Convertible Leaking issues?

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Oct 30, 2012 | 08:10 AM

Fly Girl

Thread Starter

Heel & Toe

Joined: Oct 2012

Posts: 22

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Convertible Leaking issues?

Hi guys,
What with living in the Pacific North West, we do see our share of RAIN!!!!!! LOL
I noticed yesterday, that I had Rain water dripping down my Passenger side of the car.....slowing running down or dripping down the window and the door panel of the car.
No......it is not because my window is not all the way up.....Duh.....I checked that! lol
No.....it is not because my door is not properly closed, either.
My question to you guys is.....where do I begin to locate the leak?
Do you think....that it could be the weather stripping around the door itself?
Or.....is the problem, with the soft top itself?
I first noticed it on the weekend, when I was washing the car.
But I just wrote it off at the time, to it being me, pointing the hose directly at the window.
Yesterdays "Down Pour" changed that theory.
So......what do you guys think?
Your advice and help would be much appreciated.

Oct 30, 2012 | 08:16 AM

Todds427

Burning Brakes

Joined: Nov 2011

Posts: 1,030

Likes: 54

From: Chandler, AZ

St. Jude Donor '12

I would recommend that you move to this side of the mountains where we don't get all that rain

then next I would say my vert leaked at the top back corner of the window, it had something to do with the top and window seal not being lined up right and when I shut the door it did not make a good seal. Some adjusting of the top and now it works just fine! Good luck.

Oct 30, 2012 | 08:42 AM

Kehraus

Racer

Joined: Jun 2011

Posts: 252

Likes: 26

From: Salem Oregon

I have a daily driver convertible in Oregon.....................

Wipe your window trims with silicone oil, and put dab of silicone
grease in the joints where the pieces come together when the
top is up.

Also check the fit of the trim pieces when the top is up. They should
line up and not have gaps.

I wipe my window edge and trim pieces with a dry towel if a leak
starts and then close the door and make sure the leak is stopped.

Think of all the nice days when you had the top down. That
and a couple small hand towels that coordinate with your interior
should help get you over a little water intrusion.

I am also considering one of those 'top hat' covers.
Anybody have experience with one of those?

Oct 30, 2012 | 10:07 AM

K-Spaz

Team Owner

Joined: Jul 2012

Posts: 34,479

Likes: 532

From: Central PA. - - My AR15 identifies as a muzzleloader

I believe in the Beer Fairy

No, it is not the ragtop causing the leaks. As stated above, your weatherstrips are not making good contact. The extrusions that contain them are adjustable (within limits) and you can move them in and out a good bit. As long as your window hardware isn't broken, (window itself flopping around), then all you need to do is either reset those weatherstrips, clean and grease as mentioned above, or replace them. Depends on the severity of the issue.

3M weatherstrip adhesive is available most anywhere, and you can disassemble the weatherstrips and reinstall fairly easily. Be forewarned to stay away from the rearmost parts, as those extrusions are riveted in place and will require more work to deal with. The top pieces, the ones you're concerned with, can be done with your hands and either a #2 phillips or a T15.

Good luck.
/edit
Also, don't let your top down for days at a time. It's bad for the weatherstrips. They take a set in a compressed position. Takes days for them to expand again then.

Last edited by K-Spaz; Oct 30, 2012 at 10:10 AM.

Oct 30, 2012 | 11:12 AM

rbrtclk

Racer

Joined: Nov 2005

Posts: 346

Likes: 0

What year is your Vette? If it is 8years or older, you may have a problem with the rear window coming loose around the edges. I had a leak for six months I could not find, one day, the rear window dropped out. It is a common Vert problem. On this Forum there is the "Rhino Glue" fix. It seems to be the only fix that works longterm. I did mine, and now it is as dry as a bone. Hope this helps.

Oct 30, 2012 | 01:03 PM

Chilliwack vettes

Melting Slicks

Joined: Aug 2006

Posts: 3,270

Likes: 29

From: Chilliwack B.C.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fly Girl

Hi guys,
What with living in the Pacific North West, we do see our share of RAIN!!!!!! LOL
...

I think we get more than our share!

Try this link. There was a post with a drawing of the screws you need to adjust but I couldn't find it.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...struction.html

I used a hose to determine the exact (or close) area where the leak was. I didn't need to blast the car with water - just enough to find the leak.

Oct 30, 2012 | 10:30 PM

Vetteman Jack

Administrator

Joined: Mar 2001

Posts: 367,760

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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.

C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021

MO Events Coordinator

St. Jude Co-Organizer

St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25

NCM Sinkhole Donor

CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran

I have a really large file (7+ MB) in Word that talks about water leaks on the C5. It's too large to use the attachment feature here on the forum, but if you'd like a copy of the file, just PM me your e-mail address.

Oct 30, 2012 | 11:27 PM

Fly Girl

Thread Starter

Heel & Toe

Joined: Oct 2012

Posts: 22

Likes: 0

Thanks everyone,
I sure appreciate all of your advice and help.
I have a 2003 Anniversary Edition convertible.
The windows are all very tight and not loose at all.
I'll have a look and see, if I am able to adjust the weather stripping on my passenger side window.
I did pick up some Silicone today and applied it to my weather stripping, but......I am sure, that some kind of adjustment is required on the trim.
I'll let you know, if this helps.
Thanks again.