[Rod_vw]

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

 

[Rod_vw]

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

 

[Rod_vw]

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.

Rod

 

[Rod_vw]

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.

 

[Rod_vw]

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

 

[Rod_vw]

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

 

[Rod_vw]

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

 

[Rod_vw]

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

 

[Rod_vw]

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

 

[Rod_vw]

I had my sliding door window replaced under warranty a few weeks ago. The new one leaks too - not as badly, but it still leaks...

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

 

[Rod_vw]

Well after apparently having new sliders fitted, the new ones are now leaking too, so it's off to the dealership once again. I might also call VW direct and tell them what I think

Humming bird, were your fitted with the latest version? I am told they have been modified quite a lot.

Mine goes in on Thursday (23rd Oct) for one new window complete to be fitted, I'll let you know the outcome.

Rod

 

[Rod_vw]

I am aware of the problem in the design / manufacture of the ones that leak and intend to have a close look at the revised version before they are fitted to my van.

I'll post my findings on here as soon as I have had chance to experience the new ones in situ.

As I said above one of mine is being changed on Thursday. They are only changing one as I will have to remove some of the fittings for the change of the other so I'm not doing that until I see the results of the first one!

Rod

 

[Rod_vw]

No I don't really once in this really hot weather we have just had
I looked and the water just runs over the groove and straight down the interior panel

Are the drain holes clear? There are two in each window, one visible when the window is open and another that never gets exposed in the centre of the slide. They should allow the water to run outside past the bonding. Try pouring water down the visible hole and see if it runs outside, faulty windows allow it to run inside either in its entirety or partially. The nozzle from a bathroom sealant tube can be made into a funnel to pour water into the holes.

Rod

 

[Rod_vw]

If you remove the lower trim cover, lever out and down carefully to get it off, you will see a flat cover over the bottom of the drain hole. That cover should channel the water out through a plastic moulding that passes between the glass and the outside of the bodywork bridging the window bonding and allowing the water to drain outside.

From what you say yours is just like mine were the two plastic pieces are not sealing together allowing the water to run inside instead of out. If the vehicle is still under warranty chase your Van Centre for replacements, there are revised versions of window available but the Van Centre may have to get part numbers from VW technical as the new ones may not yet be on ETKA.

Don't let them fob you off with just changing the moving slider it's the complete window that they have to change!

Rod

 

[Rod_vw]

Almost in line with where the drain hole is inside runs out under the edge of the glass.

I guess with care and perseverance you can seal between the two plastic parts and fix the problem.

Rod

 

[Rod_vw]

I can understand why you cannot see how it drains outside as the moulding that carries the water is hidden from view unless you have a complete window out of the vehicle. However I'll explain...

1. Is I guess where you see water running inside the vehicle?

2. The flat piece that you can see is a cover below a channel in a plastic inverted 'L' shaped moulding that takes the water outwards and then down through the area where the window is bonded to the vehicle on the outside surface.

3. The lower leg of the 'L' is behind (or outside) the metal bodywork at this point.

The pressing that is visible here is nothing to do with the water drain, it is for fitting plastic mouldings around the windows on Caravelles and Multivans etc.

I hope that this helps.

Rod

 

[Rod_vw]

Montello1984 I don't like to be pedantic but please go back and read what I explained. If you were see a new window out of the vehicle it would all become clear!

The water goes out via a moulding that you cannot see. The flat piece that you see should be pressed up to touch the part above and seal that way the water will pass outside.

Rod

 

[Rod_vw]

As a quick catch up...

My van is an early 2014 model built Aug/Sept 2013, I bought it 'new' ex-dealer in Feb 2014.

By late Spring both sliding windows had been replaced complete under warranty as they both leaked.

{During Spring & early Summer 2014 I was converting it to a camper and getting away into France asap}

I reported to my Van Centre that the left window still leaked but it would be Autumn before I could get the van in to have it changed due to extended European holidays.

Late Autumn VW Technical informed my Van Centre that a new window was available and should be fitted to my van. However a total c**k-up ended up with a left window for a LHD (panel not sliding door) van being fitted!!! The window is the same size but the rear black graphic is not wide enough to hide the metal door frame.

Recently (Jan 2015) I have managed to get the van into the Van Centre for the correct new version of the left sliding window complete to be fitted. The thought was to fit the right one as well but when I dismantled the camper furniture there was no sign of a leak so I asked them to leave it alone.

So up to date I have the latest version of window assembly fitted to the left (sliding door) side and the previous version on the right side. When we have had enough rain to prove the point I'll report back.

Rod

 

[Rod_vw]

Do I understand that you mean the tint is not as dark in the sliding portion?

If so I will check mine tomorrow but I haven't noticed any difference in mine.


Rod