How to fix T-tops Leaking

mattdouken · 12-17-2008, 06:15 PM

This is another write up I am doing on how to stop your tops from leaking from the door seals.I should charge for this info....Anyways it is very simple and I have tested my car vigorously to make sure it doesn't leak.

Flooding the top of my car with a hose and 2 weeks of raining and the tops have still not leaked.Edit::still has not leaked to this date of 7-31-9...

You will need a roll of electrical tape and a razor blade..

All you do is put the tape in layers one on top of another 6 to 7 times on the seal located on the T-top itself where it touches the seal on the door jam.

Take the top off the car.Flip the top over and put one piece of tape horizontally starting at the bottom of the seal, then another piece over lapping the first piece slightly, then repeat starting at the bottom again.do this 6 to 7 times for a tight seal...then cut away the side of the tape to match the groves of the seals..it should look like this..

Edit:New pics- so you can see better..

mr.asian.m2 · 12-17-2008, 06:38 PM

can't see where you place the tape

mr29180 · 12-17-2008, 06:58 PM

+1!!! matt cant see it lol!

Luni · 12-17-2008, 09:13 PM

I can see it. Its right on the end.

masagsxr · 12-18-2008, 12:24 AM

Sweet... I need to do this for my passenger side T-top.... thanks for the writeup.

By the way.. set your camera on "macro" if you want to take a better closeup picture... Macro is the one with the little flower icon on the camera settings

Ku-sama · 12-18-2008, 12:26 AM

I guess I'll give this a try, my car is starting to smell like mold

mattdouken · 12-18-2008, 06:51 PM

Ok I changed the pics to better ones,and I pointed out the tape.Hope this helps because it works for me.If there are anymore questions just ask.

countyboy3188 · 12-18-2008, 07:03 PM

New pictures are way better. Thanks for the write up mine need this on the driver side.

JDM Factory · 12-18-2008, 07:27 PM

awesome write up

mr.asian.m2 · 12-18-2008, 08:01 PM

thanks for better pics. now i can fix my t-top

Mark_Dorman · 01-12-2009, 03:44 PM

Awesome Job...I did this with a cut thick rubberband but it falls out when I take them off. Good thinking

NoFear1911 · 01-29-2009, 11:18 AM

sweeet im doing this right now way better then a plastic bag :/ lol

+1 with nikn this needs stickied

nikn · 01-29-2009, 11:23 AM

this should be stickied cuz every1's ttop leaks!

Mark_Dorman · 01-29-2009, 11:52 AM

Indysw20 · 07-30-2009, 03:07 PM

I bought my mr2 and it did not leak in a light to moderate rain while driving down the highway. I left my mr2 parked outside at work during a down pour and my passenger seat was soaked. I tried adjusting the rings in the top and that did not work. The water was coming though where the front of the T-top met the front of the seal. I applied a few layers of tape like in the pictures and no leaks so far, which is great. I will update everyone to how the electrical tape holds up. I live in Indianapolis and it gets just as hot as it does cold so the tape will be put to the test. I might make a trip to a local vendor here in Indy that specializes in 3m products and see what they have. But for the cost of one roll of electrical tape its budget friendly

Indysw20 · 07-30-2009, 03:08 PM

I forgot to say thanks Matt you are a wallet saver

mattdouken · 07-30-2009, 04:38 PM

also a new tip i recently learned,if you spray some lithuim grease (the spray kind in a can)on the seals of the tops and the car itself and let the grease sit for a min or two,it makes the seals swell up a little......

My tops are going on 6 months with no leaks with this method and thats with taking the tops on and off..

Indysw20 · 07-30-2009, 04:45 PM

Do you let the grease stay on or do you wipe it off after it sits? I am all for doing things to prolong the life of the seals since they are so expensive.

mattdouken · 07-30-2009, 05:09 PM

you wipe it off.......

tstoney82 · 07-30-2009, 05:24 PM

ive also heard that you can use black silicon gasket maker. from what i understand, all you do is apply the gasket maker to the t-top seal, then rub a small amount of vasaline on the body side where the gasket meets (this will keep the gasket maker from sticking to the body side seals)put the tops on and let it sit for about 30-45 minutes. after it dries, take the tops off and wipe off the vasaline and it should seal. i havent tested this yet, but ive heard of people doing it on 2's and some 300zx's around here and they said it works. i'll give it a shot and post the results.

12-17-2008, 06:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
mattdouken Midship Runner... Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: High Point,NC Posts: 198 Thanks: 23 Thanked 15 Times in 7 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	How to fix T-tops Leaking This is another write up I am doing on how to stop your tops from leaking from the door seals.I should charge for this info....Anyways it is very simple and I have tested my car vigorously to make sure it doesn't leak. Flooding the top of my car with a hose and 2 weeks of raining and the tops have still not leaked.Edit::still has not leaked to this date of 7-31-9... You will need a roll of electrical tape and a razor blade.. All you do is put the tape in layers one on top of another 6 to 7 times on the seal located on the T-top itself where it touches the seal on the door jam. Take the top off the car.Flip the top over and put one piece of tape horizontally starting at the bottom of the seal, then another piece over lapping the first piece slightly, then repeat starting at the bottom again.do this 6 to 7 times for a tight seal...then cut away the side of the tape to match the groves of the seals..it should look like this.. Edit:New pics- so you can see better.. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by mattdouken; 07-31-2009 at 07:00 PM. Reason: New pics

01-29-2009, 11:18 AM	#12 (permalink)
NoFear1911 No Skills Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Allenwood,pa Posts: 26 Thanks: 5 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	sweeet im doing this right now way better then a plastic bag :/ lol +1 with nikn this needs stickied Last edited by NoFear1911; 01-29-2009 at 12:17 PM. Reason: agreein with nikn

