Water dripping from the rear view mirror!

[clive_gti]

Has anyone had water dripping from the rear view mirror inside the car?  It rained here all night and when i got in thismorning there were drips of water on the mirror and some general wetness around the gear stick area.  Its difficult to tell where the water is getting in but i seemed to be from the part of the mirror housing that runs into the roof liner if that makes sense.

Not sure if the windscreen in my car was replaced by the previous owner, it's not marked with a VW stamp like the other glass.

[ub7rm]

The factory glass has the vw stamp on it so if it doesn't then its been replaced, shoddily by the sounds of things ...

Was the car parked on a slope?  If it was, its possible its getting in via the roof aerial and running down the headlining as well but this is less likely.

[clive_gti]

Yea, it was on a slope actually.. I have owned the car for 18 months and this is the 1st time I have noticed the problem.

Wonder where to get this checked out, I guess the screen will have to come out? Can it be refitted or does new glass have to go in?

[ub7rm]

It can usually be taken out and put back in.  But you will have to pay for this, and it will prob cost you more than say if it were to get chipped and you had to pay your insurance excess for a brand new screen 

Water leaks can be a nightmare to trace as it can take some unusual routes from the source to the point where it comes out.  My money would be on the windscreen though. 

Do you have a sunroof?

[clive_gti]

No sunroof so windscreen is the most likely candidate..

Must check what my windscreen excess is 

[ub7rm]

Yeah, have a good look around the aerial base and check that its solid to rule that out, even pour some water around to see if it goes anywhere.

I'd get it seen pronto as the mirror has electronics in it for the light / water sensors and auto dim etc so wouldn't fancy having to get that replaced too.

[clive_gti]

Will do, cheers for the tips!

[Sparky Craig]

If you are going to pour some water around the roof or windscreen of the car, I`d recommend using some food dye or similar just to make sure you locate the correct leak entry point on the car / windscreen ...

It`s a lot easier to look for coloured water than just plain water IMO 

[Richn83]

Preferably in a colour that wont stain your head lining, seats or dash though 

[gobbleplease]

Defintoolly wouldnt do the coloured water thing that is asking for trouble.

You said that your car was sitting on a slope, what end was the highest ?

If the nose was highest looks like it could be the window

If the tail is highest there is chance it could be the ariel mount !

As said though my money is on the window, as the water has a fair distance to travel if it was the ariel, but best to rule that out first to avoid windscreen expense

[Richn83]

I would add to Gobbleplease post that I am un-aware of any cabling that would run from the rear aerial down to the front mirror, as the aerial and or sharkfin cabling runs across the back of the car and down one of the C pillars, and it is unlikely to have made it from one end of the car to the other on the roof lining without leaving a mark or stain.

[clive_gti]

It was parked facing downhill with the left wheels up on a kerb so the hightest point would have been the back left corner of the car.  It gets parked facing downhill (but level) on my drive most nights and this has not happened before.. not sure if that points to anything?

I have a sharkfin aerial, good to know the cabling for it does not run to the mirror area.  Will have a good look round the windscreen at the weekend to see if there are any likely places it could be leaking.  I'd imagine the fitter must have been pretty careless to leave a gap.

[wigit]

noticed the same thing on our golf this evening, car is on original screen, god to read peoples thoughts as my guess was screen or aerial, will see how we get on at the dealers this time

[chungster]

happend to mine straight after replacement windscreen fitted. gear gaiter was like a wee pool!

had AG refit a new one immediately for free. No probs after that and the guy put more glue in to make sure seal was 100%.

[Lazye]

I have had a couple of drops of water drip from the sun visor left hand mount this afternoon.... I have had the car for 7 months and never had any issue at  all previously but I haven't driven it in such extreme rain as I did today. I was hoping it was just a bad windscreen seal, it appears that the previous owner has had it replaced.
Did you ever get to the bottom of your water leak from the rear view mirror?