Leaking side window

couplands · Oct 16, 2022

Hi, our 3 week old 6.1 Ocean is suffering the leaking side window issue.

I’ve read a number of the previous threads, I just wondered if there was any updated info for the T6.1 sliding windows. None of the drain holes seem to exit under the window glass…if poke with a small cable tie but it’s hitting something and doesn’t go all the way through.

Also, the window when fully closed, still has some play. If I push from the inside I can see water being squeezed out and dripping behind the cooker/sink. Is there any adjustment possible on the window to pull it in closer to the rubber seals….?

Defender90 · Oct 16, 2022

couplands said:
Hi, our 3 week old 6.1 Ocean is suffering the leaking side window issue.

I’ve read a number of the previous threads, I just wondered if there was any updated info for the T6.1 sliding windows. None of the drain holes seem to exit under the window glass…if poke with a small cable tie but it’s hitting something and doesn’t go all the way through.

Also, the window when fully closed, still has some play. If I push from the inside I can see water being squeezed out and dripping behind the cooker/sink. Is there any adjustment possible on the window to pull it in closer to the rubber seals….?

I had 3 fitted before they sorted it lol,if they do fit a new one make sure the van is left for 24hrs before driving and opening and shutting the sliding door

couplands · Oct 16, 2022

Defender90 said:
I had 3 fitted before they sorted it lol,if they do fit a new one make sure the van is left for 24hrs before driving and opening and shutting the sliding door

That doesn't sound great...!

Even though its brand new, I've cleaned the rubber surround as best as possible and checked that water does in fact run through the drain holes, despite the fact I cant get a very thin cable tie through them.

Given the design of these side windows has changed over the years, you'd think VW would have made them work by now...;-)

ArunAlec · Oct 16, 2022

couplands said:
That doesn't sound great...!

Even though its brand new, I've cleaned the rubber surround as best as possible and checked that water does in fact run through the drain holes, despite the fact I cant get a very thin cable tie through them.

Given the design of these side windows has changed over the years, you'd think VW would have made them work by now...;-)

Best test is to use a syringe and direct water down the drain hole.
I would focus on the faulty drain rather than the window rubber/seal. Hard to believe that VW have not sorted this yet! My 2013 T5.1 had the side window replaced 6 years ago and the flaw in the drain was obvious well before that.

Hawthorn37 · Oct 16, 2022

couplands said:
Hi, our 3 week old 6.1 Ocean is suffering the leaking side window issue.

I’ve read a number of the previous threads, I just wondered if there was any updated info for the T6.1 sliding windows. None of the drain holes seem to exit under the window glass…if poke with a small cable tie but it’s hitting something and doesn’t go all the way through.

Also, the window when fully closed, still has some play. If I push from the inside I can see water being squeezed out and dripping behind the cooker/sink. Is there any adjustment possible on the window to pull it in closer to the rubber seals….?

Not that it matters that much, but do you notice the issue during normal (rainy) use or while washing? So far, we’ve not seen the problem with our 8-month old van, but I’d like to know the mode of failure, to keep an eye on it.

couplands · Oct 16, 2022

Hawthorn37 said:
Not that it matters that much, but do you notice the issue during normal (rainy) use or while washing? So far, we’ve not seen the problem with our 8-month old van, but I’d like to know the mode of failure, to keep an eye on it.

It was following a day or so of heavy rain. I assume it was blowing on that side of the van. Havent washed it yet, only a couple of weeks old and am waiting for the reservoirs to recover…!

I don’t think the rubber seal is pulling tight enough against the frame, I can’t see any way to adjust the window closers.

WelshGas · Oct 16, 2022

Hawthorn37 said:
Not that it matters that much, but do you notice the issue during normal (rainy) use or while washing? So far, we’ve not seen the problem with our 8-month old van, but I’d like to know the mode of failure, to keep an eye on it.

