VW California T5 ONLY Roof Corrosion - General Discussion

[RichardP]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

I wonder why the front panel was not made of plastic rather than Aluminium. I'd have thought it would be just as light, if not lighter, and would not been susceptible to galvanic corrosion. More and more cars have components such as front wings and boot lids made of various types of plastics and obviously bumpers have been made of plastic for some time.

 

[Custardtart]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

30 hours to replace the front panel?

What's got to come out?

Don't tell me the roof lining, bellows etc. It'll be squeak/rattle city after something like that

 

[777111]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

... my bet is the entire roof is being replaced as it will have been painted in the same unsuitable paint. I am certain I saw the same blistering down the side of the roof itself.

Very expensive for VW but a good and proper fix.

 

[Martin]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

Judging by the poll at the top of this thread we are now over 100 people that have the blistering paint problem, any more ?

 

[Derek Patton]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

Thank goodness for this Forum and the many postings on this subject .......406 since July 2012... !!!..... is that a record?
It proves to me how patient everyone has been in waiting for a fix...so isn't it time we had a definitive statement from VW on what they propose to do to solve the problem and with a proper timescale?
We can then schedule this into our diaries.
Anyone know how we get VW to give us an "official" update?

 

[BMVS-Camper-Hire]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

Thank goodness for this Forum and the many postings on this subject .......406 since July 2012... !!!..... is that a record?
It proves to me how patient everyone has been in waiting for a fix...so isn't it time we had a definitive statement from VW on what they propose to do to solve the problem and with a proper timescale?
We can then schedule this into our diaries.
Anyone know how we get VW to give us an "official" update?

Just give Breeze VW a call Derek, they seem to know all about the fix. Hope the Cali is all good

 

[Derek Patton]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

Oli
Hello there.
Thanks for the tip ...Will call the Southampton number tomorrow.
Cali going well thanks.
Getting lots of use by Thalia & I, as well as the kids and grandkids.
Are planning 2 biggish trips for next year already...plus Calis on the Farm of course.
Regards

 

[SusiBus]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

As you might not know, we did the survey at COTF in May and have been dealing with Anthony Ryder at VW Customer Care and his boss Alex Smith, Director of VW Commercial Vehicles.

The last time I spoke to Anthony he confirmed that VW were setting up repair centres which were supposed to be operational before Christmas. I will ring him tomorrow to find out the current situation because I agree it is more than time VW committed themselves to implementing the new repair procedure.

Susibus

 

[normg]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

If there is a 'fix' available is it introduced to new Cali's before leaving the factory. Or are they continuing to manufacture as normal leaving the inevitable to happen.??

 

[777111]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

If there is a 'fix' available is it introduced to new Cali's before leaving the factory. Or are they continuing to manufacture as normal leaving the inevitable to happen.??

I would be very interested to get an answer to this as well. Surely after all this time VW have switched production (probably just paint) to ensure new vehicles are ok?
I think I saw a date of March 2013 mentioned as vehicles after this day should be ok?

 

[muttley]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

As you might not know, we did the survey at COTF in May and have been dealing with Anthony Ryder at VW Customer Care and his boss Alex Smith, Director of VW Commercial Vehicles.

The last time I spoke to Anthony he confirmed that VW were setting up repair centres which were supposed to be operational before Christmas. I will ring him tomorrow to find out the current situation because I agree it is more than time VW committed themselves to implementing the new repair procedure.

Susibus

I had a chat with my local VW repair centre this morning (Citygate High Wycombe), and they were certainly not aware of any new update from VW on this matter. Perhaps only a few van centres will be chosen to implement the fix - in which case it would be very useful if you could persuade VW to release a list of them. I would prefer to get my van fixed over the winter, for obvious reasons, but I think there may be a bit of a queue forming ...

