951 Hatch Seal Issue Question For All...
 

Bud9344 just helped me fix my hatch light wiring problem and has brought up an issue that I haven't had to deal with yet. I put in new hatch struts and Bud warned me that the new struts might now force a separation
between my hatch glass and the frame... My question - Is this a VERY common
problem that you all have seen before? I guess I want to know if I am definitely heading towards a hatch seal repair job or not...

Thanks all...

Craig
Porsche 944 Turbo 1986

I replaced mine last year for the second time - no separation so far SmileWavy

I think that it is a common occurence, but not everybody has it. Some theories are that the UV light degrades the polymeric adhesives, so some have painted over the top of the glass in the bonded area with a black paint to try to retard this.

YMMV,

Keith

Sorry if I scare you with the hatch issue.
I bought my first 944(86 944 N/A) about 8 years ago, and I have been replacing the hatch strut every time it get weak and when I bought an 83 944 N/A the glass already separate from the frame and it leak when it rain. And I notice as well on the 86 that the glass started to separate, because I have to keep adjusting the latch catch, so it will close and open with ease.But it wasn't leaking . I just left it alone and not bother replacing the strut. Till I got rear anded by a tow truck and total the car , I have no issue off leaking. It must be leaking by now because the hatch was totally smash and the trunk space reduce to half.And when I got the 83 944 N/A Auto. I never bother replacing the hatch strut.
Recently I bought an 86 951 and already have a new strut on the car but I just gone wait till it get weak and I don't think I will be replacing it.
What I am trying to say is, this is not going to happen over night, but it will happen in time how long ? I am not sure when.
For me for now on before I spend money to replace the hatch strut I will take a good look at the hatch condition first.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1215465986.jpg
I am not sure ,when you take a look at the picture weather you can see the separation .
By the way one off my Customer brought ih a 86 951 and the hatch was completely separated all the way across and it leak when it rain.
Good Luck and enjoy the car, it is a fun car to drive

---------------------------------
Bud

87 930 Black
86 951 Black
86 944 N/A Red total9part car)
87 944 S White
83 944 N/A Black
83 944 N/A White Autohttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1215466747.jpg

Thanks Bud9344...

I just took another look at the top seal on my hatch glass and it looks good - no separation - but since I just put in new struts, separation may be in my future....We'll see.

Any other horror stories out there???

Thanks for the feedback....

Well tell you the truth, driving the car is a lot more fun then thinking about the horror. There will be a lot off electrical glitz here and there. Like my cruise control work whenever it feel like it. LOL And my sunroof the same way.
Everytime I drive my car I drive the speed I wanted, if somebody goes faster, I'd let it go. There is no other Car I 'd rather be in it except for a 911 or 930.
When a tow truck rear end my 86 944 N/A. I was broken hearted. For 2 years haven't sit on a 86 944 drove the 83 944 but it is a totally diff. car. It seem the 86 951 is going to be a fun car to drive as well. I am still working on to get the bug out. But so far I do have fun with the car I hope You too have fun with yours.
I just move to Orlando last year and bought a house with bigger Garage then the House . Install a lift in the garage and work on my car myself. Have a tire Machine and Balance Machine. AC machine R12 and R134. Because off the move, till now I haven't found the adaptor for the Momo Steering Wheel for my 86 951. Did you notice when You drive Your Car around town, It seem you are the only one who drive an Porsche 944 and even the car is ten years old, it doesn't seem that old surrounding all that newer model cars.
Have fun with the car and don't worry about the horror.

---------------------------------------------
Bud

hmm, if anyone out there has a ten-year-old 944, please come and see me ;)

anyway, the biggest reason for hatch glass delamination is actually quite simple. yes, the adhesive keeping the glass in the frame does degrade over time, but the biggest problems are two very simple items that are easy to eliminate

first: when replacing hatch struts, always replace both! if you replace only one strut because you feel that one strut still has a little life left in it, you will then cause undue torque to be applied to the hatch frame when the latch is released, as the one side with the new strut is pushing harder than the other, and the sides of the glass raise at different rates. this slowly starts to work the glass loose from the frame over time

second: the frame will also tweak disporportionately if the hatch is grabbed by only one corner when being closed. this is the same as the hatch twisting when raised by uneven shocks, but only in reverse. always close the hatch by grabbing both corners while standing squarely behind the car, and pushing down on both corners with equal force

paying attention to both of these issues will help keep the hatch glass from delaminating for a long time

Good Luck Ronin
It's not going to work if the owner is a Tennis player as you know Tennis player have one hand stronger then the other hand. Ha ha------------

-------------------
Bud

Thanks guys...

I appreciate your feedback. I have researched the hatch glass resealing process online
and it doesn't look like a lot of fun...I thoroughly enjoy driving my 951, although I don't drive it enough. I'm in the process of fixing all the little annoying broken parts/switches in the car so it will be more enjoyable to cruise in...(Such as replacing all the window control switches and the hatch struts... I must admit that I drove the car around with windows that I couldn't control for far too long...) Your points about replacing both struts and closing the hatch properly were excellent advice...I can see that these two little bits of advice can make a difference. I must admit that I typically close the hatch with one hand, but always by pressing in the center of the hatch so it closes uniformly and evenly...But I will start to use your technique...

Happy motoring to all...

Craig
Porsche 944 Turbo 1986

in a pinch, if you're in an awkward situation, the single-hand method will work fine as long as you make sure you push in the center (like you said) but you are right, the two-hand method is safer for the glass in the long run