I've been using my mr2 as a daily driver and despite having replaced the factory t-top seals four years ago, they had begun to leak increasingly in the past 18 months. After a pleasant summer, the rain returned last week and I was just about ready to buy another set of seals when I griped to a fellow MR2 owner. This northwest native suggested I try rubbing Vaseline on the seals, swearing it worked. Having tried all sorts of rubber conditioners (which had helped, but not stopped the leaking) I was skeptical, but for $0.99 what could it hurt?

Of course the moment the rain let off enough to apply the Vaseline -- it stopped altogether -- so it wasn't until we had a significant burst of rain this afternoon that I could finally test it out. While it had rained for only a few hours, it was hard enough to ensure wet spots on my seats. Yet when I came to my car after work I was pleasantly surprised to find two dry seats. I got inside and looked at the gap between the t-top and the windshield frame. Normally I could watch drips form after 15 seconds, but none came. On the drive home the rain intensified to the point I would have had a quarter-sized wet spot on my thigh -- but the t-tops didn't leak a drop.

While I am quite pleased with the results, I am still a bit skeptical about how long it will last. I’ve been assured the Vaseline will stay and will keep this thread updated if that doesn’t hold true. But for now, it might help a few targa Supra owners get back and forth from work without enduring the smirks from coworkers convinced of their incontinence.

I do that on the supras every 3 or 4 times the targa comes off. that with tightening the bolts down in the correct order assure a leak free targa :)

Whats the correct order for tightning the bolts?

4 3

2 1


hope thats clear but the right rear, then the left rear, then the right front and then left front

Ok thanks never herd that before?

radical, Ill have to try that

Pretty neat, although I do not have a leaky targa as of now. I'll be sure to remember this trick later on.

And actually under the driver's side sun visor (on mine at least) it has a little targa put-on instruction sticker there. For those who didn't know.

So what u saying is Vaseline work everywhere. :lol:

Technically, Vaseline is corrosive to rubber, so you may be creating more problems down the road, but if it works, it works!

GM and Honda sell tubes of rubber conditioner that are designed for window/top seals and it's supposed to work better and for longer

think this may work for my hatch?

syrius, depends on the condition of your hatch seal... if it is otherwise intact but deformed, it could work.

vaseline is just petroleum jelly, or a petroleum byproduct. depending on the composition of the foam rubber that the seals are made of, the petroluem byproduct causes it to swell and deteriorate over time... the same way that oil can cause belts and hoses to swell and deteroirate. in this case, swelling can help take up a gap that has grown over time.

considering that targa/door/hatch seals dont require any tensile strength or contain any pressure/vaccum, their integrity degredation wont be entirely crucial or even notable... id rather have swollen soft seals than shrunken dryrotted seals...eh?

i personally had thought about cleaning the offending/degraded/dried seal w/ water and a rag, degreasing w/ alcohol, and then smearing a thin layer of Black FIPG to fill in the surface imperfections or cracks. then, on the mating seal, smearing a thin layer of gears or oil as an adhesive barrier. then, reinstalling the targa, tightening the rear bolts first, then the front bolts. letting the silicone cure for 2 days, then removing the top and cleaning the grease/oil off. if my theory is right, the FIPG should have made a perfect cast of the mating seal while filling in all the surface imperfections and creating a fresh sealing surface.

Well the leak just started not too long ago, very minor

www.kanolabs.com sells a product called Parteze. It's a silicon mold release, and works great for rejuvenating tired targa and hatch seals, without causing deterioration of the rubber. I've been using it for 6 years on my MR2T and just started using it on the Supra. The Supra was a bit of a challenge, since it is an AZ car, and the seals were VERY dry.

No leaks though, and the rainy season has started here in the Pacific NW.

HTH,

Ken

ive never heard of this vaseline trick...sounds pretty crazy, though i dont have a targa i have a hardtop...i heard of the parteze stuff...my friend uses it on his 240's moonroof..that stuff works pretty well

ive never heard of this vaseline trick...sounds pretty crazy, though i dont have a targa i have a hardtop...i heard of the parteze stuff...my friend uses it on his 240's moonroof..that stuff works pretty well

The nice thing about the Parteze vs. the vaseline, is that aside from not causing deterioration of the rubber, it also doesn't leave a mess.

The Parteze works well under the hood also, on both silicon and rubber hoses.

Ken

yea i would also assume that if the vaseline got hot...it would start dripping.. so i dont think it would be ideal during a hot and sunny day, then again people usually have the top off, but i still would assume that it would lose its consistensy and start to drip, i think you would probably have to apply it often wouldnt u?

Dunno about it leaking when hot, its pretty cool now. But it was cold and raining this morning and it was soooooo nice to have a dry seat

Thats a really good idea. :)

yea i would also assume that if the vaseline got hot...it would start dripping.. so i dont think it would be ideal during a hot and sunny day, then again people usually have the top off, but i still would assume that it would lose its consistensy and start to drip, i think you would probably have to apply it often wouldnt u?

lol...yeah, be that as it may. however, if you use enough vaseline on you seals to have it drip off and land on you... you probably deserve it :eusa_sile

youre supposed to use it sparingly and smear it evenly, not necessarly slather it on with wreckless abandon.

nice!
i'm gonna have to try that next time i take my top down. my shit leaks like a mofo during and after it rains...

hard top for me. no leaky cars here:lol:

yea me too...hardtop..so i dont gotta worry bout leaks........mmmmm hard

targa tops are better

why? :eusa_eh:

Targas are way better then hardtops, and I need to try tightening it down the right way. Sometimes it leaks and sometimes it doesn't.

Some people like some people dont to me I heart my targa top its fun too drive with it off the and the car looks more stylish with if off

Some people like some people dont to me I heart my targa top its fun too drive with it off the and the car looks more stylish with if off
:iono: :7:

i would suspect english is not first language and it was translated via a website somewhere
hence the odd sentence & i would suspect love was translated into heart lol
in other words

he loves his targa top.. it's fun to drive with it off... more stylish and some ppl like em and some don't

k ;)