Touareg water ingress
Discussion
We bought a new Touareg R-Line in Jan 15 (our third Touareg) and this Feb we noticed the drivers footwell was soaked when we came back from the Alps. At first we put it down to copious amounts of snow on boots but back in the UK it got worse. I booked it into our supplying dealer and as we took out 4 year warranty we had a bit of a debate as to whether it was covered. Anyways, it went in and they diagnosed two things - cracked scuttle panel and interrupted windscreen bonding (through ultrasound test). We'd had the screen replaced about 10 months after delivery and it had been fine up till this year. Since they had to point the finger at uncovered items, I paid a couple of hundred quid for the investigation and a new scuttle panel. We got the screen reinstalled by the original fitters and I examined it when it was out. The bonding was continuous around the whole screen and the fitter was very dubious about it being the cause. We suspected the ultrasound was picking up variation in the width of the sealant. He suspected the scuttle panel was allowing water down on the brake master cylinder or something else fixed to the firewall. I dried the car out fully with an electric dehumidifier only for the problem to reappear with the rain this week. I've booked it back into VW (can't take it for another month) but they are mystified so far and I'm facing yet another investigation bill, probably much bigger this time as they want to dismantle the car for a week.
I've had a scout round the interweb but can't find anyone having a problem restricted to just one footwell (some experience it in both - commonest cause seems to be sunroof run offs). Anyone else had this or got any good ideas as to what would be causing it ? This is our first with a panoramic sunroof.
I've had a scout round the interweb but can't find anyone having a problem restricted to just one footwell (some experience it in both - commonest cause seems to be sunroof run offs). Anyone else had this or got any good ideas as to what would be causing it ? This is our first with a panoramic sunroof.
I have a 2003 Touareg that suffered water ingress in to the passenger footwell. Drain holes under the front wheel arch plastic covers clog up with leaves, meaning that litres of water collected off the windscreen slowly build up and then seeps through in to the cabin.
I would have hoped your modern model had been re-designed but it may be worth removing the front wheel arch covers and investigating since it's a free and easy check.
This video shows the issue from about 1:33 onwards:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqRIrtClSpM
I would have hoped your modern model had been re-designed but it may be worth removing the front wheel arch covers and investigating since it's a free and easy check.
This video shows the issue from about 1:33 onwards:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqRIrtClSpM
Due to the prolonged dry weather we haven't had a chance to investigate further, I didn't fancy shelling out for a dozen manhours at VW with evidence trace limited. Last time it did rain and the car remained parked it wasn't steaming up the screen so I think it must be a dynamic effect on the move. I would like them to get it up on the ramp and take the wheel arch liner out when it does eventually go in. Luckily we have 7 months left on the warranty so plenty of time for the weather to turn.
Well its finally gone back in and they've identified water tracking down the offside A pillar from somewhere in the roof. Odds are its the sunroof but I've had to agree to £1200 of labour charges to continue the investigation. Entire interior to come out at £100/hr. It transpires the additional years warranty sold to me by VW when I bought the car new (VW warranty not a shonky aftermarket one) probably won't cover whatever they find, not to mention a potentially knackered headlining, fusebox, carpets etc etc etc.
Big fight with VW UK coming up methinks as the problem probably started in the final year of the 3-year warranty, only to be discovered in month 37, plus they didn't distinguish any difference in cover between year 3 and 4 when they sold the car.
Big fight with VW UK coming up methinks as the problem probably started in the final year of the 3-year warranty, only to be discovered in month 37, plus they didn't distinguish any difference in cover between year 3 and 4 when they sold the car.
Well we've had some good news late today. After the full disassembly they've identified the sunroof frame to be defective so it IS fully covered under warranty. It's off the road for another week and I'm ensuring they're doing full inspections of everywhere the water has been over the last 6 months and replacing anything damaged.
We have been complaining about a noisy/creaky sunroof since the first year and every time they said No Fault so they've got a bit of humble pie being eaten now.
Touaregs are great cars but let down by rare, random stuff like this that takes ages to sort (our previous one had to have a new steering column on it, manufactured to order). I think this will be our last.
We have been complaining about a noisy/creaky sunroof since the first year and every time they said No Fault so they've got a bit of humble pie being eaten now.
Touaregs are great cars but let down by rare, random stuff like this that takes ages to sort (our previous one had to have a new steering column on it, manufactured to order). I think this will be our last.
Good question, if you ignore the random stuff (and it is only once per 4 years ownership per car) they're a good balance of price vs performance/kit. Land Rovers have a terrible reliability reputation, Q7 is too big, I've never been an X5 fan, hated the XC-90's we drove, Cayenne's expensive so it generally narrows the field. Quite tricky to identify what next.
Speed 3 said:
Good question, if you ignore the random stuff (and it is only once per 4 years ownership per car) they're a good balance of price vs performance/kit. Land Rovers have a terrible reliability reputation, Q7 is too big, I've never been an X5 fan, hated the XC-90's we drove, Cayenne's expensive so it generally narrows the field. Quite tricky to identify what next.
Agree with you, we have the same shape as yours, albeit the pre facelift, EML on due to the EGR, but the EGR when it's been looked at is fine. Rear door lock didn't work, likes to blow front left bulbs a lot, but it drives absolutely brilliantly. Agree with you on the XC90, drove like a van with no basic spec, ours is the base spec Escape, still comes well equipped. If it had the 4.2 TDI it would be perfect. I have had the same issue with my 2015 Cayenne and it is simply the the end of the rubber drain pipes that get blocked up and just need squeezing on the ends in the rear of the wheel arches. You will feel water drain our of the pipes immediately.
Such a simple fix and its just years of debris build up from the roads.
Such a simple fix and its just years of debris build up from the roads.
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