Water getting in front of roof

[jepotherepo]

Annoyingly I've still got water coming in. Looks like the rails for the roof bars are lifted. Should they be sitting closer to the van? Could I fill with silicon or something similar? Is there a better fix View attachment 72698View attachment 72699

Did you manage to fix this issue- mine have done the same? did you just silicone seal them into place?

 

[Feggers]

Yes I re siliconed the plugs and also got a garage to clean out the drains at the front down the pillars one was definitely blocked up… that fixed it…

 

[Steeble]

Did you manage to fix this issue- mine have done the same? did you just silicone seal them into place?

I lifted up the plastic tabs in the rails, punched out the mastic in them and filled with silicon. Not had any issues since

 

[jepotherepo]

Thanks!

 

[Nacs]

Hi all,
I have a Cali from 2007, never changed the seals and front roof seal is now bulging in a similar place to the original post here. Water seeping through on LHS corner into roof cladding on interior even with roof open. All drains are clear and functioning.
The seal seems to have deteriorated and I can see a tear in the rubber, where it is lifted from roof.
Any recommendations for a repair or is it best just to replace the seal. As it is bonded as one piece, does that mean replacing the whole roof seal?
Many thanks for your advice.

 

[Perfectos]

Hi all,
I have a Cali from 2007, never changed the seals and front roof seal is now bulging in a similar place to the original post here. Water seeping through on LHS corner into roof cladding on interior even with roof open. All drains are clear and functioning.
The seal seems to have deteriorated and I can see a tear in the rubber, where it is lifted from roof.
Any recommendations for a repair or is it best just to replace the seal. As it is bonded as one piece, does that mean replacing the whole roof seal?
Many thanks for your advice.

Post a photo or two to help

In short the whole perimeter roof seal is one piece

 

[Feggers]

Hi...I have a CAli 2009... I changed the rubber seal from the roof and above the front windscreen...I'm not to practical but it was easily done ....

 

[Lambeth Cali]

Hi all,
I have a Cali from 2007, never changed the seals and front roof seal is now bulging in a similar place to the original post here. Water seeping through on LHS corner into roof cladding on interior even with roof open. All drains are clear and functioning.
The seal seems to have deteriorated and I can see a tear in the rubber, where it is lifted from roof.
Any recommendations for a repair or is it best just to replace the seal. As it is bonded as one piece, does that mean replacing the whole roof seal?
Many thanks for your advice.

There is a metal strip inside the rubber. Over time it can rust. Yours is 17yrs old. Hopefully a new seal should work.

 

[Nacs]

@Lambeth Cali thanks for the advice. Remarkably the seal has lasted 17 years but I have a lot of paint bubbling now on front. The van was in Spain for half its life which helped I think, and has been garaged for some time.
Regarding the seal, I have seen they sell original parts at Comfortz leisure and Just Kampers. One has 4 day lead and another 45 days but £25 less expensive, so likely delivery cost difference. Do you have any experience with either of these suppliers?
Many thanks.

 

[Nacs]

Hi...I have a CAli 2009... I changed the rubber seal from the roof and above the front windscreen...I'm not to practical but it was easily done ....

@Feggers thanks for the encouragement! I will certainly change the seal. I hadn’t thought of front seal as it seems to be ok still, but now thinking it might be worth doing the lot. Any tips on front seal fitting?

 

[Lambeth Cali]

@Lambeth Cali thanks for the advice. Remarkably the seal has lasted 17 years but I have a lot of paint bubbling now on front. The van was in Spain for half its life which helped I think, and has been garaged for some time.
Regarding the seal, I have seen they sell original parts at Comfortz leisure and Just Kampers. One has 4 day lead and another 45 days but £25 less expensive, so likely delivery cost difference. Do you have any experience with either of these suppliers?
Many thanks.

No, sorry. My seal still ok on a 2008 California. You search around though there are threads about changing the seal I think.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

@Lambeth Cali thanks for the advice. Remarkably the seal has lasted 17 years but I have a lot of paint bubbling now on front. The van was in Spain for half its life which helped I think, and has been garaged for some time.
Regarding the seal, I have seen they sell original parts at Comfortz leisure and Just Kampers. One has 4 day lead and another 45 days but £25 less expensive, so likely delivery cost difference. Do you have any experience with either of these suppliers?
Many thanks.

