Golf Convertible Roof creak

[chilluk7]

My wife recently purchased a 2012 Golf cabrio. It's low mileage and in great condition for its age, but has an annoying niggle.

With the roof up there is an annoying creak when driving, it seems from the area above the windscreen where the roof meets it.

I have read about lubricating seals and latches but not sure exactly what products to use on which bits?

Can anyone recommend best way to sort the creaking, as its spoiling her enjoyment of the car?!

Thanks

[Dr G]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Liqui-Moly-7182-Rubber-Ca...

That, on all of the soft rubbery seals around the roof/windows in the first instance.

[PositronicRay]

I can confirm the effectiveness of gummi pflege, it's sorted a few aged cabriolet seals for me.

You only need a light smear, probably worth 2 or 3 light applications a few days apart. Follow up annually.

[chilluk7]

Thanks both, duly ordered from Amazon.

Do I need anything for the catches? Some sort of grease / silicone spray?

[fatboy b]

We tried gummi pflege with our 2016 golf cabrio. But nothing was stopping it becoming the worst car we’ve ever owned. It wasn’t just the roof, but most of the rest of the cheap-st car that creaked and rattled. 22 dealer visits in 26 months. We were booking its next visit when we picked it up. Shocking cars.

[Iceblue]

There is a VW specific lubricant for this problem (Krytox) it was developed for the VW EOS convertible roofs to eliminate the creaking it's expensive £30+ for a tiny bottle but a little goes a very long way I've used it around window and door seals on my Golf R and it's brilliant stuff

[rottenegg]

Gummi pflege has always been hit or miss for me. Works on some seals, but not others, and that's across car brands.

Meguiars Endurance tyre gel has proven to be a far more effective rubber seal shutter upperer for me over the years.

[PositronicRay]

Iceblue said:

There is a VW specific lubricant for this problem (Krytox) it was developed for the VW EOS convertible roofs to eliminate the creaking it's expensive £30+ for a tiny bottle but a little goes a very long way I've used it around window and door seals on my Golf R and it's brilliant stuff

Krytox is brilliant stuff for quietening down creaky dashboards, anywhere plastics join.

[chilluk7]

Thanks again all for the replies.

The Gummi Pflege has turned up so will try that first - assume I just need to clean everything first - perhaps I need to use some white spirit also to get everything off beforehand?

If no good I will look for the VW stuff as next attempt.

I did read also about lubricating the catches - will the silicon WD40 be OK for that, or does it need to be something more viscous?

[PositronicRay]

chilluk7 said:

Thanks again all for the replies.

The Gummi Pflege has turned up so will try that first - assume I just need to clean everything first - perhaps I need to use some white spirit also to get everything off beforehand?

If no good I will look for the VW stuff as next attempt.

I did read also about lubricating the catches - will the silicon WD40 be OK for that, or does it need to be something more viscous?

I wouldn't use white spirit, just wipe with a cloth, give it a couple of treatments a few days apart.

No idea about catches.

[chilluk7]

Just a quick update - used the Gummi Flege over the weekend - applied it to anything remotely black and squishy in the roof area. Also used a bit of WD40 PTFE spray on the catches. So far it has definitely quietened things down thankfully. Will give it another go next weekend, and then do it perhaps quarterly / 6 monthly in future.

Thanks again all who posted advice.

[PositronicRay]

chilluk7 said:

Just a quick update - used the Gummi Flege over the weekend - applied it to anything remotely black and squishy in the roof area. Also used a bit of WD40 PTFE spray on the catches. So far it has definitely quietened things down thankfully. Will give it another go next weekend, and then do it perhaps quarterly / 6 monthly in future.

Thanks again all who posted advice.

I just give mine a smear as part of the cleaning routine.

[Dr G]

Good result

It'll probably never be totally silent over bumps, but hopefully will now be at an acceptable level.