Rear shower connection leaking

[mehandforth]

Hi everyone, our rear shower connection leaks every time you turn on the tap inside the van. Aside from making a mess in the boot, it wastes water. Any ideas? Been searching all over and can't find anyone else with this problem... It's a 2018 T6 Ocean. Thanks!

 

[flying banana]

I had this. You could plug the shower in as a temp plug. Make sure the collar is locked back when you unplug. If its stuck forwards it does the boot flooding trick. I have fitted a ball valve behind mine in case it happens again. Stick a terminal driver up it and jiggle it about. Then firmly plug the shower in. And when you remove it make sure the collar goes back and stays back to shut the valve. I bought a new one but my fix has worked .

 

[JonnyOB]

I have the same issue. The water pump started all of its own and flooded the boot. After that every time I turn the tap on water floods out the shower outlet at the rear. It's a 2023 T6.1, so I can still take it back to get it sorted, but wonder if there is a simple fix or something obvious I'm missing. Can't find much on this issue out there. Thanks in advance.

 

[flying banana]

I have the same issue. The water pump started all of its own and flooded the boot. After that every time I turn the tap on water floods out the shower outlet at the rear. It's a 2023 T6.1, so I can still take it back to get it sorted, but wonder if there is a simple fix or something obvious I'm missing. Can't find much on this issue out there. Thanks in advance.

Simplest fix is to plug the shower in and leave it plugged in. Then the shower head itself will stop the water.Other than that try plugging the shower in and out a few times to see if it re seats the ball. Worked for me. Bought a new valve but been fine ever since. My issue was that the shower hose also had a hole in it so I had to do a Bush fix at the time.make sure the collar stays back when unplugging the shower. I can't see any detrimental affects of my flood 3 years later

 

[Ernest Driveaway]

Had this recently, Ocean 24. Booked in this month, it's intermittent though. Also something related to the pump/switching appeared at the same time, when on EHU. I'll post what the outcome is.

 

[JonnyOB]

FIX for leaking rear shower - I've spent some time on this and managed to sort it. This issue is down to a design fault in the way the water system works. There is only one pump in the water tank which goes into Y connector as it emerges branching to both the tap and shower outlet. The pump is activated either by the tap or the rear shower switch and water then should take the path of least resistance, ie if the tap is turned on it comes out of the tap, if the shower outlet is turned on it comes out there (as the tap is turned off). However this set up means the system is sensitive to how the pipes are physically sitting or any partial blockages. If the pipe to the shower outlet moves from its installed position the path of least resistance when the tap is turned on can then become the shower outlet. In my case the shower outlet feed was attached to the underside of the tip of the water tank enclosure by a sticky pad. This had come off the the hose had dropped down creating a straight run for water out of the shower outlet when the tap was turned on. Where it previously would go to the tap it then went to the shower outlet. A partial blockage of pipes would also change the characteristics of flow.

It can be fixed by ensuring the the shower pipe is fixed properly so it comes out of the Y adapter, and goes up before coming down to the shower outlet. However the design is inherently poor so there is ongoing potential for leakage. I've therefore incorporated a more permanent fix by:

1 - Adding a 10mm inline valve into the shower outlet in the water tank enclosure (some others had posed this solution on there previously). See photo.
2 - Permanently connecting the shower fitting (thanks flying banana) and adding a pocket onto the rear enclosure to keep in in. Makes it much more accessible.

 

[mehandforth]

Fabulous answer. Thanks @JonnyOB

 

[Viktorgeorge]

We have only used the shower a few times, and not for a year or more. A couple of days ago the shower connection started to leak whilst I used the sink (fortunately my wife was behind the open boot at the time).

I followed advice as above and connected/disconnected the shower several times (and added a little silicone marine grease to the connecting parts) which presumably reseated the ball as the leak stopped.

I can imagine a serious problem if the sink had been used plenty on a road trip, and the shower leaked inadvertently, whilst we were fully packed (I often hide computer and other valuables not far from the shower terminal).

I have ordered a 10mm ball valve to fit as @JonnyOB in #6 above. I don't want to permanently leave the shower connected - though I accept this is another fix - because I like VW's neat solution as supplied, and I am mindful, as @flying banana in #4, that the shower hose could also leak (this has happened with my home shower more than once).

