Dreadful sliding windows.

Have got the interior door card sodden with all this wet weather and cleaning the drainage holes out as I have seen on here or facebook, I now need to get to the bottom of this problem. When I first cleared the holes out, I did see some water draining on the outside door panel, but not much. I did use a small blade, then followed up with the high pressure air line. 

As I have never used the sliding glass door windows, has anyone stuck them up with mastic etc, I have use duck tape on the outside and that stopped the water ingress, but looks a crude fix?

My son has the same problem on his T6 van! so not just an AS problem.

Hoping someone can help.

Richard

I just wiped silicone grease all over the seals as far as I could and then closed the windows after I had cleaned the drains, we only open them occasionally but not had any water on the inside since

Nothing to do with leak but I find if I open the window a little it doesn't need as much of a slam when closing from inside, presumably releases air pressure.

Touch wood mine have been faultless in the 4 years I’ve owned my van (with frequent use) but I understand your frustration Richard.
When I had my T5 there were even more complaints on the VW forum about them than we get on here.

Dbvwt wrote:Touch wood mine have been faultless in the 4 years I’ve owned my van (with frequent use) but I understand your frustration Richard.
When I had my T5 there were even more complaints on the VW forum about them than we get on here.

I just find them a total pain in the backside and as I never use them, they are something I could do without.

Richard

I you really never use them then how about a small bead of black silicone sealant? I’m not sure how it would work outside but for a fiver may be worth a go?. Fairly easy to remove if it doesn’t do the job compared to say Sikaflex.
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Or maybe this…

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Thank you David, that sounds like a very sensible answer, off to Screwfix when the rain stops.

Van is looking very dated with the wet stained door card.
Richard

Dbvwt wrote:I you really never use them then how about a small bead of black silicone sealant? I’m not sure how it would work outside but for a fiver may be worth a go?. Fairly easy to remove if it doesn’t do the job compared to say Sikaflex.
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Or maybe this…

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This may be a load of twaddle but I was told many years ago not to use builders/sanitary silicone sealant on my caravan due to the flexing power being almost zero and so on a moving vehicle this type will not last long as a skin forms and can crack.  Automotive version is available in loads of places most car accessory shops as well as flea bay and amazoon and a fiver should buy you a big enough tube. I do know that Halfords sell as that is where   I bought some.

That may not be twaddle Heanorboy, I have my own doubts but thought it worth a try.
Not sure why I didn’t think of automotive stuff myself as I used this to bond a plastic trim piece on my dad’s car a year ago that had come loose. Says it’s also for sealing around windows.
If I remember it is very sticky/messy to work with though! Much worse than even silicone.

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Dbvwt wrote:That may not be twaddle Heanorboy, I have my own doubts but thought it worth a try.
Not sure why I didn’t think of automotive stuff myself as I used this to bond a plastic trim piece on my dad’s car a year ago that had come loose. Says it’s also for sealing around windows.
If I remember it is very sticky/messy to work with though! Much worse than even silicone.

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Do not use tigerseal panel adhesive it’s a nightmare to remove

FreelanderUK wrote:

Dbvwt wrote:That may not be twaddle Heanorboy, I have my own doubts but thought it worth a try.
Not sure why I didn’t think of automotive stuff myself as I used this to bond a plastic trim piece on my dad’s car a year ago that had come loose. Says it’s also for sealing around windows.
If I remember it is very sticky/messy to work with though! Much worse than even silicone.

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Do not use tigerseal panel adhesive it’s a nightmare to remove

Ok, so what one do you recommend please?
Richard

I have used this before with good results. With it having a small nozzle it will just allow you to do in the small gap between the seals with out opening the window, mask around the seals if you don’t have a steady hand

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Hi

On my Volkswagen T5 I have used black electrical insulation plastic tape on the leaking sliding window. The tape has been on 20 months now and still looking good. The leak is where the bottom drain slot enters the drain mechanism that convey the water to the outside of the van. Not sure what I am going to do with the leak yet.

FreelanderUK wrote:I have used this before with good results 
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Thank you, found it with your link. I could not find it using their search.

I will go to Halfords this afternoon.

I have proved that the window seal is the problem, using the hose this morning, first day with no rain! and it is now sealed with duck tape so the door card can hopefully dry out.

Thanks Richard

Good luck Richard, that Halfords stuff Chris recommended looks perfect for the job. 
Let us know how you get on 

Another vote here for silicone grease, it’s stopped mine leaking.

Well update on window leak. 

Just been out to the van, soaked inside, so having taped the window up the hunt goes on. Wondering if it's the door seal or even the glass seal.

Sometimes you just love it when it rains  

Watch this space.


Richard

Was there any water in the channel for the sliding window on the inside

FreelanderUK wrote:Was there any water in the channel for the sliding window on the inside

There is no water in the sliding door channel, but if I pull the card away from the door, I can see water in the lower part of the cassette where it meets the interior metal door. I have just adjusted the two door locators to the max hoping it will reduce any gap. I have notice water and dirty marks along the top of the door and water on the front of the door downwards to the interior handle.

Stopped raining here, so will get the hose out and see if any improvement.

Richard

If no water in the channel that’s suggest it’s getting in somewhere else, I use Gummi Pflege rubber protection on all the doors seals to keep them supple and spongy

FreelanderUK wrote:If no water in the channel that’s suggest it’s getting in somewhere else, I use Gummi Pflege rubber protection on all the doors seals to keep them supple and spongy

That sounds good and just looked it up, will give the van a damn good soaking with the hose tomorrow, then .

I do remember, or my wife does, that when we collected the van in 2016 from the dealer brand new, the upper door card was a bit wet, they said they would replace it if we wanted. He thought the door was not fully closed, had been raining earlier, but it dried out and has not been a problem till now, who knows?

Thanks
Richard