Argh.... We have a roof leak.

[Beeechke1]

I use a big 60ml one with a short bit of flexible tube on the end. The beauty of using a syringe is that you can suck and blow, so there's less chance of pushing crud further down the pipe.

Thanks for this I have failed to clear a blocked front drain using cotton buds so have just ordered a syringe with tube from Amazon

Kelvin

 

[ArunAlec]

or something with a luer slip connection like this?

View attachment 42258

Yep, but 60ml.

 

[Beeechke1]

I use a big 60ml one with a short bit of flexible tube on the end. The beauty of using a syringe is that you can suck and blow, so there's less chance of pushing crud further down the pipe.

Thank you ArunAlec the syringe idea is genius - I now have a free flowing roof drain for £4.99 instead of a wet A pillar and expensive trip to the VW dealer!! This is what this forum is brilliant at sharing learning and experience.
Kelvin

 

[RonB]

I use a big 60ml one with a short bit of flexible tube on the end. The beauty of using a syringe is that you can suck and blow, so there's less chance of pushing crud further down the pipe.

Thanks for advice. Have just ordered syringe with tube. Front offside drain seems clogged. Don't have leak into cab so far. Have previously used electric lilo pump with mastic tube nozzle attached to clean but this sounds better idea. As mentioned by others, the gutters around roof collect a lot of debris, especially when parked under shade of trees. Had a particularly bad experience once under a cherry tree in France... and I'm only talking about the van here!!!

 

[calikev]

The roof drain at the front works on gravity when there is enough water in the tube the valve in the scuttle panel opens so sometimes it will give the impression it’s blocked but it’s not

 

[RonB]

The roof drain at the front works on gravity when there is enough water in the tube the valve in the scuttle panel opens so sometimes it will give the impression it’s blocked but it’s not

I didn't know that. When you say 'in the tube', could it back up to the point that it is actually pooling within the gutter where the drain hole is?

 

[MarkRichardson]

Seems like a lot has already been said here!!

We had the exact same issue with water seeming to leak above the drivers seat (where the hanging handle is) and also in the same side footwell. After much research and stress we put it down to blocked drainage holes.

Went down the syringe route but found it something quite difficult to buy with a suitable size of flexible tube to poke into the hole. If anyone has any product links to share then please do as sure I might need it in the future.

Also got some pc cleaning style compressed air and used a small blast of that. Now we have a dry and condensation free cab!!

Was surprised to read all about drainage holes when we had these issues as we've only had our Cali for a couple of years. Great responses by everyone and apologies for not adding anything new!!

 

[ArunAlec]

The tube I use on my syringe is a length of electrical shrink wrap sleeve that I’ve in my toolbox for 30 years (good old GPO).
A drinking straw may do the same job.

 

[KGCali]

Great information on unblocking the front drains here but I just want to understand the technical side of how water gets into the van if the drains ARE blocked, where does the water enter from if the drain pipes are NOT disconnected, surely it should just pool in the roof then run off somewhere outside, not into the van. Where is the next weakest link? Do the drain grommets leak?

 

[Jabberwocky]

Great information on unblocking the front drains here but I just want to understand the technical side of how water gets into the van if the drains ARE blocked, where does the water enter from if the drain pipes are NOT disconnected, surely it should just pool in the roof then run off somewhere outside, not into the van. Where is the next weakest link? Do the drain grommets leak?

This thread may help. https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/leaking-pop-top.32443/post-380494

 

[briwy]

Great information on unblocking the front drains here but I just want to understand the technical side of how water gets into the van if the drains ARE blocked, where does the water enter from if the drain pipes are NOT disconnected, surely it should just pool in the roof then run off somewhere outside, not into the van. Where is the next weakest link? Do the drain grommets leak?

Good question. I have argued for ages that if the tubes are blocked (as opposed to being broken/disconnected) then the water should not enter the space under the fron roof panel. The Cali technician at our dealer agrees and he is of the same opnion that it will either fill the side channels and run over the top if the van is level or run out of the rear drains. If the van isn't level then it could enter through the roof canvas but NOT through the front panel and leak into the headling and down the A pillars. Whichever way in my opinion it's a bad design. Why not simply have drain holes in the outside sides of the channels rather than these ridulous rubber tubes prone to blocking and disconnecting.

 

[Jabberwocky]

You need to get the roof up and have a look. Check the roof drains are clear . Be careful poking anything in them as you can push the pipe off or hole it. The pipe runs down the b pillar. Try pouring water through them see what goes on. Check your front seal where it meets the front cap is good and is coming down even and tight

Do you mean A pillar?

 

[Hotel California]

If water is not draining the normal way down the drain tubes , could it be standing still in the channels where the mecanism is fitted on the bodywork , and there's lots of kit and sealing .....only needs a small gap to get wateringres.
Imo. even with closed pop-top water gets under there by windpressure (while driving) and remember the awning brackets push in to the seal leaving a gap where water can find it's way under the closed roof when parked unlevel and blowing in by wind.

 

[Beeechke1]

Hi, any chance you could advise which product you purchased or maybe a link? Appreciate it was a while ago.
Many thanks

Hi cant find exact order but something like this worked for me: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0798KJMC5/?tag=vwcalifornia-21

 

[Perfectos]

Here you go

 

[Timeless]

Hi. New to this forum. Similar problems on a T5 Cali. Water seems to build up in the area near the front drain holes. The drains are clear, if a bit of water is pumped into them via syringe it seems to get moving and siphon effect empties the ’pool’, but if left it just seems to fill up again. Have had water come through into the area around the grab handle above drivers door so this is a real worry.....
Also often have water building up inside front door, as per third photo - is this normal please?

