Leak!
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From: New York City, NY, USA
Leak! I did a 2-hour drive from upstate NY to the city last night and on the way it started to rain, heavy and windy at times. As I'm nearing my destination I start to notice that my left sleeve has a wet spot. I look up to see water dripping from my driver-side A post, right where the top connects to the windshield. It drips once every 2-3 seconds. After I finished cursing I quickly got home and parked, but I live in an apartment in manhattan and cannot cover the car.
What can I do to determine the cause of the leak and what kind of shop can I bring it to to have it fixed? Or is there something I can get from AutoZone that I can do myself?
What can I do to determine the cause of the leak and what kind of shop can I bring it to to have it fixed? Or is there something I can get from AutoZone that I can do myself?
On The Tree
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: Northvale, NJ
I did a 2-hour drive from upstate NY to the city last night and on the way it started to rain, heavy and windy at times. As I'm nearing my destination I start to notice that my left sleeve has a wet spot. I look up to see water dripping from my driver-side A post, right where the top connects to the windshield. It drips once every 2-3 seconds. After I finished cursing I quickly got home and parked, but I live in an apartment in manhattan and cannot cover the car.
What can I do to determine the cause of the leak and what kind of shop can I bring it to to have it fixed? Or is there something I can get from AutoZone that I can do myself?
What can I do to determine the cause of the leak and what kind of shop can I bring it to to have it fixed? Or is there something I can get from AutoZone that I can do myself?
I've read that the seals are supposed to be treated with silicone grease to keep them soft. Wondering if that might help. Does Autozone carry "silicone grease"? Not sure exactly what I am looking for, maybe Permatex makes something? Don't know.
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
For what it's worth, mine has partially leaked since it was new; I just figured it was something that came with owning a convertible Camaro. Also, mine only leaks when the car is taken into a high pressure wash.
- M i K e
- M i K e
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From: New York City, NY, USA
So don't take it to one. I found a hand-wash place near me. A little more expensive than traditional car wash places, but there's no high-powered water damaging your top.
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Teching In
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Trust me, it took me only once to figure that out. I took it to a high pressure wash and that was in '99. I don't trust anyone else with my cars, so I handwash everything.
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I got the same thing this morning - snow melting off of the roof and running through the area you are mentioning.
I've read that the seals are supposed to be treated with silicone grease to keep them soft. Wondering if that might help. Does Autozone carry "silicone grease"? Not sure exactly what I am looking for, maybe Permatex makes something? Don't know.
I've read that the seals are supposed to be treated with silicone grease to keep them soft. Wondering if that might help. Does Autozone carry "silicone grease"? Not sure exactly what I am looking for, maybe Permatex makes something? Don't know.
This is what you're supposed to be using:
GM WEATHERSTRIPPING LUBRICANT
PART #3634770
You're supposed to at least once a year.
This is what you're supposed to be using:
GM WEATHERSTRIPPING LUBRICANT
PART #3634770
This is what you're supposed to be using:
GM WEATHERSTRIPPING LUBRICANT
PART #3634770
FWIW-I only hand wash mine or just spray rinse the dust of at the car wash, when I do, I never hit the top, just the metal areas...I cant imagine their are people that take their vert thru a drive thru car wash...wow, crazy.
On The Tree
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: Northvale, NJ
Mine leaks at that exact spot, on the drivers side, only when driving. It seems that the stream of water coming off the windshield, and running along the drivers window crosses that spot in the outside, and runs into that junction. When stopped, the leak stops.
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,447
Likes: 6
From: Grand Junction, CO / Tomball, TX
Guys are your tops easy or hard to lock down? I would think if you adjusted your latches to make it harder to lock into place that it might get a better seal? Just a guess.
Check the seals around your spoiler posts. Also i heard that if you park your car on an incline with the front facing down then water can get wet inside
On The Tree
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi Texas
the tops have a few moving parts that need to be tightened once in a while. my wife's 97 vert top almost fell off if i didn't take the time to look at all the linkage one day. all it took was a torx bit and some yoga hand moves. now that i think about it i should have put some locktite while i was there. that takes care if the mechanical part.
the other part is weatherstripping. i'll start at the front. my sleeve was getting the dripped on. i looked at the it when the top was down and all looked normal. then looked at the other side and noticed the difference. at the top there is a bowl shaped end piece that mates with the top when it comes down. if you cup your hand that is what it looks like. well, there was a piece of the rubber that had been folded over somehow and it made a little space for water to drain through. the fix for me right now is to hold it flat till i lock the top down. now for the back.
look at the weatherstipping at the top of the window at the top back corner. mine hangs a bit lower than it should. as the top comes down to close, it hits a guide and it should line up. mine needs some adjusting, maybe this weekend. right now i push out on the top as it comes down and it lines up perfect. that's it for the back.
i can't say i've noticed any water in my trunk though.
that takes care of the top parts. the window needs to be adjusted as well. you can tilt, rotate, raise, and lower the thing. it takes some trial and error though not to mention patienece. the door is made of fiberglass i think which means be very carefull not to crak it.
i did my best to describe things and i'll try to post some pics later. hopes this helps.
now, i wish i could find a quick fix for that g**dam hump in the passenger side.
the other part is weatherstripping. i'll start at the front. my sleeve was getting the dripped on. i looked at the it when the top was down and all looked normal. then looked at the other side and noticed the difference. at the top there is a bowl shaped end piece that mates with the top when it comes down. if you cup your hand that is what it looks like. well, there was a piece of the rubber that had been folded over somehow and it made a little space for water to drain through. the fix for me right now is to hold it flat till i lock the top down. now for the back.
look at the weatherstipping at the top of the window at the top back corner. mine hangs a bit lower than it should. as the top comes down to close, it hits a guide and it should line up. mine needs some adjusting, maybe this weekend. right now i push out on the top as it comes down and it lines up perfect. that's it for the back.
i can't say i've noticed any water in my trunk though.
that takes care of the top parts. the window needs to be adjusted as well. you can tilt, rotate, raise, and lower the thing. it takes some trial and error though not to mention patienece. the door is made of fiberglass i think which means be very carefull not to crak it.
i did my best to describe things and i'll try to post some pics later. hopes this helps.
now, i wish i could find a quick fix for that g**dam hump in the passenger side.
