T-Top Leak
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 491
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From: Newberg, OR
T-Top Leak I figure most of you part your cars inside and probably some don't even drive them in the rain but I'm just not that lucky!
I've got a problem with the drivers side T-Top it just started to leak last year but it wasn't so bad. Only seemed to do it when it really poured. Well this week its kind of been wet and my seat is basically a squishy puddle.
Any advice?
The weather stripping is in great shape and there doesn't seem to be any reason for the leak that I can see. I've also got the tops adjusted so they are tight to the the roof. The plastic cover (the part around the latch) on the window edge fills with water and then it drips down onto the edge of the seat. I was debating on filling that little space between the T-top glass and the plastic with something so it can't fill up but I really hate to do something like that.
Anyone deal with this? I figured who better to ask then people in the PNW
Jess
I've got a problem with the drivers side T-Top it just started to leak last year but it wasn't so bad. Only seemed to do it when it really poured. Well this week its kind of been wet and my seat is basically a squishy puddle.
Any advice?
The weather stripping is in great shape and there doesn't seem to be any reason for the leak that I can see. I've also got the tops adjusted so they are tight to the the roof. The plastic cover (the part around the latch) on the window edge fills with water and then it drips down onto the edge of the seat. I was debating on filling that little space between the T-top glass and the plastic with something so it can't fill up but I really hate to do something like that.
Anyone deal with this? I figured who better to ask then people in the PNW
Jess
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Joined: Nov 2005
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So it's pooling up in the outter corners of the roof where the rods latch than? If I had to guess your window might need a little bit of adjusting to get a tighter seal with the aging of the rubber and little bit of shrinking. If you take off the door panel you will see some nuts and grooves in the panel that allow for some adjustment. Is a nice write up somewhere on the forum with pictures too.
I know you said you adjusted the Ttops latching points but just make sure the rubber on the ttop drops into the one on the body of the car. There is a little lip on the seal from the car that the ttop ideally falls into and the weight/latching just force a seal.
I know you said you adjusted the Ttops latching points but just make sure the rubber on the ttop drops into the one on the body of the car. There is a little lip on the seal from the car that the ttop ideally falls into and the weight/latching just force a seal.
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 491
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From: Newberg, OR
So it's pooling up in the outter corners of the roof where the rods latch than? If I had to guess your window might need a little bit of adjusting to get a tighter seal with the aging of the rubber and little bit of shrinking. If you take off the door panel you will see some nuts and grooves in the panel that allow for some adjustment. Is a nice write up somewhere on the forum with pictures too.
I know you said you adjusted the Ttops latching points but just make sure the rubber on the ttop drops into the one on the body of the car. There is a little lip on the seal from the car that the ttop ideally falls into and the weight/latching just force a seal.
I know you said you adjusted the Ttops latching points but just make sure the rubber on the ttop drops into the one on the body of the car. There is a little lip on the seal from the car that the ttop ideally falls into and the weight/latching just force a seal.
Jess
On The Tree
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 104
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From: Portland Area
Interesting. I did experience a very small leak in the same spot last year during a monsoon, it was raining dawgs. But nothing since . Until you get it fixed, take some plastic and put it there when you're not inside. I did that for a while while fighting a 3rd gen leak. Kept the seatie nice and dry. I just had to carefully dump the puddle from the plastic before getting in. T-Money has leaks since he got sandwiched a bit, perhaps this window adjustment idea can help oth of you. Thanks, RAWR
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2012
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From: Newberg, OR
I've been sick most of last week and into this one, so I only got out to the car 2 times this weekend. It was a nice little lake 
I'm seriously thinking of selling it and getting a truck at this point...
I'm seriously thinking of selling it and getting a truck at this point... On The Tree
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 104
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From: Portland Area
That sucks. Got rid o my 87 Formy cuz of leaks. Maybe when you get better you can solve it. I'd get a beater truck and save up for a real fbody with an LS, incase you give up on it. If not, there's gotta be a way to fix it. I don't think 4th gens are known for leaking.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2012
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From: Newberg, OR
That sucks. Got rid o my 87 Formy cuz of leaks. Maybe when you get better you can solve it. I'd get a beater truck and save up for a real fbody with an LS, incase you give up on it. If not, there's gotta be a way to fix it. I don't think 4th gens are known for leaking.
