Leak - believed to be roof

[Matthew Mills]

So, I spotted water (small amount like picture) after washing the van with a jetwash... I'm a Defender owner so just ignored it.

Today after last night's rain I can see water. I opened the roof, and can see that water has been pooling near the drain (the corner of the wet carpet) but when I poor water in that spot - it nicely drains through the hole and gives a satisfying drain sound... Cleaned out all the debris and cleaned all the seal - did the same the other said and whilst it drained slowly no satisfying sound. I clean out the drain with a short piece of bendy plastic until I could here a nice satisfying drain sound and see the water quickly disappear...

Now the semi blocked drain was on the opposite and marginally higher side...

But looking at where the water was dripping from there seems to be a rail that run across under the dash - could the water come in on one side and migrate to the other and only drip in this one location? (because it the marginally lower side)

Any other ideas and advice? I've looked at other threads and seemingly this is different. Pics below: -

Thanks dubbers :thefinger

View media item 830
View media item 831
See the drip on the edge of the trim...

 

[Hotel California]

Hi Matthew , beeing a former Defender owner ( sold it for the Cali) i am aware of wet carpets on those....

As for you Cali ,
Did you check the front drains....or just the rear ones .
There are two in front on each side of the verhicle
And two in the rear .
The ones in front are only visible afther removing a plastic cap .
Check out below on page one of my sticky tread
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/cali-technical-tips-tricks.9457/

If these drains are open there still is the possibility of a leak from the rubber hose going thru the bodywork down to the udnerneeth of the verhicle.
There is a thread on that also,, will,try and look it up for you using the search function or look below in the "similar threads...

Could also not be the roofdrains and beeing doorrubbers or water coming in from under the hood behind the dash but seems rare to me .
Let us know how it works out checking all four roofdrains.

 

[Matthew Mills]

hotel california thanks for the reply...

Yes the drains I refer to is the fronts, removed the covers and cleared the passenger side - driver side was clear and it's this drain that was above the leak (vertically above).

As for the door rubbers, I checked between the outer and inner (e.g. on the paintwork) and no wet, I gentle pulled down the inner (main) seal to see if there was any wet on the inside faces - none. If it was door seals it would be logical for the lower wet patch - e.g. on the flat floor surface, but the drip on the wheel arch is coming off the horizontal bar under the dash. - It would require door seal water to hop!

Me thinks it's either Hose - as you suggest or something else related to the A pillar... such as windscreen etc. If there nothing obvious and easily dealt with posted via this thread I shall book it in for some garage time.

might even have the chin spoiler fitted that I've wanted since new!

Matt

 

[Hotel California]

Can't seem to find the post showing the drain passing the footwell , there was one who posted pics of the carpet and some trim removed showing a bend in the rubber hose....

 

[Hotel California]

On my Defender the airco was situ there and also leaked....
Do not know on a Cali?
You did have the windows closed properly.
Try checking the outer rearviewmirror for leaks!

 

[Matthew Mills]

hotel california...

I'm struggling with the hose being the issue. When testing I pored a huge amount of water down and it did not add to the drips. Seemingly no correlation between the 2, and as said the drivers was clear. Could be anywhere tho'.

 

[Hotel California]

Always fun locating waterinfiltration,
Got it on my 15 year old Renault Kangoo for three years now and can't seem to find it . Then it suddenly disappear and returns afther a while

 

[WelshGas]

hotel california...

I'm struggling with the hose being the issue. When testing I pored a huge amount of water down and it did not add to the drips. Seemingly no correlation between the 2, and as said the drivers was clear. Could be anywhere tho'.

What year is your vehicle? Do you have AirCon? Could it be the AirCon Evaporator Water drain blocked? In which case water could get in via heating system.
This was a known problem on the Puma Defenders fitted with Air Con.

 

[Matthew Mills]

What year is your vehicle? Do you have AirCon? Could it be the AirCon Evaporator Water drain blocked? In which case water could get in via heating system.
This was a known problem on the Puma Defenders fitted with Air Con.

This is the Cali (15 plate SE) and it had not moved for a week so not Aircon...

 

[vmaxkiddy]

Had the same on my 2012 SE, first on passenger side then later on drivers side too. Turned out to be the windscreen sealant. Dealer used a boroscope behind the dash whillst water was hosed onto the screen to trace the leak.

 

[Matthew Mills]

Had the same on my 2012 SE, first on passenger side then later on drivers side too. Turned out to be the windscreen sealant. Dealer used a boroscope behind the dash whillst water was hosed onto the screen to trace the leak.

Thanks for that... Off to the dealer then!

 

[Matthew Mills]

Okay so an update - went to the dealer for a week - they said it was windscreen and sent it out for repair - went to collect and it and it was full of water and dirty foot prints - went mad!

They have now had it for another week - they can't find the leak, have referred it VW that say (according to the dealer) that it must go to a specialist body shop. Leaking via the roof but they can't find it...

