Leak or condensation!?

[Director76]

Hi all - Mrs D76 had the car today (she’s taken rather a shine to it...hmmm) and reported a small amount of water coming from around the rear mirror radar unit housing and splashing over her leg and seat, when she turned a corner. Not a drips worth, but then not a cupful, something in between!

It hasn’t happened before, it last rained here on Saturday but we didn’t use the car yesterday. Is this likely to be condensation building up or has anybody come across windscreen or even sunroof leaks finding their way out in this area of the car.

Thanks all
D76

[nu11eaf]

Originally Posted by Director76

Hi all - Mrs D76 had the car today (she’s taken rather a shine to it...hmmm) and reported a small amount of water coming from around the rear mirror radar unit housing and splashing over her leg and seat, when she turned a corner. Not a drips worth, but then not a cupful, something in between!

It hasn’t happened before, it last rained here on Saturday but we didn’t use the car yesterday. Is this likely to be condensation building up or has anybody come across windscreen or even sunroof leaks finding their way out in this area of the car.

Thanks all
D76

There was someone else on here the other day reporting a problem with rain sensor due to water/condensation in radar cover. ( post #11 on insane auto wipers)
Obviously there should not be any moisure in there, I'd get back to the dealer with this problem.

[Lexman8]

Doubt if it's condensation, especially if you normally have the aircon on when driving. Some early cars had leaking sunroofs but it hasn't been reported for a while.

Exactly the same thing happened to me in my Merc and it was a sunroof leak (well, actually a blocked drain as all sunroofs do leak).

[broski]

Originally Posted by Director76

Hi all - Mrs D76 had the car today (she’s taken rather a shine to it...hmmm) and reported a small amount of water coming from around the rear mirror radar unit housing and splashing over her leg and seat, when she turned a corner. Not a drips worth, but then not a cupful, something in between!

It hasn’t happened before, it last rained here on Saturday but we didn’t use the car yesterday. Is this likely to be condensation building up or has anybody come across windscreen or even sunroof leaks finding their way out in this area of the car.

Thanks all
D76

My own thoughts are that I would be looking to suspect the sunroof first. Volvo`s have a poor reputation for sunroof leaks and its worth looking up old posts as I found loads of info for my V50 when considerable water was found in the footwells.
I realise yours is a different nature having come from above so to speak- but if they are deficient in one area of leak protection then they will likely to be in others as well.

The problem I (and very many others!) have had is that the drain from the sunroof gets blocked at the bulkhead-either that or the hosing becomes detached -especially with aging. It doesnt help by using too short a hose and poor connector- but once established it was easy to remedy and cost pence.

It was merely a case of taking off the cover of the A frame and accessing the tubing- which you can replace, or add in a new section.

Perhaps as a starting point to try and identify whether this is the problem or not it would be worth opeming the sunroof and pour water into the drain channels. The water should drain from behind your front wheels. But then you could also check whether this causes the water to drip from the area you have stated? Seems a good starting point anyway..Good luck!

[Director76]

Thanks all, it’s been raining/ snowing all day here so will see what tomorrow brings. Car is only 3 weeks old so assume it’s not blocked channels but the sunroof sounds like a good avenue for investigation, and hopefully a less invasive fix than if the screen has to come out...

I’ll do a spot of initial exploration then hand it over to the dealer to investigate I suppose. Was hoping not to have to trouble them until service time...wishful thinking perhaps!

[Philip Fisher]

V70s, XC70s and I think XC60s all had this issue due to leaking screens. My 2013 XC70 did exactly this and water came out of the interior mirror/light console area after heavy rain. Had windscreen refitted and all was then well.....

[CocoPops]

Interesting, I had same issue today.

Four or five large drops, exited the mirror area on a roundabout.

Also a pan roof car.

Don’t fancy a dealer trip, any tips?

[Georgeaa]

Originally Posted by CocoPops

Interesting, I had same issue today.

Four or five large drops, exited the mirror area on a roundabout.

Also a pan roof car.

Don’t fancy a dealer trip, any tips?

It happened to my MY18 XC90, even though it had the latest design sunroof. In the end the dealer had to replaced the sunroof "cartridge" (the whole mechanism)

[Director76]

Originally Posted by CocoPops

Interesting, I had same issue today.

Four or five large drops, exited the mirror area on a roundabout.

Also a pan roof car.

Don’t fancy a dealer trip, any tips?

Only that I started this thread over 2 years back and the phenomenon has never occurred since! No work was done or it seems required and it must have been an odd condensation issue

[CocoPops]

Originally Posted by Director76

Only that I started this thread over 2 years back and the phenomenon has never occurred since! No work was done or it seems required and it must have been an odd condensation issue

Ok, that sounds good.