Simon

 

[crossa]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

I rang VW Leicester today to tell them that I had the dreaded blistering paintwork, and also to remind them that it was over a year ago (Oct 2012) that I first reported a roof bellows problem, and that in spite of them taking photos, and reminders from me, I had heard nothing about a warranty repair (or even rejection of a claim).
I was somewhat shocked to be told by the Service Manager that no claim exists, that there is nothing on the VW system about my roof problem.
He did tell me that the person who was dealing with me ,no longer works for VW Leicester.
I would suggest that anyone with outstanding warranty claims with VW Leicester make sure that their claim actually exists.

 

[Andy]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

Do you know whether the repair is limited to a number of specialists with body shops or will it be done by all commercial van dealers?

I live in the depths of Shropshire so most California dealers are some distance away.

I believe as stated earlier in this thread, VW are talking about a few Van centres being trained up for the repair. This is what is happening in Germany, where the repair was first rolled out.

... my bet is the entire roof is being replaced as it will have been painted in the same unsuitable paint. I am certain I saw the same blistering down the side of the roof itself.

Very expensive for VW but a good and proper fix.

Highly unlikely as the problem does not affect the main roof panel (accept a few isolated cases) but just the front panel above the windscreen.

If there is a 'fix' available is it introduced to new Cali's before leaving the factory. Or are they continuing to manufacture as normal leaving the inevitable to happen.??

I would be very interested to get an answer to this as well. Surely after all this time VW have switched production (probably just paint) to ensure new vehicles are ok?
I think I saw a date of March 2013 mentioned as vehicles after this day should be ok?

I believe VW have introduced a 'fix' to the production line. There was an Irish lady at Calis on the farm earlier in the year & here new cali had the gap between top of screen & front roof panel filled with a rubber like gasket which is new.
Graeme (suzibus) should be able to confirm this.

 

[greenfintry]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

Looks like we are also victims of the dreaded rot... small blisters both sides of the van near where the raising roof leading edge rubber comes down. Ours is a March 2011 Natural grey metallic finish 4motion van. Warranty runs out end of Feb. I have taken a couple of pictures... can anyone advise if it is best to contact VW direct and what number plus any magic phrases to use to get queued for the fix when available...

Cheers Martin

 

[777111]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

Do you know whether the repair is limited to a number of specialists with body shops or will it be done by all commercial van dealers?

I live in the depths of Shropshire so most California dealers are some distance away.

I believe as stated earlier in this thread, VW are talking about a few Van centres being trained up for the repair. This is what is happening in Germany, where the repair was first rolled out.

... my bet is the entire roof is being replaced as it will have been painted in the same unsuitable paint. I am certain I saw the same blistering down the side of the roof itself.

Very expensive for VW but a good and proper fix.

Highly unlikely as the problem does not affect the main roof panel (accept a few isolated cases) but just the front panel above the windscreen.

If there is a 'fix' available is it introduced to new Cali's before leaving the factory. Or are they continuing to manufacture as normal leaving the inevitable to happen.??

I would be very interested to get an answer to this as well. Surely after all this time VW have switched production (probably just paint) to ensure new vehicles are ok?
I think I saw a date of March 2013 mentioned as vehicles after this day should be ok?

I believe VW have introduced a 'fix' to the production line. There was an Irish lady at Calis on the farm earlier in the year & here new cali had the gap between top of screen & front roof panel filled with a rubber like gasket which is new.
Graeme (suzibus) should be able to confirm this.

Mine left the VW factory in September this year - I can see a gap (5mm + ) that runs between the front roof panel along the top of the windscreen edge and there is some form of gasket / sealant in it. Not sure what an older one like if its any different.
Concern is that although the vast majority report a fault on this panel surely the same defect is manifesting on the few "isolated cases" including the one I saw? If so then is it a matter of time before corrosion spreads along here?! Not a great situation but the mechanic I discussed this with was convinced it was a paint issue on aluminium and both the roof front panel and the roof itself are aluminium?
Either way VW are not going to be able to ignore this - a 12 year paint warranty is surely going to incorporate this.

