Off Topic Discussion Anything goes in here! Well, almost!

Leaking roof!

Old Nov 27, 2013 | 09:44 PM
  #1  
LiLRUSSiAN's Avatar
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Default Leaking roof!

Nothing new I guess.

But I'm going to be putting a new top on tomorrow since I accidentally broke the rear window (ooooooold plastic)
But my car is soaked from the rain storm we had here, and it came from where the roof met the front window, and the water collected and dripped from the latches that lock the roof in place.

Is there a new seal I can buy? or is there another know issue with something that I got to replace?

Thanks!
Old Dec 2, 2013 | 08:03 AM
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There is a header seal. Sometimes the drain holes get plugged. Sometimes the latches need to be tightened, sometimes people add an additional piece of thin foam weatherstrip to help make it more snug.
Old Dec 3, 2013 | 05:02 PM
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Originally Posted by sixshooter
There is a header seal. Sometimes the drain holes get plugged. Sometimes the latches need to be tightened, sometimes people add an additional piece of thin foam weatherstrip to help make it more snug.
header seal.. okay got ya.
I'll look into the drain holes, and look into tightening the latches.

My friends NB has a pretty tight pull when shutting the latches, my roof is super easy to latch and requires no force.
What would be a good setting for the latches? I don't really want to over do it!
Old Dec 3, 2013 | 06:02 PM
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Obviously tight enough to prevent water, and then test it on the freeway, if it's loose, you'll get some whistling from wind noise. Other than that you're fine. I show about 4mm of gasket between the end of the top and the metal edge of the windshield. My gasket's pretty beat though.

The latches being sorta weak has to do with the springs. At this age, no doubt, they've lost their tension and are probably a little rusty or broken. Luckily, those springs are really easy to replace with needle nose pliers. You can get cheap replacement springs from Ace Hardware, and possibly Loews/Home Depot in their hardware aisle. Look in those plastic, slide out cabinets, they'll have a spring section. Either bring one of the old ones with you, or measure the diameter of the spring, and the overall length when fully compressed.
Old Dec 3, 2013 | 09:21 PM
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Tighten them a little at a time and just snug them up a little until it doesn't leak, I guess. I don't have a spec for how tight to make them.
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