can I still claim for the roof corrosion?

[Superfab]

Hello all,

ive recently bought a 2009 VW California SE. It’s fantastic and completely standard. I’ve just noticed, though, some corrosion around the pop top which I assume is the dreaded roof corrosion I’ve red about. I’ll post some pics to show you. If it is can I are a claim to VW to sort it out? If not what should I do?

 

[SusiBus]

I'm afraid your on your own it's not covered. In August 2014 VW offered an additional 3 years goodwill paint warranty, making 6 years in total.
Look for a good paint shop and make sure that tape is put between the the aluminium elevating roof and the rubber seal.

 

[ThomasHJ]

Are these rules different per country? My 2011 model is planned to get teh work done next year, but I am not in the UK.

 

[TripleBee]

If no warranty, I would also opt for a very decent body shop with knowledge of aluminium. After that, or before, buy a new seal for the roof, and the clear tape for under the roof seal. Then get yourself another piece of clear protection tape for the front spoiler. As I don't think the two tiny strips on each end of the spoiler will be sufficient against the rubbing over the whole length of the contact surface.
When mine will be repaired, I will ask them not to put on the two tiny pieces, as I will look for a decent, whole length piece for the spoiler.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Our 2012 was still covered; SMG Cowfold put us on the waiting list when the van went in for a service this year.

 

[Lizziwhizz]

Hi, we have a 2010 SE which we bought last year. We had it booked in with VW Hull in Feb this year for a cambelt change and they advised us that it would also be checked for the roof corrosion under the scheme that was still running. Ours had to go back for the tape to be fitted and is now still covered for a few more years.

It would be worth finding a VW Cali dealer (not just VW commercial) and give them a call. They’ll check on the system to see if your van is eligible. Worth doing that before spending anything on it yourself.

 

[SusiBus]

Superfab,
Sorry it seems I might have misinformed you according to the posts by Ch1pbutty and Lizziwhizz.
I was involved with VW with regard to introducing the extension of the warranty and the improvements to the repair process, and have a letter from VW (which has been previously posted) stating the 6 year warranty. So it seems I'm out of date and a little confused. No doubt some other members will be able to shed some light on the current situation. Over to you Jabberwocky!

 

[jts46]

@SusiBus
They are talking about the rubber seal along edges of roof aren’t they?

I remember you being very helpful with me and other member’s regarding the roof front panel corrosion, VW never did repair my roof front panel.
John

 

[AlanC]

My roof had a new front panel replacement back in 2015 and so still has a year's warranty to run.

Last year, following a door mirror replacement, Heritage inspected the poptop rubber seal and registered my van with VWUK for the latest corrosion update. I was advised VWUK would get in touch with me...still waiting, so nothing has changed there!

Once we are clear of lockdown I will chase VWUK.

Alan

 

[SusiBus]

My roof had a new front panel replacement back in 2015 and so still has a year's warranty to run.

Last year, following a door mirror replacement, Heritage inspected the poptop rubber seal and registered my van with VWUK for the latest corrosion update. I was advised VWUK would get in touch with me...still waiting, so nothing has changed there!

Once we are clear of lockdown I will chase VWUK.

Alan

So do you know thatu

My roof had a new front panel replacement back in 2015 and so still has a year's warranty to run.

Last year, following a door mirror replacement, Heritage inspected the poptop rubber seal and registered my van with VWUK for the latest corrosion update. I was advised VWUK would get in touch with me...still waiting, so nothing has changed there!

Once we are clear of lockdown I will chase VWUK.

Alan

So do you know definitely that your replacement front roof panel gained a full 6year extended warranty from when it was replaced in 2015?

 

[AlanC]

So do you know definitely that your replacement front roof panel gained a full 6year extended warranty from when it was replaced in 2015?

The repair was officially booked with VWUK via Breeze mid-2014 and the work was carried out at Heritage Westbury in February 2015 when they ran their own body shop. As that was the deal arranged by the club and VWUK and I have a copy of the official letter I think VW would have a difficult job to argue otherwise.

Having said that, I can see no corrosion on the front panel or the poptop so have no cause for concern at the moment and only have Heritage's word that the rubber seal needs the Helicopter Tape installed as a warranty issue.

Once we are released from our home, I will be in touch with VWUK, who are supposed to be getting in touch with us, to see if there is any news.

I will keep you posted.

Alan

 

[BerndRos]

It’s strange....

My Cali is 2010 and suffered from the corrosion while within the 3 years warranty and prior to any approved VW fix.

VW garage at Plymouth sent it in approx 2013 to a local quality body shop, they did nothing invasive & as far as I know rubbed it all down, prepared and then painted it. Now 7 years later there is still no sign of any repetition of any corrosion.

I ended up on the list for the official VW repair process, but due to issues many others have had with the process, did NOT take them up on the process.

 

[AlanC]

It’s strange....

My Cali is 2010 and suffered from the corrosion while within the 3 years warranty and prior to any approved VW fix.

VW garage at Plymouth sent it in approx 2013 to a local quality body shop, they did nothing invasive & as far as I know rubbed it all down, prepared and then painted it. Now 7 years later there is still no sign of any repetition of any corrosion.

I ended up on the list for the official VW repair process, but due to issues many others have had with the process, did NOT take them up on the process.

Our 2010 missed the warrantee period with us as it was a used van when we purchased it.

I had phoned Heritage to see where we were on the repair list and was told quite far back. When I said I didn't need a loan van they offered to collect it the next day.

The front panel was replaced. The roof was removed and resprayed and they replaced both the bendy light (was a little wobbly), the Tambor siding panel in the cab and the roof canvas. The van was low-loaded back 10 days later looking just like new.