07-30-2009, 03:07 PM	#15 (permalink)
Indysw20 Noob for now Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 53 Thanks: 8 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	This fix works I bought my mr2 and it did not leak in a light to moderate rain while driving down the highway. I left my mr2 parked outside at work during a down pour and my passenger seat was soaked. I tried adjusting the rings in the top and that did not work. The water was coming though where the front of the T-top met the front of the seal. I applied a few layers of tape like in the pictures and no leaks so far, which is great. I will update everyone to how the electrical tape holds up. I live in Indianapolis and it gets just as hot as it does cold so the tape will be put to the test. I might make a trip to a local vendor here in Indy that specializes in 3m products and see what they have. But for the cost of one roll of electrical tape its budget friendly

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FLMR2s.com • View topic - Who's T-tops leak? I want ethier sides answers!	This thread	Refback	09-08-2009 03:26 PM
FLMR2s.com • View topic - Who's T-tops leak? I want ethier sides answers!	This thread	Refback	09-05-2009 03:09 PM

12-17-2008, 06:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
mr.asian.m2 SoCal/houston's mr2 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: houston texas Posts: 1,274 Thanks: 20 Thanked 21 Times in 19 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	can't see where you place the tape

12-17-2008, 06:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
mr29180 Cage fighter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Frisco (bay area) Posts: 870 Thanks: 1 Thanked 29 Times in 25 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	+1!!! matt cant see it lol!

12-17-2008, 09:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
Luni ST185 Powered SW20 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Salt Lake City Utah Posts: 2,961 Thanks: 9 Thanked 106 Times in 92 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (8/100% )	I can see it. Its right on the end.

12-18-2008, 12:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
masagsxr Cage Fighter Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Norwalk, CA Posts: 3,238 Thanks: 1 Thanked 76 Times in 76 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Sweet... I need to do this for my passenger side T-top.... thanks for the writeup. By the way.. set your camera on "macro" if you want to take a better closeup picture... Macro is the one with the little flower icon on the camera settings

12-18-2008, 12:26 AM	#6 (permalink)
Ku-sama Cage Fighter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Germantown, MD Posts: 1,466 Thanks: 8 Thanked 31 Times in 31 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	I guess I'll give this a try, my car is starting to smell like mold

12-18-2008, 06:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
mattdouken Midship Runner... Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: High Point,NC Posts: 198 Thanks: 23 Thanked 15 Times in 7 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Ok I changed the pics to better ones,and I pointed out the tape.Hope this helps because it works for me.If there are anymore questions just ask.

12-18-2008, 07:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
countyboy3188 3s-gte swap under way!! Join Date: May 2007 Location: Buchanan,GA Posts: 480 Thanks: 15 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (6/100% )	New pictures are way better. Thanks for the write up mine need this on the driver side.

12-18-2008, 07:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
JDM Factory My 3vz can eat a ct26 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 211 Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (6/100% )	awesome write up

12-18-2008, 08:01 PM	#10 (permalink)
mr.asian.m2 SoCal/houston's mr2 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: houston texas Posts: 1,274 Thanks: 20 Thanked 21 Times in 19 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	thanks for better pics. now i can fix my t-top

01-12-2009, 03:44 PM	#11 (permalink)
Mark_Dorman And the V6 swap continues Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 4,134 Thanks: 75 Thanked 72 Times in 68 Posts Blog Entries: 1 iTrader Rating: (19/100% )	Awesome Job...I did this with a cut thick rubberband but it falls out when I take them off. Good thinking

01-29-2009, 11:23 AM	#13 (permalink)
nikn Cage Fighter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: dirty jerzey Posts: 144 Thanks: 11 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (5/100% )	this should be stickied cuz every1's ttop leaks!

01-29-2009, 11:52 AM	#14 (permalink)
Mark_Dorman And the V6 swap continues Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 4,134 Thanks: 75 Thanked 72 Times in 68 Posts Blog Entries: 1 iTrader Rating: (19/100% )	+1

07-30-2009, 03:08 PM	#16 (permalink)
Indysw20 Noob for now Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 53 Thanks: 8 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I forgot to say thanks Matt you are a wallet saver

07-30-2009, 04:38 PM	#17 (permalink)
mattdouken Midship Runner... Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: High Point,NC Posts: 198 Thanks: 23 Thanked 15 Times in 7 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	also a new tip i recently learned,if you spray some lithuim grease (the spray kind in a can)on the seals of the tops and the car itself and let the grease sit for a min or two,it makes the seals swell up a little...... My tops are going on 6 months with no leaks with this method and thats with taking the tops on and off..

07-30-2009, 04:45 PM	#18 (permalink)
Indysw20 Noob for now Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 53 Thanks: 8 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Do you let the grease stay on or do you wipe it off after it sits? I am all for doing things to prolong the life of the seals since they are so expensive.

07-30-2009, 05:09 PM	#19 (permalink)
mattdouken Midship Runner... Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: High Point,NC Posts: 198 Thanks: 23 Thanked 15 Times in 7 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	you wipe it off.......

07-30-2009, 05:24 PM	#20 (permalink)
tstoney82 shop bitch Join Date: May 2009 Location: clayton nc Posts: 395 Thanks: 11 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	ive also heard that you can use black silicon gasket maker. from what i understand, all you do is apply the gasket maker to the t-top seal, then rub a small amount of vasaline on the body side where the gasket meets (this will keep the gasket maker from sticking to the body side seals)put the tops on and let it sit for about 30-45 minutes. after it dries, take the tops off and wipe off the vasaline and it should seal. i havent tested this yet, but ive heard of people doing it on 2's and some 300zx's around here and they said it works. i'll give it a shot and post the results.