Have a Coromal 542 with a water leak in both bottom corners of the front window, when driving in rain. Has anyone ever had this problem and how did you fix it? I'm thinking I will have to pull the window out and reseal and refit. Or it may be the rubber seal on the glass surround may allow the rain to come under it when driving in rain? - which would mean I would have to look at how to make it seal better.
Thanks in anticipation
Glen
Big Mal said
07:05 PM Jul 2, 2017
Our 667 did the same and I found the seal around the window itself, bit that opens, was letting the water in so a trip to Bunnings and a roll of sticky back window sealer did the job. Pulled the old stuff off, cleaned the frame up and fitted the new stuff, been good ever since.
Sparkster said
08:37 PM Jul 2, 2017
Sorry Glen, no good news from us.
We had a 635 made in 2011 that leaked very badly from the front window,
The dealer had it out three times removed the seal around the window on the last attempt and replaced it with a silicone seal.
Still no good. Then the shower started to leak water from somewhere underneath, that was the bitter end so after less than two years old we traded it in on a very similar van with NO front window but definitely NOT the same brand.
I cured part of the problem as I believed some leakage was occurring through the window mechanism so put some black Silastic in some of the pivot points.
I also believe, as did the dealer, that water may have been getting in through a join in the roof panels and travelling down inside the wall.
Unfortunately that is when the manufacturer shuffled all the dealers around and a lot of them including the one we purchased from lost their franchise and therefore any interest in our problem.
Sincerely hope you can find and fix the problem.
Keith.
Desert Dweller said
05:41 AM Jul 3, 2017
Rather than change caravans like the above you could always get one of those ''bra protection covers'' that you see on euro type vans custom made for your van.
A lot cheaper alternative, that's if the water is only entering via the front window.
Big Mal said
08:26 AM Jul 3, 2017
Something like this is what I used, not the foam stuff but a moulded rubber, stopped the water blowing in .
Have you observed how water moves??? Gravity makes water move from top to bottom, just like when one takes a shower. Rain can move in many directions under different extremes.
When you are driving in the rain, the water under pressure moves UP your windscreen!!!!!
So I would think the water is forced UP from BELOW under the window on the front of your van.
Just my observations.
Jim
macka17 said
11:23 AM Jul 3, 2017
Only permanent cure for front window leaks.
without a lot of messing. (Unless lucky)
is to replace the window completely.
Window out. Panel in. Fixed.
Being mounted in a flexible Permanently moving frame.
ALL windows have the propensity to movement.
Remove window. remove problem.
I did with the two I bought with front windows.
Simple.
But that's only me. Bull at a gate syndrome.
Sparkster said
05:44 PM Jul 3, 2017
Desert Dweller, as you can see from my post changing vans was NOT our first option rather our final one.
By the time the dealer had said he was unable to help any further there would have been enough moisture in the frame to cause medium to long term rotting.
In addition to that was the leak from the shower in the rear of the 'van.
I still would urge the OP to critically check the mechanism for ingress of moisture through it and also the sheet overlap for several sheets above and below the window.
From memory there were screws involved in the mechanism which were suspect, these were treated with Silastic and I believe had some effect.
This was a hot topic on another Forum at the time and the lock or mechanism were suspect then.
The problem I had was that the leak would not necessarily show up using a hose.
Keith.
Ron-D said
05:52 PM Jul 3, 2017
Can't blame you for changing I would probably do the same,but whoever ends up with that van will be buying a nightmare,and the nightmare will go on and on,for some poor unsuspecting person sad really....
Radar said
06:55 PM Jul 3, 2017
Treecrest14 wrote:
Gday
Have a Coromal 542 with a water leak in both bottom corners of the front window, when driving in rain. Has anyone ever had this problem and how did you fix it? I'm thinking I will have to pull the window out and reseal and refit. Or it may be the rubber seal on the glass surround may allow the rain to come under it when driving in rain? - which would mean I would have to look at how to make it seal better.
Thanks in anticipation
Glen
Hi Glen,
We had problem with water ingress in our previous caravan which I thought after 2 years was well built quality caravan, we were truly wrapped in it, never found anything to make me suspect there was a problem until one day I was helping to do the normal cleaning after breakfast while we away holidaying.
