Malibu cracked Perspex window

[TheMachMan]

We’ve just found a couple of cracks and some smaller ones on the perspex window above the cab. Anyone had similar and know the likely cause? There are no impact marks to suggest we’ve hit anything. Have contacted our dealer so waiting for their comments.

 

[Minxy]

They look like stress fractures so a warranty issue.

 

[TheMachMan]

Apparently this isn’t covered by warranty, told it expired after 2 years. More cracks have since appeared , so now waiting for the cost. Bearing in mind the dealer charges £120/hr this is going to hurt.

 

[Minxy]

Apparently this isn’t covered by warranty, told it expired after 2 years. More cracks have since appeared , so now waiting for the cost. Bearing in mind the dealer charges £120/hr this is going to hurt.

The warranty could be irrelevant, if it's a known issue with these windows it should be covered regardless - perhaps do a good search of the internet and see if you can find anyone else with faulty windows like that, the more info you have the more ammo to use to get it fixed FOC.

 

[TheMachMan]

Thanks Minxy, have asked on FaceBook Carthago UK group. Also message direct to Malibu. I'm not in the Carthago owners club so don't have access to their FB page which is understandable. Will do some Googling.

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[Lenny HB]

Stone damage will be covered under windscreen insurance cover, just saying.

 

[TheMachMan]

Unfortunately its not the windscreen.

 

[Minxy]

Stone damage will be covered under windscreen insurance cover, just saying.

Trouble is it'd have to have been pebble dashed for that amount of cracking!

 

[Lenny HB]

Unfortunately its not the windscreen.

Covers all windows if you have a proper Motorhome policy.

 

[Minxy]

Unfortunately its not the windscreen.

Your policy should cover glass and other windows.

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[gus-lopez]

Unfortunately its not the windscreen.

All " glass" is covered on policies here whatever they are made of.

 

[stevec]

Your policy should cover glass and other windows.

Unless you are with LV which states glass only I believe.

 

[Minxy]

Unless you are with LV which states glass only I believe.

Hopefully anyone buying a MH insurance policy would check the small print ... I do.

 

[TheMachMan]

Will have a read, thanks.

 

[TheMachMan]

Unfortunately the dealer will not cover this under warranty. Carthago are saying something must have caused it. So now waiting for a quote

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[TheMachMan]

Had an interesting reply direct from the Malibu factory yesterday telling me that the cracks are likely to have been caused by the alcohol in the cleaning products. Apparently it has affected the plasticisers in the skylight and caused the cracks. We use Autoglym products and they do contain alcohol, but I’m very sceptical.

 

[The Wino]

Had an interesting reply direct from the Malibu factory yesterday telling me that the cracks are likely to have been caused by the alcohol in the cleaning products. Apparently it has affected the plasticisers in the skylight and caused the cracks. We use Autoglym products and they do contain alcohol, but I’m very sceptical.

A lot of plastics are very susceptible to alcohol cleaners. In the case of polycarbonate eye protectors a single clean with an alcohol cleaner can reduce the impact protection by half.

 

[mackeellan]

I have stress cracks in the same window on my Hobby. They are only on the inner of the two panes. I wonder if the inner pane isn't uv protectec and jarring over potholes has caused it.

 

[Lenny HB]

I think I believe them about alcohol doing damage to it, acrylic is very finicky stuff, anyone remember the old pink windowlean that used to do a superb job of destroying perspex & acrylic.

Always makes me cringe when people use products like T cut to get scratches out of their windows lightly to do more damage than good.

 

[The Wino]

I have stress cracks in the same window on my Hobby. They are only on the inner of the two panes. I wonder if the inner pane isn't uv protectec and jarring over potholes has caused it.

Must of the UV would be absorbed by the outside pane and if not UV protected they would tend to yellow.

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[The Wino]

I think I believe them about alcohol doing damage to it, acrylic is very finicky stuff, anyone remember the old pink windowlean that used to do a superb job of destroying perspex & acrylic.

Always makes me cringe when people use products like T cut to get scratches out of their windows lightly to do more damage than good.

Can you remember the thing about people putting stickers on polycarbonate motorcycle helmets and making them unsafe. As you say dodgy with a lot of plastics and solvents. When you think about it making a material thats transparent and flexible isn't the easiest thing!

 

[TheMachMan]

But how much alcohol is in a car shampoo? Surely not enough to cause this? Had similar skylights on a couple of caravans, plus all the normal habitation windows on the Malibu are they going to crack?
What products do most people use to wash with?

 

[TheMachMan]

Well we’ve explored all avenues and now admit defeat. According to Autoglym where I have a contact they have exhaustively tested their car shampoo on Acrylic and reckon at most after dilution there is 0.01% alcohol. They have not seen any degradation on perpsex or acrylic and disagree with Carthago’s position. They reckon UV damage. To compound the argument the inside panel has also started cracking, and this has never been in contact with any cleaning product, not even a duster!
Carthago are not replying to this query, so I’m stuck with a £1.7k estimate from the dealer who isn‘t fighting my corner.

 

[G-RMPS]

Wow, not good.

I destroyed the rear cockpit glazing in my plane. It’s lexan. Spilt some petrol on it on a windy day and stress cracks appeared everywhere.