Went out to the van today to have a quick check as it's chucking it down. Worse fear realised I've got rain coming in the front side window. Pulled the rubber seal back and its running down the inside of it. Braved the elements got a ladder and had a look above the window on the outside the silicone looks bubbly and black above the window put some plastic inside the window crevice as a temp fix as it's still pelting it down will have to wait for some dry weather to attempt a repair. Anyone got any good ideas. Maybe I'll have to replace the silicone unless someone has a better fix.
For a long time fix you are better replacing the rubber seal around the window with new which is available from sealsdirect.com, it sounds like yours has had its day. Unfortunately, it may have been gradually leaking for some time and started to rot the woodwork underneath. Neither scenario is the end of the world and can be fixed, as you are aware a silicone bodge won't last long and the damage will only get worse. If things are desperate even gaffer tape will get you bye until a dry spell.
Dave.
------------- Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you on experience.
Mark Twain.
Hi Dave just got in from work and had another look now the rain has stopped used my torch and I can see that the seal has come away just a tiny bit on the outside of the window I suspect that's where it might be coming in I've ran some waterproof duck tape down the seal overlapping it so if it's still coming in when it rains it must be the top of the window where the silicone runs along the channel have to wait till I'm off at the wk end and try a more permanent repair.
Hi Russ, hopefully, it's a quick fix and it's been caught early before it has done any serious damage.
I'd want to know if the wood behind the seal is soft before sealing it up. Silicone isn't a good long term fix either, there are non-hardening sealants that are better if a costlier option. Sikaflex (I think it's 512), Soudal RV61 are but 2.
Dave.
------------- Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you on experience.
Mark Twain.
Hi Dave I’ve already been to screwfix got some sikaflex and sealant remover reckon it’s come in from the channel above the window as after I overlapped the seal on the side window the rain was still coming in so I taped straight across the top of the window overlapping it so that no water was running in the channel lo and behold after yesterday’s rain it’s still dry so hopefully get a bit of decent weather and I’ll get the old sealent out clean it up and reseal. The wood strip between the middle window and the side window did feel a little bit soft so put a fan heater on it for a little while and it seems to have dried out.
I would be tempted to use windscreen sealer behind the rubber, it would clean off easily if a new rubber seal was used at some point plus will flex with the caravans movement.
Cheers Paul will keep that in mind when I put the new sealent on above the window looking at the forecast it looks like Tuesday is the only dry day up here in paisley it’s one of my days off so hopefully get it done then.
Our Elddis Affinity 550 2018 model has been in the dealer workshop since October, when it had it’s first service in July 2019 the engineer reported 50% damp on front wall, initial investigation showed that it was not the seals but the hinge bar for the 3 front windows, Elddis have approved replacement front wall van has other damp issues along with pop rivet failure on washroom to outside wall fixing Elddis have approved warranty to repair both washroom wall fixing with bonded & screwed aluminium angle sections & profiled trunking to cover to a finish
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Topic: Leaking front side window
via mobile 01/2/2020 at 9:10pm
