Fixing Leaking T-Top Seals

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Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 21:08:54 -0800
From: Ken Farrell 
Subject: MR2 re: leaky t tops : the solution, long

Since a few people have posted about leaking T's I thought I would
repost
a condensed text of instructions and such on fixing the problem, I have
posted them before, but I think it stands repeating
Here are the part #'s for the fix, I used only the shaft guide, but they

are cheap enough to get both and save them for later
 63283-17040 = exentric shaft guide
 63284-17030 = exentric pocket
 these #'s are written down by hand in my book, so you should check them

I haven't found instructuons anywhere but the BGB
Left and right are the same, BTW I'm talking about MKII T's here, I hope
you are too.... If your weather strip is shot, it will still leak...

Hope this makes sense, It comes right out of the BGB but I can't send
the pics., so I will try to elaborate a little. I have done this twice
with no dammage, but remember if you screw it up, it's your problem.
Never drive with a T that isn't fully locked !

1) remove the T's from the car, leave the pins in the retracted
position.
2) Remove the two screws, one on each end of the plastic cover.
3) There are 2 controls, one that rotates one that slides, pull the
slider controll knob straight off.
4) This is the only part that might be hard to understand. Place the T
upside down on a table with the glass end facing towards you. Use
Padding
5)With the rotating controll knob in the unlock position, loop a 2-3"
wide piece of shop rag over this controll, holding onto one end of the
rag with each hand, work the rag into the crack where the controll meets
the plastic body. Pull alternatly on each end of the rag. If you do this
right, the bent wire clip will catch on the rag and pop out. Now the
controll will slide off it's spline.
(it's in the book!)
6) Spreading the ends slightly, work the cover up and towards the
imaginary center of the car, there are 2 clips that you must pop, near
the middle, where the cover meets the glass.
7) You should now see the machenery, note, if your lock rod guides are
already ecsentric, just loosten the lock screw and adjust. Otherwhise,
with a pliers, grip the lock guides and rotate, sliding them outwards.
8) Now, insert the new lock guides, you will need a screw to stop them
from rotating, see the tapped hole? It's metric of course.
9) Test fit the T untill you are happy, very small adjustments make a
big differance! Then tighten the lock screws.
10) Snap the cover back on, working backwards.
11) slip the wire smap into it's grove in the ratating controll, and
slide the controll onto it's spline, It only goes one way, rock side to
side to start it.
12)Don't forget the sliding knob cover and the two end screws
13) enjoy your tighter, hopfully non leaking T's !

I haven't done the female guides, but it looks like it involves removing
the side moulding and poping them out you need one guide for each corner
you want to adjust, I ordered the pockets too but ended up not
installing them as the guides alone gave enough adjustment and were much
easier to get to.  In any case their cheap, I bagged the extras and put
them in the front trunk for future use.
good luck,
Ken 91T, no leaks! few creaks!

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Date: Thu, 19 Mar 1998 19:25:54 +1300
From: scott.scott@xtra.co.nz
Subject: Re: MR2 Leaking T-Tops  / Glen Glassford

Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 06:27:50 -0600
From: Glen Glassford 
Subject: MR2 Leaking T-Tops

Well, the topic speaks for itself.  Anyone have any good fixes for
leaking T-Tops short of replacing the rubber seals/gaskets??  It leaks
badly at the interface where the T-Top pins engage the roof.  I have
tried repositioning them several times and sometimes this helps, but
sooner or later they start leaking again.

Glen Glassford
'91 MKII T

Typing this out for the second time as I think only a part of the first
edition got sent - (new to the wonders of e-mail)

Glen, Here's how I cured leaking targas on my wife's MR2. Use black
silicon rubber to build up a bit extra pressure between the butt joints
of the rubber seals - these were the only places that leaked under
application of high pressure water to the car. Spread a thin layer of
silicon over the ends of the rubber seal that is attached to the targa.
About a millimetre thick will do. Cut a square of sandwich wrap and
spread it over the silicon so that there are no air bubbles underneath.
Do this to both ends of the rubber seal. Now put the top in position,
but do not lock it down, this would force out too much silicon - just
push it gently down and leave it overnight. When cured, peel off the
wrap and trim off the squashed out excess with scissors. The addition of
those few fractions of an inch was enough to generate enough 
extra pressure between the ends of the butt joints to completely
eliminate seat-soaking leaks on Su's vehicle. Hope this works for you.

> PS  Interested to have come across a couple of contributions that
> indicate that women drivers of MR2's are few and far between in the US -
> here it seems to be the opposite - most drivers of MR2's and other small
> sports cars such as MX5's seem to be women in New Zealand.  ("Real" men
> drive Landcruisers)
> 
> Bernard and Su Scott
> '91 MkII

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Date: Thu, 19 Mar 1998 09:23:50 -0600
From: Jason Pins 
Subject: MR2 Leaking T-Top Fix

A while back someone suggested applying Wesley's Black Magic to the
T-Top seals with the T-Tops out and letting one or two coats soaking in
overnight. Supposed to revitalize the seals.

Jason Pins
CEO Wesley Automotive Chemicals, INC.- Just Kidding!

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