Leak in new Carthago

[Manxcat]

Hi there

My new Carthago, bought in February has sprung a leak! Water is dripping through one of the light fittings onto the side seat! GRR!

At the moment Southdowns Motorhomes are shut due to virus, I could not get there anyway so I will need to wait to get it fixed under warranty. I am fairly sure the leak is coming through the aerial which is immediately above the leak.

Does anyone here think I should do a home attempt to fix it with some sealant? Would this stop the warranty from working? Any advice would be welcome.

I am not amused.

 

[Manic]

Can’t you email Southdowns Motorhomes and ask their opinion on a temporary fix.

 

[Gellyneck]

Could you temporarily tape a poly bag (or similar) over the aerial to stop the water ingress?

 

[Grianan]

Hi there

My new Carthago, bought in February has sprung a leak! Water is dripping through one of the light fittings onto the side seat! GRR!

At the moment Southdowns Motorhomes are shut due to virus, I could not get there anyway so I will need to wait to get it fixed under warranty. I am fairly sure the leak is coming through the aerial which is immediately above the leak.

Does anyone here think I should do a home attempt to fix it with some sealant? Would this stop the warranty from working? Any advice would be welcome.

I am not amused.

Sorry to hear this.
SouthDowns should be reopening soon - other dealers are open - though service may be on a more limited basis. We are booked in for warranty work.

In your position I would try a temporary fix that can be removed - something that stops further damage but which doesn’t affect your warranty.

Good luck!

 

[Lazyboy]

You could give Chris a call at Reliance at Chichester. 01243940050. Very helpful over the 'phone. They carry out Carthago warranty work and seem to have a good relationship with the factory. I believe they may be open now although still a long way from you but they may advise a temporary fix until they can see it them selves.

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[Landy Andy]

Can you attach an umbrella to the aerial, possibly with cable ties?

That way keeps rain off the area, but you are not fiddling with the construction.

 

[canopus]

I would think that ES Hartley Group in Kendal or Ellesmere Port are the nearest Carthago agents to you in the Isle Of Man.

 

[9526]

I think I’d do a “gaffa tape” temp repair.

This will achieve 2 things without affecting the warranty

1) It will indicate the area of the leak (if it stops)
2) it will prevent further damage to your headlining etc.

 

[Manxcat]

I have emailed Southdowns and am waiting for a reply.

We can't (realistically) leave the Island at the moment. Our border is closed.

The good news for us is that we are virus free and from Monday all restrictions are removed. Schools, pubs, restaurants, shops etc will all open. The border will remain closed as, as the UK is not looking good.

 

[Minxy]

I'm surprise it took so long for someone to mention gaffer tape!

What aerial have you got? Carthago MHs don't need a TV aerial as the roof acts as one.

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[Scotch mist]

Didn’t realise gaffer tape fixed leaks

 

[wiljoy]

I assume it's a dealer fit. As Minxy says they don't have aerials on the roof.

 

[Campervan_man]

Stixall is quite a good sealant, circa £6 a mastic tube not as hard and rubbery as Sikaflex.
Preventing the leak to stop more damage seams the best option. Take before and after pics ?

 

[Themselves]

My Carthago DOES have an aerial.

 

[Norfolk Red]

Really strange that, my aerial doesn't have a Carthargo. .

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[Masman]

Maybe putting van on ramps so water runs away from Arial.And get a none setting mastic and run a bead around as a temporary measure.

 

[Minxy]

My Carthago DOES have an aerial.

Why?

 

[Minxy]

Didn’t realise gaffer tape fixed leaks

Its a good way to do a waterproof temporary repair, I wouldn't want to be sticking sealant etc in it as it could be a s*d to remove to do a permanent fix later.

 

[G7UXG]

My Carthago DOES have an aerial.

So does mine. It looks like a 12” long radio aerial mounted on an 8” square aluminium plate (ground plane) on the front nearside roof. My last Carthago had the same. Don’t know if it does radio and TV or just radio.

 

[Manxcat]

Pictures are here.

Of course I don't know for sure this is the problem.

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[BobtheBass]

My 2016 Carthago had a little whip aerial that served the tv and radio. You had to have the preamp powered though, 5v from the tv menu.

 

[G7UXG]

Could it be from the roof light? Water tracks in mysterious ways.

 

[Minxy]

So does mine. It looks like a 12” long radio aerial mounted on an 8” square aluminium plate (ground plane) on the front nearside roof. My last Carthago had the same. Don’t know if it does radio and TV or just radio.

Pictures are here.

Of course I don't know for sure this is the problem.

I think it's a radio aerial as it's part of the chassis pack:

Wiring for radio with roof antenna with DAB+, speakers in driver’s cabin (2 x) and L-shaped lounge seating group (2 x), DVB-T2 reception​

 

[Manxcat]

We don't think so as no obvious dampness in that area.

 

[Lenny HB]

I assume it's a dealer fit. As Minxy says they don't have aerials on the roof.

Yes they do a small whip aerial does TV and radio my Hymer is the same.

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[Minxy]

Yes they do a small whip aerial does TV and radio my Hymer is the same.

The roof of Carthago is the TV aerial, we don't have a separate 'antenna' for TV but do have a radio one.

 

[Lenny HB]

The roof of Carthago is the TV aerial, we don't have a separate 'antenna'.

It does radio as well, same as Hymer.

 

[Trev45]

I'm sure this thread will be quoted in the future when the quality of foreign conversions are being discussed . You have my sympathy having shelled out a lot of money you don't expect this to happen. The only damp patch you want in a motorhome is in the bed preferably on your partners side but those experiences are long gone for me I'm afraid .

 

[colyboy]

Southdowns have been answering my emails This week.

colyboy

 

[Beltie]

We had a very similar problem with a new 'van last year - a Hymer group product. Check out yours very thoroughly. On ours the padded roof lining was sodden and stained and some of the cabinet work was damaged. I also had water coming through a light fitting, exactly as you had.
Our dealer was exceptional, and the vehicle was replaced without argument and without my needing to formally reject it.
Because the vehicle was replaced, I never definitively knew the cause, but it was suspected to be a poorly sealed high level brake light or a faulty roof seal.

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