rear window rubber problem(still)

[swbratton]

1988 carrera 3.2, I'm still having problems fitting the plastic insert trim into the rear window rubber on my car. Has anyone out there actually fitted one of these, if so, please let me know.
Or do I need to take it to a windsceen specialist.

[78targa]

This must be some junior member rite of passage. I ran into a similar self-inflicted issue with trying to reinstall the trim onto an already installed rear Targa window.

Duh! I will never do that again. It took an estimated 12 hours to get one side back in place.

What I found worked best was taking a small flathead screwdriver (one of those all metal kind for small projects) and bending it into a hook like a dental pick (I heated with a torch to do this). I then used this tool to pull the rubber lip back just enough so the trim would catch. I also had my wife inside the car pushing out with the blunt end of a screwdriver (or hammer) to firm up the rubber seal when I pushed in the trim. I started at one end and worked towards the other.

Admittedly I got frustrated after the 10th hour or so...lots of soft taps with a rubber mallet on the trim really helped seat it. Again the wife was inside the car pushing out.

Overall, it worked but it was very tedious and I had to walk away from it alot. You mentioned your trim was plastic. Careful with that because I thought it was metal, I know mine is, and easy to bend.

I also found using an allen wrench worked in the begining, but the "dental pick" ended up being more flexable. Make sure your screwdriver is big enough not to cut into the rubber when you use it.

If you aren't interested in spending that kind of time (I might be able to do it in 2 hours now) I suggest having the glass pulled as I believe the trim is supposed to be installed before the glass goes on your car. $100 or so depending on where you take it.

Ok, my $.02. Bottom line, I know it can be done at least one way...

[andyjboy]

If you really are trying to insert a PLASTIC trim piece into the rear screen rubber, that is the root cause of the problem - it's supposed to be metal !!

The trim (insert) for both the front & rear screens is made up of two different (shaped) aluminium sections which meet in the mid-point of the rubber at the top & bottom of the screen, these joints being hidden by small (1.25") 'cover' pieces.

The aluminium trim pieces need to be put into the rubber BEFORE the whole screen/rubber/trim is fitted to the car & it is worth spending time to get the shape of the metal trim correct before inserting it into the rubber. Check out previous (numerous) threads on this board (using the 'search' facility) for more detailed descriptions.

If you're not going to do this yourself & are going to use a "professional" then make sure that they have extensive previous experience with Porsche 911s - the aluminium trims are expensive & easily bent out of shape to the extent that you will never get them seating correctly.

Andy Boyle (UK)
'69 911E