T-Top Water Leak Fix
 

OK I know many of you out there have this same problem. I know this because of the 4 T-Top cars that are between my friends and I, I have done this fix successfully with 3 of the 4 cars.

This leak happens in the rear of the door by the seat belt, water comes down the interior trim and into the back seat well or floor. Take a look at this picture to see where the leak happens

Attachment 25116

Now I have found that the leak is caused by the foam rubber seal under the weather strip has gone bad and no longer seals the water out. Here is what you will need to get this simple job done:

7MM nut driver or ratchet
1/4in Standard screw driver (found this works best)
#2 Phillips screwdriver
about 2" of urethane butyl tape
either some Form-a-Gasket #2B(non hardening) or some weatherstrip adhesive.

Remove the plastic interior trim. You only need to remove the little one that is held in with the 2 screws. Remove the 7mm bolt that holds the weatherstrip on. Carefully using the 1/4" screwdriver scrape the foam rubber off the body of the car while pulling up on the weatherstrip. When you are done it should look like this.

Attachment 25117

Attachment 25118

Next you need to clean the old rubber and adhesive off the body of the car. The cleaner the better but if you can get it at least like in this picture you will be fine.

Attachment 25119

Attachment 25120

The weatherstrip is going to be messy too so clean it up too:

Attachment 25121
Dirty!

Attachment 25122
Clean!

Now time for the butyl tape and adhesive. Roll the tape into a ball and warm it up so it can be spread out nicely. Once you get that done flatten it out on the same place as the foam rubber. Use and ample amount of adhesive on both ends of the butyl as shown in the picture.

Attachment 25123

Last but not least you need to finish the job up. Reinstall the weatherstrip and replace the 7mm bolt. Take some more of the adhesive and trim up the weatherstrip where it meets the body like shown.

Attachment 25124

Let it dry a while and you should have the leak sealed up nicely. So far so good for me and the jobs I have done. I live in Western Washington where we get more than our fair share of rain and not a drop in the rear of the T-tops

Massey