I noticed a bit of veneer panelling was lifting and flacking near the front window, to my horror I found a some more down the back just below the bed height. I was at lost to what was going on, my immediate thoughts were the veneer panelling was the problem, rang the manifactor, then sent emails with photos looking for answers, all without response.
By this time I was a little annoyed, my investment was really looking second hand with no resale value, when by chance I mention my problem to a friend and he put me on to a young caravan repairer. Bryan arrived and with in minutes said all was an easy repair. He showed me where water was getting in, pointed out cheap screws, no silicone here and there, damaged screws
Yes front window needed resealing.
Interior panelling replaced front and rear.
Water ingress was from behind the rubber J molding possible from where a srew had broken dueing manafactory and no sealing compound placed over the screw hole, yes a bloody simple broken screw, it was all rusted causing wood rot in the frame.
All screws were replace with strainless screws.p
We spent approx $800 resealing the whole caravan, wood rot removed & repaired, veneer panelling damaged replaced.
Caravan come back looking great, I now had a resalable item again, that was Tuesday lunch time, Thursday a hail storm hit Brisbane causing sub $11000 hail damage to the exterior of the caravan. Our $25000 caravan for while looked like they were going to write it off but mainly what saved it was as I showed them the account for the repairs.
2 years on we sold the caravan with confidence.
My advice is to find a repairer, learn to trust his advice, have a look around his workshop to see what work he doing.
Hope this is of some help.
madaboutled said
06:59 PM Jul 3, 2017
If its leaking from where the window closes on the frame then solutions given below may work, but IMHO the use of silicone should only be a temp fix. If its leaking between the van body & the window frame, then it's a window out job to properly fix. In this case the sealant should be a mastic type which allows atleast 30% joint movement. If it doesn't ozze out when tightening the screws/rivets then you didn't put enough in.
Mastic type sealant can be a messy job, but its well worth doing. Done right will last for 20+ years, even after 20 years the mastic will be still wet if you break the skin.
-- Edited by madaboutled on Monday 3rd of July 2017 07:00:17 PM
Thanks everyone for your various suggestions - selling is out of the question - couldn't afford it!
I suspect it is rain coming in under the rubber seal which is attached to the window - not the frame. We did silicone around the frame and wall cladding while away and this has reduced the amount of ingressed water to dribbles at both ends. So will look for a thin rubber strip with adhesive backing to put on the frame, as this will ensure the window is firm against the frame.
If that fails it may have to be the bra across the front.
Thanks again
Glen
brickies said
08:29 PM Jul 3, 2017
I can tell you the bib does work , One of my problem was water getting into the boot because the flexing while travelling .
Cruising Cruze said
08:42 PM Jul 5, 2017
Hi Terry
Maybe an stupid question
What material did you use for your bib
Gday
Have a Coromal 542 with a water leak in both bottom corners of the front window, when driving in rain. Has anyone ever had this problem and how did you fix it? I'm thinking I will have to pull the window out and reseal and refit. Or it may be the rubber seal on the glass surround may allow the rain to come under it when driving in rain? - which would mean I would have to look at how to make it seal better.
Thanks in anticipation
Glen
Sorry Glen, no good news from us.
We had a 635 made in 2011 that leaked very badly from the front window,
The dealer had it out three times removed the seal around the window on the last attempt and replaced it with a silicone seal.
Still no good. Then the shower started to leak water from somewhere underneath, that was the bitter end so after less than two years old we traded it in on a very similar van with NO front window but definitely NOT the same brand.
I cured part of the problem as I believed some leakage was occurring through the window mechanism so put some black Silastic in some of the pivot points.
I also believe, as did the dealer, that water may have been getting in through a join in the roof panels and travelling down inside the wall.
Unfortunately that is when the manufacturer shuffled all the dealers around and a lot of them including the one we purchased from lost their franchise and therefore any interest in our problem.
Sincerely hope you can find and fix the problem.
Keith.
A lot cheaper alternative, that's if the water is only entering via the front window.
Something like this is what I used, not the foam stuff but a moulded rubber, stopped the water blowing in .
