Leaking Kombi Windows? How-to guide to resolve.

[chazmanda]

I tried all the various ideas and suggestions before we did. Bliss - no leaks - - and no more concerns about the furniture on the drivers side being ruined, water getting under the floor, damaging the wiring for the pump / batteries / heater. (All of which I'm told have happened!) My advice? Put in plain glass - if you are spec'ing a Kombi from new, I hear it may be possible to spec with plain glass, so it's worth asking.

Sorry to jump on an old thread, I've only had my van a few weeks and today a couple of puddles of rain in the door steps

I was thinking about just going and getting them replaced with plain glass as you did. But a friend said I'd miss being able to open them on a hot day with the kids in the back.... And he's got air con. Do you think this is much of an issue? I've obviously not had a summer in the van yet... I'd have thought if I up in enough insulation and have Aircon it shouldn't be too hellish in the back. I'd imagine it'd be quieter in the back with a solid window too. I wondered what your thoughts are. Thanks

 

[hoggle]

Hi Chaz, what door steps have water in them? Front or back? If It's the front steps, then i doubt it has anything to do with the sliders leaking. Though more informed folk on here could tell you differently.

 

[chazmanda]

Sorry, rear steps. Front seems fine. Looks like previous owner had a go at removing the opening mechanism at some point. I'm going to try and remove the slider, clean and spray with wd40 silicone for now.

 

[hoggle]

Have you made sure the drain holes are clear? There are Two on each side?

 

[chazmanda]

I'll have a look today at those, thanks for your help! What's the best thing to clear them with? A cotton bud?

 

[hoggle]

If you to the begining of this thread, DaveyB has photos that show you what you need to do. I clear mine Twice a year, it does help! Just go easy when you are cleaning them though, because you can scratch the paint work when you force whatever you use down through the holes.

 

[Cuiken]

Agree with above. Maybe don't go nuclear quite yet.

Ours were leaking pretty badly last summer and I simply cleaned the seals and applied some silicone grease (didn't even remove the windows. Haven't had a leak since.

 

[david173]

@chazmanda I know the feeling I was gutted when mine leaked. I was ready to throw in the towel and get them swapped out for peace of mind.

However after going through this thread, cleaning them, unblocking the holes and repairing the bottom drain they have been great and not leaked since (touch wood). I would thoroughly recommended giving it a go first as you save yourself quite a bit of money as swapping them will cost you a few hundred ££.

good luck

 

[chazmanda]

Ok thanks all. I've given them and good clean and spray with wd40 silicone spray. Still leaking, I think it's the bit within the trim the is the problem, looks like the seal is gone. The dealer has also offered a possible trade price on fixed glass as only had the van 3 weeks. Having not had a summer in the van I don't know if I might bake the kids on a hot day ha ha

 

[david173]

Ok thanks all. I've given them and good clean and spray with wd40 silicone spray. Still leaking, I think it's the bit within the trim the is the problem, looks like the seal is gone. The dealer has also offered a possible trade price on fixed glass as only had the van 3 weeks. Having not had a summer in the van I don't know if I might bake the kids on a hot day ha ha

To be honest I have never had them open them whilst travelling as the wind noise is horrible. I find the front aircon works ok for the rear passengers too, just takes a while to cool down with the large space of a van, or if on a lower speed road and windows is your thing, opening the fronts still lets breeze into the back.

I only ever open them when parked up and sitting in the van without needing to open the whole sliding door. Some people like the slider on the drivers side if they have a kitchen to open the window for cooking/ boiling kettle etc, so if your looking to do a conversion it might be something worth considering.

 

[Salty Spuds]

To be honest I have never had them open them whilst travelling as the wind noise is horrible. I find the front aircon works ok for the rear passengers too, just takes a while to cool down with the large space of a van, or if on a lower speed road and windows is your thing, opening the fronts still lets breeze into the back.

I only ever open them when parked up and sitting in the van without needing to open the whole sliding door. Some people like the slider on the drivers side if they have a kitchen to open the window for cooking/ boiling kettle etc, so if your looking to do a conversion it might be something worth considering.

Ditto. We only open ours on the drivers side when we're cooking. The side door is a fixed window. Some curtains or blinds will make a bigger difference to the inside temperature in both summer & winter, than opening the window. More secure too.

 

[Paynewright]

Our kids rarely open ours. Opening the front elec windows is enough to cool the van down.

 

[chazmanda]

Thank you I'll probably just get the fixed glass then.

 

[JiMsHaDY69]

How long do freshly bonded windows need to sit for?

I'm thinking of just replacing my sliders with aftermarket sliders, but unsure if I need to leave my van overnight once new windows are put in.

 

[MikeB]

Whenever we've ever had people travelling in the rear, they've never felt the need to open a window, even in the height of summer. That's what aircon is for. We don't open the fronts as a matter of course. We never bothered opening them when parked up either, and open the window mesh in the poptop to ventilate the van when we're cooking, and generally have the slider open as well of course. Depending on the weather. And the midges.

As regards the "how long to bond" question, we dropped ours off at 08:30 or thereabouts and it was ready for collection by 16:00. With lovely one piece glass that doesn't leak.

 

[chazmanda]

Had another go at cleaning out the front slit bit today, seeing as I had a nice stream of rain water coming in. I used a long thin tweezer type thing and I cant seem to get it to the bit at the bottom of the window on the outside. It feels like there's a stone or something jammed in that little slit! I held a bank card underneath the window so I wouldn't scratch the paint but I just couldn't get it to push through to the out side.... Very annoying!

 

[david173]

Had another go at cleaning out the front slit bit today, seeing as I had a nice stream of rain water coming in. I used a long thin tweezer type thing and I cant seem to get it to the bit at the bottom of the window on the outside. It feels like there's a stone or something jammed in that little slit! I held a bank card underneath the window so I wouldn't scratch the paint but I just couldn't get it to push through to the out side.... Very annoying!

Mine took alot of carefully pressure to clear, i think it had been full of sealant from where they badly fitted the window. I used a thin sharpend piece of metal to do it

 

[Paynewright]

Old style wiper blades had two thin bits of spring steel in them - could sharpen the end to create a clearing tool.

 

[rod_vw]

Try to clean what ever you like but DON'T PRESS DOWN THROUGH THE HOLE FROM THE TOP! That will separate the two parts of the plastic and you will make the leak very much worse!

 

[chazmanda]

Try to clean what ever you like but DON'T PRESS DOWN THROUGH THE HOLE FROM THE TOP! That will separate the two parts of the plastic and you will make the leak very much worse!

Thanks for the advice, does that apply to the slit part or just the round holes? Really don't want to make it worse!