Door Membrane/window problem

[Pastymuncher 0]

I previously posted for help re the fact that my driver's side window has packed up. No blown fuses and the window controller works (it clicks) and the door attempts to draw power (courtesy lights flicker), but nada. I think I need to look in the door for any obstruction or to check the motor/regulator. Hence I've removed the door card and am now looking at the waterproof membrane. It looks in perfect nick and given the fact that its this that stops the footwells filling up with water. I'm loathe to remove it unless I know I can get it back on again - what have people used to re-seal their door membranes in the past? What about bathroom sealant? Is there any way I can at least tell if its the motor unit that's packed up without removing the membrane?

 

Thanks,

 

David

[stevemac 0]

How does the door membrane stop the car filling up with water ??

 

These membranes are fitted for insulation purposes (both sound & thermal) - not as a water seal !! If your door is "taking on water" then you would be better fixing the source of the leak.

 

The black stuff sealing the membrane to the door is permanently sticky - you can carefully peel it away from the doorframe & it will stick back in place.

[stevemac 0]

Just a thought - if your door is "taking on water", this will be why you now have some electrical problems in there. :shock:

[GazzaG60 0]

steve. think youll find that if you remove the membrane carpets will get v damp.

 

not sure why. think its the condensation that passes through. from what i can gather that and the maxtrix leak are the most comon forms of leak.

 

i had it on my scirocco. its worse with leather panels. why???? i fitted a new door and it didn't have a membrane. within 3 weeks that side of the car was damp.

 

like you say as long as it goes back just peel it off.

[Pastymuncher 0]

Cheers Steve,

 

How does the door membrane stop the car filling up with water ??

 

I've no idea, but I've read some people suggesting that a fault in the membrane can lead to leaks - see several posts in this thread, for example:

 

http://corrado.atx-hosting.co.uk/viewto ... highlight=

 

As I say, my membrane is in perfect condition and I have a dry car - I am worried about disturbing this sitiuation unless I really need to in the light of such posts. Thanks for the advice on the black stuff though, which is indeed still sticky (there is some on the teatowel in the kitchen - shhhh!) - do you know if you can you buy it, just in case?

 

David

[stevemac 0]

Condensation comes under the term "insulation". This is caused by the warm air inside the car contacting the cold surface of the door. The membrane stops this from happening (heat insulation).

 

Without this membrane the inside of the car may well become "damp" but this is due to the membrane providing a thermal & not a water seal.

 

David - I slightly misunderstood your original post. I thought that you meant that you had a water-leak in the door, thus causing the electrical problems that you have described. Use of a circuit tester should indicate if you have power supply to the window motor.

[Pastymuncher 0]

No problem Steve - I have a circuit tester at the ready, so off comes the membrane. Horrible feeling its a mechanical problem though, as there are some very faint scratches on the glass too, so I reckon the regulator is not happy.

 

David

[stevemac 0]

Faint scratches (vertical) are caused by dirt which will have become impregnated into the window sealing rail. As the glass moves up & down this causes the scratch marks.

[skid 1]

Any damage to the membrane will cause some internal dampness :shock:

Also if the membrane is not sealing all the way round this will also let in some moisture as the top window seal will not always create a 100% seal.

At some point your top seal may have been removed,and as these have an internal steel stiffener(which also rusts and rubs through the seal) they do not always go back on as originaly formed.

If you do need to useany type of glue/sealant to hold on the membrane please do not use any type of silicone/mastic sealant as they do not adhere to the membrane properly,so go to a proper motor factor and buy a tube of the correct stuff(sorry cant remember the brand names).

Someone said to try "no nails" stuff you get at B&Q type places but nobody has tried it yet ......i think!

This all comes from repairs to many door problems over the years. :shock:

 

Bset of luck

[davidwort 0]

disagree there, my golf, polo and corrado all suffered water leaks into the carpets from damaged/unsealed membranes, when you wash the car or it rains heavily water gets inside the door (thats why there are drain holes at the bottom!) and the membrane prevents water from finding it's way into the car. If you look at where the bottom edge of the membrane is sealed to the door there are small drain points back into the base of the door so water collecting between the metal frame and the adhesive strip can escape rather than sit in a groove waiting for an opportunity to break through the seal.

Try taking off the membrane and pouring a jug of water against the outside of the door glass, water almost always splashes in through the holes in the inner door skin.

The foam on the back of the door panel and the card itself are pretty good sound and heat insulators I would have thought.

 

David.

 

 

How does the door membrane stop the car filling up with water ??

 

These membranes are fitted for insulation purposes (both sound & thermal) - not as a water seal !! If your door is "taking on water" then you would be better fixing the source of the leak.

 

The black stuff sealing the membrane to the door is permanently sticky - you can carefully peel it away from the doorframe & it will stick back in place.