I remember reading on the T4/5 Forum Don’t use a Pressure washer on the sliding windows. So I have followed that advice.

couplands · Oct 16, 2022

WelshGas said:
I remember reading on the T4/5 Forum Don’t use a Pressure washer on the sliding windows. So I have followed that advice.

Given the nature of the rubber seal design, I can imagine a pressure washer would just blow straight through.

Hawthorn37 · Oct 16, 2022

WelshGas said:
I remember reading on the T4/5 Forum Don’t use a Pressure washer on the sliding windows. So I have followed that advice.

Although we have one, I usually don’t use the pressure washer on our cars. Perhaps in the winter, but only on reduced pressure to remove the under body and wheel arch muck.

rod_vw · Oct 16, 2022

couplands said:
Hi, our 3 week old 6.1 Ocean is suffering the leaking side window issue.

I’ve read a number of the previous threads, I just wondered if there was any updated info for the T6.1 sliding windows. None of the drain holes seem to exit under the window glass…if poke with a small cable tie but it’s hitting something and doesn’t go all the way through.

Also, the window when fully closed, still has some play. If I push from the inside I can see water being squeezed out and dripping behind the cooker/sink. Is there any adjustment possible on the window to pull it in closer to the rubber seals….?

Too late I guess but -- NEVER POKE ANYTHING INTO THE DRAIN HOLES --.

Poking down the drain holes releases the lower plastic cover from the drain and makes any leak even worse!
VW have only had twenty years to fix this problem (2003 model year introduction of the T5) and still they leak.

couplands · Oct 17, 2022

rod_vw said:
Too late I guess but -- NEVER POKE ANYTHING INTO THE DRAIN HOLES --.

Poking down the drain holes releases the lower plastic cover from the drain and makes any leak even worse!
VW have only had twenty years to fix this problem (2003 model year introduction of the T5) and still they leak.

On the T6.1 the drain is just a hole through the window frame and exits just under the window. There’s no tubing or such. I just used a very small cable tie and it hit a hard surface and just flexed. I poured water through and it came out of the bottom of the window as it should.

I think the problem is if there is a poor seal on the rubber the water just comes straight in the van. No amount of drain holes are going to remove that much water.

I’ve cleaned the seal and window, so will see how it goes later this week in Glencoe, where the forecast is for heavy rain…,

rod_vw · Oct 17, 2022

couplands said:
On the T6.1 the drain is just a hole through the window frame and exits just under the window. There’s no tubing or such. I just used a very small cable tie and it hit a hard surface and just flexed. I poured water through and it came out of the bottom of the window as it should.

I think the problem is if there is a poor seal on the rubber the water just comes straight in the van. No amount of drain holes are going to remove that much water.

I’ve cleaned the seal and window, so will see how it goes later this week in Glencoe, where the forecast is for heavy rain…,

There are no rubber parts, it's just the upper part that you can see plus a plastic part that guides the water out as you say between the glass and the bodywork on the outside of the van.
The lower portion is very poorly bonded to upper portion and the bonding fails. If you are very dexterous and can see and work in the underneath of the slide you can ad some sealer to fix the two parts together again. On the sliding door side it's difficult on the furniture side it is almost impossible without dismantling the furniture.
These windows have been the same design since 2003 when the T5 was launched!

westfalia · Oct 17, 2022

rod_vw said:
These windows have been the same design since 2003 when the T5 was launched!

Its a soft seal unlike a windscreen seal. A bit of care and attention
and a bit of lube and its okay.
Although the OP should take it back under warranty.

rod_vw · Oct 17, 2022

westfalia said:
Its a soft seal unlike a windscreen seal. A bit of care and attention
and a bit of lube and its okay.
Although the OP should take it back under warranty.

You like most others including dealers don't understand where the leak is.

