Rear Pillar Weatherstrip – Advice required from NSX-T Targa owners

[Kaz-kzukNA1]

Not sure how many NSX-T Targa owners are on here but I need some help from you.

It's the tear on the rear pillar weatherstrip.




https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Fjehz7jkqec/U-51MVS-k5I/AAAAAAAATYU/bprte5-lzFQ/s800/IMG_0029.jpg

I saw small tear with this part on several NSX-T in the past but not to this level.
On this NSX, it was in fact already replaced once several years ago by Honda dealer for different reason (wind noise at high speed) and then this happened but only at the passenger side.

I have checked the door glass alignment and while it's not perfect, I don't think it's enough to cause such damage.
I haven't removed the weatherstrip yet so I don't know whether it was installed properly behind the B-pillar panel but looked to be fine.
The alignment of targa roof is not perfect but if it was the cause of this tear, I would assume it will do something on the weaterstrip at the roof itself but nothing obvious were seen.

The owner doesn't drive the car regularly and in order to prevent the deform of the weatherstrip, he keeps the window lowered (about 1”) while the car is parked.
If the tear was the side effect of doing this, then I would assume it should happen even on the driver side and not just at the passenger one.

It is possible that when the roof was removed, it somehow damaged it or when the roof was placed back in position, the weatherstrip didn't sit properly and when the passenger side
window was operated many times with the weatherstrip not seating properly, the damage was done.
I have seen small tear caused by this as the edge of the forward vertical section of the rear pillar weatherstrip tends to go behind the weatherstrip attached to the roof side.


I'm about to replace it for the owner but I'm not comfortable doing it without knowing the possible cause as the same issue may come back in few years time or possibly in just few months.

If you have similar issue, I'll appreciate if you can share your experience and possible cause.
Thank you.


Regards,
Kaz

[flyingsniffer]

Kaz,

i happen to have my car at work today, so maybe this will help.

First, I don't think this is to do with the window UNLESS the issue is the window glass getting stuck to the seal - which would seem unlikely if the owner leaves the windows open 1" (which incidentally, i do not). The contact patch is along the raised lip to the right of the tear (see pic of seal, wetted for dramatic effect).

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I'm not convinced but I wonder if the roof alignment is the cause or at least, making removing/replacing a bit more of a faff than it should be, resulting in an incorrect seat fit? My B pillar and roof panel seals naturally sit as per this photo

12292

But if I lift the roof off and put it straight down onto the seal, I get a 'crease' starting just where your tear appears to be on the top left

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And maybe with a few opening/shutting of the window, the tear has spread?

hope that helps...

[Kaz-kzukNA1]

Thank you for the precious information, flyingsniffer.

That's exactly what I meant in my poor English below;

......... I have seen small tear caused by this as the edge of the forward vertical section of the rear pillar weatherstrip tends to go behind the weatherstrip attached to the roof side. .........


http://www.nsxcb.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=12293&d=1409579345


I think majority of the owners will place the roof from the driver side since the latch/lock of the roof strorage cover is on that side and when he/she operates the lock lever inside the cabin, probably won't check the seating of weatherstrip at the passenger side.
Looking at the above photo, it looks like potential cause of the issue.

Once again, thank you.

Kaz

[flyingsniffer]

No problem. Putting the roof on involves a predetermined one way trip around the car to open doors and open the engine hatch/storage. I'll mentally remember to check this seal on passenger side before setting roof lock/closing door to the little dance!

[goldtop]

I'm away at the moment, but will investigate and reply when I'm back in England.