Do targa tops really seal?

[Kckazdude]

Really? I swear it seems like a myth I am chasing trying to get my top to not leak water. Mine leaks water through the front trim between the front of the targa and windsheild and through the dome lamp assembly. New seal, 2 different seal rail, different attachment hardware, RTV and glass sealing tape all have failed to seal my targa. Anything else I can try?

[tbcmorris]

Getting a heardtop ;)


But seriously. Idk. I seams as though you've tried everything. Is it maybe not the seals but what there sealing?

[ValgeKotkas]

Body straight? :D

[tbcmorris]

Body straight? :D

thats what i was refering too ;)

[ms07s]

Been there, done that. I think it may well be impossible to make a targa leak free, and still be functional.

[bmoss85]

mine doesnt leak, idk how old the seals are though. ive had the car for a year now and its never leaked. when i picked the car up it was pouring down rain and i was scared to deat when i sat in it, but it was dry. my top hasnt been off the whole time ive owned it though.

[ms07s]

mine doesnt leak, idk how old the seals are though. ive had the car for a year now and its never leaked. when i picked the car up it was pouring down rain and i was scared to deat when i sat in it, but it was dry. my top hasnt been off the whole time ive owned it though.

Don't ever take it off.

[bmoss85]

Don't ever take it off.

its gonna come off when its warm and when its running. if rains it will be in the garage. if i can get my garage back from the hostile take over from my wife and kids

[Kckazdude]

Getting a heardtop ;)

I am really thinking about this option.


Body straight? :D

Up until Sept it was a stock NA. Even now I am not pushing enough torque to twist it out. As far as I can tell everything checks fairly well.


mine doesnt leak, idk how old the seals are though. ive had the car for a year now and its never leaked. when i picked the car up it was pouring down rain and i was scared to deat when i sat in it, but it was dry. my top hasnt been off the whole time ive owned it though.


Mine never leaked until I took the top off for the first time. Then the ordeal began. It just gets more and more frustrating as time goes on.

[ms07s]

Mine never leaked until I took the top off for the first time. Then the ordeal began. It just gets more and more frustrating as time goes on.

Same. PO RTVed the thing on. After I removed it it has been one fix after another. I have done every fix I could find on this forum and all 4 seals are brand new....still leaks.

[Poodles]

Yes, they wouldn't have been able to sell em if they never sealed :rofl:

Sounds like:
- Bad install on the gaskets (sorry if this offends you, just saying)
- The targa isn't installed correctly. Tighten the back two bolts, the driver's side front, and then the passenger side front. Not doing it in this order will cause it to leak, rattle, and you can strip out the bolts.
- Targa was straightened. It's supposed to be slightley bent so it applies pressure on the middle of the seals. This is obvious when you bolt one front bolt down.

Did you lubricate the seals when first installing the targa after the seals where installed? They tent to bind and get pulled out of where they need to be without some silicone spray.

It may actually be your windshield leaking though...

[nightmare]

When I got my targa top. It leaked really bad at the outside front corners. My seat was wet everytime it rained. I actually thought about RTV'ing it in until this summer when I can get to changing seals. But I choose to be redneck and put about 4 layers of duct tape in the corners:rofl:. (just to get it by this winter) ... like they say.."If you cant duck it... F@#k it."

[EthanMKIII]

When I got my targa top. It leaked really bad at the outside front corners. My seat was wet everytime it rained. I actually thought about RTV'ing it in until this summer when I can get to changing seals. But I choose to be redneck and put about 4 layers of duct tape in the corners:rofl:. (just to get it by this winter) ... like they say.."If you cant duck it... F@#k it."

I used a rag i tore it into long thin strips then put them between the targa and car worked great!

[jetjock]

Have hope Kck. Mine has never leaked a drop. Original seals too. The only thing thats caused occasional grief is from not popping the trim off to clean out the pillar drains every few years...

[Island_Yota]

my roof comes off alot, previous owner said she used it alot too, still seals perfect, no leaks what so ever, they are pretty new seals at 5 years old I think, have to check the receipts again.

[rtrdpenguin]

Both of mine have sealed just fine =\ Both original seals as far as I can tell too. I took them off and put them back on a LOT too.

[lewis15498]

sometimes mine leaks thru the dome light too, not sure if its the targa or the windshield...

[gaboonviper85]

well i have a hardtop....and i have the same problems lol....so a hardtop is the end all. need my windshield cut out and reglued

[tbcmorris]

Its very hard to take a winsheild out without breaking it.

I got a brand new windsheild for 100 bucks installed. I freaking love it

[Poodles]

Yep, as it's a structural member it's glued in really well.

If it's leaking around the windshield pray there isn't rust...

[Boosted Supra]

Mine never leaks because I never drive her in the rain.

[foreverpsycotic]

Asshole, stop showing off.
Nice e-Shift picture there.
How ya been man, havent talked in a while.

[Boosted Supra]

Asshole, stop showing off.
Nice e-Shift picture there.
How ya been man, havent talked in a while.

Glad you like the new old picture :evil2:

Been here and there, mostly working crazy OT before the end of the year. How's the car?

[gaboonviper85]

Yep, as it's a structural member it's glued in really well.

If it's leaking around the windshield pray there isn't rust...

There is....and plenty of it.....that's why it isn't fixed yet LOL.....

[SupaMan]

Have you tryed vasoline yet? Mine leaked like crazy from the middle and came down into the dome lights and the left side drip rail youd hit the brakes and itd fall all over the left side of you, I took the top off and got her all lathered up with vasoline smacked the top back on and tightened her down.....its been threw 2 hurricanes and i dont know how many florida down pours and it hasnt leaked yet.........prolly will now that i said something tho....

