VW T4 Forum - VW T5 Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Garage Forums

Sliding window leaks T5.1 New

3 reading
Jump to Latest
90K views 115 replies 37 participants last post by  speedyuk  
#1 ·
Has anyone truly resolved the sliding window leaks on new vehicles?

I'm on my third T5, all have suffered with sliding window leaks to some degree. Two have had sliding units replaced but not cured the problem completely.

These leaks are NOT between the main glass and the body they are from the sliding portion.

The latest is from a new vehicle that has had a sliding section replaced already a couple of weeks ago and the window not opened since it left the workshop. Looked in this morning and it's wet inside at the bottom of the sliding channel.

I am having total co-operation from my van centre but they are a a loss on how to resolve the problem although willing to persevere with it.

Rod
 
#2 ·
I am making progress on this problem at last!!

Barring the obvious faults of poorly bonded windows and damaged seals I have looked further.

First check was to pour water down the front drain holes in the runners to check that they were not blocked. I say front drain holes because unknown to me due to poor observation there is another drain hole at the centre of the runner.

Both front holes drained outside OK however the left side also leaked into the inside of the door!

Further investigation with the runner cover removed showed where the leak was. There is a flat plastic cover over the bottom of the drain hole which channels any water from the guide channel to the outside of the bodywork. In my case this cover is not sealed to the underside of the rail assembly thus allowing water to run inside the vehicle.

I have showed my dealer what happens and supplied them with video of this for onward transmission to VW.

Today I discover the centre drain holes which are never visible from above as they are under the sliding section at all times. On the right sliding window this drain channel suffers the same problem as above.

So in conclusion all is well IF the seal around the glass is perfect preventing any water passing to the runner channels but how often is that seal perfect? Obviously the drain holes are provided to manage any leakage past the seals in the sliding assembly, it's just a pity they are not fitted correctly at manufacture.

Sorry to say, it's all down to poor quality control.

Watch this space for Volkswagen's response as this vehicle is under warranty.

Rod
 
D
#87 ·
Hi Rod,
Thanks for the information concerning leaks on the sliding door window. I have had my present, "and only T5" over the last four years and had no problem with this type of leak. But at the start of the New Year I found water inside the vehicle, the source was traced to somewhere on the sliding door/window? Your investigation and determination produced a welcome required result, which will be so helpful in solving this issue to all owners. After all that praise which is well deserved, do you think you could send me a copy of the YouTube you made, showing the fault. I ask this as pictures serve me much better in making a repair, than the written word, or simply put, "I'm a bit dim....... ".

All help appreciated
Regards
Dennis
 
5
#5 ·
Both my Shuttle windows leaked but I have fitted a small washer hose and straight coupler to the drain hole then fed that into the handle drain cup which is less than 6 inches away and that then drains through the doors to the lower drain holes in the door problem solved no wet door steps. cost less than £7 to sort out and we get some bad rain in north wales too.
 
#6 ·
That sounds like a good idea but your Shuttle will have lots of trim around the window area to hide the drain tube(s). Mine being a Kombi only has the simple black covering strip on the bottom of the window slide.

Did you discover that there were two drains per window and did the centre one leak just like the front one?

Rod
 
#7 ·
VW have agreed to change both windows complete under warranty. It should be done the coming Wednesday (14th May), I've asked to inspect the new windows before they are fitted as it's no good fitting ones with the same fault!

Here is where the fault appears there are two plastic parts here that should be sealed together in some way, mine are not and let the water from the drain channels run inside the vehicle. There are two of these drain channels on each window, one at the front and one in the centre. One of mine pours water in and another drips it in.

Image


Rod
 
#9 ·
Insert plastic trim removal tool (like a blunt table knife but doesn't damage the plastic so easily) between the main part and the cover. Lever downwards to unclip. Do it carefully locating the clip points as you work along uncliping each one as you go, there are six clip points in all.

This is the simple trim removal set that I have http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/power-tec-5-piece-vehicle-trim-remover there are more elaborate sets but this does most of what I need.

Rod.
 
