DAMP

[Plumb]

Hiya I have a chausson 630 year 2017 which has a damp issue in the garage area . The problem was found last May 2019 when the vehicle was being tested as required annually to comply with the 7 year warranty at a cost of £252 .At that time the moisture reading was 88% and on the test report it says that a reading of 30%means structural damage is probable and deterioration inevitable !The technician at the time said he had sprayed the underside of the vehicle and the damp would dry out .So I at every opportunity ventilated the garage and also ran a dehumidifier several times over the following 12months.Now this time the test reading is 98% worse than previous the motorhome is now at the dealership for 3/5days where the danmp material is to be stripped out .When I took the van in yesterday I asked the technician if it was a problem area for damp and he replied yes on all of them ! What an admission that is to make I briefly spoke to one of the dealership partners and told him my concerns about the survey report of structural and the deterioration sentence ,he said that it had been caught in time .Can this be true owing to the fact that it's at least 12 months since this problem was first recorded !

YES I AM WORRIED!

 

[PhilandMena]

This does not sound good. A reading of 88% yet only the underside of the vehicle sprayed ? I wonder how he identified where the leak was and the extent of the damage ? I would expect some stripping out to establish both where the leak originated from so it can be properly repaired and and damage corrected. How someone else can say it's been caught in time without inspecting the damage is also beyond me.
On the basis of what you have said, I have concerns about what you are being told by this technician and would want to know where the leak has originated from, how he found it and why he has only sprayed it underneath! If it was me I would want a second opinion from a different dealership or NCC approved repair shop. I think your being conned to put it bluntly. Hope I'm wrong.

 

[MikeD]

Have a look at this thread:

My DIY damp repair project

Hi, This thread is intended to be a documented progress report on tackling some damp repairs in my motorhome. I hope it helps others and would like to invite anyone to chip in with help, suggestions, technical info and support.....because I am completely new to this. Firstly, some background...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Lenny HB]

I don't think the technician knew what he was doing to be that wet its not coming from underneath. There must be wall or roof seal that is leaking. To do the job properly they are going to have to strip out the internal wall, find out where the water is coming from cure it. Then dry out and replace any rotten timbers.
If it was me I would want to se what they are doing at each stage of the repair.

 

[Yorkshire Puds]

I’m sure I saw a thread somewhere about this very issue somewhere. It turned out that the boot floor wasn’t sealed or something like that.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[PhilandMena]

Have a look at this thread:

My DIY damp repair project

Hi, This thread is intended to be a documented progress report on tackling some damp repairs in my motorhome. I hope it helps others and would like to invite anyone to chip in with help, suggestions, technical info and support.....because I am completely new to this. Firstly, some background...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

I suspect he may well have a heart attack after reading that ! Not really relevant to his situation I would have thought. Scared the bejesus out of me just reading it.

 

[Plumb]

Sorry what I forgot to add the technician said it was from some timber used on the underside of the vehicle and it soaked it up like a wick !

It does seem un believable that chausson would let a fault like this continue does anyone else have a similar problem on a chausson of this type as the technician said they are all the same?

 

[MikeD]

I suspect he may well have a heart attack after reading that ! Not really relevant to his situation I would have thought. Scared the bejesus out of me just reading it.

We will have to agree to disagree that it is not relevant.

 

[PhilandMena]

I don't think the technician knew what he was doing to be that wet its not coming from underneath. There must be wall or roof seal that is leaking. To do the job properly they are going to have to strip out the internal wall, find out where the water is coming from cure it. Then dry out and replace any rotten timbers.
If it was me I would want to se what they are doing at each stage of the repair.

I believe he is covered by the warranty Lenny, hence the regular Habitation inspections the O.P. has paid for.

 

[Yorkshire Puds]

This is the one I meant. It’s an old thread, but you may find some of it informative.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[DP+JAY]

Where in particular is the damp? & do you have a reversing camera? I previously had a motorhome with damp in the garage caused by the dealer botching the fitting of a camera.
Good luck
DP

 

[AXO66]

There is a chausson facebook group, might have some information.

 

[Plumb]

MikeD have viewed some of the thread as suggested cheered me up no end got horrible feeling after that,I shall receive my motorhome delivered in a skip ahh well!