I suspect that a little lubricant on the shower connector and perhaps more regular use of it is all that is required, but I like the 'belt and braces' idea of adding a ball cock as well which I can operate along with the adjacent gas top valve before trips etc.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Fitted a ballcock today:




MiJunHD 10mm Barb Ball Valve, 304... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CT855F18?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

4 Pcs Hose Clips, Worm Drive... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09YCKG691?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

The hose lips are necessary on this ballcock and need to be tightened well to avoid leaks.

 

[Johnny Rocket]

Sorry if I'm being dumb, but why wouldn't you simply replace the iffy sliding collar QR bulkhead fitting ? . . . to fit a second valve upstream of it just seems clumsy and unnecessary, when you could just fix or replace the one you have already? Apologies if I've missed something rather more subtle !?

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Sorry if I'm being dumb, but why wouldn't you simply replace the iffy sliding collar QR bulkhead fitting ? . . . to fit a second valve upstream of it just seems clumsy and unnecessary, when you could just fix or replace the one you have already? Apologies if I've missed something rather more subtle !?

View attachment 137281

Differently to you, I saw it as a failsafe move. A little like with the van’s gas which has three valves in line.

I think I was influenced by others having a similar problem, the thought of an unseen leak, the apparent unreliability (as posts above) of the specific ball valve connector (perhaps with our very rare use exasperating the problem) but above all I thought my fix was easier and cheaper than replacing the existing valve - though I never even thought to investigate replacing the valve, since after lubrication my shower connector probably functions as well as any replacement.

 

[Johnny Rocket]

Understood !

 

[etiennesky123]

I just had the same problem (late in the night with the van full of course) and it seems that the shower connector is a bit old. I also saw that the shower outlet feed sticky pad has come loose but it doesn't stick anymore.

I was thinking about replacing the shower connector but cannot find the reference for this part online.

Does anyone know what the connector is called and where I should look for it? I am in the Greek islands and the going up the Balkans next.

 

[Johnny Rocket]

When I retrofitted my shower system I bought the square hinged flap bulkhead fitting as a complete unit from these people (it’s the genuine OE item), so I don’t know what the part no. is for the brass QR collar fitting-only . . . sorry !:

REICH Charisma cold water socket + shower head kit

www.roadloisirs.com

See also my how-to-do-it post here, 17th August 2022:

OEM T6.1 rear shower system

But if your kitchen sink has a tap, you already have a pump? I think there's only one pump in Californias that have a built-in kitchen. Ah, OK, so are you saying that the factory-fit shower system uses the same water pump, with, I guess, a tee to feed the shower bulkhead fitting as well as...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[Viktorgeorge]

I just had the same problem (late in the night with the van full of course) and it seems that the shower connector is a bit old. I also saw that the shower outlet feed sticky pad has come loose but it doesn't stick anymore.

I was thinking about replacing the shower connector but cannot find the reference for this part online.

Does anyone know what the connector is called and where I should look for it? I am in the Greek islands and the going up the Balkans next.

View attachment 137939

As per #9 above, personally I might be inclined to find and fit a 10mm stopcock and two 10mm pipe clamps (for example from a plumber, irrigation or aquatic outlet) plus lubricator/exercise the existing shower connection - till you get home.

 

[Johnny Rocket]

I just had the same problem (late in the night with the van full of course) and it seems that the shower connector is a bit old. I also saw that the shower outlet feed sticky pad has come loose but it doesn't stick anymore.

I was thinking about replacing the shower connector but cannot find the reference for this part online.

Does anyone know what the connector is called and where I should look for it? I am in the Greek islands and the going up the Balkans next.

View attachment 137939

I’m on tour in Ireland in our van at the moment, and if it stops raining this evening (or, surely at least, tomorrow ?!) then I’ll take some pictures of the fitting and see if I can get an ID on it for you . . .

OK, without resorting to a dissection of my installation I am already pretty sure it’s this fellow below - although you will want a fir-tree fitting where the water feed arrives rather than a nut-and-olive arrangement; I’ll see if I can find that:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175158527861?_ul=GB&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338365712&toolid=20006&customid=Cj0KCQjw64jDBhDXARIsABkk8J76GRRWajv6uJWQ8uvsuxhaRG2gJrCO4OqrXs-kTS_BBPczcz8mnZUaAt2XEALw_wcB|0AAAAA9SEzLMui-dPJIAR99yYK5aVxsxx7|null&gclid=Cj0KCQjw64jDBhDXARIsABkk8J76GRRWajv6uJWQ8uvsuxhaRG2gJrCO4OqrXs-kTS_BBPczcz8mnZUaAt2XEALw_wcB&gbraid=0AAAAA9SEzLMui-dPJIAR99yYK5aVxsxx7

In fact the fir tree and loose nut are on the feed pipe side of things (see snapshot from my installation manual), so I think you are OK with the fitting I’ve identified above.

