Rubber Roof seal lifting over passenger door - will it cause a problem?

[Vinnie Van G]

Hi, just seeking a bit of help / advice please. Giving the roof seal a quick clean today to rid of algae / green stain above the seal to the awning rails / roof, I noticed that the rubber seal has lifted in 2 places close together above the passenger door. I’ve attached a photo for more detail.
Just wondering if at some point this could cause water ingress into the roof / mattress area either when the roof is open or closed. Thoughts or experience of the same issue is welcomed.
The van has extended warranty so could check with local dealer if it may be covered.
Thank you in advance.

 

[Perfectos]

Is the van newish to you ?

Looks like someone has inspected below the seal on not put it fully back.

It looks like the painted panel below the seal has some minor damage ? (Outside left , Upper most circle in your photo)

Has the van been fitted with roof bars etc ?

I would gently pull the seal downwards, inspect the panel looking for signs of rust, and clean if required, check the groove in the seal checking for rust and debris, then providing no issues very gently push the seal fully home.

use the search function to look for posts regarding roof seal corrosion if you are not aware of a potential issue,

Ps get the damage touched up asap

 

[Sad]

It looks to me like the roof seal is lifting, I'd guess due to rusting. As Pecfectos says, plenty of threads on it, but this is what it looks like to me:
Post in thread 'Just announced - T6 recall for roof corrosion beneath the seal' https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/thread...-corrosion-beneath-the-seal.26856/post-541085

 

[Perfectos]

If the seal is found to be rusting , get it changed asap, (clean immediately and apply tape to the painted roof Panel to stop the rust from touching the panel.

Pls report back to assist others and allow the best advise to be provided from the forum

 

[Vinnie Van G]

It looks to me like the roof seal is lifting, I'd guess due to rusting. As Pecfectos says, plenty of threads on it, but this is what it looks like to me:
Post in thread 'Just announced - T6 recall for roof corrosion beneath the seal' https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/thread...-corrosion-beneath-the-seal.26856/post-541085

Thanks for this. Van is 2022 and we bought when 2 months old from VW dealer and as far as we aware the seal hasn’t been removed. No roof bars ever fitted. Only issue has been where the bed hinges were replaced due to failure of one on the passenger side. Noticed kink in the seal maybe 4 months ago but it hadn’t lifted away from the metal at that point.

The van has to go in for checking amber warnings lights showing occasionally (possibly tyre related) so I will raise this with them too.

I will update thread once I know more.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Vinnie Van G]

It looks to me like the roof seal is lifting, I'd guess due to rusting. As Pecfectos says, plenty of threads on it, but this is what it looks like to me:
Post in thread 'Just announced - T6 recall for roof corrosion beneath the seal' https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/thread...-corrosion-beneath-the-seal.26856/post-541085

Thanks for this info. I will get it checked and update thread once I know more. Appreciate your reply.

 

[Vinnie Van G]

**UPDATE.** The Cali has been into the dealership for a check today and the roof seal has failed and being replaced under warranty. Hopefully the paint hasn’t started to lift but will update the thread once replaced.

 

[Vinnie Van G]

** UPDATE #2 ** - All in one extended warranty doesn’t cover bodywork so a replacement roof seal for a failed original is not covered, however as GOGW I will only have to pay for the part. Just waiting for the work to be completed

 

[Viktorgeorge]

** UPDATE #2 ** - All in one extended warranty doesn’t cover bodywork so a replacement roof seal for a failed original is not covered, however as GOGW I will only have to pay for the part. Just waiting for the work to be completed

Based on my experience, a VW dealer replacing the seal is not necessarily a complete solution. In my case (2022 van) they not only scratched the roof paintwork under the seal when they did the work, inviting further problems, but they also damaged the new seal exposing the steel reinforcement. My tail of woe is describe in some detail on the forum as is that of @Perfectos who has repeated issues and posts very helpfully for others on the matter so in short I would advise (i) a carful inspection after the work and (ii) some research on this forum as well.