Hi Glen,
Have you observed how water moves??? Gravity makes water move from top to bottom, just like when one takes a shower. Rain can move in many directions under different extremes.
When you are driving in the rain, the water under pressure moves UP your windscreen!!!!!
So I would think the water is forced UP from BELOW under the window on the front of your van.
Just my observations.
Jim
without a lot of messing. (Unless lucky)
is to replace the window completely.
Window out. Panel in. Fixed.
Being mounted in a flexible Permanently moving frame.
ALL windows have the propensity to movement.
Remove window. remove problem.
I did with the two I bought with front windows.
Simple.
But that's only me. Bull at a gate syndrome.
Desert Dweller, as you can see from my post changing vans was NOT our first option rather our final one.
By the time the dealer had said he was unable to help any further there would have been enough moisture in the frame to cause medium to long term rotting.
In addition to that was the leak from the shower in the rear of the 'van.
I still would urge the OP to critically check the mechanism for ingress of moisture through it and also the sheet overlap for several sheets above and below the window.
From memory there were screws involved in the mechanism which were suspect, these were treated with Silastic and I believe had some effect.
This was a hot topic on another Forum at the time and the lock or mechanism were suspect then.
The problem I had was that the leak would not necessarily show up using a hose.
Keith.
Can't blame you for changing I would probably do the same,but whoever ends up with that van will be buying a nightmare,and the nightmare will go on and on,for some poor unsuspecting person sad really....
Hi Glen,
We had problem with water ingress in our previous caravan which I thought after 2 years was well built quality caravan, we were truly wrapped in it, never found anything to make me suspect there was a problem until one day I was helping to do the normal cleaning after breakfast while we away holidaying.
I noticed a bit of veneer panelling was lifting and flacking near the front window, to my horror I found a some more down the back just below the bed height. I was at lost to what was going on, my immediate thoughts were the veneer panelling was the problem, rang the manifactor, then sent emails with photos looking for answers, all without response.
By this time I was a little annoyed, my investment was really looking second hand with no resale value, when by chance I mention my problem to a friend and he put me on to a young caravan repairer. Bryan arrived and with in minutes said all was an easy repair. He showed me where water was getting in, pointed out cheap screws, no silicone here and there, damaged screws
Yes front window needed resealing.
Interior panelling replaced front and rear.
Water ingress was from behind the rubber J molding possible from where a srew had broken dueing manafactory and no sealing compound placed over the screw hole, yes a bloody simple broken screw, it was all rusted causing wood rot in the frame.
All screws were replace with strainless screws.p
We spent approx $800 resealing the whole caravan, wood rot removed & repaired, veneer panelling damaged replaced.
Caravan come back looking great, I now had a resalable item again, that was Tuesday lunch time, Thursday a hail storm hit Brisbane causing sub $11000 hail damage to the exterior of the caravan. Our $25000 caravan for while looked like they were going to write it off but mainly what saved it was as I showed them the account for the repairs.
2 years on we sold the caravan with confidence.
My advice is to find a repairer, learn to trust his advice, have a look around his workshop to see what work he doing.
Hope this is of some help.
If its leaking from where the window closes on the frame then solutions given below may work, but IMHO the use of silicone should only be a temp fix. If its leaking between the van body & the window frame, then it's a window out job to properly fix. In this case the sealant should be a mastic type which allows atleast 30% joint movement. If it doesn't ozze out when tightening the screws/rivets then you didn't put enough in.
Mastic type sealant can be a messy job, but its well worth doing. Done right will last for 20+ years, even after 20 years the mastic will be still wet if you break the skin.
-- Edited by madaboutled on Monday 3rd of July 2017 07:00:17 PM
I suspect it is rain coming in under the rubber seal which is attached to the window - not the frame. We did silicone around the frame and wall cladding while away and this has reduced the amount of ingressed water to dribbles at both ends. So will look for a thin rubber strip with adhesive backing to put on the frame, as this will ensure the window is firm against the frame.
If that fails it may have to be the bra across the front.
Thanks again
Glen
Maybe an stupid question
What material did you use for your bib
Regards John