puddle in drivers door as per photo eeek!

[G3WRT]

We had a heavy rainstorm and next day I found a serious puddle (I soaked up before the photo) this is a 600 mile only 6.1. coast . I can see no obvious rubber seal leaks. Or any wet internals... The only thing I can think of is that autumn leaves have blocked the normal drain channels? anyone else experienced this? I clearly need to establish why. Especially since I am looking to sell it. It is essentially a new 6.1 This only happened in the rhs drivers side not the lhs. I am sure all doors were locked etc. It is a mystery to me so I assume the leaves are the culprit???? no wet anywhere else....
Help.

 

[Hawthorn37]

A puddle only on the door step, not the footwell / carpet?

My understanding is that the roof drain tubing runs past the dash on the passenger side, so I’m doubting the roof drain problem.

How was the van parked? Was the driver side lower than the passenger side?

Could you do a test maybe, sit in the van while someone uses a hose pipe to simulate rain?

 

[Hawthorn37]

Just researched a bit more, and there is a roof drain pipe that comes down the drivers A pillar. If blocked they usually wet the carpet, but water can drop into the floor pan, and exit around the air vent in the drivers door well. Personally I’d test, then take to your van centre.

 

[G3WRT]

Just researched a bit more, and there is a roof drain pipe that comes down the drivers A pillar. If blocked they usually wet the carpet, but water can drop into the floor pan, and exit around the air vent in the drivers door well. Personally I’d test, then take to your van centre.

thanks for your comment. I have not driven anywhere for weeks. I think a major built in problem is the front bonnet filling up with leaves/seeds in autumn and then somehow blocking proper draining? It is parked on level ground but the rhs is the one thats suffering. Not , so far, the lhs. It is rhd.
I shall discover more exploring once the rain stops, but it seems to me a fundamental design /mistake/ problem? after all the vehicle has not moved in weeks.... Unfortunately it is too tall to fit my garage. Looking at the leaves in the bonnet space it looks pretty obvious. Even the stuff stuck in the front screen channels are an indicator. A built in VW problem in my 6.1..

 

[Kernowboy]

Some reports of water coming through the seal on the door card; it has wet side which allows water from the window seal to come down through the door and out the drain holes at the bottom of the door. If the seal bestween the wet and dry side isn’t good then you’ll get water dripping into the step as per your phot. When you open the door after rain check for water flowing out the drain holes at bottom of door which is normal and drips from under side of the door card which is not. Dealer should be able to check the internal seal is seated correctly and tighten up the fixings.

 

[WelshGas]

thanks for your comment. I have not driven anywhere for weeks. I think a major built in problem is the front bonnet filling up with leaves/seeds in autumn and then somehow blocking proper draining? It is parked on level ground but the rhs is the one thats suffering. Not , so far, the lhs. It is rhd.
I shall discover more exploring once the rain stops, but it seems to me a fundamental design /mistake/ problem? after all the vehicle has not moved in weeks.... Unfortunately it is too tall to fit my garage. Looking at the leaves in the bonnet space it looks pretty obvious. Even the stuff stuck in the front screen channels are an indicator. A built in VW problem in my 6.1..

The California is based on a Commercial vehicle. Very few, if any, VW Transporters Park up for weeks under trees. If the carpet is dry then most likely cause is the door seal or the door card membrane, especially if that side of the vehicle takes the brunt of the wind and rain.

 

[G3WRT]

Just researched a bit more, and there is a roof drain pipe that comes down the drivers A pillar. If blocked they usually wet the carpet, but water can drop into the floor pan, and exit around the air vent in the drivers door well. Personally I’d test, then take to your van centre.

I shall clear out the leaves and seeds and try and understand what has happened - it will clearly lead to increased humidity and consequences inside the van . Taking to a dealer will actually result in them knowing less than I do! How often do they sell a VW coast? thats the unfortunate reality. It seems to me to be a fundamental design problem. I have felt the carpet and I am not certain if it is wet. This is a new vehicle.

 

[G3WRT]

The California is based on a Commercial vehicle. Very few, if any, VW Transporters Park up for weeks under trees. If the carpet is dry then most likely cause is the door seal or the door card membrane, especially if that side of the vehicle takes the brunt of the wind and rain.

You do not have to park under a tree! the wind has its effects. I think this is a fundamental design mistake. But I shall examine and find out. But a puddle is a puddle and not very happy to discover. Brand new car as this is needing new door seals are unlikely.

 

[G3WRT]

A puddle only on the door step, not the footwell / carpet?

My understanding is that the roof drain tubing runs past the dash on the passenger side, so I’m doubting the roof drain problem.

How was the van parked? Was the driver side lower than the passenger side?

Could you do a test maybe, sit in the van while someone uses a hose pipe to simulate rain?

parked level and also protected by llandi on the rhs drivers side. But severe downpours. There is a vehicle problem. No idea what but it is clearly a fundamental design mistake. I suspect due to leaves and tree leaves? Where do i find a diagram explaining where the proper drain routes are? Ignorance is not bliss. Dealers will know less than I do! so I am not limp enough to ask them!

 

[G3WRT]

Some reports of water coming through the seal on the door card; it has wet side which allows water from the window seal to come down through the door and out the drain holes at the bottom of the door. If the seal bestween the wet and dry side isn’t good then you’ll get water dripping into the step as per your phot. When you open the door after rain check for water flowing out the drain holes at bottom of door which is normal and drips from under side of the door card which is not. Dealer should be able to check the internal seal is seated correctly and tighten up the fixings.

thanks. Dealers have no idea and why would they? How many do they sell? how many have any experience? very very few. We are on our own is the reality. The seals are clearly a problem but the drain holes we need to understand = how ? we need a diagram and knowledge.

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

thanks. Dealers have no idea and why would they? How many do they sell? how many have any experience? very very few. We are on our own is the reality. The seals are clearly a problem but the drain holes we need to understand = how ? we need a diagram and knowledge.

I have the same issue which I only noticed recently. Water is most definitely dripping out of the bottom of the door card after heavy rain and pooling on the step. Mine’s going in for a service next week and this issue is also being looked at.

 

[AlistairC]

Kernowboy in post #5 is bang on in my experience. Have had two vans leak into the step and both were as described in #5.

New van? Dealer problem.
I’d say not a design problem but assembly. Millions of vans sold with same design and failure rate at delivery is very small. Rectifying it for the fee paying customer is how the dealers earn their keep through return sales. Or not!

 

[Hawthorn37]

thanks. Dealers have no idea and why would they? How many do they sell? how many have any experience? very very few. We are on our own is the reality. The seals are clearly a problem but the drain holes we need to understand = how ? we need a diagram and knowledge.

No, you need to take it back to your dealer. They have the tech data and diagrams.

 

[Vagophile]

Kernowboy in post #5 is bang on in my experience. Have had two vans leak into the step and both were as described in #5.

I have the same problem as identified here with my Cali (have mentioned it before somewhere). As the leak is not affecting anything, it is on my list for summer action. Experienced this with my Skoda Fabia, footwells filling with water. The failure of door seals with these is so common it's usual for those in the know to ask if they have been re-sealed when purchasing used. (Re-sealing both rear door cards £70 at my local bodyshop).

 

[Jabberwocky]

In your first post you say "it is essentially a new 6.1" is there any warranty remaining?