#11 ·
John, if the vehicle is new take it back to the dealer without doing anything yourself to invalidate the warranty

Who knows whether VW have solved this problem but unless enough folks make them notice it it will never be fixed! After all they have only been making T5s with leaking windows or eleven years, not long to fix such a simple problem I:

Rod
 
#12 · (Edited)
Just to bring you up to date...

Van went into Shrewsbury Van Centre yesterday for two complete new windows to be fitted. I looked at the left one before it was fitted and the connection between the plastic pieces looked OK. Drove away in a nice big LWB Maxi Crafter as a courtesy vehicle. It would make a great camper but I guess they will be a bit miffed if I cut the window holes before I take it back!

Late afternoon brought a call from the service receptionist to say that he had tested the drains on both new windows only to find that the right window had a slight leak. They had effected an on site repair and would like to keep the van over night for the sealer to cure then re-test this morning.

The van centre are doing their best but of course they are not able to influence the quality of the parts that they receive.

It's ongoing, I'll keep you posted.

Rod
 
#14 ·
Welcome to the forum 't4haigy', good to have you aboard.

I hope that it was a good job well done, I've trusted to the tests done this morning so only time will tell.

Just let's hope if there is a leak it will be in the left side, at least that will be accessible to be fixed.

Marking out the Morland timber this afternoon and doing a bit of cutting, hopefully get it into shape soon and then off into France.

Rod
 
#15 ·
Well it's rained again this week and guess what? Yes both new windows leak, not as bad as the original ones but they do leak!

VW customer services are aware, in fact they rang me to find out how the replacement job went whilst I was working in the van and it was at that point I spotted the water dripping down the inside of the sliding door! Later I found wet on top of the fridge under the right window.

Shrewsbury Van Centre are trying their best to progress the problem but it may have to wait whilst I complete the conversion and have a long holiday in Europe.

I'll keep you posted.

Rod
 
H
#19 ·
Hi Rod_VW

I have a new T5.1 with both windows leaking. Currently using cloths to soak up the water, which are sobbing wet after a night of rainfall :blg:blg


Any chance you could PM me the video you sent to VW? Finding it difficult to see the problem from your posted pics!

I will probably take it into a dealer as it's still under warranty, but suspect they will just replace the windows. I guess the dealer makes more money by charging VAG for two new windows rather than spending time trying to find a simple more cost effective solution for the customer. This may be the reason why the issue has been going on for so long!!!
 
#20 ·
Hi Humming bird, sorry but I don't think I can add an attachment to a PM but if you care to PM me your email address I will send it to you that way.

As a matter if interest, VW have now told my Van Centre that there is a later version of the windows available and that they should replace mine with these. Unfortunately they are not able to get them into the parts department before I wander off to France again on holiday. Therefore I cannot report back on the success or failure of the new type until mid October at the earliest.

Rod
 
H
#21 ·
Hi Rod-vw

Thanks for the video. It does look like the drain hole is directing water straight into your van rather than to an exit point. Perhaps the VAG designer forget to finish the design!

Have you got any video of you taking the plastic cover off as I would like to take a look at mine but don't want to break anything before I take it to a dealer?
 
H
#24 ·
Had both Kombi sliding windows replaced under warranty with no fuss yesterday. I understand that VW have a specific technical product information for this fault (TPI 2007260/1) and have I think altered the design. The new sliding windows do seem to be a much tighter fit now so looks promising, but I will wait to see if the new windows stay leak free.
T:T:
 
#28 ·
From what you say they still haven't realised that it isn't the glass to glass seal that is the problem it's the drain channels that handle any wet that passes the seal. What ever they do with the glass seal there will always be occasions when some water passes and then it must go somewhere. If the channel and its drain holes are correctly sealed to ensure the water passes outside through the bonding we wouldn't be having this problem.

Mine are due for replacement when I return from France in a month's time, I'll keep you posted after that.

I know some dealers have an eye on this forum, it's just a pity Volkswagen themselves don't pop their heads over the parapet and respond to some of the recurring problems. We can't expect them to say much but where problems are acknowledged and being addressed they could at least let owners know.

Rod
 
VW T4 Forum - VW T5 Forum
posts
3.6M
members
233K
Since
2007
A forum community dedicated to Volkswagen T4 owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, conversions, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
The Pub General T5 Chat General T4 Chat Engine & Gearbox Electrical