[ExAudiSi]

If I never open the sunroof (bald head 🙄) is the drainpipe likely to ever get blocked?

Yes, as the outer seal on the sunroof is not meant to be watertight. Water and fine dirt can still get into the drain tubes and block them over time.

 

[Tammma]

Hi

For anyone following the FB Tig forums over the last few days a few helpful guys have posted detailed how to's on removing the so called 'spider trap' rubber plugs on the end of the panroof drainage tubes. interestingly my front ones had already been either removed by the previous owner or by VW during a service or previous flood perhaps.

I removed the rears and found the driver side one filled with gunk and moisture. The Tig lives under cover and the last moisture it saw was when I had taken it out for a wash a full 10 days earlier.

I would highly recommend removing these to prevent any pan roof blockage problems in future....

 

[hteepee]

Yes those flaps are most likely the culpris and where the build up of debris and subsequent water ingress into the car originates. I posted the remedy of removing them a while back, but to date I have not fathomed how to remove the OSR flap which is above the Adblue tank (190 ps TDI). The chap at MOT last week while car was on ramps said he could feel the end of the tube but couldn't grip the flap. So far removing the other three is working.

 

[thejanners]

Could anyone advise where the front ones are located?

Could see anything from underneath, so are they located under the front screen similar to the MK 4 Golf?

 

[Breezer]

There's a video on a Facebook group "Tiguan Owners UK" showing the locations. I tried to include a link but it's a closed group.

I removed all 4 off mine today.

Worth noting - there's two clips that hold the front scuttle in position. If you've got skinny arms, you can reach in without removing them. If, however, you have forearms like Popeye (like me), best to remove them first because they will ping off under pressure and could get lost. If you have an AdBlue tank, the rear offside one is obscured. I'm not sure if it can be reached.

 

[thejanners]

There's a video on a Facebook group "Tiguan Owners UK" showing the locations. I tried to include a link but it's a closed group.

I removed all 4 off mine today.

Worth noting - there's two clips that hold the front scuttle in position. If you've got skinny arms, you can reach in without removing them. If, however, you have forearms like Popeye (like me), best to remove them first because they will ping off under pressure and could get lost. If you have an AdBlue tank, the rear offside one is obscured. I'm not sure if it can be reached.

Cheers Breezer, my 2 rears ones came off easy as it is a petrol model
Obviously the fronts may be a bit harder as I have popeye arms as well being mechanical

 

[Tammma]

Interesting, I didn't even notice the clips. There was a foam insert holding the weather shield down to the chassis. I jiggled that out of the way and just stuck my arm in.

Fyi the drain pipe is really far in, behind the wiper arm. I ended up with scratches from my bicep down from the plastic leaf/weather guard...

But it was wasted effort. They had already been removed as many others in the group had reported. I made sure the drainage area was dry and free of dirt and left it.

There's was a theory that the fronts are now being removed at a service or are meant to be removed at PDIs...

 

[John27]

I know a number of members have mentioned that the drain pipes on the sunroof block but one of the other problems is the pipes get kinked during assembly and so any water flow is restricted or non-existent. My previous Mk2 Tig was leaking in both front footwells and needed both front drains replaced as they were kinked. However, 8 months later, the leak returned on the passenger side and that pipe was found to be kinked again. Total repairs, under warranty, in the region of £3k. Not great.

 

[Tammma]

Kinky pipes...there you go. Didn't even know they were replaceable.

John27 hope the car is OK after that ordeal!

 

[John27]

The car was fine afterwards (as far as I know) but I sold it shortly after the second fix and bought another Tig. This one also has a sunroof - fingers crossed.

 

[Tammma]

John27 - hope youve ripped out the drain plugs on the new Tig then!

 

[John27]

John27 - hope youve ripped out the drain plugs on the new Tig then!

No, but something I will be looking into - thanks for the reminder. Of course, the drain plugs only help stopping the pipes getting blocked, it makes no difference if the pipes are restricted through poor installation to start with.

 

[Tammma]

John27 -- Totally - 2 from 2 on kinky pipes would be seriously unlucky you should think!

 

[John27]

Tammma - you are right. Having had one pipe replaced twice on my previous Tig because of this, I don't want to go there again with the current car. At least VW paid the £3k to repair my previous Tig to fix both leaks.

 

[Ryan_J]

Hi all,

Just read this feed after experiencing the same issue. I've had the Tiguan since new on an 18 plate. Out of nowhere the drivers side footwell has become waterlogged with water droplets present around the bonnet release. There is also water dripping down from the plastic trim abbove the pedals which drip whist the car is being driven. Only happens after heavy rain and I cannot seem to replicate it with poring three fills of a watering can.