Yes in the ideal world no water should come from outside to inside BUT there will always be some dirt, hair or similar that allows wet to pass the slides and vertical seal if the windows are opened and closed regularly.
The actual problem is the drainage system that should handle any water that arrives on the inside of the window. This should pass from the window slide through two holes in the base channel one visible at the front of the channel and one in the centre which is only exposed if the moveable portion of the window is removed. Both of these are constructed as I described above and both suffer from the same problem however as owners try to clear the one that they can see (the front one) it is the most vulnerable to being inadvertently damaged by poking something into the hole.
I've owned three T5s and a T6 and all have suffered from the same problem, two have had windows replaced under warranty but these replacements did not fix the problem.
Somewhere I have pictures of the faulty parts but I can't find then just now.

ArunAlec · Oct 17, 2022

rod_vw said:
You like most others including dealers don't understand where the leak is.

Yes in the ideal world no water should come from outside to inside BUT there will always be some dirt, hair or similar that allows wet to pass the slides and vertical seal if the windows are opened and closed regularly.
The actual problem is the drainage system that should handle any water that arrives on the inside of the window. This should pass from the window slide through two holes in the base channel one visible at the front of the channel and one in the centre which is only exposed if the moveable portion of the window is removed. Both of these are constructed as I described above and both suffer from the same problem however as owners try to clear the one that they can see (the front one) it is the most vulnerable to being inadvertently damaged by poking something into the hole.
I've owned three T5s and a T6 and all have suffered from the same problem, two have had windows replaced under warranty but these replacements did not fix the problem.
Somewhere I have pictures of the faulty parts but I can't find then just now.

Spot on! Having spent many hours with syringe and borescope investigating the leaking windows I have to agree!
There will always be some leakage around the window seal BUT it’s the drain design that is the issue.

kave · Oct 18, 2022

couplands said:
That doesn't sound great...!

Even though its brand new, I've cleaned the rubber surround as best as possible and checked that water does in fact run through the drain holes, despite the fact I cant get a very thin cable tie through them.

Given the design of these side windows has changed over the years, you'd think VW would have made them work by now...;-)

To my knowledge they havent changed at all for 20 years.
bring it in since its new, can be a really difficult thing to fix.

couplands · Oct 18, 2022

westfalia said:
Its a soft seal unlike a windscreen seal. A bit of care and attention
and a bit of lube and its okay.
Although the OP should take it back under warranty.

If it continues to leak I will…

couplands · Oct 18, 2022

kave said:
To my knowledge they havent changed at all for 20 years.
bring it in since its new, can be a really difficult thing to fix.

The closing mechanism has changed, but I guess the rubber seal design is possibly unchanged.

kave · Oct 18, 2022

rod_vw said:
You like most others including dealers don't understand where the leak is.

Yes in the ideal world no water should come from outside to inside BUT there will always be some dirt, hair or similar that allows wet to pass the slides and vertical seal if the windows are opened and closed regularly.
The actual problem is the drainage system that should handle any water that arrives on the inside of the window. This should pass from the window slide through two holes in the base channel one visible at the front of the channel and one in the centre which is only exposed if the moveable portion of the window is removed. Both of these are constructed as I described above and both suffer from the same problem however as owners try to clear the one that they can see (the front one) it is the most vulnerable to being inadvertently damaged by poking something into the hole.
I've owned three T5s and a T6 and all have suffered from the same problem, two have had windows replaced under warranty but these replacements did not fix the problem.
Somewhere I have pictures of the faulty parts but I can't find then just now.

So on a Beach with no kitchen this drain pipe should be visible? From inside or outside? I have sealed mine with tape, it has been leaking since new, always thought my kids d ik bottles leaked because only bottle holders where full with water.

rod_vw · Oct 18, 2022

kave said:
So on a Beach with no kitchen this drain pipe should be visible? From inside or outside? I have sealed mine with tape, it has been leaking since new, always thought my kids d ik bottles leaked because only bottle holders where full with water.

