.
Z_Karma: (2014-09-06 04:32:37)
Yes, petroleum products will deteriorate rubber that is not formulated to handle fuel or oil.
Ever service a greasy grimy motor and find hoses that just fall apart?
It's a slow process though, the petroleum jelly also acts like a hydrophobic coating that
sheds water that would otherwise collect on the surface. On that theme, maybe some of that new
hydrophobic aerosol coating, NeverWet might help.
I've tried vaseline on my t-top seals a few years ago and they're still intact. Tim showed me his method
and i think i'll try that, since that's where mine leak, at that gap.
FlyingT: (2014-09-06 18:21:28)
Just build up any gaps with Black RTV. I has the big gap and stopped the leak with $6 RTV.
Urstin: (2014-09-07 06:26:57)
Are you still able to remove your T Tops though? Or did you fill that fucker in haha
FlyingT: (2014-09-07 13:42:16)
I used wax paper to separate the t-roof gasket from the one on the car, and then filed in the gap with RTV. That way you can still take off the t-roof. And if done with care, it looks like the original gasket, not a load of slop on it.
joshers21: (2014-09-09 18:54:46)
Would you mind posting some pictures of your t-tops with the rtv repair?
Marissasimos: (2014-10-20 00:13:33)
Okay, so I have updates on my progress with leaky T Tops. I bought black RTV and globbed it on the weather stripping on the driver's side pillar. I've been learning how to put it on better after a few tries and so far I've fixed gaps in the weather stripping and T Top weather stripping. Now my car only leaks water behind the seats, and I notice that although the T Tops aren't really leaking anymore, overtime the water comes down onto the fiber board and the fiber board gets really soaked. Which leads to water dripping onto the seats. I'm not totally sure where it's coming from, so I assumed the water was coming in from between the chrome trim and the T Top glass itself. So I sealed that in really nicely, you can't even see the silicone unless you look for it. I'm waiting to see if it'll still leak next time it rains, and I'm hoping it wont be a guessing game. I don't have pictures, but I'll remember to post pics eventually…
reddzx: (2014-10-20 00:53:04)
sounds like the drain hose in the B pillar came off the nipple in the t-top channel. You will have to remove the quarter window trip and the B pillar trim and inspect it.
Filipe: (2014-12-23 07:00:21)
sounds like the drain hose in the B pillar came off the nipple in the t-top channel. You will have to remove the quarter window trip and the B pillar trim and inspect it.
Sounds like my exact issue…I blew the lines, and got air at the exit however, so not exactly sure. waiting for a nice day to inspect..
Urstin: (2015-06-02 18:33:29)
So I did the RTV patch, and although I'm not proud of how it looks, I'm happy to report both my seatbelt and seat are dry when it rains now. Haven't tested in a car wash yet, but will soon!
FlyingT: (2015-06-03 02:11:56)
I took the time to clean and mask off the area, and I used my rubber gloved finger as the "paint brush", I was able to layer on as much RTV as needed and as smooth as the original WS if you spent enough time smoothing it, maybe multiple coats if needed.
As I said, the original 30 year old rubber is a slightly different color than the new black RTV, so I just painted the rest of the weather stripping with RTV to match. It has now been over 3 1/2 years, and my T-roofs are still not leaking at all and all the new RTV is still adhering to the old WS. I will try and take some pictures of the WS after 3+ years. I figured I had nothing to lose since the WS in my 30 year old, winter driven, mostly kept outdoors Z31 was getting pretty bad. If I could have bought a complete set of WS for $1000 I would have done that, but the cost was much much more. So I chose the $5 option that has worked.
mtherkamp: (2015-07-08 13:50:06)
FlyingT, what brand/type of RTV did you use? I must have chosen one that was too sticky, couldn't get it to lay down smooth!