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VW California T5 ONLY Roof Corrosion - General Discussion

Where do you have the Roof Corrosion on your VW California?

  • Front panel only

    Votes: 193 37.2%

  • Main elevating roof only

    Votes: 79 15.2%

  • Both Front panel and main roof

    Votes: 247 47.6%
  • Total voters
    519
hotel california said:
It was CCN in Amersfoort who pointed me out to look under the seal ( now just over a year ago) .
My Cali was bought in Belgium but CCN took me in and said they put the claim in and i am on the list.
My Cali turns six this july....
IF and i say if ...my roof ever will be repaired it will be by CCN and only CCN !
Click to expand...
Great, I do not blame you! If only I could have such faith in a UK organisation for when my turn comes (as surely it will)!
 
Hi Hotel California , Great Video . I do similar 2/3 times a year . Although I have tape from Vw I haven’t used yet .After cleaning edge of roof I put a smear of silicone grease on inside and outside of edge of roof ( I have early corrosion ) then refit roof seal ( dry ) . Have been doing for last 12 months and no apparent detioration so far ! Did get a new roof seal about a year ago ( 3rd time lucky which doesn’t have metal perforating through rubber after carefully examining ( Zeis x5 mag fibre optic light ) . Thinking this is the secret . Any metal perforating is going to cause corrosion .
 
For the T3, aftermarket seals are available with no metal in them at all, plastic retainers. Surely something similar is available for the T6. Just need the correct profile info and then go hunting. When (if??) mine gets delivered I will go this route.
 
burnercan said:
For the T3, aftermarket seals are available with no metal in them at all, plastic retainers. Surely something similar is available for the T6. Just need the correct profile info and then go hunting. When (if??) mine gets delivered I will go this route.
Click to expand...

The problem is the seal has a diffrent profile on the front section than the side and rear alltough it's made in one piece. Don't think you'l find it aftermarket only original VW parts

You could use the front part original seal (cut it up )and look for a aftermarket that fits the side and rear as thats the critical part where the corrosion starts on the roof edge
 
So why haven't VW produced a new seal like this # Burnercan? or is this to easy for them?
 
I got the rear of the van up on ramps and lightly sprayed water onto the roof. After about three minutes checked inside and water is drippig from the top right hand corner of the windscreen surround.
Without the A pillar trims on this just drips down onto the dash and then the floor. With them on it no doubt ran down inside, behind the dash and then down the wheel arch behind the carpet.
P1130464small.jpg
Van picked up by the AA this morning and gone back hopefully to have it sorted.
 
briwy said:
I got the rear of the van up on ramps and lightly sprayed water onto the roof. After about three minutes checked inside and water is drippig from the top right hand corner of the windscreen surround.
Without the A pillar trims on this just drips down onto the dash and then the floor. With them on it no doubt ran down inside, behind the dash and then down the wheel arch behind the carpet.
View attachment 30287
Van picked up by the AA this morning and gone back hopefully to have it sorted.
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I seem to recall someone else having a leaking windscreen following a roof repair. They suspected that seal was damaged when the front panel was fitted. Apparently the body shop use large suction cup clamps on the screen to hold the front panel in place. Putting a pulling load on the screen.... Somewhere on the forum are some photos of the process.
 
anyone had their whole roof replaced got any pictures of how the roof rail strips have been re-attached? Mine seem to have been glued on with black mastic (sikaflex?)

Does anyone know the correct method that should be used? presumably they're not glued on originally?
 
My repair was booked several months ago in to approved repairer in Twickenham, drop-off in Leicester on Friday for repair slot starting Monday 26 Feb....unfortunately only by chasing round confirmation with customer services and both workshops, I found out that there is a problem and my repair has been postponed...pending update from customer services on explanation and reschedule....Anyone with upcoming appointment for Twickenham might want to check whether their appointment is affected.

I think my California might be the oldest still to be fixed, it's a 2008, inspected just on the 6 year limit, and then moved between three repair centres in the previous/my ownership...the affected areas front panel and rear section of elevating roof, aren't too bad so it's not been a priority to get fixed, just the surety of knowing it will be fixed...eventually (but not this month).
 
I've had the reply from VW about the micro-blisters that have broken out all over my repaired roof.
Their bodyshop tells me it's a factory paint defect (so no claim on the repairer) and VW say that they've rejected the claim as it's outside the 3 year paint warranty period.