Here we go... bad service and non-credible answer...

Being delivered back this afternoon.

Let's see what happens - anyone had a similar experience (leak not the crap dealer service) that's increasingly normal! Shame but true....

 

[zeratul]

I believe I may have a similar issue. When camping this weekend (beach MY15) with the roof up in the rain, I noticed water leaking through the C-pillar (on the side without sliding door).

Could this be related to this 'roof' drain which is damaged?

Or would you suspect the sliding window to be the problem? Any advice?

 

[zeratul]

I must add that I'm not sure this is a leak yet. I had closed the roof in the rain, drove for half an hour, then noticed the side window wasn't properly closed, so it's possible that a small amount of water entered through the side window near the top and through the speed of the car found it's way to the C-pillar. Not quite convinced by this theory though.. but reading that referenced topic about the drains it doesn't look like they are in the C pillar so I don't understand how else this can be possible.

 

[WelshGas]

I must add that I'm not sure this is a leak yet. I had closed the roof in the rain, drove for half an hour, then noticed the side window wasn't properly closed, so it's possible that a small amount of water entered through the side window near the top and through the speed of the car found it's way to the C-pillar. Not quite convinced by this theory though.. but reading that referenced topic about the drains it doesn't look like they are in the C pillar so I don't understand how else this can be possible.

Anything touching the roof canvas when it was raining, as that can cause water to wick through.

 

[zeratul]

Anything touching the roof canvas when it was raining, as that can cause water to wick through.

Very well possible, could that end up on the C-pillar so much lower?

 

[WelshGas]

Very well possible, could that end up on the C-pillar so much lower?

No idea, I'm sorry., but it would collect on the ledge around the roof and ? Run anywhere.

 

[Jamie B]

Did you get to the bottom of the issue in the end? I have just read this thread hoping that it would shed some light. I have recently had the roof repaired and now have this same problem. Been back to the dealer twice now. They have replaced the drain on the A pillar last time. However, last week there was a small pool of water dripping from the roof control unit (definitely water and not hydraulic fluid). The garage which I do have some sympathy for, can't replicate the leak (despite trying many different angles etc). Just dont know where to go with this now?

 

[briwy]

We had big problems with the roof after the repair and it turned out to be the sealant around the hydraulic pipes where they come out of the roof to the pistons. Ours never leaked before the repair so obviously it was caused during the repair. Remove the black plastic cover and have a really good look at the sealant, it only needs a small crack for it to leak.

 

[Sandyvan]

I would hazard a guess the sealant is a black sickoflex not silicon.

 

[KGCali]

Okay so an update - went to the dealer for a week - they said it was windscreen and sent it out for repair - went to collect and it and it was full of water and dirty foot prints - went mad!

They have now had it for another week - they can't find the leak, have referred it VW that say (according to the dealer) that it must go to a specialist body shop. Leaking via the roof but they can't find it...

Here we go... bad service and non-credible answer...

Being delivered back this afternoon.

Let's see what happens - anyone had a similar experience (leak not the crap dealer service) that's increasingly normal! Shame but true....

@Matthew Mills, any update, did this get resolved and what was the cause?

 

[Jamie B]

Hi

Yes had a very similar experience after having the roof treated for very minor corrosion (two small bubbles) Ended up going to specialist bodyshop (Claridges in Southport) who had to have it back three time before they finally found the problem to be the grommets. If you don't get the support you would expect, suggest writing to VW customer care in Sheffield, they will then have to respond. Claridges are supposed to be the best.

 

[KGCali]

Hi

Yes had a very similar experience after having the roof treated for very minor corrosion (two small bubbles) Ended up going to specialist bodyshop (Claridges in Southport) who had to have it back three time before they finally found the problem to be the grommets. If you don't get the support you would expect, suggest writing to VW customer care in Sheffield, they will then have to respond. Claridges are supposed to be the best.

Could you take a picture of your sealed grommets and post here. Should the whole rubber grommet be sealed where it touches the body or just where the pipes come out of the grommet. My grommets look like the seal to the bodywork is cracked, see picture.

 

[Jamie B]

Hi There

These were all completely sealed, re-sealed and sealed again. However, I dont think that these are the grommets to which they refer too. From discussion the grommets are hidden in the roof and are where the hydraulic hoses pass. Of course I could have been fobbed off with that answer. I will take some better pics for you when it stops raining here.

 

[KGCali]

Hi There

These were all completely sealed, re-sealed and sealed again. However, I dont think that these are the grommets to which they refer too. From discussion the grommets are hidden in the roof and are where the hydraulic hoses pass. Of course I could have been fobbed off with that answer. I will take some better pics for you when it stops raining here.

View attachment 51795

View attachment 51796

Thanks Jamie B, my picture is a close up of the one you show with the pipes coming out so not sure where any other grommets could be. I look forward to you pictures.