I think the repair varied between the 4 assigned body shops. Some were good and others not quite so good. Strange, as I understood the initial 4 body shops sent techs over to Germany to be trained up for this job and the body shops were supplied with specific tools and packages of parts.

I didn't get the replacement engine just after you did though. I think it was because one of the services prior to our ownership was by an independent VW garage, although I can't say for sure. VWUK would not budge an inch or explain the reasoning for the refusal. They went down considerably in my appreciation after that.

That cost £7.5K from our savings!

Alan

 

[TripleBee]

It’s strange....

My Cali is 2010 and suffered from the corrosion while within the 3 years warranty and prior to any approved VW fix.

VW garage at Plymouth sent it in approx 2013 to a local quality body shop, they did nothing invasive & as far as I know rubbed it all down, prepared and then painted it. Now 7 years later there is still no sign of any repetition of any corrosion.

I ended up on the list for the official VW repair process, but due to issues many others have had with the process, did NOT take them up on the process.

I would go for the recall. If there is no corrosion, they will apply the clear tape under the roof rubber, and the 2 clear tape strips on the front spoiler.
Or if you really don't want them to do it, and you are willing to pay for the clear strips, you can ask them to buy the strips and apply them yourself?

 

[roadrunner 45]

If no warranty, I would also opt for a very decent body shop with knowledge of aluminium. After that, or before, buy a new seal for the roof, and the clear tape for under the roof seal. Then get yourself another piece of clear protection tape for the front spoiler. As I don't think the two tiny strips on each end of the spoiler will be sufficient against the rubbing over the whole length of the contact surface.
When mine will be repaired, I will ask them not to put on the two tiny pieces, as I will look for a decent, whole length piece for the spoiler.

Hello , i have similar issue and need to find a decent body shop , one thing I could do with help on is what do i instruct the body shop to do , does anyone have a list of what is required to fix the problem so i can pass to the body shop and it is detailed enough so they know what is required to fix the problem?
I have read previously that parts need to be cut out and replaced but not sure of the details.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[TripleBee]

Hello , i have similar issue and need to find a decent body shop , one thing I could do with help on is what do i instruct the body shop to do , does anyone have a list of what is required to fix the problem so i can pass to the body shop and it is detailed enough so they know what is required to fix the problem?
I have read previously that parts need to be cut out and replaced but not sure of the details.
Any help would be appreciated.

Certainly no cut and put on the useless cap.
You will have to find a decent shop that knows how to tackle aluminium.
Sanding down to the metal, protect, repaint, protect the paint from getting rubbed by the rubber, and corrosion from the different metals around it.

 

[ArunAlec]

Certainly no cut and put on the useless cap.
You will have to find a decent shop that knows how to tackle aluminium.
Sanding down to the metal, protect, repaint, protect the paint from getting rubbed by the rubber, and corrosion from the different metals around it.

Agree that having the cap fitted is probably not a good idea. When mine goes in for the warranty fix l will ask that they just do the lifting roof and I will live with a small bit of bubbling on the front section. If in a couple of years it get too bad I will have it sprayed.

 

[SusiBus]

If you live in the Canterbury area, try AB Crush tell: 01304 830383 they do specialist body work for VW. They did my roof repair, and made a first class job of it.

 

[FredFlintstone]

Hi,

Does anyone have the VW instruction detail for the roof repair.. I'm particularly interested in how they stipulate the 'cap' should be installed?

Believe if the cap is installed incorrectly - it can fill with water?

Any help would be really appreciated

 

[Ozzy Pete]

Hi,

Does anyone have the VW instruction detail for the roof repair.. I'm particularly interested in how they stipulate the 'cap' should be installed?

Believe if the cap is installed incorrectly - it can fill with water?

Any help would be really appreciated

Is there a reason you need to know this? It’s not really something you would want to attempt yourself without a shed load of quality kit. And a lot of knowledge in motor body repair…

 

[FredFlintstone]

Is there a reason you need to know this? It’s not really something you would want to attempt yourself without a shed load of quality kit. And a lot of knowledge in motor body repair…

TBH I have all the skills, but its not for me, it's for a bodyshop, I think it's always good to understand how VW intended it to be fitted.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

TBH I have all the skills, but its not for me, it's for a bodyshop, I think it's always good to understand how VW intended it to be fitted.

I think it was like watching an old episode of Blue Peter..grab everything you can and whack some double sided tape down.

 

[WelshGas]

TBH I have all the skills, but its not for me, it's for a bodyshop, I think it's always good to understand how VW intended it to be fitted.

The Original repair was the replacement of Parts 8 and 10.

The cheaper subsequent repair was cutting out of affected sections of Part 8 , treatment with some high zinc primer and then sticking on a Plastic colour coded cap.

Click on Google link below.

Google

 

[FredFlintstone]

Appreciate the info, thanks although I have seen this before and pictures of the work as it was carried out.

However the info that I'm missing & specifically nterested in is how they decree the cap should be fitted (how the sealant adhesive should be applied / where it should be applied and whether they decree thar sealant should be run around the 'cap' between cap and body once fitted?

Thanks

 

[ArunAlec]

Appreciate the info, thanks although I have seen this before and pictures of the work as it was carried out.

However the info that I'm missing & specifically nterested in is how they decree the cap should be fitted (how the sealant adhesive should be applied / where it should be applied and whether they decree thar sealant should be run around the 'cap' between cap and body once fitted?

Thanks

Your best bet would be to try and get the details from one of the body shops that VW used for the repairs, although the chances of them letting you have it are pretty slim.
Good luck,