Discussion regarding T6 ONLY roof corrosion

[snowy55]

Non Cali (or any T6 ) i'v seen build was put away that long afther spraying before further assembling .
If i recall , it is a mather of hours before they are back on track in the factory-assembling line

Is it true that the first thing they do on leaving the assembly line is that they lift the roof and spray water to check for leaks?

 

[Hotel California]

Is it true that the first thing they do on leaving the assembly line is that they lift the roof and spray water to check for leaks?

Yep , afther they finished assembling the Cali they do a whole list of check-ups including the watertest .
There are films on you-tube and i've seen it with my own eyes...

 

[thehorse]

While looking at paint cure times on google found these comments on another forum...

When i got my truck repaired after a huge hailstorm, i asked my bodyshop guy why i had to wait. He said that when the paint cures over the 30 days, it completes some kind of chemical reaction that needs to vent gasses out the pores of the paint. Therefore, if you put wax or sealant on it too soon, this gas can't escape, and your paint can get very soft, or begin to bubble or blister.

and

A few months ago I contacted many of the auto paint manufacturers and asked about paint curing time, before waxing. Most of the answers I received were to wait between 30 and 60 days. Some even said to wait up to 90 days before waxing. I would agree with your body shop and wait at least the full 30 days.

 

[Hotel California]

While looking at paint cure times on google found these comments on another forum...



and

I fully agree on your concern , but no body shop does that ....at max a overnight and they assemble accidented cars back together afther the paint jobs...
They leave it in the spraycabin with sort of a heating system...

New manufactured cars leaving 30days untouched would mean every car plant to double in size to store those body's....

 

[Trebor]

Thanks for your input hotel california .

Realise warranty invalidated if I do anything to the seal but no confidence in VW repairs from what I've read on the forum and don't want to wait for it to get worse.

1 Does anyone know how much a new roof seal is?
2 Has anyone removed the seal completely and put the roof down fully with a bit of packing temporarily as a spacer to allow paint on the roof edge to dry fully ?

Went to look at motor homes this afternoon , so disappointed .
Thanks

 

[Hotel California]

@Trebor , the roof sits on rubbers inside the mechanism (take a look when you roof is up)so removing the roofseal and close the roof should work .
But honestly , can't see the point of doing this every time you use the Cali in the rain...

 

[thehorse]

A huge 'thank you' from Mrs Snowy for all the kind words whilst we have endured the past few days. We are both gutted, Snowy especially, I would say he is devastated (and very angry)!

The last three years in our Cali have been amazing and the vehicle itself outstanding, it would have been very easy to have taken delivery of our brand new ordered Cali and hope that it would not have corrosion, but we made the extremely difficult decision to vote with our feet and have walked away (sadly) because we believe VW should not continually produce defective vehicles, sell them to hard-working people for large sums of money and then treat them with contempt. Within the next few weeks some poor unsuspecting person will walk into the dealership and buy these two vans which are known to have corrosion and happily take good money for them, to me that says it all!

Thank you once again for your much appreciated support for Snowy xxxx

Completely agree and admire your principles.

We can all speculate as to the cause of this problem but I'd guarantee the engineers, metallurgists and materials scientists in VW will know exactly what the problem is and will know how to fix it. The problem is not with them but with the bean counters who I'm sure won't be in a hurry to sign off money on a solution while there are people queuing around the block gladly handing over £50-60K for tarted up panel van.

 

[Trebor]

Thanks hotel California .
Not suggesting every time just to allow things to dry fully in dehumidified sealed garage prior to gluing dry , clean, seal back onto roof edge with Sikaflex or something similar that will stick to paint / aluminium /
rubber . This should stop water getting inside the roof seal which seems to be the main problem .
Thanks again .

 

[Ambler]

Well I did mention that the body shop man I spoke to also mentioned the primer used. Until we have a definitive opinion from someone qualified in the field we just don't know.

 

[Grey one]

Is it simply the case that none of us know the cause? In reality all we can do is report our individual cases to VW and develop a growing knowledge of how many of us have done so. As individuals we can do the first bit and if each who did so mentioned it here we would have information to challenge VW. If we end up with a decent number reporting to VW then that could open up options. But we are not there yet. Or am I missing something?

 

[gear box oil]

Disappointing that this is happening on the California.
It was well known on the Defender but Landrover had no interest in solving the problem. In some places on the body it would have been as simple as putting a barrier tape or sealer between the different metals they had a captive market so why bother.
I think VW will have the same attitude.
Is anyone actually in the process of having their roof repaired at this moment in time can we find out what system is being used for the repair.

 

[GrannyJen]

The impetus is to keep this thread going, to

Is it simply the case that none of us know the cause? In reality all we can do is report our individual cases to VW and develop a growing knowledge of how many of us have done so. As individuals we can do the first bit and if each who did so mentioned it here we would have information to challenge VW. If we end up with a decent number reporting to VW then that could open up options. But we are not there yet. Or am I missing something?

I think knowing the cause is secondary to knowing the outcome: A long wait, a bodge, a shedload of waffle, an arrogant dismissal of all that should be embraced by the term "customer service".

Sadly I feel so much for people like Snowy who despite two bad experiences put's his trust and faith in a third VW and has this happen. As relaxed as I am about my own vehicle (one could say almost fatalistic) if it had happened to me a third, or even just a second time, then I would be approaching thermo-nuclear incandescence,

The frustrating thing, and I had a bad experience 18 months ago with a relatively minor issue, is that this is allowed to happen to what is an absolutely brilliant vehicle in almost every respect. The vehicle still works, it will continue to provide many unique and magic experiences, so far the consensus is that it is more cosmetic than structural but the reality is that whichever it is it should not be there at all.

