Leaking pop tops on 2023 California Oceans

[reserves]

Right hand side above your head. Where the vertical strip (that folds the bellows in) is. It's inside the top of that, almost impossible to see. Sorry if my description is not good.

Thank you!

 

[reserves]

Does this help?

Leaking pop tops on 2023 California Oceans

Is this to do with too much tension on the bellows? Makes sense if a stitched seam is stretched then those needle holes will elongate thus allowing water ingress. I noticed when raising the roof on the Ocean, the motor whirs away but at the end of the travel it clearly starts to strain as it...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

Or this?

Leaking pop tops on 2023 California Oceans

So my van has been in the workshop since Monday to have a new set of bellows fitted. Today the service manager phoned my up to tell me that they haven’t started the work yet as he’s had several emails this week from various people within VW asking which bellows they were fitting to my van. The...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

Thank you, super helpful.

I can’t see the actual part number but found the label at least. Will try in the morning when it’s lighter!

 

[RockinNRollin]

Finally (and incredibly after a year of camping since the replacement without encountering proper rain!) our 04S encountered some persistent rain which was hitting the front of the bellows (we were already established on the pitch so weren’t going to strike camp to spin the van through 180 degrees!). It’s leaked like a sieve. Fortunately we always carry a wrap so we whacked it on, but we’d been out for a good few hours before we came back to find the leaks. These are the visibly black “sealed” seams too. Not best pleased…..

 

[Ged1625]

Recently had my bellows replaced with 6s after 3 failed 5s versions. Rained last night in N Devon and they still leak at the seams of the window on the drivers side. The wind was blowing that way. Not a happy bunny

 

[The Little Red Cali]

Recently had my bellows replaced with 6s after 3 failed 5s versions. Rained last night in N Devon and they still leak at the seams of the window on the drivers side. The wind was blowing that way. Not a happy bunny

Just come back from Bude. Cornwall and Devon have had some serious persistent rain and wind this week. Most tents on our site packed up and went home. We put our pop top down last Tuesday.

 

[RockinNRollin]

Recently had my bellows replaced with 6s after 3 failed 5s versions. Rained last night in N Devon and they still leak at the seams of the window on the drivers side. The wind was blowing that way. Not a happy bunny

I have to admit I’ve been sleeping on the whole leaking roof saga since mine was apparently fixed (probably more that typically we only stay on sites for a few days and if there’s rough weather I always park tail into the wind - this long stay means the weather moves around so we’ve caught it at the front of the van this time).

So is the consensus the 06S bellows can/do leak too? I feel like this is a problem without a solution at this stage (other than a waterproof wrap)

 

[GreenMissile]

I have to admit I’ve been sleeping on the whole leaking roof saga since mine was apparently fixed (probably more that typically we only stay on sites for a few days and if there’s rough weather I always park tail into the wind - this long stay means the weather moves around so we’ve caught it at the front of the van this time).

So is the consensus the 06S bellows can/do leak too? I feel like this is a problem without a solution at this stage (other than a waterproof wrap)

So far my 06S have not leaked had to endure one night of heavy rain and pretty strong winds so much better than the 04S.

 

[Kev56]

I have to admit I’ve been sleeping on the whole leaking roof saga since mine was apparently fixed (probably more that typically we only stay on sites for a few days and if there’s rough weather I always park tail into the wind - this long stay means the weather moves around so we’ve caught it at the front of the van this time).

So is the consensus the 06S bellows can/do leak too? I feel like this is a problem without a solution at this stage (other than a waterproof wrap)

Oh nooooo

 

[Kernowboy]

I have to admit I’ve been sleeping on the whole leaking roof saga since mine was apparently fixed (probably more that typically we only stay on sites for a few days and if there’s rough weather I always park tail into the wind - this long stay means the weather moves around so we’ve caught it at the front of the van this time).

So is the consensus the 06S bellows can/do leak too? I feel like this is a problem without a solution at this stage (other than a waterproof wrap)

Is the solution not Aquatex? Plenty have reported using it on here but I don’t recall anyone saying it hasn’t worked irrespective of which bellows version are fitted. If that’s the case then a quick spray should solve it, beats letting VW replace the bellows anyway imho.

 

[stationmaster]

A recent post on this forum states that VW dealers are no longer replacing bellows that leak under warranty.

"As of 9 April this year, no further bellows replacements from version 04S onward are being covered by VW warranty."

Title of post is "Bellows"

 

[stationmaster]

A recent post on this forum states that VW dealers are no longer replacing bellows that leak under warranty.

"As of 9 April this year, no further bellows replacements from version 04S onward are being covered by VW warranty."

Title of post is "Bellows"

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vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[Ged1625]

Is the solution not Aquatex? Plenty have reported using it on here but I don’t recall anyone saying it hasn’t worked irrespective of which bellows version are fitted. If that’s the case then a quick spray should solve it, beats letting VW replace the bellows anyway imho.

If it does not void the warranty then that’s a way forward

 

[Lequimper]

Seems to me that VW no longer accept that a leaking bellows is a warranty issue so won’t replace those that do under warranty. In which case what is there to lose by spraying the seams with Aquatex..?

 

[reserves]

Seems to me that VW no longer accept that a leaking bellows is a warranty issue so won’t replace those that do under warranty. In which case what is there to lose by spraying the seams with Aquatex..?

It's been stated that VW are no longer automatically replacing 04x onwards bellows, though not been confirmed.

For anyone with 03x bellows (like me) I won't be touching my bellows until VW have looked at them, I'd rather have the fixed 06 version bellows than 03x bellows with an aftermarket product sprayed onto them

 

[Ged1625]

It's been stated that VW are no longer automatically replacing 04x onwards bellows, though not been confirmed.

For anyone with 03x bellows (like me) I won't be touching my bellows until VW have looked at them, I'd rather have the fixed 06 version bellows than 03x bellows with an aftermarket product sprayed onto them

Confirmed with Breeze in Poole today that they will no longer be authorised by VW to replace any bellows from 04S under warranty. VW say water drops are acceptable. Not sure about the legalities of this, no doubt some members will not be very happy

 

[DGB99]

Confirmed with Breeze in Poole today that they will no longer be authorised by VW to replace any bellows from 04S under warranty. VW say water drops are acceptable. Not sure about the legalities of this, no doubt some members will not be very happy

Does that mean they will still replace the 03S if leaks?

 

[Ged1625]

Does that mean they will still replace the 03S if leaks?

I was told only from 04S onwards

 

[ChrisTravel]

Is the solution not Aquatex? Plenty have reported using it on here but I don’t recall anyone saying it hasn’t worked irrespective of which bellows version are fitted. If that’s the case then a quick spray should solve it, beats letting VW replace the bellows anyway imho.

Sadly not worked for all .........

 

[Paolo69]

I have 1year ocean with 4S leaking, my garage made test and confirmed.
I have to take them for replacing with 6s but yesterday garage call me to say volkswagen Italy refuse replacement.
Called customer service confirmed without giving any solution.
I think it's incredible, I said them in other countries replace without problems.
It rains in my car and they don't solve problem in any way.
Now I've written them.
Anyone here living outside UK (Italy or other countries) had a leaking problem?
Anyone have suggestions for address in headquarter to contact (I don't think they would be happy to know such a same)
Thanks

 

[Kernowboy]

Sadly not worked for all .........

Useful if you can expand on that pse, haven’t seen any posts with any detail.

 

[ChrisTravel]

Useful if you can expand on that pse, haven’t seen any posts with any detail.

Several reports on the forum highlighting Aquatex etc did not solve the leaking bellows