Crack appeared in outside skin (1 Viewer)

steveclecy

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In preparation for our trip to Scotland via Northumberland next week, I gave our motorhome, a Chausson Welcome 72, a good wash today. I was dismayed to find a crack has appeared in the outside skin running from the left bottom corner of the front the habitation window (see pics). The crack is approx 75mm long.

It is a plastic skin and I am concerned the crack will spread and/or allow the ingress of water.

Is a repair possible? I anticipate I would have to have it professionally repaired. Which brings me to the second point, can I expect another Chausson dealership to take on warranty work on a vehicle supplied by the Discover Leisure group? The van is not two years old yet.

Steve
 

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hilldweller

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I've seen a very similar picture on here in the last few months. Might have been because the window opening was cut too small. If it was the same van it strengthens your case as bad manufacturing.

If it's GRP it can be repaired better than new. Easy DIY if you can get to the back of it. To do it properly it might need the window frame out to check the aperture.

Good luck with your no man's land warranty.
 

aba

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In preparation for our trip to Scotland via Northumberland next week, I gave our motorhome, a Chausson Welcome 72, a good wash today. I was dismayed to find a crack has appeared in the outside skin running from the left bottom corner of the front the habitation window (see pics). The crack is approx 75mm long.

It is a plastic skin and I am concerned the crack will spread and/or allow the ingress of water.

Is a repair possible? I anticipate I would have to have it professionally repaired. Which brings me to the second point, can I expect another Chausson dealership to take on warranty work on a vehicle supplied by the Discover Leisure group? [HI]The van is not two years old yet.[/HI]

Steve

you mean it was registered less than 2 years ago :Blush:

it could be it was built in 2007 making it actually 5 years old.

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Heyupluv

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In preparation for our trip to Scotland via Northumberland next week, I gave our motorhome, a Chausson Welcome 72, a good wash today. I was dismayed to find a crack has appeared in the outside skin running from the left bottom corner of the front the habitation window (see pics). The crack is approx 75mm long.

It is a plastic skin and I am concerned the crack will spread and/or allow the ingress of water.

Is a repair possible? I anticipate I would have to have it professionally repaired. Which brings me to the second point, can I expect another Chausson dealership to take on warranty work on a vehicle supplied by the Discover Leisure group? The van is not two years old yet.

Steve

Steve..sorry to hear you have a problem....did you buy the motorhome from new.or was it second hand from a dealer..the reason I ask is.... I was looking at a Brit van over here in France either a CHAUSSON or a BURSTNER 2 to 3 year old on a Renault or Fiat custom cab....nice van ....But the man who was driving it...... wacked it the previous year in the very same place he was showing me how good the body shop made of the repair......until we looked and there was a crack identical to what you are showing on the photo, the motorhome had not been used since the repair and the vibration on the road must have opened the repair back up....I am not saying it is the same van but somebody could have done the same and then sold it on.
Mel
if second hand does it look as if it has been repaired....if new I would contact Chausson
 

hilldweller

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As a stop gap measure, drill a small hole at the end of the crack and fill with some silicone sealer, this will prevent the crack spreading until it is repaired.

This would be done in any case by whoever does the repair.

May I differ. If he contaminates the fibreglass crack with silicon that will stop a future repair bonding to it and make a simple job a big job.

Assuming it is fibreglass of course.

Simple tape, parcel, will keep the water out.

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scotjimland

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May I differ. If he contaminates the fibreglass crack with silicon that will stop a future repair bonding to it and make a simple job a big job.

Assuming it is fibreglass of course.

Simple tape, parcel, will keep the water out.

maybe you misunderstood, I meant fill the drill hole with silicone .. not the crack ..

as you say, tape would be better for the crack..
 
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steveclecy

steveclecy

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The van was bought new so reasonably confident that no one has whacked it, although who knows? Delivery driver? But it doesn't look to me as if it is somewhere that would receive a clout. Rather think along the lines of Hilldweller - some kind of stress crack - bit like what grounded the Comet fleets when they were built all those years ago!

The point about it being up to five years old. Well, yes, I could accept that. Don't think it is that old but it could easily have been made a year earlier. That's not the point though, the warranty starts from when it is first registered.

Appreciate the advice so far. Would love a dealer to come along and say they would chase up Chausson for me.....

Steve
 

scotjimland

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- some kind of stress crack - bit like what grounded the Comet fleets when they were built all those years ago!


Steve

Indeed, we don't seem to learn..

The Liberty ships of WW2 suffered the same kind of stress cracks on the square corner of a deck hatch which coincided with a welded seam that caused them to suddenly break in half..

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TheBig1

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certainly looks like a stress crack which would indicate a design issue

rather than a dealer, you would be best going to an accredited proffessional repair centre. We had issues getting a compass van repaired under warranty by a dealer. on advice from a friend, we went to autovan who are a repair centre and so dont sell vans. They dealt direct with the manufacturer and had us sorted very quickly at no cost
 
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steveclecy

steveclecy

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Although they are miles and miles from us I have fired off an email to Autovan. Dependant upon the response I would be willing to take it such a distance to get a "proper" repair done.

Steve
 

vwalan

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take a trip to the factory . have a holiday and give them hell. be nice but strong .have a demo van for while you are there. lots of foreign factories will be much more helpfull than the uk equivalents . give them a ring ask when would be a good time to call. never know might get a new one .

