rear targa latch adjustment.....

midlifecrisis · 05-12-2003, 04:43 PM

the rear passenger side latch is a bit loose. it doesn't pull the top down firmly enough to set the seal. drivers side is the same but not as loose. just got done looking through haynes and they only talk about adjusting the front. any suggestions on firming up the back latches?

and the rear targa seal is new.

since it never seems to stop raining here in western mass, i gotta seal the little money pit up and drive in the wet or just stare at it in the garage.

any suggestions are most welcome....

M. Hendrix · 05-12-2003, 05:03 PM

The rear seal has little to do with leaking mostly..

Where are you getting water?

I just changed out the springs in my latches, re surfaced the metal parts, and used that tool dipping plastic to coat them with, the top is very tight.

I just completely redid my door seals (i/o), top/sides, targa sides, and rear, and you know what? Leaks worse than another car with at least 12 year old seals.

I need a W/S seal.

M

AaronM · 05-12-2003, 09:23 PM

Weather-tightness has never been the 914's strong suit. Mine's pretty good unless I get a very, very strong side wind. If the car's sitting still, it doesn't leak, but if I blast it from the side (such as when washing) water dribbles inside.

Aaron

karlp · 05-13-2003, 07:23 AM

I put bits of polyethelene tubing over the pegs in the top. This made the clamp pull down a little snugger and got rid of the rattle from clamp to peg. The top was still loose so I replaced the seal across the back of the top. There is a couple of posts or maybe a tech. article on the subject around here somewhere. I got the seal material from a FLAPS.
I had a similar problem in the front. I had run out of adjustment and did not want to afford a new front seal. I put 1/8" spacer plates under the clamps at the top of the windshield.
The car still leaks, of course. I love that gutter in the top that fills up and dumps on your leg when the brakes are applied with the window open.

sammyg2 · 05-13-2003, 09:28 AM

Yup, a piece of surgical tubing or small diameter rubber hose on ther hook will tighten it up well.
It helps get rid of squeaking too (along with a new rear targa seal).

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

Don't'cha mean a new "Sammy Seal"??

--DD

sammyg2 · 05-13-2003, 10:28 AM

Dave, of course I did. But I wasn't going for the easy shameless plug, that's what my friends are for

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

Glad to help.

Then again, an enterprising soul could look up the Pelican Tech Article on building your own rear targa top seal... Hmm, who was it who wrote that one again??

--DD

M. Hendrix · 05-13-2003, 01:49 PM

Sammy Seal! I like that.

Rebuilding the rear latches, and dipping them in that tool dipping plastic is the best idea I have ever had. I made one of those rear seals from the tech article..

WAS ALOT EASIER THAN THE TOP-SIDE SEALS.. (1st 5 times)

;-)

M

LarryP · 05-13-2003, 02:31 PM

Um, Dave? Is that Pelican Tech Article a joke too? I was just, you know, wondering.
And remember to use silicone liberally!!!

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

Oops, I thought it was Sammy who wrote up the article. I was wrong--it was Demick! Sorry to both of you!

Larry, the silicone was a mistake. I have been convinced of the error of my ways since then, but the revision to the article has not yet been posted.

--DD

LarryP · 05-13-2003, 06:18 PM

It's a joke DD, just a joke...

sammyg2 · 05-13-2003, 07:30 PM

Dave, if everything goes as planned I should sell the 200th sammy seal some time next month. who would have thunk it?

I'm going to throw one heck of a bash if I ever get to 1000.
"And you guys are invited" Jeff Spicoli