Two of several posts here:

Post in thread 'Roof Seal Corrosion T6.1'
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/roof-seal-corrosion-t6-1.50464/post-726186

Post in thread 'Avoiding roof corrosion?'
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/avoiding-roof-corrosion.22428/post-641302

 

[flying banana]

Thanks for this. Van is 2022 and we bought when 2 months old from VW dealer and as far as we aware the seal hasn’t been removed. No roof bars ever fitted. Only issue has been where the bed hinges were replaced due to failure of one on the passenger side. Noticed kink in the seal maybe 4 months ago but it hadn’t lifted away from the metal at that point.

The van has to go in for checking amber warnings lights showing occasionally (possibly tyre related) so I will raise this with them too.

I will update thread once I know more.

Thanks for your help.

If you are getting 3 Amber lights showing tpws abs and traction control you have an abs sensor failing

 

[Perfectos]

**UPDATE.** The Cali has been into the dealership for a check today and the roof seal has failed and being replaced under warranty. Hopefully the paint hasn’t started to lift but will update the thread once replaced.

If the dealer is not providing a new seal under warranty, I would not let them anywhere near the roof seal - see @Viktorgeorge post above.

The fact that VW / the Dealer refuse the warranty claim is an absolute disgrace. This is a high frequency failure of a part that is not fit for purpose

I bet the part from the dealer is over £100 , it can be bought from eBay for £60.
Don't give the dealer your money, you can do a better job fitting it yourself

 

[Viktorgeorge]

If the dealer is not providing a new seal under warranty, I would not let them anywhere near the roof seal - see @Viktorgeorge post above.

The fact that VW / the Dealer refuse the warranty claim is an absolute disgrace. This is a high frequency failure of a part that is not fit for purpose

I bet the part from the dealer is over £100 , it can be bought from eBay for £60.
Don't give the dealer your money, you can do a better job fitting it yourself

I second this, from bitter experience, and I do this strongly: as a further qualification of my post #9 above.

Some lucky folk get away with no roof seal issues, but the unlucky such as you, @Perfectos and me are well advised to take control of the pop top roof (both initially when a problem is found, and then regularly thereafter) and not rely on a VW dealer - certainly if you intend to keep the California for any length of time.

 

[Vinnie Van G]

So, the roof seal has been replaced, original problem resolved where the seal was coming away.
However, the new seal above the windscreen, where the 2 bulges are do not seem to be as flush as they were previously. I’m assuming that water will seep under the seal and slowly travel as water does.
I’m tempted to ask them to refit. Anyone had this issue previously on the front exterior roof seal?

 

[Vinnie Van G]

If the dealer is not providing a new seal under warranty, I would not let them anywhere near the roof seal - see @Viktorgeorge post above.

The fact that VW / the Dealer refuse the warranty claim is an absolute disgrace. This is a high frequency failure of a part that is not fit for purpose

I bet the part from the dealer is over £100 , it can be bought from eBay for £60.
Don't give the dealer your money, you can do a better job fitting it yourself

So bodywork isn’t covered under the all in one 2 year extended warranty, however the dealer charged half the cost of the deal £62, with no labour which I was happy with.

 

[Vinnie Van G]

I second this, from bitter experience, and I do this strongly: as a further qualification of my post #9 above.

Some lucky folk get away with no roof seal issues, but the unlucky such as you, @Perfectos and me are well advised to take control of the pop top roof (both initially when a problem is found, and then regularly thereafter) and not rely on a VW dealer - certainly if you intend to keep the California for any length of time.

Thank you for your insight into this. Luckily I have no water ingress but obviously concerned about damage to the roof under the seal.
I will check internally regularly but may return to the dealer and either get replaced and re fitted or ask for some form of guarantee re that area.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

So, the roof seal has been replaced, original problem resolved where the seal was coming away.
However, the new seal above the windscreen, where the 2 bulges are do not seem to be as flush as they were previously. I’m assuming that water will seep under the seal and slowly travel as water does.
I’m tempted to ask them to refit. Anyone had this issue previously on the front exterior roof seal?View attachment 145098View attachment 145097

The original seal is fitted using a special tool at the VW factory. There is a video somewhere here and if I find it I will add later.

VW dealers do not have that tool. My otherwise competent dealer did not warm the seal before fitting and likely used a rubber hammer, damaging both the roof paint below and the seal: as my other posts on this subject elaborate. @Perfectos had similar multiple bad experiences. The nearby bodyshop Rackhams Ipswich (Alisdair) remedied the situation by replacing with another seal (oven warmed) and carefully hand bending with me attending.

