Denny, if both drains are running the water outside and non inside then they are not at fault. If the seal is passing water to the inside either it is dirty, damaged or the window is not closing correctly.

As far as I can see there is no replacement seal available, you can see the components here http://www.partscats.info/volkswage...hauptgr=1234567890&hg=8&grf=084700410&bf=84700&hgug=847&ug=47&parent_id=3337247

Don't rely on any part numbers on this diagram, always check with your local van centre parts dept. (or TPS outlet) before ordering.

Rod

 

Rod thanks for your response, as usual well worthwhile. As soon as the leak appeared and reading Posts concerning the reason for these leaks, they all pointed towards the drain hole points. "And I of course in my infancy of owning my van, I took it as being my type of fault). As I said in my last mail I checked everything concerned with this form of leak, and did learn a great deal on this, and on other subjects in various Posts by your good-self, and other members, so the time spent has't been wasted.

Just a quick point of interest Rod, I'm a Shropshire lad myself I was born at Atcham, and lived in Wellington Telford until I joined the Army in 1962. Stationed in Plymouth in 1970 where I met my wife, loved the place and bought a house here in 1987 and not looked back since. Thanks for all the information you provided on this subject. Have safe and enjoyable trips in the future. denny bT:

 

Evening all. Just been reading the previous posts as I am trying to sort my leaks out! (06 Kombi, factory Windows). I took the sliders out about a year ago (before reading about the drain holes). Cleaned thoroughly and re set the seals with clear silicone. This procedure was explained on a thread in great detail but can't find it now. Highly recommended. The "tighter" seals reduced leakage by about 90%. Not entirely happy but lived with it. Vans going in for insulation/carpet etc at Absolut5 next week so thought I would take the panels off and make sure all was well. Panels are fit for the bin but no damage to body work. Time to research the drain holes! Popped off the bottom trim to find it wet at the front end (both sides) The drain hole discharges straight into the bottom trim! There is no cap/tube/channel fitted to the bottom of the hole (any of the 4) to direct water outside. The bottom trim only clips to the upper slider channel and is not sealed to it or the body work. Hence the water leaking inside. Any thoughts? I considered sealing the bottom channel to the body but am concerned that the trapped water may start to corrode the panel. Saw the method of directing water via a tube to the handle drain but how do I get there without drilling the door? Any ideas for a a modification? Is this how it was from new? There appears to be heavily corroded steel on the underside of the slider channel so it's been wet for a while. Don't want to trash the new interior!

 

I've just taken the same bit apart on 2006 Kombi and it has no sign of any internal parts to direct water outside - certainly nothing resembling the rather fuzzy object above the finger in the photo posted earlier. On ours, any water just drops straight through onto the bottom moulding and then out inside, to saturate the door trim.

BTW it might be worth re-checking how many drain holes you have - there may appear to be four, but I suspect you'll find that two of those holes are blind.

The design of the window looks even worse than I had originally thought, because it ~appears~ that the lower rail has a steel reinforcing plate inside, and on ours this has rusted, forcing the plate with the channels in it upward - it has distorted so much that we can only get the window open about two thirds of the way.

We're going to have a go at plumping up the seals with silicone sealant, but if (when) that fails, I'm still planning to seal the whole window up for good...

 

Triffic,
When I said four I meant two either side. (2per window.) One at the front and one in the middle. The four blind holes are for the locking pins to locate in. Mine still open ok. Corrosion a lot worse on the near side window. Fingers crossed that someone has a solution!

 

Traffic,
Take a look at this post in General T5 Technical (I posted the same query there). There is a fantastic solution with pictures too. Will try and do mine in the next few days.
Good luck with yours.

 

Hi did you manage to fix yours? I have the same issue with no “drain” cup the holes literally run to nowhere apart from down the door card on my 05 shuttle

 

There is no way around that as the drain cups have to be fitted before the window is bonded into the vehicle. The outlet is through the bonding area.

Was this window fitted 'after market' either new or second hand? As it looks as if it was damaged (drain parts missing) before fitting.

 

thank you for getting back to me Rod, yes they are OEM VW sliders it seems bizarre they are fitted as such and its the same for both sides, I think my only two options are try and retrofit a drain solution or go down the route of replacing the windows not looked into the cost of that yet though.

 

I managed to run a small length of 4mm pvc tubing from the drainage channel by boring a new hole and going through the metal of the door below. I fitted a rubber grommet then I ran the tube into the door handle drain cup, which then spouts down a tube and out the bottom of the sliding door. What has also helped immensely is applying silicone grease to the window seals which has slowed water ingress right down to a level that the measly drainage holes can cope with. I have also removed both sliding windows and turned the retaining pins to the round edge so they press the seals firmly against the stationary glass. I have bought a pair of.service kits from ebay to do this job again in a few weeks. All these measures have kept 99% of the water out for now. I have noticed some moisture after recent big storms here in Ireland, but they're a million times better than they were.

 

Brilliant I was thinking the same retrofit have ordered some washer jet hose will use that have you just connected the front hole or the rear one too? for the silicone grease have you applied this just over the face of the seal? and last question the retaining pin is it easy to remove the sliding window I am going to have a go over the weekend in theory it looks simple just don't fancy snapping any trim. what service kits have you ordered? cheers and apologies for the bombardment of questions.

 

I had this problem and used some construction adhesive to seal around the drain 'tray' piece that directs the water out under the glass. Works perfectly and no leaks at all now, also cant see it as it's under the lower trim.

I did bend the tray down first and clean all the black gunk off and made sure the holes were nice and clean, blew through with an air line etc...

 

I can confirm that after all of these years and having owned three T5s and a T6 that VW have NEVER fixed this problem.

Now I have a LWB Auto MAN TGE which has totally different window slides so I am hoping that they don't leak!

 

I'm resurrecting this thread again as I'm needing a solution too. I have a 2005 T5 AutoSleeper Trooper. Autosleeper obviously were aware of this issue and seem to have come up with their own solution which consisted of creating basically what I can only describe as guttering to run under the window slider rail and catch all the overspill water which then then piped away teed into the door handle drain. I'm attaching a picture of the part. Unfortunately mine had started to leak due to failure of the sealing gum holding the 'guttering' part to the door. Rather than just mastic over again which I think had already been done I tried to remove the guttering part and inevitably I've broken it! AS unfortunately no longer supply this part! So I'm left looking for a fix. I did consider running some pipe from the drain holes as I see others have done. I'd like some advice on how best to fix the pipe to the rail, what best pipe to use and if any cup type arrangement was used to attach the pipe to the rail or if just relied on a friction type fit of the pipe in the hole? I also see that a company has come up with some shroud type argument to fit over the outside of the window. I'm not interested in that arrangement but I wonder if there is a market for someone to produce the guttering type arrangement that AS did. Even with the original drain holes working I think it is quite easy for the water build up and run over the edge of the rail and this gutter caught that. With the window blind/screen fitted this gutter is basically invisible. Thank you.