I bought the van new in 2012 and since it was 1 year old it has had nearly constant gross paint defects which VW have finally wriggled out of and left me high and dry.

I read a very interesting 2 page article in the Sunday Times on Feb 24th about VW. The titles and subtitles were:

"The Car Maker That Sees No Evil"

"Volkswagen Loses Its Moral Compass"

"Long before dieselgate, there were slave workers, slush funds and sex on expenses. Now the company has been exposed for gassing monkeys. Tony Allen-Mills examines the German giant's ethical void"

Their treatment of me (and many others) confirms in my mind that VW are morally bankrupt.

Original problem first 2 photos, latest micro blister last two.

Roof5.jpg Roof2.jpg dots2.jpg dots1.jpg
 
Custardtart said:
I've had the reply from VW about the micro-blisters that have broken out all over my repaired roof.
Their bodyshop tells me it's a factory paint defect (so no claim on the repairer) and VW say that they've rejected the claim as it's outside the 3 year paint warranty period.

I bought the van new in 2012 and since it was 1 year old it has had nearly constant gross paint defects which VW have finally wriggled out of and left me high and dry.

I read a very interesting 2 page article in the Sunday Times on Feb 24th about VW. The titles and subtitles were:

"The Car Maker That Sees No Evil"

"Volkswagen Loses Its Moral Compass"

"Long before dieselgate, there were slave workers, slush funds and sex on expenses. Now the company has been exposed for gassing monkeys. Tony Allen-Mills examines the German giant's ethical void"

Their treatment of me (and many others) confirms in my mind that VW are morally bankrupt.

Original problem first 2 photos, latest micro blister last two.

View attachment 30467 View attachment 30466 View attachment 30452 View attachment 30451
Click to expand...
That is disgraceful. So if it’s a factory paint defect who is responsible/liable?
 
leightonjthomas said:
That is disgraceful. So if it’s a factory paint defect who is responsible/liable?
Click to expand...
VW, but the Warranty for Factory Paint Defects is 3 years, if that is what the paint blisters are then @Custardtart was outside the warranty time limit.
 
So VW have finally got round to accepting ours on the list. It first went into Leicester in October just before the end of the 3 year warranty. Only a few small blisters but still something that needs to be attended to. On the day we were dealt with by 2 of the worst service reps ever.

On coming back from vacation mid December I rang to find out what was happening to be told they had left the company and no one knew anything about the issues....

So eventually they picked the van up mid January - there were some pretty weird calls that day, as if they didn't know what they were looking for - but eventually I had a call with them - and yes I had to call them - they said they were having to find out what to do with this type of claim - which is obviously cobblers - unless of course they go through service staff that quickly that each incidence is a learning experience.

Now 1st March I'm waiting for a call today to let me know what will happen. I called them 2 days ago - yes I had to call, they hadn't called me.

I was told Tuesday that the repair had been accepted the van would be sent to Southport (so I'm looking to see what experiences there are with Southport). They said they would find out when it could be booked in and I asked them specifically to get an exact specification of what would be done so that I can agree to it. I'm not holding my breath on that one. What I want to avoid is having any tape stuck down under the seal but I do want them to put the tape on. If they don't then I will.

So the questions are - has anyone ever had a full spec of what they will do for their repairs? Have there been any recent experiences with Southport - good or bad? And for recent repairs to the area under the seal has tape been fitted (as they are now manufactured)?

Thanks for any info.
 
Bramco said:
So VW have finally got round to accepting ours on the list. It first went into Leicester in October just before the end of the 3 year warranty. Only a few small blisters but still something that needs to be attended to. On the day we were dealt with by 2 of the worst service reps ever.

On coming back from vacation mid December I rang to find out what was happening to be told they had left the company and no one knew anything about the issues....

So eventually they picked the van up mid January - there were some pretty weird calls that day, as if they didn't know what they were looking for - but eventually I had a call with them - and yes I had to call them - they said they were having to find out what to do with this type of claim - which is obviously cobblers - unless of course they go through service staff that quickly that each incidence is a learning experience.

Now 1st March I'm waiting for a call today to let me know what will happen. I called them 2 days ago - yes I had to call, they hadn't called me.

