Our new T6.1 Ocean carpets are soaked!!

[WelshGas]

So the rain has come again and with it more water on the inside. Definitely drivers A pillar. Pulling out the side privacy blind and it's got water drops on it. Was a very tight fit but managed to squeeze the front third of the cali under our car port to give it shelter. Soaked up most of the water from wheel arch carpet with kitchen towel and large silicon bead bag thing and checked on it an hour later and it seems OK.
Thanks for the suggestion. I've got it on hook up now and have a new dehumidifier running. Heater has been running for several hours each day since Sat morning but switched it off now I'm not able to keep an eye on it.

Contact VW Customer Services. Tell them who the Dealer is and the fact the vehicle has not been used for camping since purchase.

The water getting into the vehicle via tha A pillar means one of two things.
1. The drainage tube is made of a number of parts and one has become disconnected.
2. The Drain Inlet is not seated or sealed correctly.

If the drainage system is sealed properly and was blocked then water is more likely to leak through the roof bellows than the A trim.
The fact that the drain tube that side sounds like trumpet indicates the most likely cause is a disconnection.

 

[Jay20cali]

This can not be right. A month or so old. there must be a warranty issue. Our 1st van 2012 to 2016 and our second van 2016 to current never had a blockage. What would have blocked it in that short time if just a blockage - something introduced in the manufacture? A great advert for A nee T6.1

My 6.1 is ok
I went out to check after reading this thread!
Such a shame I hope it hasn’t ruined your experience,
Probably a build issue is my guess so should definitely be warranty issue. Not a chance it could be blocked already

 

[ArunAlec]

As @WelshGas says if it’s a blockage then you would expect water to be coming in from the roof not the A pillar. Love to hear how the dealer can justify saying it’s not a warranty job.

 

[WelshGas]

As @WelshGas says if it’s a blockage then you would expect water to be coming in from the roof not the A pillar. Love to hear how the dealer can justify saying it’s not a warranty job.

They can’t.

 

[2into1]

You'd do us all (and probably yourself) a big favour by naming the dealer who told you this isn't a warranty issue.

 

[Christine Kirk]

speak to trading standards; not fit for purpose perhaps. also have you made a complaint to VW commercial?
as a last resort name and shame the dealer as it would appear that some are not really up to dealing with the customer who spends a lot of money on a very personal purchase.

 

[Cloud Dodger]

We rejected ours for paint defects just outside 30 days, had to take a financial hit but we did not want the van painting.

If you are considering rejection don't leave it too long, it may not be too serious and the dealer could easily rectify it.

Robinsons VW Van Centre Peterborough

Just to advise, I am currently in a dispute with this dealer after collecting our new Beach 1st November 2019. If you are thinking of buying from them, I would wait to see if they resolve my issues first. To be fair, its factory build quality issue(s) that's been exasperated by the dealer and...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[Hotel California]

@theosmonds , if you put the front wheels on level ramps water will evacuate more to te rear , might minimise the ingress.

 

[WelshGas]

I agree Meoncoast. It doesn't make sense to me. We got on really well with the sales chap we dealt with and felt he went the extra mile to get us a good deal but after speaking with service, I'm left wondering if I really want them to handle the issue or if I should take it somewhere else.

Don't take this the wrong way and I'm sure this is a simple problem to fix with no long lasting effects, but I would play the Dealership at their own game.
1. Call VW Customer Services and log the problem with them and the fact that the person you spoke to at the Dealership was less than helpful.

2. Then call VW Assistance during normal working hours. Explain you have water coming in on the Drivers side and from behind the Dashboard. You did say there was some water behind the Dash. You know there are lots of electrics behind the dash and under the seats and you are afraid to start the vehicle in case it causes more damage or a fire. A bit extreme I know but so is the Dealerships response. Insist it is a special VW Technician that attends and not the AA. Show them the problem. It will now be logged with VWCS and VW Assistance. VW Assistance can get the vehicle booked in immediately with the Dealership for repair if they deem it necessary.

Either way you now have a 2nd technical witness to the water ingress.

 

[Christine Kirk]

Don't take this the wrong way and I'm sure this is a simple problem to fix with no long lasting effects, but I would play the Dealership at their own game.
1. Call VW Customer Services and log the problem with them and the fact that the person you spoke to at the Dealership was less than helpful.

2. Then call VW Assistance during normal working hours. Explain you have water coming in on the Drivers side and from behind the Dashboard. You did say there was some water behind the Dash. You know there are lots of electrics behind the dash and under the seats and you are afraid to start the vehicle in case it causes more damage or a fire. A bit extreme I know but so is the Dealerships response. Insist it is a special VW Technician that attends and not the AA. Show them the problem. It will now be logged with VWCS and VW Assistance. VW Assistance can get the vehicle booked in immediately with the Dealership for repair if they deem it necessary.

Either way you now have a 2nd technical witness to the water ingress.

sounds like a really good way forward and since you have to wait until the 19th there's nothing to loose .

 

[andyinluton]

Can someone explain how the water gets as far as the drain holes with the roof shut? I thought the closed roof formed a sealed compartment.

 

[ArunAlec]

Can someone explain how the water gets as far as the drain holes with the roof shut? I thought the closed roof formed a sealed compartment.

Don’t forget we are talking about VWs definition of a water seal! Roof seals are probably of the same spec as the sliding windows.
But seriously you have a good point.