You need to be careful tho if its hot and you use alot of vasoline it will melt and fall on your interior it didnt damage mine but i cant account for anybody elses.

This is only a temp fix it will wear off and I (and you should) plan on buying new seals. IF thats whats wrong (not saying yours are bad)

[Poodles]

That's why I say use the silicone spray. It conditions the seals and they'll swell slightly as well. ;)

[3p141592654]

I agree, silicone spray stops the leaks.

[Kckazdude]

I pulled everything down yesterday afternoon and re-resealed everything again. Put a nice coating of baby powder over it all and set the targa top back in. Will pull it apart this evening after work if it is still leaking and let the baby powder tell me a story. Hopefully I got it right yesterday. My side rails sealed up perfectly the first time I replaced the seals on it. No more of those turning/stopping surprises.

[foreverpsycotic]

Glad you like the new old picture :evil2:

Been here and there, mostly working crazy OT before the end of the year. How's the car?

Still not done, but I got a month or so till I go back to school, so hopefully some progress will happen.

[Keros]

My targa seals are good... I remove it occasionally for nice highway cruises, and it goes back in leak-free... assuming I tighten it properly. My rear hatch seal is another discussion...

Poodles, is the order that critical: dri/s front than pass/s front? I do the two rears good and tight, then whichever front is closest to snug, then the other front to snug, then snug up the rear, then snug down the fronts alternatively, in no particular order. I figured doing one bolt straight to tight, one at a time, wouldn't let the targa sit properly.

[Poodles]

Yes. If you look at the targa you'll notice that the mounting hole is straight in while the passenger side is a slide.

Tightening the passenger side first and you'll end up stripping the driver's side (previous owner did this).

[Who]

^ +1
My targa never leaked. I rushed one day or maybe I was intoxicated when I put the targa back on. Couple of days later it leaked on me. I removed the targa and carefully followed the order and the issue was resolved. If you have the factory sticker on the car it is very specific about how to remove and replace the targa top.

[Supra-Man18]

well on day sum light rain caught me with my top off and i rushed to put it on noticing the car was not on a level surface ( grass ) and i did them out of order all hay wire ( i believe the driver front, then back ,then passenger back and front, and i haven't leaked scince.. the funny thing is before this my top leaked on the driver side from any little sprinkle of water.. Now i dont plan to take the top off for a loooong time..

[Keros]

Yes. If you look at the targa you'll notice that the mounting hole is straight in while the passenger side is a slide.

Tightening the passenger side first and you'll end up stripping the driver's side (previous owner did this).

You wisdom is only exceeded by... umm... I dunno, probably by something.

Thanks Poodles, noted.

[Cycoclown]

i take my targa off all the time and it never leaks.

but then again i follow the diagram. :)

[Kckazdude]

For the record Ifollow the diagram for the same reason Poodles noted. I happened to loo at my top when it was off and made note that there was difference. As for my problem, I took my top off last evening for another inspection. I found much of the body seam filler missing from the leading edge along with a fair amount of surface scale rust. I put the top from my parts car on to give it a try and see if this is where the mystery water comes from. Hasnt rained and I am not standing outside right now with a water hose as it is hovering around the freezing mark here. Will report in when I have an answer.

[lppro]

mine has the original seals and i havent had a problem..

[Spanish Surprise]

So what exactly would I have to replace to stop water from falling onto my lap(or the passengers' which is VERY embarrassing) when ever I brake or turn?

Fernando

[Kckazdude]

It is usually the the side seal rails that leak. However, once these are leaking the side seals are worn or will tear getting them out. At the very least it is recommended that you get the side seals. Then follow this guide.

http://gallery.sanitylapse.com/v/supra/Targa+Seal+Fix+10-28-05/

[ZoomZoomZoom]

Been there, done that. I think it may well be impossible to make a targa leak free, and still be functional.

I replaced all 4 seals this summer as well as the windshield. There is a great write-up in the tech section on how to seal a targa top. I missed a step the first time and got soaked in a downpour. Re-did the seals and it doesn't leak a drop. I had to trim the seals on the targa itself to make them fit (they were from champion toyota). Not everyone has had to do this though.

To find the instructions for removing/installing the targa top, pull down the DS sun visor.

[Kckazdude]

After many setbacks delays and laziness, I now know why water leaks in my car. The good news is it isnt my targa. At least not anymore. The windsheild seal however is totally blown. The water comes in at windsheild and falls into the trim peice between top and windsheild. The front lip is actually held somewhat in place by the windsheild goo (completely non-technical term). Which in turn explians why it was only coming out my sunvisor screws and dome light. Will have the windsheild pullled out Monday to determine if I will keep the car or not.

[tbcmorris]

New windsheild time. I got mine 100 bucks from safco.

[KicknAsphlt]

My targa doesn't leak...and my car's been wrecked a couple times...lol.

[tbcmorris]

Did you not read 2 posts above you....its his windshild

[KicknAsphlt]

Oops...didn't see that post for some reason...but it was late, so...*shrug*

[Gunnar]

Mine used to leak badly. I replaced the seals with new ones and been perfect ever since.
Only time it leaked after that when i forgot to tighten the front bolts of the targa roof.

[HKS_TRD]

Caught this thread in good time, my Targa always leaked from the left hand side, and had a feeling it was not the seals, and it seems most likely the rail. Now I know what to look for and do when the car goes back together after repainting