 

[Grey one]

The impetus is to keep this thread going, to


I think knowing the cause is secondary to knowing the outcome: A long wait, a bodge, a shedload of waffle, an arrogant dismissal of all that should be embraced by the term "customer service".

Sadly I feel so much for people like Snowy who despite two bad experiences put's his trust and faith in a third VW and has this happen. As relaxed as I am about my own vehicle (one could say almost fatalistic) if it had happened to me a third, or even just a second time, then I would be approaching thermo-nuclear incandescence,

The frustrating thing, and I had a bad experience 18 months ago with a relatively minor issue, is that this is allowed to happen to what is an absolutely brilliant vehicle in almost every respect. The vehicle still works, it will continue to provide many unique and magic experiences, so far the consensus is that it is more cosmetic than structural but the reality is that whichever it is it should not be there at all.

Agreed. But it is there and has to be addressed in the most practical manner. At the moment VW have the abilit

The impetus is to keep this thread going, to


I think knowing the cause is secondary to knowing the outcome: A long wait, a bodge, a shedload of waffle, an arrogant dismissal of all that should be embraced by the term "customer service".

Sadly I feel so much for people like Snowy who despite two bad experiences put's his trust and faith in a third VW and has this happen. As relaxed as I am about my own vehicle (one could say almost fatalistic) if it had happened to me a third, or even just a second time, then I would be approaching thermo-nuclear incandescence,

The frustrating thing, and I had a bad experience 18 months ago with a relatively minor issue, is that this is allowed to happen to what is an absolutely brilliant vehicle in almost every respect. The vehicle still works, it will continue to provide many unique and magic experiences, so far the consensus is that it is more cosmetic than structural but the reality is that whichever it is it should not be there at all.

I think we have two T6 owners with suspected corrosion in 160 plus posts? Let's see how this develops in terms of numbers.

 

[gear box oil]

We are caught between a rock and a hard place.
Make every effort to let VW know they have a problem but don't let them spoil the enjoyment of having a California.

 

[Grey one]

We are caught between a rock and a hard place.
Make every effort to let VW know they have a problem but don't let them spoil the enjoyment of having a California.

Agreed

 

[snowy55]

The Cali was collected yesterday morning and the money has been transfered into our bank account.
The deposit for our cancelled Cali is being put back onto the card.
All this has happened within 48 hours of discovering the corrosion.
There has been no argument from either dealership.

They haven't got a leg to stand on and they know it!

 

[Grey one]

Congratulations is the wrong word but you know what I mean. In case others take the same view, can you confirm how long you had the vehicle as I read somewhere about a 30 day limit although consumer law is full of caveats and time frames! Also, in case others liaise with VWCS about corrosion, do you know if they know of your situation?

 

[snowy55]

Congratulations is the wrong word but you know what I mean. In case others take the same view, can you confirm how long you had the vehicle as I read somewhere about a 30 day limit although consumer law is full of caveats and time frames! Also, in case others liaise with VWCS about corrosion, do you know if they know of your situation?

We took delivery of the T6 on December 9th and emailed the photos and request for rejection on Sunday 8th January.
We weren't sure what counts as the date of sale, is it when we paid the balance or on day of delivery either way we were on or over the 30 day limit.
As far I am aware VWCS are not aware of the situation. In our experience VWCS are about as much use as a chocolate fireguard so we haven't bothered their precious little heads.

 

[snowy55]

All these theories about the rubber seal and paint drying times don't explain this loss of paint on the under side of the roof on our old 2014 SE

 

[Lost Boy]

Is this restricted to people who leave their Cali outside 365?

Nope, mine lives inside all of the time the only time its gets wet is when its being used

 

[sbmcd]

Thanks for that, not good at all, time to get my rubber seal off I think.

Seal taken off today, bad case of blisters mainly along edges rather than front of roof, bugger, here we go. My Cali was bought new in March 2014. No sign of any issues out with the seal, I suspect those who think they do not have an issue with this are those who have not looked under the seal.

Unfortunately it would seem VW do not have an effective permanent remedy.

 

[Grey one]

Sorry to hear that. I think you are now the 4th T6 owner on this thread to have negative news. Will you be informing administration following their e mail?

 

[WelshGas]

Sorry to hear that. I think you are now the 4th T6 owner on this thread to have negative news. Will you be informing administration following their e mail?

Not a T6, but a T5.1.

 

[Grey one]

Apologies, tuned into it as a T6 issue in light of the thread title. New to the Cali, I didnt appreciate there was a 5.1.

 

[WelshGas]

Seal taken off today, bad case of blisters mainly along edges rather than front of roof, bugger, here we go. My Cali was bought new in March 2014. No sign of any issues out with the seal, I suspect those who think they do not have an issue with this are those who have not looked under the seal.

Unfortunately it would seem VW do not have an effective permanent remedy.

Sorry to Disagree. I don't have the problem visible and I won't look until the end of the warranty. Why? Well once it is repaired you will only get 1 yrs warranty from the Body Shop. So if I claim late and they take their time doing the repair then It should be in reasonable condition just at the point I hit 100,000 miles and preparing for the next Campervan, being a T6/T7 or something else. So I see no rush.