 

[Birty]

Lets not underestimate this. The whole integrity of the vehicle from water should never/ ever be an issue on such a premier league vehicle! . See what they have to say at VW or dealers and don't take a poor response lying down. This is all to frequent a problem and it should not be happening! I would not leave the dealer until a replacement, be it temporary maybe, until yours is fixed and photo/ video evidence of the problem, not just verbal, is found so you can continue enjoying trips out. Please keep us all posted with dealers response. That might help others on the forum. Good luck

 

[WelshGas]

Can someone explain how the water gets as far as the drain holes with the roof shut? I thought the closed roof formed a sealed compartment.

Don’t forget we are talking about VWs definition of a water seal! Roof seals are probably of the same spec as the sliding windows.
But seriously you have a good point.

I would tend to agree with you. The Drains are primarily designed to drain the channel when the roof is up. But we haven't exactly been having normal rain what with the amount and accompanied by gale force winds as well.

 

[theosmonds]

ok, update.. so parking the front 3rd as far as we can get into the car port looks to have done the trick for now. Carpets are dry again and dehumidifier is doing its thing.
Contacted VW Customer Care and logged the case with them plus letting them know why I'm switching Van Centres.
Now booked in to Woburn Green Van Centre for the 18th and happy for me to drop it off before then and they'll keep it under cover. Also been booked in as a warranty job as only 5 weeks old...
So far has been a better experience so we'll see what comes of it.
Thanks everyone for your input. This community is great.
Here's to posting some positive threads in the future from a 'dry' cali

 

[andyinluton]

But the winds are no more than it would be subject to driving on the motorway & I don’t expect to put the roof up to dry the canvas every time I drive in the rain.

 

[WelshGas]

But the winds are no more than it would be subject to driving on the motorway & I don’t expect to put the roof up to dry the canvas every time I drive in the rain.

But when driving the main wind force would be on the front and tend to lift over the front of the roof. I know the California has the aerodynamics of a brick, but it does have some, wheras gale force winds on a static vehicle are somewhat different.

 

[theosmonds]

But when driving the main wind force would be on the front and tend to lift over the front of the roof. I know the California has the aerodynamics of a brick, but it does have some, wheras gale force winds on a static vehicle are somewhat different.

Yesterday I popped the roof up to dry the gullies and they were full again. That's after no driving and just a light breeze but heavy rain, so water certainly gets under the roof seals. this was a surprise to me.

 

[WelshGas]

Yesterday I popped the roof up to dry the gullies and they were full again. That's after no driving and just a light breeze but heavy rain, so water certainly gets under the roof seals. this was a surprise to me.

Might be worth trying the following if the weather is dry.
Open the roof. Put sheets of paper around the roof where the Elevating section rubber seal contacts the fixed roof. Lower the roof and then try to pull the paper out.
I have tried this some years ago and I couldn’t pull the paper out with the Elevating Roof closed. During a dry spell here I popped the roof and mine is all dry underneath and the Van is kept outside fully exposed.
Unfortunately you might have 2 problems, Roof drain disconnected and Roof Closure/Sealing incomplete.
But don’t get disheartened. These are complicated vehicles and the Warranty is there to get things right. I know we all want everything perfect from the factory but there is a lot of human/manual input in a California and none of us can claim to be perfect in all that we do.

 

[andyinluton]

Just thinking logically about where the water is coming from:

Without opening my roof to check, isn’t the only place where there is a seal higher than the drain points, the seal running across the roof between the fixed front panel and the lifting panel?
If water is coming in there & then through the zips / windows of the bellows it would be possible to get through to the area above the sun visors bypassing the drain tubes.

Alternatively through the same seal & then going the other way tracking under the front roof panel then down the door pillars.

 

[theosmonds]

Just thinking logically about where the water is coming from:

Without opening my roof to check, isn’t the only place where there is a seal higher than the drain points, the seal running across the roof between the fixed front panel and the lifting panel?
If water is coming in there & then through the zips / windows of the bellows it would be possible to get through to the area above the sun visors bypassing the drain tubes.

Alternatively through the same seal & then going the other way tracking under the front roof panel then down the door pillars.

Yes I think it’s the front seal although it looks tight. I’ll try the paper test tomorrow and see what it’s like. Re the canvas, it’s all bone dry upstairs inside and out.So it’s coming in and going to the gullies and from there getting in I think. Yesterday when I popped up the roof there was some very fine silt along the front roof line in places where the profile changes right where the lid seal should come which would suggest a flow of water getting in there. I’ll do more tests tomorrow as the forecast is dry.

 

[Birty]

I have just poured water into the drain holes and it re apoears in front of the drivers side front wheel.. why is this simple test not done by dealer on the PDI ??

 

[subthree]

I have just poured water into the drain holes and it re apoears in front of the drivers side front wheel.. why is this simple test not done by dealer on the PDI ??

I am awaiting my new T6.1 to arrive. I would be really grateful if you could post a photo of where these drain holes are. I could get the dealer to do your pour test before I part with my cash!

 

[Birty]

I am awaiting my new T6.1 to arrive. I would be really grateful if you could post a photo of where these drain holes are. I could get the dealer to do your pour test before I part with my cash!

just at front of channel when roof is up, in an awkward position but just in front and under the sticky/mastic wiring connection. small hole about 5 mm diameter (and at rear, they are easier to see. unsure how rear drains away. aint tested yet) Both front drain to just the one outlet.

 

[larrylamb]

unsure how rear drains away.

If you raise the tailgate and look at the top corners you will see the drain exit points.