Any further advice or a starting point?

Bit disappointed as the car has only just come out of warranty and I have ad-blue heaters that have failed and DPF sensor has also failed, now this!

 

[Tig140]

I had similar issues on a previous Tiguan R Line , I found that the water was getting in under the windscreen on the drivers side at the A pillar, i found by carefully levering up the plastic trim that covers the windscreen on the outside I could see that there was a lack of the mastic/bonding material under the glass which was allowing water in. It was repaired under warranty , thankfully without removing the windscreen. The water inside was appearing in the same area as yours. Hopefully this helps and is possibly the source. Thanks

 

[Ellis]

Guys, I've had exactly the same and this forum has really helped so thankyou.

Ive got the 2018 tig allspace. I picked it up last November now out of warranty with the dealer and started to smell a damp smell from inside the car since the weather has changed. Noticed the windbreaker was soaking wet when we opened sunroof back. So thought could be blocked hose's after reading this forum. It rained all day yesterday and the passenger side footwear was exactly the same as the pictures posted. Soaking wet floor matts. I pulled the flooring up and there was a puddle of water sitting under the matting and foam make up. I lifted the bonnet found the outlet for the hoses, thanks to the comments. And could feel the little red caps on the end if the outlet. When I pulled the red cap off, BANG.... The hole hose discharged with all debris coming out. I done this on both passenger and driver side and both exactly the same.

I've popped a cap through that was on the bottom on the car to drain the water out and am hoping with some sun and the foot heater on it will dry out. Fingers crossed it doesn't happen again. I think I will check these hoses every year from now on.

Thabks again to all who posted very helpful.

 

[nicktiggy]

Guys, I've had exactly the same and this forum has really helped so thankyou.

Ive got the 2018 tig allspace. I picked it up last November now out of warranty with the dealer and started to smell a damp smell from inside the car since the weather has changed. Noticed the windbreaker was soaking wet when we opened sunroof back. So thought could be blocked hose's after reading this forum. It rained all day yesterday and the passenger side footwear was exactly the same as the pictures posted. Soaking wet floor matts. I pulled the flooring up and there was a puddle of water sitting under the matting and foam make up. I lifted the bonnet found the outlet for the hoses, thanks to the comments. And could feel the little red caps on the end if the outlet. When I pulled the red cap off, BANG.... The hole hose discharged with all debris coming out. I done this on both passenger and driver side and both exactly the same.

I've popped a cap through that was on the bottom on the car to drain the water out and am hoping with some sun and the foot heater on it will dry out. Fingers crossed it doesn't happen again. I think I will check these hoses every year from now on.

Thabks again to all who posted very helpful.

Hey Ellis,

I've just had the exact same, how is yours now? I removed all the caps and had a lot of water dripping out on both drivers side drains. It seems unbelievable that it could be the fix, I'll try and remove the cap on the bottom too. A lot of the flooring is soaked, do you think I should take the carpets up and get to the sound proofing too?

 

[Ellis]

Hey, so good news, this was definatley my problem as the car now doesn't have any signs of leaking and the smells have gone. I have continued to check and all seems to be ok.

I was paranoid after posting my review and did contine to investigate. I ended up pulling the internal roof lining down by unclipping the lining and pulling the back hoses off of their connection. I purchased a thin electrical flexible snake thing and gently pushed it down the back and front hoses to ensure they were unblocked.

For the damp floor. I unscrewed a couple of the side panels that hold the floor down in the front footwell and pulled the black flooring up as much as I could. There is a fibre lining (blueish colour) and also a white foam which I did end up cutting out with a Stanley knife. This was soaked and wouldnt dry out without getting it out. I dried this all out indoors and left the floor up for a few days. I've put the dried foam and fibre back and all seems OK. I don't think I had the underfloor 100% dry but done the best I could do.

Under your seat you will see a little flap put your fingers in there and feel how wet it is. If it's wet do what I've done above. It seems to have worked for me.

 

[John27]

Hi Ellis

I had the same problem, twice, on my previous Tig and both were fixed under manufacturers warranty (first repair cost nearly £2000 based in the bill I saw). One thing though is that some of the car's electrics are run under the carpet and they also had to make good water damage there as well. It may be your water ingress didn't go that far but if you do get any electrical problems in the future, might be a place to consider looking at.

Good luck.