Window leak sealant?

[DDJC]

It rained like buggery in Belgium last trip and we had water coming in from the rear window surround.

I contacted the dealer (Hull, 200) miles away and they said it sounded like an easy fix. If I got it done locally, they would refund me. Fine so far.

I spoke to a local Moho dealer about getting it fixed. The guy there was very helpful, but when I described the type of window to him, he said no, they wouldn't do it as when you remove that type of window the corners frequently snapped off. He said the best thing to do try and find the leak, run a bead of sealant round the whole window surround and go back to the dealer.

The Moho is still under warranty so I have decided to let the dealer fix it when it goes up for its service in winter. However, we have a couple of trips still to do this year so I am going to try and use sealant.

This forum and others seem to lean towards using Sikaflex 521. But a couple of people have advised using Captain Tolley’s Creeping Crack Cure (great name!) before I use the sealant.

What do people think?

 

[funflair]

The trouble with Sikaflex is if it does a good job of sealing it might not easily come off the van when you get it done properly, I would imagine that the window was originally fitted with a non setting mastic so in my view this would be the best to seal it with and at least it will clean up easily I would try to get it right into where you think the leak is as too much might just run in the heat as it's not really that sort of sealant, I wouldn't bother with the Captain Tolleys.

Martin

 

[CazPaul]

To do a proper job, running a bead of sealant around is a bodge up, you need to remove the window, clean off all old sealant from window and bodywork.
Then refit with a non setting type like Hodgsons Seamseal CV.

 

[funflair]

To do a proper job, running a bead of sealant around is a bodge up, you need to remove the window, clean off all old sealant from window and bodywork.
Then refit with a non setting type like Hodgsons Seamseal CV.

I am sure that is the best advice Paul, I guess DDJC doesn't want to get involved with the possibility of breaking the surround and it seems other dealers/repairers don't want the responsibility either, I don't know what the window is but it sound a bit temperamental.

Martin

 

[DDJC]

Martin is right. Me and the missus both work, we are both tied to school holidays and we both have maxxed out our annual leave on going to funster places.

I know it is a jury rig job, but I can't get the time to get the bus to Hull and then going up again to pick it up. Therefore, I have to put sealant on it. Currently it is covered by waterproof gaffa! Now that is a bodge!

I am not that concerned about how hard it is for the repairman to get off. TBH I am rather narked about it happening anyway. The van was delivered new in November. Shouldn't be leaking.

So assume I know it is a bodge, what sealant is best?

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[DDJC]

Inside and out

 

[CazPaul]

Martin is right. Me and the missus both work, we are both tied to school holidays and we both have maxxed out our annual leave on going to funster places.

I know it is a jury rig job, but I can't get the time to get the bus to Hull and then going up again to pick it up. Therefore, I have to put sealant on it. Currently it is covered by waterproof gaffa! Now that is a bodge!

I am not that concerned about how hard it is for the repairman to get off. TBH I am rather narked about it happening anyway. The van was delivered new in November. Shouldn't be leaking.

So assume I know it is a bodge, what sealant is best?

I have given you a good sealant to use, good luck with it, I know what you mean about working full time and being really busy
In the same position ourselves and all the motorhome should be for is fun, not maintenance
Unfortunately that is never the case.

 

[DDJC]

The two sealants that get the most recommendation are Sikaflex and Seamseal. This is a new thing for me so this might be the stupidest question. What is the basic difference between a sealant which 'sets' like Sikaseal and a 'non-setting' sealant like Seamseal? Which one is better for the specific job I need to do?

I'm a dab hand with the squeeze guns, but obviously, I want to put the correct stuff on the window frame.

Cheers

 

[funflair]

So @DDJC has the gaffer tape fixed it do you think? or has it just not rained that heavy since? I am no expert on water leaks but I am not convinced that a leak around the frame outside would show itself where you indicate inside as as far as I know the blind assembly and window are separate items so no direct tracking route without flooding over the cut out, this then raises another point that is if it flooded through in the heavy rain it could have been leaking slightly for a while in which case the back wall of the van will need drying out and the sooner it is looked at the better, I do hear Hull is quite nice this time of year

Did you see water around the bottom of the window at all or was it just through the corner of the blind?

Setting sealant would be used for body joints that need to be rigid and not come apart again non setting is for the likes of windows and roof lights that need a bit of flexibility in the joint as the aluminium van expands and contracts and also the parts can be changed or maintained , really the sealing is done inside the joint between the frame and the wall and not by a bead around the outside of the frame and non setting mastic type stuff is not made for that type of application, if you want to "bodge it" why not just go round with a clear silicone.

Martin

 

[DDJC]

Thanks for this. We have had heavy rain since and there was no water ingress, which makes me think it is likely (stress likely) that it is on the frame itself. Before I stuck the tape on, I inspected the sealant and was surprised to see that it looked like it was missing in places. There were stretches of the joining that had a visible band of sealant and parts where there seemed to be none. Almost as if the sealant gun ran out, but they kept using it!

