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convertible top leak help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Old 03-20-03, 12:37 PM
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convertible top leak help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i have a 1991 rx-7 convertible when it rains by the top of the door it leaks any one know how to fix thanks
Old 03-20-03, 12:58 PM
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replace the seals.

Victoria british has the cheapest replacements that I have found.

Generally the seal on the a pillar is the first to go as it has that small flap peice designed to catch the water that slips through.

The targa sections middle seals at each door window also take a beating and are ususally worn out after 10 years/100K miles. You can tell is those need replacing by if there is wind noise coming in from the top of the window while driving.
Old 03-23-03, 02:08 PM
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I need seals too whats their email address
Old 03-23-03, 03:49 PM
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http://www.victoriabritish.com/

Free catalogs too.
Old 03-24-03, 08:12 AM
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While someone's on the topic any tips for prolonging a splitting seam? My right side top seam is starting to come apart, should I just leave it alone or try to glue/patch? They should have seamed the top across the car instead of front to back so when it folds it would not pull on seam!
Old 03-24-03, 10:00 AM
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Where is it coming apart??? It is common for the tops to rip, just behind the doors on each side, as most people do not use a top dressing after every wash, or they operate the top at temps under 50 F or that location is the highest stretch point.

If it is ripped, the top should be replaced. There are a few people that have sewn the rips back closed, then rubber silicone the rip, but that is les than optimal and should be considered only a temporary repair until a new top can be purchased.
Old 03-24-03, 10:50 AM
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I have repaired my top in the place that Icemark describes,
I removed all the attaching bolts to take the stress off the
material, cleaned the surface inside and out with cottorol
(not sure on the spelling) then applied
a bead of aquaseal, (for repair of scuba wet suits) let
dry then applied a thin coat to the inside and imbedded
a patch of cordura fabric for strength, the repair if
done right is hard to even notice and is as strong or
stronger than new, if you are creative you could find a
pigment to add to the aquaseal and color it black to
make the repair even harder to see, but at the time
all I wanted to do was stop the leak.

matt
Old 03-24-03, 10:52 AM
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Just got the car last year, also have the just behind the doors rips you mentioned. Car is only a nice weather toy so I'll probably leave it alone wait until necessary to replace. Thanks for the advise, was just curious if any fixes. I was also thinking of leaving the top down while in the garage to reduce the stress.
Old 03-24-03, 11:01 AM
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Originally posted by pmr2000
I was also thinking of leaving the top down while in the garage to reduce the stress.
actually the other way around... the top up has less stress than top down as it is pulling everything into the correct place. Top down, and the vinyl is folded and bent.
Old 03-24-03, 10:40 PM
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Has anyone seen the cloth top on a Rex that Robbins offers. I saw an SL 500 Mercedes with a super nice top and thought something like that would look pimp on my car but the materials alone cost $900.
Old 09-04-03, 02:07 PM
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My 88 is leaking badly on the right side, bottom left side where it meets the body, just behind the driver's door.

I held a hose there yesterday and the left rear floor flooded fast.

I noticed there are drain tubes there when the spare tire cover was out.

Any ideas?
Old 09-04-03, 02:09 PM
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i need thoes seals that go around the outside of your window, whats hoes called?
Old 09-04-03, 02:13 PM
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The are called roof panel seals. 50 buxs a shot
Old 09-06-03, 06:58 AM
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Found it, fixed it... there are drains in the sides of the outside of the top, filled with junk... now a hose at full blast drains out the bottom of the car where the drain leads, not into the car.
Old 09-06-03, 02:02 PM
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5200 Cloth Top

I used black Dupont 5200 sealant on for repairs on 89.

Someone cut the Targa top. West Epoxy has a release fabric with a pattern almost matching the original top.
I filled the cut (metal under cloth in center section) with 5200. Put patterned cloth over cut and put brick on top. 24 hours later an almost acceptable fix.

Also used 5200 on side/rear split/tear. 5200 avail at marine store. Once it sticks, it sticks.

Also have new cloth euro top on the 91 I bought. I was not so impressed with the look, until I found out how much more it was than the original replacement vinyl! Get the unlined material. Euro cars like the porsche have cheep top construction (no liner) so the fabric needs to be patterened on the inside. With the 7's liner you do not need to pay for the cloth with inside pattern since it will be covered up.
Old 09-08-03, 09:45 PM
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When it rains, take the other car.

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