How do you stop a leak between the targa front seal and the targa side seal?

[randylane]

Any ideas on how to stop a leak between the targa front seal and the targa side seal? Both are brand new and still the car leaks on both passenger and driver sides. Please help. Thanks and best regards, Randy Lane.

[unclerichy]

Last weekend I replaced my side seals above the window. This was on a targa top from another 914 and I noticed something interesting that I haven't had time to check - there seems to be a rubber "stopper" just above the rear latch held down by some allen screws. This is making the rear of the top ride too high and the seals are not mating with the window correctly. I'm gonna check this weekend to see if the original top had this rubber stopper and how deep it is.

Other than that, I can't think of anything.

Rich
'73 1.7
'74 2.0

[John Rogers]

There are several adjustments for the window and/or door to get everything adjusted. First is the inclination of the window from vertical which is done with the adjuster screw at the bottom of the door near the front. Next is the upper limit travel which limits how high the window goes up before it stops. You have to remove the door panel to get to the the stop bolt. Next is the angle of the top of the glass and door as one assembly. If the door is sagging, you can shim the lower hinge and bring the latch and striker into perfect alignment. Usually the door will sag from pin wear at the hinge or some such thing and most never notice since we bang the door shut anyways. There is what seems to be a neopreme block at the rear edge of the door that the back edge of the glass rubs on and if it is missing the glass will sag to the rear of the car. I used the ones from my race car and put them on or street 914. I just went through this a month or so ago with the driver's door on our stock 1974 914 and it took about a full Sat. afternoon to do both sides as I did not want to break anything. Be careful of having the glass go too high and get caught on the top seal and damaging it. Good luck.

[HMeeder]

Randy;

If I read your post correctly, your leak is at the top of the wing window right above the little plastic triangle? The side seals move in an aluminum channel that is itself screwed to the top (I think there are 4 or 5 small screws that hold the cannel to the top.) The side seal has some fore/aft play depending on any shrinkage and hardness due to age. At the rear of that seal the angular cut where it meets the side window/targa bar seal will stop the side seal from moving forward. One thing you can do is lay the top down on something soft (say a blanket laid down on the grass) and "massage" the seals forward. This should get them to stretch a bit and perhaps get those 2 pieces to meet properly. However, if they have been sitting on the top for a long time, the seals may be stuck. Be careful should you want to remove the seals that you don't tear the rubber.

Also, if it seems that the top isn't sealing tight enough along the front edge, you can adjust the front clamps with a 9mm. shortening them will snug up the front edge seal and also bring the 2 contact surfaces on the front and side seals closer together.

[John Rogers]

I read your post again after Herb's post and I checked our stock 914 and it did have a gap between the side and and front targa seals. I could not stretch them so I filled in the little gap with black sealant. I used a piece of tape on the front seal edge and built the filler up over seval days and it came out okay. I guess the replacements shrink with age as I have seen lots of them too short. Good luck.