To see the drain parts you have to remove the lower cover from the inside of window slide but don't be under the illusion that it is an easy fix. It's not a pipe but two separate hard plastic parts, that are not suitably bonded together, the lower of these actually being four pieces, two per window.

sbmcd · Oct 18, 2022

We had an issue with our side window leaking on our recent trip to Europe. Side window opened and closed a lot for ventilation and cooking. I found that the seals were very dirty and dusty, cleaned the seals and sealing surface on the glass with a kids toothbrush and silicon spray then a cloth, after that treated the seal with seal restorer, (applied with the toothbrush) see photo.

This helped but like others I found the root cause was was a blocked drain. I used the same bit of tube and plastic nozzle I use for blowing through the roof drains. It was well blocked, and I had to use a bit of sucking and blowing with the tube full of water to clear it.

No water ingress to the cupboard issues since then.

I normally check the roof drains a couple of times a year so need to add the sliding window drains to that schedule.

AlistairC · Oct 21, 2022

To add to what Rod has already said above (he is very correct on all this - thank you Rod for your thread on other forums!), yes, the lower drain channels are very poorly adhered onto the sliding window channels.

I’m about to bond on a brand new VW window unit so I’ve given it some good investigations! The bottom part appears to be fixed with a bonded neoprene gasket which whilst stretchy, really is very weak. As said above, I really wouldn’t advis poking anything down there for fear of breaking that seal.

I have gone belt’n’braces on this problem and encased the entire drain system in Bonding sealant Before adhering it to the van. Fingers crossed eh!

ArunAlec · Oct 21, 2022

AlistairC said:
To add to what Rod has already said above (he is very correct on all this - thank you Rod for your thread on other forums!), yes, the lower drain channels are very poorly adhered onto the sliding window channels.

I’m about to bond on a brand new VW window unit so I’ve given it some good investigations! The bottom part appears to be fixed with a bonded neoprene gasket which whilst stretchy, really is very weak. As said above, I really wouldn’t advis poking anything down there for fear of breaking that seal.

I have gone belt’n’braces on this problem and encased the entire drain system in Bonding sealant Before adhering it to the van. Fingers crossed eh!View attachment 100809

As well as the drain from the window channel have noticed the narrow slot/drain that sits between the glass and the plastic frame? Just a couple of millimetres deep and feeds into the same outlet.

AlistairC · Oct 21, 2022

ArunAlec said:
As well as the drain from the window channel have noticed the narrow slot/drain that sits between the glass and the plastic frame? Just a couple of millimetres deep and feeds into the same outlet.

Not sure I follow. Can you repeat the question / statement?

rod_vw · Oct 21, 2022

AlistairC said:
To add to what Rod has already said above (he is very correct on all this - thank you Rod for your thread on other forums!), yes, the lower drain channels are very poorly adhered onto the sliding window channels.

I’m about to bond on a brand new VW window unit so I’ve given it some good investigations! The bottom part appears to be fixed with a bonded neoprene gasket which whilst stretchy, really is very weak. As said above, I really wouldn’t advis poking anything down there for fear of breaking that seal.

I have gone belt’n’braces on this problem and encased the entire drain system in Bonding sealant Before adhering it to the van. Fingers crossed eh!View attachment 100809

@AlistairC you have done what I have always thought must be the only successful method of fixing this problem. Why on earth VW didn't issue an instruction to dealers to do just what you have done when changing windows under warranty way back in 2003/4 when the problem first arose I will never know. Then fix subsequent production as vehicles were manufactured.

My fear is that now I have a MN TGE due any day with sliding windows both sides in the rear I will still have the same problem! Time will tell no doubt.

Leaking side window

couplands

Defender90

couplands

ArunAlec

Hawthorn37

Retired, and working hard at it

couplands

WelshGas

Retired after 42 yrs and enjoying Life.

couplands

Hawthorn37

Retired, and working hard at it

rod_vw

Gone bigger.

couplands

rod_vw

Gone bigger.

westfalia

rod_vw

Gone bigger.

ArunAlec

kave

couplands

couplands

kave

rod_vw

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sbmcd

AlistairC

ArunAlec

AlistairC

rod_vw

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