In short you might be better remedying yourself, on a warm day with an hair dryer along the lines already posted by several including me.

Added later:

video is in here:
Post in thread 'Avoiding roof corrosion?'
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/avoiding-roof-corrosion.22428/post-654077

 

[Ozzy Pete]

If you are getting 3 Amber lights showing tpws abs and traction control you have an abs sensor failing

In the 11 years we have had our van I have replaced ALL of the original ABS wheel sensors. Not with the £80+ VW sensors but with sensors from EBay at £12 a pair. NONE of the EBay sensors have failed. I keep a Carista OB2 scanner in the van which directs me to the failed sensor or any other faults.

 

[Vinnie Van G]

The original seal is fitted using a special tool at the VW factory. There is a video somewhere here and if I find it I will add later.

VW dealers do not have that tool. My otherwise competent dealer did not warm the seal before fitting and likely used a rubber hammer, damaging both the roof paint below and the seal: as my other posts on this subject elaborate. @Perfectos had similar multiple bad experiences. The nearby bodyshop Rackhams Ipswich (Alisdair) remedied the situation by replacing with another seal (oven warmed) and carefully hand bending with me attending.

In short you might be better remedying yourself, on a warm day with an hair dryer along the lines already posted by several including me.

Added later:

video is in here:
Post in thread 'Avoiding roof corrosion?'
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/avoiding-roof-corrosion.22428/post-654077

Thank you for this. I may speak with my dealer but will also consider contacting Rackhams at Ipswich if no success with the dealer who fitted. He mentioned it had to be heated and shaped to fit properly and then ended up I feel as a rush job. Thanks for taking the time to reply and providing all the info. Appreciate it.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Thank you for this. I may speak with my dealer but will also consider contacting Rackhams at Ipswich if no success with the dealer who fitted. He mentioned it had to be heated and shaped to fit properly and then ended up I feel as a rush job. Thanks for taking the time to reply and providing all the info. Appreciate it.

The advantage of Rackhams is that they are VW approved, so remedials required do not undermine any warranty. Alisdair Ogilvie there will remember the similar issues on my California, and know how to deal with them. The nearby VW Ipswich Van Centre are generally good too, they just did not understand the specific pop top issue on fitting these seals, Alisdair quickly recognised this and went out of his way to diplomatically resolve things preserving my relationship with the dealer (it was ‘bite the tongue’ time for me).

As a risk of being repetitive, don’t rely on anyone but yourself, ultimately, for cleaning and maintenance of the pop top seal and adjacent surfaces: because if you get the steel reinforcement in the seal and the aluminium roof reacting together it is slippery slope for the van. There is a wealth of knowledge here on the forum - and on so many other useful California matters.

“Rush job” seems to be the standard Dealer mistake, creating this problem.

 

[Vinnie Van G]

The advantage of Rackhams is that they are VW approved, so remedials required do not undermine any warranty. Alisdair Ogilvie there will remember the similar issues on my California, and know how to deal with them. The nearby VW Ipswich Van Centre are generally good too, they just did not understand the specific pop top issue on fitting these seals, Alisdair quickly recognised this and went out of his way to diplomatically resolve things preserving my relationship with the dealer (it was ‘bite the tongue’ time for me).

As a risk of being repetitive, don’t rely on anyone but yourself, ultimately, for cleaning and maintenance of the pop top seal and adjacent surfaces: because if you get the steel reinforcement in the seal and the aluminium roof reacting together it is slippery slope for the van. There is a wealth of knowledge here on the forum - and on so many other useful California matters.

“Rush job” seems to be the standard Dealer mistake, creating this problem.

Thank you for this. The work has been completed by an ‘experienced’ VW Cali technician who has ‘attended’ all the courses and training. He mentioned that the front ‘bulge’ area of the roof needed to be heated to get a secure fit, I just think he was given the job on a morning and told it had to be finished by 12, hence the rush. I am hoping to go down this week and discuss with them. I will of course keep the details you have provided should I need it. Thank you again for the info you have provided and the knowledge on this.