 

[ArunAlec]

Hi. New to this forum. Similar problems on a T5 Cali. Water seems to build up in the area near the front drain holes. The drains are clear, if a bit of water is pumped into them via syringe it seems to get moving and siphon effect empties the ’pool’, but if left it just seems to fill up again. Have had water come through into the area around the grab handle above drivers door so this is a real worry.....
Also often have water building up inside front door, as per third photo - is this normal please? View attachment 52899

View attachment 52900

View attachment 52901

As mentioned in this thread and many more, the drain pipe from the roof that runs down the A pillar has a push fit connection, which if it becomes separated will leak as you are experiencing.

I have recently had my door card off to see if I could identify a similar door step puddle. From what I can work out any rainwater that gets past the window seal ( and its bound to) should run down the inside of the door and out of the drain holes at the bottom of the door. However I found that some water was running down the "wrong side" of the door and appearing along the bottom of the plastic door trim. Behind the door card is an ally panel which forms the inner part of the door, onto which the window runners, speaker etc are fitted. This panel is bolted to the outer door and has a "draught excluder" seal but its not watertight so any stray water in the door can leak past it and onto the doorstep. Im still trying to work out how water is getting across to the "wrong" side.

 

[Timeless]

Ah thanks! So a daft question from me, how does one get to the pipe to re-attach if it has become detached please? And I‘m not sure if this is the case, as once we dried out the damp patch inside it has not reappeared, despite plenty of water going down the pipe, or at least into it! It does actually appear dripping out around the front wheel, so some of it is getting away.

 

[KGCali]

Hi. New to this forum. Similar problems on a T5 Cali. Water seems to build up in the area near the front drain holes. The drains are clear, if a bit of water is pumped into them via syringe it seems to get moving and siphon effect empties the ’pool’, but if left it just seems to fill up again. Have had water come through into the area around the grab handle above drivers door so this is a real worry.....
Also often have water building up inside front door, as per third photo - is this normal please? View attachment 52899

View attachment 52900

View attachment 52901

When you syringe water into the front roof drain holes does it come out under the windscreen (look through the slotted plastic in the corners) and then flow down the wheel arches around the wheels? If it doesn't then the drain hole pipe may be disconnected and the water drains down the front pillar onto the carpets and along the roof trim. If the water is draining by the wheel arches BUT you still get water inside the van then check the front roof cap mastic seal is not leaking and put some mastic where the rubber bungs that have the drain holes in fit to the body, as in the picture. Hope that helps.

 

[Timeless]

Sorry about delay, we have been busy but have been trying things out as kindly suggested on this forum. Ascertained that water exits okay from all drains etc. Initially still found buildup in the original areas - however! - it appears this only occurs when the van is parked on uneven ground for a prolonged period. (In this instance the drivers side was higher) When we moved the van a few inches -literally- to the left and levelled it the problem appears to have gone away. Obviously this is being monitored and when weather improves I will attempt to improve the seal as suggested. At the end of the day, if we get water buildup for whatever reason, it seems able to leak through, obviously don’t want that happening again so “belt and braces”!
Many thanks for all kind suggestions, hopefully now we have at least sorted out why this is happening and can take remedial action.
Best wishes for Xmas!
Tim, Tanya and T5

 

[Vagophile]

I have recently had my door card off to see if I could identify a similar door step puddle. From what I can work out any rainwater that gets past the window seal ( and its bound to) should run down the inside of the door and out of the drain holes at the bottom of the door. However I found that some water was running down the "wrong side" of the door and appearing along the bottom of the plastic door trim. Behind the door card is an ally panel which forms the inner part of the door, onto which the window runners, speaker etc are fitted. This panel is bolted to the outer door and has a "draught excluder" seal but its not watertight so any stray water in the door can leak past it and onto the doorstep. Im still trying to work out how water is getting across to the "wrong" side.

@ArunAlec, reviving an old thread, did you get to the bottom of this? I have a driver's door step puddle; any advice would be appreciated before I investigate in detail. (or should I just let it continue on the grounds that it's leaking to the outside?)

 

[ArunAlec]

@ArunAlec, reviving an old thread, did you get to the bottom of this? I have a driver's door step puddle; any advice would be appreciated before I investigate in detail. (or should I just let it continue on the grounds that it's leaking to the outside?)

I sort of did! I think the water was getting in between The glass and the window seal where the seal and trim start to slope up at the front of. The gap there seemed wider.
I tightened the seal by sliding a length of nylon cord down between the seal and the trim.... you can just see it in the photo’s. The cord is to give an idea of size.

 

[Defender90]

hi all and thanks for all your help,it’s going to vw commercial Van Centre next Thursday.Not messing about with it I shouldn’t need to it’s nothing to do with the deflector I removed it and sprayed with the hose it still has a small leak from under the door card this builds up forming a puddle on the seal which could potentially overflow into the plastic foot step well underneath.The pictures show the pool on the seal top and the amount that came out when I opened the door

 

[grainflow]

hi all and thanks for all your help,it’s going to vw commercial Van Centre next Thursday.Not messing about with it I shouldn’t need to it’s nothing to do with the deflector I removed it and sprayed with the hose it still has a small leak from under the door card this builds up forming a puddle on the seal which could potentially overflow into the plastic foot step well underneath.The pictures show the pool on the seal top and the amount that came out when I opened the door

Did you ever find out the cause?

 

[Feggers]

The drains were completely manky. Managed to fashion a blow tube from the clean tip of a caulk type product and a bit of hosepipe. That and a pipe cleaner..... The water is now leaving by the front wheels.

Thanks for all your help. Let's hope this was the only reason View attachment 42236

Hi can you explain where the front drain holes are ...I can see a hole but its awfully difficult to get to...thanks