Help for a rain leak in a 2004 T-Bird hard top.

[Lagata]

I am a new member and this forum really looks great. I recently bought my beautiful 2004 T-Bird and have been very happy except for one thing, when it rains there is a water leak at the front trim on each side of the hard top. I took it to two dealers and after 2 days at each they are not sure what to do to repair. When the canvas top is up there is no leak. Gaskets on the window seals look OK, Any suggestions?

[Ski]

Re: Help for a rain leak in a 2004 T-Bird hard top.

Cathy,

The search feature is great on this site and hardly a problem doesn't have a thread. Try this http://www.thunderbirdnest.com/forum...ght=roof+leaks and welcome to the Nest.

[5bird7]

Re: Help for a rain leak in a 2004 T-Bird hard top.

Cathy, If you can post closeup pictures of how the hardtop looks on the car in those two spots, we might be able to give you some suggestions.



worst case scenario - bad top.

[SixPac]

Re: Help for a rain leak in a 2004 T-Bird hard top.

Make plans to come to Choo-Choo Thunder in October. Roger (Vintage Merlot) is going to give a hands on show on how to stop the leaks.

[Blue Heaven]

Re: Help for a rain leak in a 2004 T-Bird hard top.

Cathy,
I just solved this problem on the '02 we recently purchased for my wife. It turned out the hardtop was not sitting far enough forward which allowed water to collect in the rubber channel and pour in the windows at the front corners. The give away was the fact that the hardtop was sitting lower then the chrome windshield header, it should be even with it.

The fix was to remove the rear shelf from the top. Next the two plastic pillar trims around the portholes have to come off. This exposes the latch mechanisms that hold the top secure to the car. By loosening the mounting hardware, these latches are adjustable front to back. In my case, I needed to move them back, which in turn pushed the top forward. The top is now even with the height of the windshild header, and hasn't leaked a drop since we made the adjustment.

This is not something I would recommend doing yourself unless mechanically inclined, but perhaps you can try to explain it to the dealership.

Good luck!!

[Vintage Merlot]

Re: Help for a rain leak in a 2004 T-Bird hard top.

I put my "leak fix" of two years through two down pours on Sunday and not a drop of water came in. I am going to do a demo at Choo Choo and hopefully we can make a video that can be transferred to a DVD.

I also hope that DavidA can do a demo for on how to turn supplemental lights into running lights when the ignition is on. Perhhaps another DVD.

[Icebluebird]

Re: Help for a rain leak in a 2004 T-Bird hard top.

At the point where the door, windshield and top meet, there is a gasket on the windshield that needs to be outside, and around the top window gasket on the top where they meet.

If it is not correctly placed, it will give you a nice large leak. It is easy easy to create the problem when putting the hard top on, but it is easy to fix.