I may just redo the weatherstripping or have it redone this summer if I still want to keep the car.
The only reason i didn't get a V8 was to save money on gas
It took a lot of convincing myself to not get an LS1!Jessica
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Verdad Gallardo On The Tree
Joined: Feb 2012
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From: Portland Area
Hope you're feelin better Jess. Just food for thought, my LS was getting between 28 to 30 mpg on the hgwy with 3:08 gears after the downgrade from 3:23 due to the axle change. If I were you, I'd dump the sixer and the camino and get a really clean 4th gen with a motor. Just my opinion. PS: and a good cheap as hell beater. I got lucky and found the 97 blazer with 89k for 1,500 bucks. The berd sits as a weekend warrior like it should.
On The Tree
Joined: Feb 2012
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From: Portland Area
There's some sweet deals out there right now. Lotsa chances to have a faster car than mine. Lol. Check the SsSteven craigslist thread. I'd be all over Charlies car if I had the cash. Only 9 grand. Lotsa car for the money.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2012
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From: Newberg, OR
I'm sticking with the Camaro and the Camino for the time being. I'm just taking it slow as far as the car stuff is going right now, I've got a few projects and maintenance to do but I'm in no big rush.
Besides the El Camino was my first car and I've had it since 2000 so it really isn't going anywhere. As for the Camaro its a good little driver with a few modifications so it isn't horrible and I don't mind it being a v6; plus fixing these little things is still less money than going out to get another car with its own problems.
On the other hand I have been putting off any major work on the Camaro in the hopes that someone will hit it and I'll be able to get a new car through insurance...I don't think people see my car well because I almost always have someone try to hit it while I'm driving.
Besides the El Camino was my first car and I've had it since 2000 so it really isn't going anywhere. As for the Camaro its a good little driver with a few modifications so it isn't horrible and I don't mind it being a v6; plus fixing these little things is still less money than going out to get another car with its own problems.
On the other hand I have been putting off any major work on the Camaro in the hopes that someone will hit it and I'll be able to get a new car through insurance...I don't think people see my car well because I almost always have someone try to hit it while I'm driving.
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 67
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From: Portland, OR
There are some small drain holes that run through the weather stripping around the door/window. Water goes into the stripping through a hole near where the t-top latches down and comes out the bottom at the door sill front and back. Check and make sure these holes aren't clogged up with something. My 98 leaks a little bit as well, but new weather stripping is spendy so I just deal with a few drips. I also have to park nose up in the driveway(opposite how you parked in your sig) or water pools up under the hatch where it turns up to the b pillar and runs into the back seat area then into the floor up front. My 94 doesn't leak at all and there's a 1/2" between the window and the rubber at the triangle piece right above the rear of the door, go figure.
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 491
Likes: 128
From: Newberg, OR
There are some small drain holes that run through the weather stripping around the door/window. Water goes into the stripping through a hole near where the t-top latches down and comes out the bottom at the door sill front and back. Check and make sure these holes aren't clogged up with something. My 98 leaks a little bit as well, but new weather stripping is spendy so I just deal with a few drips. I also have to park nose up in the driveway(opposite how you parked in your sig) or water pools up under the hatch where it turns up to the b pillar and runs into the back seat area then into the floor up front. My 94 doesn't leak at all and there's a 1/2" between the window and the rubber at the triangle piece right above the rear of the door, go figure.
Yeah I figured those little holes were there for a reason. I usually park the car nose up where the El Camino is in my sig. It only very rarely gets wet. Its parking in the lot at work that is driving me nuts. The darn thing leaks right on the seat bolster and it gets the entire seat soggy
I'm going to check out the weather stripping again (whenever it isn't freezing outside!)Jess
