Windows leak...

[RBBailey]

The seals on the windows on the hard top are leaking. No cracks, relatively new, but in the rain there is literally water just rolling down the insides of the windows. These are the utility type windows with no moving parts, just the rounded off corners set in the sides of the body.

Any pointers?

 

[jeepfiend]

If they have the retaining bead, you need to pop that out and that will allow you roll the gasket back from the top and the glass. Run a strip of masking tape around the edge of the gasket against the top and also on the glass. You can then run a bead of silicone or other sealant between the glass and the gasket and also between the top and the gasket. You can mask the gasket as well if you want. Put the retaining bead back in, remove the excess sealant, and then remove the masking tape. I just did it to my windshield on my Range Rover today. One other thing, before you put the sealant in, clean really well between the surfaces of the gasket, glass, and top. I used denatured alcohol to clean mine. Use a sealer that will remain flexible. A glass shop or a good auto parts store should have what you need. I used silicone on mine, but there are probably better things out there. I was going to go to the glass shop and get some window sealer, but they were closed today and I am tired of water leaking around the windshield, so silicone will just have to do...

If they don't have the retaining bead it's a little harder to get it to seal and your best bet is new gaskets. You can still try to work some sealer in there, but it's harder since the gasket won't pull away from the glass or the top as easily.

 

[singingcamel]

Any good automotive glass place will have this stuff new. Easy to put in..

 

[RBBailey]

The seal or sealant?

When I bought these seals, I had a real tough time getting them in. I did two, then took it to the local Rover shop to have them do the others for me. Doing the sealant should be fairly easy, but annoying -- right?

I sprayed inside and out with silicone to soften them up. Then I made sure they soaked it up, and that each window and seal was fitted properly all the way around.

So I've got it parked out in the rain, no drips yet. But I'll be driving it tomorrow, so that will be the real test. If my attempt doesn't work, I'll stop to get some new sealant caulk on the way home.

Thanks,

 

[jeepfiend]

A glass shop will have both the sealant and gaskets. However, the gaskets might not be exactly the same profile. The gaskets with the locking bead are fairly common and there are many that are not vehicle specific. Most glass places will probably have a roll of the gasket material of some sort. It's been a while since I worked in auto body, but we always kept a roll in the shop. It was handy for back windows of pick-ups and camper shells and that sort of thing.

The sealant is a bit of a pain in the butt. My biggest problem is just keeping it off the stuff I don't want it on. I don't like it when it looks like my windows are caulked in, so I really try to keep it all between the gasket and the surface of the glass and the top.