Roof Seal Corrosion T6.1

iMO The seal was faulty from day 1, you were informed enough to check it within 6 months , where the rust was observed. Not through use but through the inherent issue with the seal design and manufacture Do you think its possible that someone hits it with a rubber hammer or their palm in the...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

I think I would possibly get it fitted by a dealer having read this. And I hate dealers.

 

[Nacs]

Roof Seal Corrosion T6.1

iMO The seal was faulty from day 1, you were informed enough to check it within 6 months , where the rust was observed. Not through use but through the inherent issue with the seal design and manufacture Do you think its possible that someone hits it with a rubber hammer or their palm in the...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

I think I would possibly get it fitted by a dealer having read this. And I hate dealers.

No, sorry. My seal still ok on a 2008 California. You search around though there are threads about changing the seal I think.

Hi again, an update on the water ingress top right hand corner. Drains are clear and I changed the whole roof seal and put a layer of grease along roof rim to protect from rust. Unfortunately rain still coming in after I removed the winter cover. Now thinking I will have to silicon the plugs that some people did on this thread, in the roof channel. Still not clear exactly where those are though, if anyone can help. Cheers.

 

[Nacs]

I lifted up the plastic tabs in the rails, punched out the mastic in them and filled with silicon. Not had any issues since

Hi Steeble, I think I might be having the same issue with a 2007 T5. Exactly where are these plastic tabs that need lifting. Did you manage to share a photo. Many thanks.

 

[Steeble]

Hi Steeble, I think I might be having the same issue with a 2007 T5. Exactly where are these plastic tabs that need lifting. Did you manage to share a photo. Many thanks.

The aye in the channel at the rear and maybe the front, where the chanel widens. Oblong black plastic. If you can

 

[Nacs]

Hi all, I got a bit of advice from a chap at Toolstation today for waterproofing rivets etc. it is used for boats but also perfect for camper vans apparently. Not sure if anyone has tried it yet. It’s Captain Tolley’s Creeping Crack Cure. https://captaintolley.com/
I certainly plan to give it a go.

 

[WelshGas]

Hi all, I got a bit of advice from a chap at Toolstation today for waterproofing rivets etc. it is used for boats but also perfect for camper vans apparently. Not sure if anyone has tried it yet. It’s Captain Tolley’s Creeping Crack Cure. https://captaintolley.com/
I certainly plan to give it a go.

Good stuff. Used to use it for the roof leaks on my Series 3 Defenders. The only vehicle I know of that had an OFFICIAL Manufacturers Leak Manual.

 

[Nacs]

Good stuff. Used to use it for the roof leaks on my Series 3 Defenders. The only vehicle I know of that had an OFFICIAL Manufacturers Leak Manual.

Hi all, I got a bit of advice from a chap at Toolstation today for waterproofing rivets etc. it is used for boats but also perfect for camper vans apparently. Not sure if anyone has tried it yet. It’s Captain Tolley’s Creeping Crack Cure. https://captaintolley.com/
I certainly plan to give it a go.

So here is an update to the leaking roof saga. First and foremost a huge thank you to all who have contributed here. The explanation of potential areas of ingress and how to resolve was so helpful. I couldn’t have believed so much water was finding its way through possibly the rivets or the silicon plugs in the roof channels.

Overall steps taken over a period of time were:
1) change roof seal and clean water drains at four corners (but water was also coming in when roof open so clearly not just this problem)
2) use creeping crack cure (bought online from official website) to waterproof rivets
3) replace silicon under plastic covers in roof rails.

This morning after 2 days with some heavy outbursts of rain I checked the roof and it was dry!!!! For the first time in a long time. So pleased. Last week water began to seep in above the passenger window trim as well as corner of roof so I was getting more and more concerned. That has stopped too.

Overall thrilled and thankful that this forum exists! I have found no resolution from dealers official or otherwise.

One thing that I still don’t quite understand id that when syringing water down one of the drains, water was dripping into the driver footwell. I could see it coming from a junction just above the plastic trim next to wheel arch. However it may have been due to pressure as it does not seem to have come in during the rainfall. Any thoughts?

I think that junction is one put in during a visit to my garage when trying to resolve the leak. They said that the tube from the drain going into the wheel arch was really tight, almost off, so put an extension on it. I think I’ve read about this somewhere on another post.

Hopefully I will be dry for a while. A shout out to Steeble, Welshgas and Lambeth Cali for their support.