Rear Window Seal

Hello everyone, my 2003 996 coupe is back from paint and I want to replace my rear window seal. The current one is old and cracked, figured if I have nice new paint then I should get new seals. I was looking at part number 996 545 521 04 and believe that I can pull it out and push a new top seal back in. Is this correct? Can I just replace the outer portion of the rear window seal? Thank you very much Michael

I am also looking at doing the same but on a '99 coupe 996. so very interested in seeing how this installs. Anyone know if part numbers the same? Mine is lifting on the bottom left and right side corners but overall the rubber is in great shape. II doubt you can get it to stay down, so I assume replace is best answer.

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We will see if anyone has input. I believe that the seal is two pieces but cannot confirm it without possibly breaking my seal. Anyone have any input?

Guys, Here is the Auto Atlanta page for the windows & window trim for a coupe. It has the part numbers for you. http://www.autoatlanta.com/porsche-p...section=805-00 Note there there is a pre-01 "trim frame", and then a -02 & later trim frame. But the top "sealing frame", part 8 seems, to be the same for all years. If you google those part numbers for photos, you'll see that the sealing frame goes all the way around the window and is the outer seal. It also has an inner lip all the way around it too. At least mine did. But the trim frames I've seen in photos, is only top and sides. Like a big U. Which brings me to my experience with this. I have a 2000. When I got a mini restoration done a couple of years ago by Porsche up in Miami, they put on a new sealing frame. Unfortunately, I didn't notice until I got back to Key West and several months later, that the bottom of the seal didn't have anything to plug into and was flapping around. Before deciding what to do, I played with it. I found out that I could pull it out and re-install it on the top and sides but, again, I had nothing to plug it into on the bottom. I was not going back up to Porsche just for that so, I ended up gluing the bottom edge of the seal into place with window trim glue. (that black stuff.) The trick to that, for me, was making sure I had good pressure on the two bottom corners overnight until the glue dried. So, on my car, the sealing frame pulls out from the sides and top and should be glued into the bottom. Even though there is a lip in the trim at the bottom. Unfortunately, the manual doesn't cover any of this at all. (Section 64, pages 15 & 16.) So, I really don't know what the guys in the shop did or didn't do. Some thoughts. The window won't leak if you are just messing with the sealing frame. FlyfishNick, you might pull up you bottom corners enough to see what's going on. If you have a seal on the bottom of your window, you might be able to press the seal back in (see my note below on this.) But your car might be like mine and there is really nothing there and you'll have to glue down the corners (make sure you get good pressure on the corners all night.) Also the amount of glue needs to be just right. Too much and it oozes out. Too little, no adhesion. Kartboy, I think your body shop had to pull out the sealing frame to shoot the new paint. They should be familiar with what's going on. You might call and ask. But I think you'll be able to pull off the sealing frame and press in the new one. However, you might have to glue the bottom. And my note on pressing in the seal: I found that I needed to use a plastic spatula to help push the seal fully into place. In other words pushing with my fingers really didn't get the seal in well enough. I used a plastic spatula, actually a trim tool, to do the job and not mark up the seal. That didn't help on the bottom but it did on the sides and top. Also, I found that starting on the bottom two corners and working my way around to the top center help me get the seal properly lined up. Hope this helps. GA

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Thanks for the comments. The shop just put tape on the seal and pulled it back, it has to go back again for the left quarter panel so I may just pop the seal out for them. Of course after I make this thread I get a different thread recommended to me it's linked below. I have ordered the seal part number and will see what I can do to get the new one installed. It'll clean up the look of the car without the cracked seal. https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...-problems.html

I have just ordered one from Pelican and can confirm it does fit, you just need a trim tool or a credit card, etc to push it into the holder. Note I have ordered a few others over the last few years and two have been about 2" longer. Same part number as the original, just wouldn't fit. YMMV.

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i didn't read the other posts, but the answer to your question is yes. i just did it to the front, rear, and sunroof on my 2002.

Thank you for confirming that I can just swap it out. I have a new one on order and will try swapping it out when I get it. It'll clean up the look of the rear window. Might as well make the car look newer with new uncracked seals.