 

[Lenny HB]

I believe he is covered by the warranty Lenny, hence the regular Habitation inspections the O.P. has paid for.

Warranty or not I would still want to see it repaired properly if I was keeping the van.

 

[MikeD]

MikeD have viewed some of the thread as suggested cheered me up no end got horrible feeling after that,I shall receive my motorhome delivered in a skip ahh well!

I hope that "skip delivery" won't happen but it gives you an idea what is involved in a repair.

But as the issue was noted when only a couple of years old the makers warranty should sort it out for you.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Plumb]

Morning the damp is at the junction of the garage floor and side wall that is where the highest readings are the chausson Facebook group seems a good idea not on Facebook at the moment will have to join.

 

[Plumb]

Yes the warranty does cover the repair which I have to accept but when I collect after repair I am going to put it to the dealer owing to the high level readings and the length of time this problem has been on record if chausson would consider replacing the vehicle!I have an awful feeling this has been present since manufacture .The first damp test for 0 to 1 year old did not show damp but then again the test points on that report were not taken in the same place as the following 2 inspections so no damp was recorded at that time !

 

[nico46]

It's a well know issue with Chausson and dealers should all be aware, and no doubt will be covered and repaired correctly under warranty. The common problem is spray from the tyres getting through the wheel arches. The panels of modern Chausson vans are plastic/foam composite so will survive any damp, but there are some plywood panels that join the styrofoam and these wick the moisture up into the hab area. The fix is to permanently seal the wheel arches and replace the plywood, usually 2 days. The annual hab check is well worth doing at £250 if only to keep the 7 year warranty going!

 

[Plumb]

Yes nico I agree the damp check is worth the money if its carried out correctly and diligently and also of course as you have suggested the dealer network are well informed of the inherent problems associated with their vehicles so they can move swiftly to resolve what are important issues.Can I ask if you also have experienced the same problem in the same area?I do have to say that your thread has given me some hope but worry is the high levels of moisture recorded and the length of time this damp has been present !You are correct in the structural make up of the vehicle with styrofoam and composite material but there is also what looks like on chausson web site a softwood sandwiched in between .

 

[nico46]

Yes my Flash 634 has damp found at first service, see photos of where the underseal has not been completed fully and correctly. It is worrying that Chausson do not appear to do a quality check of this kind of thing, but reassuring that dealers are picking it up and repairing it under warranty. And 7 (6 now)

years to go!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Plumb]

Thanks Nico yes it's quite clear from your photo the underside damp proof material puckered up and exposing the floor underneath it !

I wonder what material that is that's exposed?

The damp readings in my situation was taken on the side wall above the garage floor inside the garage .There is a vynl type floor covering in the garage not sure if that has been tested?

Anyway thanks for your response and good luck with your motorhome and travels when we are able.

I have to say that these chausson motorhomes are great for innovation and contemporary style and they are at the cheaper end of the market , BUT they should get the basics right .We have looked at motorhomes double the price but don't find them suitable for our needs ,perhaps they are better screwed together who knows I think all the manufacturers are a bit of a lottery

 

[Plumb]

Just meant to say have had a phone call to say motorhome ready for collection and repaired , so will be collecting tomorrow morning let's see if all is ok!

 

[3DOM]

Fingers crossed

 

[Plumb]

Well just like to,thank everyone for there views and sharing there opinions .

Have been to dealer and collected motorhome and the first thing I saw was one of these in the garage and it's a complementary rubber duck issued by the dealer for anyone that achieves a 90% plus damp test reading !

But on a serious note on the underside of the garage and extending under the shower area the joint between the junction of the side wall and floor has been cleaned off and resealed with some black sealant and reinforcing material .

Inside the garage a piece of the side wall from floor extending the full depth of garage and upwards about 150mm has been removed and replaced with similar and it looks quite professional and pleasing to the eye .

It's seems much as nico described on his own repair on the underside around the rear wheel arch so it's a question of wait and see if the problems resolved!

I am still going to write to the dealer and see if chausson will consider replacing the vehicle ,or at least extend the current warranty period to restore our confidence in the motorhome build.