Leaking roof

[JumboBeef]

I was caught in a down pour in the Wedge a few days ago. The watertightness (is that a word?) of the top was surprisingly good, apart from one bit.

Above the driver's left leg there was a leak. This seems to correspond with the locating hole for one of the two lugs on the front of the roof.

Does anyone else have this issue? And a soggy left leg?

Cheers.

[mrzigazaga]

When it used to rain when i was driving Delilah there was a line of water that would drip straight into my lap!...Very embarrassing...A water tight TVR is a rarity..Even the Cerbs leak and they are hard tops!...
There are a couple of reasons why they leak..The roof stay bars might be too loose, If they are easy to push closed then a washer under the fitting helps but do one end of each at a time....The rubber seals may need replacing..Door and roof seals...Good luck...Ziga

[Number 7]

Haven't experienced that one. Is the rubber seal in good condition, and (sorry if it's stating the obvious)is the roof on the right way round - there is a front and back?

[JumboBeef]

TVR build quality, eh?

Seals look in good condition (and yes the roof is the right way around). And the stay bars are tight.

I might be wrong but it seems the water is getting in where the lug sits. The water is coming in at the top of the windscreen, rather than over/through the rubber seal.

[mrzigazaga]

It could come in where the screws are for the sun visor?..The water will either come through there..The windscreen rubber or the top seal...

[ElvisWedgely]

Quite normal. A bit of water leak in heavy rain is what makes a Wedge unique.

Tony. TCB.

[jmorgan]

How good is the water run off? I have had capillary action before (correct term??), cured with a good dose of water proofing agent. Sodden material and build up water and it finds its way in especially driving.

And yes, mine is bone dry, read it and weep.

[wedgeinald]

Number 7 said:

Haven't experienced that one. Is the rubber seal in good condition, and (sorry if it's stating the obvious)is the roof on the right way round - there is a front and back?

Yes the targa panel does have a front and back..... mine has a "rivet" in the centre of one edge of the panel and that on mine is the front.

Mine doesn't leak even when driving, I do have a minor leak where the side windows don't quite fit square 100% but normally not enough of a leak to worry about.

[MeThlAtEdSpiRIt]

They all do that... Sir

[smash]

Not mine! Got caught in horrific downpour last year and was totally watertight plus demister worked perfectly

[jmorgan]

Ah, de-mister. Mine does not work so tried rain x anti fog many years ago and it worked. Don't bother with it in the summer as it leaves a film that needs cleaning off but on balance its better than trying to wipe the inside all the while.

[JumboBeef]

Found the problem:

The sealant along the top of the windscreen at one point is thin/weak/old and the water is getting in there.

Any suggestions please on what to use to fix/replace the sealant. Thanks.

[adam quantrill]

DO you mean between the screen and the frame?

Yes I worked some body underseal in and wiped off the excess which has the advantage that it is black and makes the seal look nicer. Also it repels the watter.

You might need to repeat a couple of times as it dries out.

[wooly350i]

Try taking pocket out, clean it up and apply some decent clear silicone sealant ( sticks like or CT1 are both good )and reseat pocket.

[njhucker]

I used Permatex flowable silicone when a rear light unit was leaking. It is flows into the gap and then sets clear. It's good stuff.

[jmorgan]

Had some screen sealer that came in a tin similar to 3 in 1 oil can. Not sure if it was the same as Nigel's.

[JumboBeef]

Thanks for the replies.

adam quantrill said:

DO you mean between the screen and the frame?

Yes.

Any danger of sealing the screen too well, so that if it ever needs to come out it might damage the frame?

[adam quantrill]

Not with the materials listed above - I think they use a cheese wire to cut the silicone out when removing the screen and it will cut through all this stuff.