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steveclecy

steveclecy

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Do you know, I thought of that! In fact their website invites you to make arrangements to visit! (See here)

The hell of it is we have tickets to travel to France next Saturday but are not going now because my wife is unhappy with us being abroad whilst I am waiting for a call for an operation. You have caused more discord in our household (in case I didn't make it clear I want to go!).

Steve
 

Heyupluv

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Do you know, I thought of that! In fact their website invites you to make arrangements to visit! (See here)

The hell of it is we have tickets to travel to France next Saturday but are not going now because my wife is unhappy with us being abroad whilst I am waiting for a call for an operation. You have caused more discord in our household (in case I didn't make it clear I want to go!).

Steve

Steve... I would print off the link and go to Chausson..I think the nearest agent to you is TELFORD..as it says "Repair"..... they are your best bet...TRIGANO is there mother company and cover many vans ...I know one is CI international ....then if no joy then try what Big 1 suggested...Autovan
Our client service center will be happy to welcome you, listen to what you have to say, give you a few tips and even provide repair service.
.

You have paid a lot of money for your van you want right
 
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steveclecy

steveclecy

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This has rather been on the back burner because of my operation but as the two year anniversary looms I have been looking to get something done. The nearest Chausson dealer is in Telford - a company called Travelword. I have been speaking to Annabel who has warranty claims as part of her job and she explained that they are reluctant to take on warranty work for other (defunct) companies as they were paid poorly for the work. However after a pleasant discussion she has agreed to forward my claim directly to Chausson.

In the meantime I found a company in Doncaster (nowhere near me but I would travel to find a specialist) who seem capable of carrying out the work. They think the cause is as Brian (Hilldweller) suspected - aperture for window not large enough. They have given me an estimate based on what they can see from the photographs. Bottom line has given me a dry mouth! What do others think?

Steve

[FONT=&quot]Thank you for your enquiry earlier about your Motorhome repair requirements.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]We surprisingly see quite alot of this issue and with different manufacturers. The usual reason for this happening is the window is possible to tight in that corner and over time the movement of the vehicle along the road produces the side to crack.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I would hope that the internal wall board is ok as this shouldn't have made movement there. I also notice that the cracked area is within a silver decal unless this area is painted silver.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The basic costs of such a repair, and I must stress that this is an estimate as we would need to see the vehicle in the flesh to be more accurate:[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]LABOUR: £950.00[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]BODY DECAL (SILVER) £65.00[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]SEALANT £20.00[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]PAINT: £280.00[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot] £1315.00 + VAT[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]TOTAL: £1578.00[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]The bonding agents used and the reshape of the window aperature will allow the side to move enough to solve the issue.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]If you require any further details or help with your claim please don't hesitate to make contact.[/FONT]
 

kiwi

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body crack

hi as you are all looking at this problem,i have a bessacar 745 got last year,never had a plastic m/h before.
,there is a wavey crack on lower side skirt has appeared (not been hit) plus a dent eslewhere (hit )can i use p38 to repair ,
plus what is the best way to remove water streaks coming down from roof .i have tried a lot of thing never much good,
has anyone solved the problem of water off roof going under the front roof all over windsceen instead of falling down about the of of bonnet.where it should be, ( dont the makers ever drive there m/hs in the rain
thanks
 

g8ysn

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hi steve /lacy if you are having problens getting a registered chausson repairer ring chris parnil at rdh services he did repaires to my roof you have up to 5 yrs on body ingress repaires the factory will state it has the right to repair any defect,s under eu law 07752022745,my van was 2 yrs old when i had it cleaned and the person told me of the condition of roof ,i dont think you will have an issue with repair, good luck

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hi steve /lacy if you are having problens getting a registered chausson repairer ring chris parnil at rdh services he did repaires to my roof you have up to 5 yrs on body ingress repaires the factory will state it has the right to repair any defect,s under eu law 07752022745,my van was 2 yrs old when i had it cleaned and the person told me of the condition of roof ,i dont think you will have an issue with repair, good luck
Don't think he will still be looking as the thread is two years old, but it would be interesting to find out what happened
 

peter marshall

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In preparation for our trip to Scotland via Northumberland next week, I gave our motorhome, a Chausson Welcome 72, a good wash today. I was dismayed to find a crack has appeared in the outside skin running from the left bottom corner of the front the habitation window (see pics). The crack is approx 75mm long.

It is a plastic skin and I am concerned the crack will spread and/or allow the ingress of water.

Is a repair possible? I anticipate I would have to have it professionally repaired. Which brings me to the second point, can I expect another Chausson dealership to take on warranty work on a vehicle supplied by the Discover Leisure group? The van is not two years old yet.

Steve


hi Steve
I had a Chausson Bought from Discover, not quite the same as you but I needed a Hab/Service 1st year but Discover had gone, I contacted Chausson in France who put me on to EMM BEE Motorhomes in Bury who had taken a Chausson Dealership, Give them a ring and ask about your repair,hope every thing goes ok, I had the same thought about a small drill hole to stop the crack spreading. Pete
 
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steveclecy

steveclecy

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Well blow me! (not literally, please). These postings gave me an "alert" on this new software. Impressed. I perhaps should have "closed" this thread with the outcome. Travelworld Motorhomes of Telford agreed (with a little reluctance) to take on the warranty claim and from photographs, amazingly Chausson agreed to the cost of the repairs. But after I delivered it to them, they discovered the crack (and it really did look like a body crack) was actually in the vinyl of the graphics. Once removed the bodywork was fine underneath. So Chausson only had to pay for the new graphics in the end. Thanks to those who contributed.

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