 

[Andy]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

Mine left the VW factory in September this year - I can see a gap (5mm + ) that runs between the front roof panel along the top of the windscreen edge and there is some form of gasket / sealant in it. Not sure what an older one like if its any different.
Concern is that although the vast majority report a fault on this panel surely the same defect is manifesting on the few "isolated cases" including the one I saw? If so then is it a matter of time before corrosion spreads along here?! Not a great situation but the mechanic I discussed this with was convinced it was a paint issue on aluminium and both the roof front panel and the roof itself are aluminium?
Either way VW are not going to be able to ignore this - a 12 year paint warranty is surely going to incorporate this.

OK so not sure about the fix on the production line. As stated need to talk to Graeme on that one.

The blistering on the lifting roof panel is not common. There are over 100 cases of the blistering on the front panel on here & well over 100 on the german forum.
As far as I know the fix is only for the front panel.
VW will probably keep on repairing what blistering on the lifting roof gets reported as one off repairs.
We have only got this fix for the front panel because, originally the german forum kept on at VW to come up with a 'authorised repair' & once that was in place Graeme (suzibus) on this forum persuaded VW UK to implement the same repair in the UK.

 

[Custardtart]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

Be interested to see if the gap between the front panel and the windscreen is filled with a gasket.

I'm sure I read on a post somewhere that the gap had been filled (maybe with silicon) during an early repair and it cut the wind noise down considerably on the motorway. That would be good!

Any owners of the very latest vans able to post a pic?

 

[777111]

Re: LATEST on paintwork issue above windscreen

It's like a rubber gasket (although I don't know what material it actualy is) about 4mm thick between the steel and alloy roof panels above the front windscreeen.

For those that have a post March Cali as suggested this is presumably what the front roof panel now looks like. Not a great photo but the red line illustrates the size of the gasket ( about 5 mm) that has been added. Looks like a high density rubber foam material.
Hope that helps.

 

[Custardtart]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

Looks good - thanks for theo photo.

 

[SusiBus]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

Thanks 777111 for posting a picture of a post March 2013 Cali roof showing the insulating gasket between the different metals of the roof. As yet, as well as not knowing when the repair will be implemented, we don’t know whether it will be same as the post March Cali’s, but if it reduces wind noise, let’s hope so.

The corrosion we are talking about is only that which starts within the front box section of the roof, which is caused by water reaching the two dissimilar metals which haven’t been satisfactorily isolated from each other, not any other areas of roof corrosion.

As this is caused by a construction error we feel it should be covered by the 12 year warranty not merely the 3 year paintwork warranty. It may take VW 12 years to finally repair all the corroded Cali’s at the rate they are approaching this problem! I often wonder if VW realise how much negative publicity this is causing while they let it rumble on.

We contacted VW on 28 November, and shall post as soon as we get a reply.

 

[smgcowfoldparts]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

At present the new repair has not been released and we are still waiting to be told what the repair is involving etc...As soon as the new repair is made available etc...then I will let you know on here if you don't hear before that.

cheers

 

[SusiBus]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

Further to my recent post, I have had the following reply (in red below) from VW Commercial Vehicles UK Customer Services updating us on the roof corrosion situation. So it seems it will be 2014 before they roll out the repair. Hope this clarifies the situation.


"Dear Mr and Mrs Spencer

I write further to our telephone conversation on 2 December 2013 regarding an update on the new repair for the California roof.

I would like to confirm that we have successfully completed the new repair on one vehicle and are currently writing the training material for ourNetwork.

We are continuing to work with the specially selected body shops and demonstrating the repair on a second California. We hope to complete this training in the network and commence work towards the beginning of 2014.

I hope this information is useful. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further assistance.

Kind regards


Anthony Ryder
Executive Office
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles"

 

[slowcoach65]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

Of those of us who had the "temporary fix" i.e. respray, has anyone had the blistering recur? Mine hasn't after 9 months or so.

Andy

 

[mario+jill]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

Hello everyone, We had the re spray done in 2011and the blistering re occurred after about a year.
Our van is now out of warranty but vw have agreed to the new fix once it has been rolled out.
Hope this helps.

 

[CaliforniaDAN]

Re: Blistering Paintwork Front Roof Pannel

I have had the blistering repainted TWICE (once in the corners and once where the roof joins the panel). It has reappeared again in the corners and now awaiting the approved VW repair.