348 window leak!!!

[burriana500]

Well, my lovely new piece of Italian engineering, leaks like a f***ing sieve. I have to say, I am pretty disgusted and now fairly worried.

After 10 minutes the passenger seat has a pool of water on it and the drivers side isn't a lot better. It's all coming in along the front edge of the side windows. What it will be like by the end of the afternoon I dread to think.

Anyone any obvious solutions? Is it something that is a regular occurence and can be fixed? If it can't be then a car that I cannot risk getting caught in the rain with is not much use to me really!

As you may have gathered, I am seriously p!ssed off. And people knock TVRs

al

[hobo]

I would suggest that you put the roof back up

[burriana500]

Good point, but it's not the roof that's leaking!

[tuscan_v8]

Used to have Fiat Bravo (I know it not Ferrari) - had roof leak even it is not soft top !! massive puddle in passenger and driver foot area (big enough to put Koi in it)

Sodding italian !!

[craigw]

is it a ts/tb ?

[burriana500]

It's a Spider, but it's the seal that runs up the side of the windscreen pillar that the side windows close against that is letting the water in.

[craigw]

my 348 GTS used to do same but only in heavy rain & my colleagues 355spider did too. You can have the side window seals replaced & clean the channels & check the door is aligned properly. other than that, not much you can do I'm afraid.

[rico]

car cover time?

[chris_crossley]

You can try a bit of vasaline on the seal. Works on sunroofs. Acts as a temp water blocker.

Other than that the door alignment. Had it on the masser. Due to doors being rimless (not sure of the real name). Had it on the cerb as well.

See you and the motor on Sunday.

[burriana500]

rico said:

car cover time?

Do they do one with a front window in so I can see where I'm going?

This is what Dave from F.Chat suggests - seems feasible that the seals have just dried out and lost their flex... the car has NEVER been taken out in the rain, bar the very rare occassion it has been caught out on a run... Christ, it's gonna just love having me as an owner isn't it!!!
*****

Al, sorry to hear your leaky problems. Unfortunatly mine also leaks along where the wing mirrors are, however only a slight drop now and again and not anything Im worried about. I would advise you to feed the rubber seals around the doors and each night when its tucked away in the garage keeps the doors just open, but not enough to turn the interior lights on..this way the rubber will be able to expand and should give you a better seal in a few months. When I bought mine the seals were all moulded to the shape of the indentations but now after feeding them each night and leaving the doors slightly open they are sealing a lot better.
*****

another other suggestions gratefully received.

[burriana500]

chris_crossley said:

See you and the motor on Sunday.

Not if it's raining you won't!!! I don't mind getting wet voluntarily, but when the roofs on and the windows are shut it's a bit much!

I'd take the Griff if I had it back - that doesn't leak!

[ninja_eli]

Al,

My 355 did the same. But the seals were replaced and it was pretty much sorted. I say pretty much because when it was seriously pissing down, a drop or two would come in, but that was nearly a year after the seals were changed, and it was really pissing down.

As you've already posted the seals get worn, dry, and take the shape of the wing mirror thingy :-)

Change the seals, it should solve your problem. Also, another thing that was suggested to me before (cant remember who suggested it) was to use some of that rubber sticky tape thingy stuff (lol sorry dont know its name). I made the dealer change the seals FOC and it was sorted.

If you got yours from a dealer, get them to pay for it, even if they are not authorised dealer, get them to pay a percentage at least, as the seals are like £800.

[pete]

ninja_eli said:

the seals are like £800.

Good grief! Now I'm glad that TVR just use random old bits of washing machine hose for their seals...

Pete

[burriana500]

Think it is sorted now - thanks all.

afetr talking to various people I have got some of that rubber feed that slowwly expands the rubber back to original. in the meantime, will just daud a load of vaseline on the seals if it's out in the rain!

Thanks, from a lot happier Burriana

[mustard]

burriana500 said:

Think it is sorted now - thanks all. afetr talking to various people I have got some of that rubber feed that slowwly expands the rubber back to original. in the meantime, will just daud a load of vaseline on the seals if it's out in the rain! Thanks, from a lot happier Burriana

Whats this rubber stuff called and where can you buy it? It sounds quite useful for softtop cars!

[shnozz]

Al, how you finding the stallion mate?

[burriana500]

Shnozz - it's a belter mate. Will be even more so when i get the Tubi and a decent hi-fi fitted

Mustard - it's by Zymol. If you go on the website (?) it's a conditioning feed for rubber seals, not sure what it's called though. Expensive mind you, £20 ish for 200 ml!