PORSCHE tells me my 993 Targa should leak!! Please help me..

[Brucie Baby]

Hi all,

I've just bought a beautiful 993 targa and straight away had problems with WATER FLOODING IN THROUGH THE ROOF! The exact location is on each side of the roof, where the back window meets the glass roof - it's in each corner.

I took it back to the garage (not a porsche dealer) where I bought it and he replaced all the rubbers and seals on the roof - guess what, it was worse!

The garage then spoke to a 'specialist technician' at a Porsche main dealer and his words were - "it's supposed to let water in. There are two internal channels either side on the window that run towards the back of the car and the water drains out of two outlets onto the road - it's the design".

Is this right?

I find it hard to believe that a car that was about 55K when new would also come with an internal shower!!

I'm going to pick the car up tomorrow so if anyone has any information before that would be great.

many thanks,

Bruce.

[MaxAndRuby]

"The garage then spoke to a 'specialist technician' at a Porsche main dealer"

Of course he did.

[Silver993tt]

maybe there is a drainage channel/duct near the rear corners of the glass roof that are blocked?

[Vr6-er]

Thats true of sunroof designs. Water is let in around the seal and then runs out (like a drainpipe) via a tube - drain. Sounds like your drains are blocked. Google "drain holes blocked sunroof" or "how to unblock sunroof drain".

Edited by Vr6-er on Thursday 25th October 15:45

[vwanorak]

Vr6-er said:

Thats true of sunroof designs. Water is let in around the seal and then runs out (like a drainpipe) via a tube - drain. Sounds like your drains are blocked. Google "drain holes blocked sunroof" or "how to unblock sunroof drain".

Edited by Vr6-er on Thursday 25th October 15:45

I've read quite a few reports on 944's suffering leakage from blocked sunroof drain tubes. The answer seems to be to get them blown through with a fine tipped airline. It has got to be worth a try??

Good luck

[Conian]

Yup it's true, there are draining pipes all over the place on different porsches. Get one blocked and you get trouble.
At least you got some nice new seals out of it

[mr pg]

964's suffer from blocked sunroof drain tubes too. Mine's a 964 targa, so a whole different ball game! Try searching on the 993 forum on the rennlist site (www.rennlist.com)

[POORCARDEALER]

there are some real horror stories about these roofs, ie main dealers spending 3 days trying to sort out problems etc etc

[ruttboy]

MaxAndRuby said:

"The garage then spoke to a 'specialist technician' at a Porsche main dealer"

Of course he did.

And how do you know that I didn't?

These days, too many people are quick to judge a dealer who actually may be trying to get it right, but can't quite get to the bottom of the problem.
If you refer to my profile, you will see that if there is one person in this country who has the numbers of the people to phone, and says he has done it, then you can pretty much guarantee that I've done it.

The fact that I am bending over backwards to ensure my customer is satisfied, and I am happy to admit that I haven't got to the bottom of the problem doesn't bother me, as long as my customer is satisfied that we are doing all we can is what matters to me.

And yes, it is infuriating that we can't get to the bottom of this water leak.

The water isn't even getting to the edges of the glass before it is coming in and heading off down the sides of the runners, down to the back of the rear glass, and through a channel that dumps the water through the floor pan. There appears to be a hole in the floor to allow the water to escape, but there are no bungs or drainage points before that point that I can see.
I am at a loss, both financially and technically.
(So far, at our expense, this has cost me £1,000, and I am no further forward!!)

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Alan.

[kent993]

I've run my 993 Targa in all weathers for four years and never seen a drop of water inside the car. However, I did have an annoying little rattle that I asked GT-One to cure at a recent service. They did some adjustments to the roof that solved the problem completely. Perhaps it's worth asking them what best to do to solve the water ingress problem - they obviously know what they're doing!

Best of luck - it's a great car and it doesn't leak by design!

[wildoliver]

Wheres the water coming from? Even if the drain tubes are blocked surely it shouldn't pour in. Have you tried vaseline to seal the rubbers.

[Brucie Baby]

kent993 said:

I've run my 993 Targa in all weathers for four years and never seen a drop of water inside the car. However, I did have an annoying little rattle that I asked GT-One to cure at a recent service. They did some adjustments to the roof that solved the problem completely. Perhaps it's worth asking them what best to do to solve the water ingress problem - they obviously know what they're doing!

Best of luck - it's a great car and it doesn't leak by design!

Nice to hear there's someone who has experience of running a Targa, especially for such a long period of time. I'm sure this water problem can be resolved.

In Alan's (Ruttboy) defence, he is bending over backwards to try and resolve this problem. He's nearly as frustrated as I am about it!

[Brucie Baby]

kent993 said:

...I asked GT-One to cure at a recent service. They did some adjustments to the roof that solved the problem completely...

P.S. Who is/are "GT-One"

[kent993]

www.gt-one.co.uk

A Porsche indie specialist in Chertsey, Surrey - highly recommended!

[Brucie Baby]

Cheers, I'll take the motor over there. Anyone I should speak to?

Edited by Brucie Baby on Thursday 25th October 19:04

[Brucie Baby]

Just had a look at your motor, nice - identical to mine! The only difference is mine's the manual. Is your's 'Polar Silver'? Also, those split-rims look in mint condition. Have they been refurbished?

[Vr6-er]

Locate the drain holes and pour water from a jug to see if they are clear. This will diagnose the issue in minutes if it is drain holes.


This is an exploded diagram and I think the right one:
http://dcauto.gotdns.com/images/full/993_USA_95_98...
http://dcauto.gotdns.com/images/full/993_USA_95_98...

Item 20 is the drain.

For more background have a look at these links:

http://autorepair.about.com/library/faqs/bl204f.ht...
http://www.rangerovers.net/repairdetails/sunroof/d...
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1909676

[Brucie Baby]

You're a genius - thanks!

[phelix]

pls send me a PH email and I'll send you copies of the Porsche TSBs on the targa roof

[kent993]

Brucie Baby said:

Just had a look at your motor, nice - identical to mine! The only difference is mine's the manual. Is your's 'Polar Silver'? Also, those split-rims look in mint condition. Have they been refurbished?

Yes, Polar Silver. The wheels are as originally delivered - the previous owners obviously looked after the car as carefully as I do! It's lowish mileage, though, so that helps (42k).

At GT-One, the two guys who run the firm and also work on the cars are Craig and Peter - both very knowledgeable, though I think it was Craig who sorted out my rattling roof!

Hope you get it sorted out soon - this is not the time of the year to have a leaking roof!