There was no water in the window or blind assembly at all. Dry as a bone. The ingress was a very visible trickle from under the bottom corner of the frame, and it only happened when it was raining. There is no ingress when it is not raining. So again, I think it likely that it isn't water build up inside the rear panel of the van.

So although I know it is not ideal, are you suggesting that I should use a 'setting' sealant? If it goes Pete Tong, I won't hold it against you - I am just looking for the opinions of those who know more than me!!

Can't get to Hull before the summer. However, I haven't checked my lottery ticket yet, but assuming I can tell my boss where he can insert his job, I will be up to Hull tomorrow

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[RichardandKaren]

I had exactly the same symptoms and it turned out to be water getting in via the reversing camera holes where it's screwed in to the bodywork. Easy job to unscrew the camera & re-seal the holes and put camera back again. Leak then stopped and has never re-occurred even in the heaviest of rains. Maybe worth doing this before you go sealing all around the edge of the windows?

 

[funflair]

Thanks for this. We have had heavy rain since and there was no water ingress, which makes me think it is likely (stress likely) that it is on the frame itself. Before I stuck the tape on, I inspected the sealant and was surprised to see that it looked like it was missing in places. There were stretches of the joining that had a visible band of sealant and parts where there seemed to be none. Almost as if the sealant gun ran out, but they kept using it!

There was no water in the window or blind assembly at all. Dry as a bone. The ingress was a very visible trickle from under the bottom corner of the frame, and it only happened when it was raining. There is no ingress when it is not raining. So again, I think it likely that it isn't water build up inside the rear panel of the van.

So although I know it is not ideal, are you suggesting that I should use a 'setting' sealant? If it goes Pete Tong, I won't hold it against you - I am just looking for the opinions of those who know more than me!!

Can't get to Hull before the summer. However, I haven't checked my lottery ticket yet, but assuming I can tell my boss where he can insert his job, I will be up to Hull tomorrow

OK sound good, if it was me and I had some clear silicone in a gun I would use that, I am too stingy to go out and buy a tube of sikaflex and have 99% of it go off when it didn't get used and as a temporary job it would be overkill , I don't think the non setting stuff would be right for a bead around the outside as it would most likely runaway in the sun so cheap silicone it would be for me.

Martin

 

[CazPaul]

Bodging around the outside though won't work and just leaves more mess to clean up when the job is done correctly.
Sikaflex will be really hard to remove as well when the window is taken off.
If the dealer is paying then there must be quite a few places in your area who will do it, it's not a difficult job, find somewhere else who will do it and get the dealer to pay as he said he would.
Don't leave it until winter
Where are you located, let people know and you will get suggestions of firms nearer you.

 

[DDJC]

Kent. West Kent. Sevenoaks to be specific. Happy to take any recommendations

 

[DDJC]

I had exactly the same symptoms and it turned out to be water getting in via the reversing camera holes where it's screwed in to the bodywork. Easy job to unscrew the camera & re-seal the holes and put camera back again. Leak then stopped and has never re-occurred even in the heaviest of rains. Maybe worth doing this before you go sealing all around the edge of the windows?

Cheers for this. I will have a look.

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[gus-lopez]

I had exactly the same symptoms and it turned out to be water getting in via the reversing camera holes where it's screwed in to the bodywork. Easy job to unscrew the camera & re-seal the holes and put camera back again. Leak then stopped and has never re-occurred even in the heaviest of rains. Maybe worth doing this before you go sealing all around the edge of the windows?

or the other favourite , the high level brake light ?

 

[Minxy]

Which dealer did you buy from?

 

[DDJC]

M and C Hull. Lovely people, but it took a long time to deliver

 

[TheBig1]

Please think about doing damage to the finish of the van if you use sikaflex and to a lesser extent silicone sealant. When the repair gets done properly, all that excess sealant needs removing completely

clean round the window using white spirit, which is a solvent for the non setting mastic used to fit the window. then run a bead of non setting mastic round the window, pushing it into any gap. Then the window can still be easily removed along with all the sealant and the aperture cleaned for reassembly

 

[mitzimad]

have you tried asking @Johns_Cross_Motorhomes

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[DDJC]

No! But I will now. Thanks everso!

 

[Minxy]

M and C Hull. Lovely people, but it took a long time to deliver

If you can get the repair done elsewhere then do so ... last time we went to them to have 2 leisure batteries swapped the 'farmed out' the job to another place who then damaged our camper ... we weren't best pleased with the 'attitude' of the male owner of M&C even though we've actually known both of them since the first started business many years ago.

 

[DDJC]

Update.
It was the window, not the camera or the brake light.

And kudos to M and C. They tried to find a local repairer and when they couldn't, they sent down a tech (500 mile round trip) who removed the rear window and showed me the two places where the sealant was either missing or thin. He then put the correct sealant on, reattached the window and cleaned it up beautifully. Very happy with the work and the service.