 

[etiennesky123]

Thanks for your answers, I will follow the suggestion by Viktor and install a stopcock and lubricate the fitting ... I have 2 months left on my trip and this should be fine until I can find the replacement fitting.

 

[etiennesky123]

I’m on tour in Ireland in our van at the moment, and if it stops raining this evening (or, surely at least, tomorrow ?!) then I’ll take some pictures of the fitting and see if I can get an ID on it for you . . .

OK, without resorting to a dissection of my installation I am already pretty sure it’s this fellow below - although you will want a fir-tree fitting where the water feed arrives rather than a nut-and-olive arrangement; I’ll see if I can find that:

In fact the fir tree and loose nut are on the feed pipe side of things (see snapshot from my installation manual), so I think you are OK with the fitting I’ve identified above.

Would this do the trick ? It seems it's a bit longer than the one you posted.

Conector Rápido Hembra RK Reich Ducha 10 12 mm Cajetín Racor Autocaravana Camper

ciudadcamper.com

 

[etiennesky123]

Thanks for your answers, I will follow the suggestion by Viktor and install a stopcock and lubricate the fitting ... I have 2 months left on my trip and this should be fine until I can find the replacement fitting.

Thinking again, adding a stopcock implies opening the access panel each time you take a shower... These days it's about every day so it's not ideal, but better than flooding the boot!

 

[Johnny Rocket]

Would this do the trick ? It seems it's a bit longer than the one you posted.

Conector Rápido Hembra RK Reich Ducha 10 12 mm Cajetín Racor Autocaravana Camper

ciudadcamper.com

Yes, that looks to be the very same fellow, except it also includes the fir tree, which was missing in the item I found. You have done better than me (although maybe my hint helped ?!) - I would say buy it !!!

You will see from my pic that I shortened the fir tree to avoid the delivery hose being forced hard into the shell of the freshwater tank, but in this case you can hopefully anyway just use your old fir tree piece on the new fitting ?

PS I will be cruising the Saronic Islands for 2 weeks from the 13th July, so if I can help by bringing anything out for you then just say !

 

[flying banana]

A quick fix is leave the shower head plugged in. I had same issue. Exercising the valve a few times has fixed it

 

[Johnny Rocket]

Indeed, although somewhat messy and risky as there’s then a big risk of smashing the bulkhead flap off, or worse, when closing the tailgate . . . :

(if it were really that dicey, than I’d just pull the hose off the back of the bulkhead fitting and cap it . . . but then again I do travel tooled up with all the gear to do basic stuff like this !)

 

[flying banana]

Indeed, although somewhat messy and risky as there’s then a big risk of smashing the bulkhead flap off, or worse, when closing the tailgate . . . :

(if it were really that dicey, than I’d just pull the hose off the back of the bulkhead fitting and cap it . . . but then again I do travel tooled up with all the gear to do basic stuff like this !)

View attachment 138005

Yes that is true. I remember that hose being an absolute pig to get off the fitting. I did that and shoved a bolt up the pipe to plug it as a Bush fix

 

[Viktorgeorge]

… or you can cut a 10mm ballcock in as #9, exercise and lubricate the shower connection which will probably then work fine: and have the ability when packed up and on the road to cut off the shower ‘belt and braces’ (when you probably turn off the adjacent gas at the bottle).

Seems to me that the shower connector, even if replaced with a new one, remains a risk. Too many have failed, from this post; and once I thought about it, the design is flawed as a single point of stop-off.

 

[etiennesky123]

Yes, that looks to be the very same fellow, except it also includes the fir tree, which was missing in the item I found. You have done better than me (although maybe my hint helped ?!) - I would say buy it !!!

You will see from my pic that I shortened the fir tree to avoid the delivery hose being forced hard into the shell of the freshwater tank, but in this case you can hopefully anyway just use your old fir tree piece on the new fitting ?

PS I will be cruising the Saronic Islands for 2 weeks from the 13th July, so if I can help by bringing anything out for you then just say !

Thanks, I will be gone by then, I will look into changing the connector when I get back.

Update : I have been using the sink sporadically and there are no issues (for now), maybe playing with the connector has been helpful. I will apply some electric razor lubricant for extra measure and look for a 10mm inline valve for extra security (when I am not using the shower every day).