I was told Tuesday that the repair had been accepted the van would be sent to Southport (so I'm looking to see what experiences there are with Southport). They said they would find out when it could be booked in and I asked them specifically to get an exact specification of what would be done so that I can agree to it. I'm not holding my breath on that one. What I want to avoid is having any tape stuck down under the seal but I do want them to put the tape on. If they don't then I will.

So the questions are - has anyone ever had a full spec of what they will do for their repairs? Have there been any recent experiences with Southport - good or bad? And for recent repairs to the area under the seal has tape been fitted (as they are now manufactured)?

Thanks for any info.
Click to expand...
Mine went into Breeze Southampton and onwards to Marshalls Newbury in August. It went back in November because
a) the bubbles under the seal were still visible, and
b) corrosion had broken out on the front roof panel
The bellows were changed during the first repair but on neither occasion was any tape fitted despite my requests via VWCV and Breeze. The full spec seems to be top secret between VWCV and the workshop! Breeze definitely were not informed and, understandably, did not want to get involved.
The repairs seem to have been successful this time, including the plastic cap on the roof panel.
In August it was away for 17 days and I was offered a range of courtesy vehicles but not a Cali. I accepted a Caddyvan because it was useful at the time.
In November it was away a month and I was loaned a T6 Ocean.
I would be surprised if they fit tape to yours, even though it has been part of the factory spec for some time. I'm not going to attempt to fit any to mine as the repair is guaranteed for three years and I don't want to risk them reneging on that.
Despite everything I love mine to bits (especially the diesel heater this week!) so I'm going to forget all about corrosion for a while and carry on planning this year's travels to France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Spain and Portugal.
Good luck with the repair.
 
gear box oil said:
VW fix for the roof seal only

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/posts/254751/
Click to expand...
Thanks, I'd missed this post although I had seen the discussion about using sealant to fix the seal permanently. This is the one thing that I don't want to happen as I think it could a) trap moisture in which would mean it would reoccur and b) would make it impossible in the future to do any kind of check. Given we waited until just before the 3 year warranty and a fix could possibly take it up to 4 years, this would mean 2 years of the fix in place and I'd want to be taking the seal off again to check just before the 6 years is up.

Tape would a) be a barrier between the roof and the metal in the seal and b) would allow a check to be made AND c) is the latest manufacturing standard which seems to have solved the problem - I haven't seen a complaint on the T6 roof rot thread about recent vans having the issue.

If VW insist on gluing the seal on, I think we'll be looking around for a bodyshop that can do the work at our cost and apply the tape as per VW manufacturing practice.

The question is how much would this cost and who would you trust?
 
Yes I would agree I would not be happy with the seal bonded on especially with only primmer under it and no way to check the work or future corrosion.

I was also thinking getting someone local that you can trust to do the job would be worth getting an estimate for the painting part, fit the tape and a new seal at least you would be in control of the time scales.

Also you would not be getting messed around by VW and authorised repairers if you had any issues.

And yes it will cost but offset that against the hassle some members are having.
Could be worth looking at.

On the other hand you could rub it down with a half brick, paint it with a tooth brush and fit a new seal.
It might not look pretty but at least there would be no corrosion and you would only have yourself to blame.
On the plus side you cant see the roof from inside the van. especially after a few beers.:talktothehand :cheers
 
Update from VW Commercial Vehicles Customer Services re delay to my scheduled roof repair in Twickenham - apparently down to unspecified part availability....anyone else with imminent repair scheduled experiencing similar delay and lack of clear information about the issue and timescales to resolve?
 
Hi all,
I have been given the run around by my VW dealer, I have been near the top three times and they say that the company that fixes it has changed and that I need to go on a new list again. I am beginning to get concerned that I bought a V expensive bus that they wont fix! Does anyone have any advice about how to go above a local VW dealer to someone more central? With thanks and frustration. Nicola
 
@nicola - when my previous repair agent dropped out of the approved list of repairers, my van was not reallocated to a replacement. I only found out the status by calling VW Commercial Vehicles customer service team for an update. In my case I had to get the roof re-inspected and re-registered before VWCV would allocate my repair to a new agent. All was going well, right up to the day before I was due to drop it off when I found out that there was a problem and my repair deferred - see my earlier post on page 187 of this thread. Still pending an update from VWCV regarding new appointment...
 
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