This car is a very good example of what happens with sunroofs on many makes and models of cars.
In fact, both the leaks on this Jetta are generic problems which happen to practically call cars because all cars are assembled in much the same way.
Around the sunroof is a trough, where water can collect (this is often called the cassette for some reason), from here there are usually two or four drainage holes with silicone pipes which lead down to the front wheel arches. It is seldom the case that these silicone pipes are in one piece, and often they have a connector. Over time, the silicone pipes shrink and shorten, so they can pull off the connectors, or they can just work their way loose. It is sometimes the case that the connectors are made of plastic which perishes, becomes brittle and shatters, so there are a number of things that can go wrong back there in addition to just blocked pipes.
There are generally two things that can go wrong with the rear air vents, they can get dirty and grit and debris can stop then closing properly, or perhaps more common, the plastic and silicone seals become old, shrink or not as supple. These vents are a bit like a one way cat flap, they are a valve with a gate(s) that let air out, but not water in. Usually just a plastic hinge, time can take its toll on them, which is why its often best just to replace them.
Solution: We will example the sunroof pipes and see if they can be glued back in, if there is a lot of shrinkage, it might be best to buy a new set and replace them, but this is up to the customer to decide.
We will replace the back air vents as this is the sure-fire solution and as the parts are usually available and aren't much money, it's the most cost-effective solution.
It's worth saying that the parts companies will keep fan belts and brake disks in stock because they are often replaced and in high demand. Some of the parts we wish to replace, which are bits of plastic interior trim, brackets, pipes and connectors, are often not kept in stock. They need to be ordered, and you never know what the availability is. It can take days or weeks for parts to arrive, especially if they have to come from abroad. Not always, but it can cause complications.
Your car is packed full of expensive processors, sensors and relays. Electric components can be damaged by water when they attract condensation. Act now, get that leak fixed, and your car dried out.
Question: "I have repaired my leak, but my car is still damp. How long does it usually take for a car to dry out?"
Answer: Unless you actively dry the car, perhaps never. There may be far more water in your car than you realize, and it can get trapped under plastic lined carpets. Generally the best way to do it is to remove the seats and lift up the carpets. There is more advice in the videos below.
You had a rain water leak in your car, and you got it fixed. What next? It will dry out on its own right? Maybe you can just vacuum the carpets, and it will dry?
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This car came to us with a suspected rain water leak, there were wet carpets and water on some of the door shuts. We performed our water leak detection inspection and found the source of the leaks.
Watch VideoHere are some more of our latest #VW water leak found videos
This VW Tiguan had already been to a dealership and had the sunroof drainage flushed out, and a replacement screen fitted but the leaks persisted.
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This Volkswagen Golf Convertible was found to be leaking from the door cards and the rear air vents, which is fairly normal for cars of this age.
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In this video, we see the customer walk us around his leaky Volkswagen Touareg and explain the problem.
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In this video, we walkthrough a Volkswagen Polo Mk5 that had suffered from a water leakage in the passenger footwell with the carpet and insulation soaking wet.
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There is much discussion on the internet about the issue of leaky Volkswagen and Audi Group vehicles, with numerous videos on YouTube about how to fix the sunroof pipes or modify the connectors.
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We offer a specialist car water leak find and fix service, as well as a professional car carpet drying service.
If you would like to have your car water leak investigated by the professionals, you can find out more on our car water leaks page.
If you would like to speak to one of our technicians, simply request a callback by filling in the form on our contact page.
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