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Q Why are the side windows leaking in my 10-year-old motorhome?
I have a 2013 Auto-Trail Tracker. Both of the side windows started to leak about 18 months ago.
I have had the window rubbers replaced and sealant run around the outside of the window frames (the junction between the frame and the body of the motorhome), but they continue to leak. The water appears on the sills of the windows on the inside after rain.
Dan Reynolds
A The windows fitted to this model are manufactured by Lippert and are from the Polyvision range. They are a simple design and have proved themselves to be reliable. In theory, the work you have instigated should have rectified the problem if carried out diligently and tested afterwards.
What is clear from the photo provided is that the source of the leak is not the seal between the window frame and the bodywork of the coachbuilt body. Any water ingress through the seal on the frame to the body panel would show itself with damp patches occurring in the surrounding wall panels, and not within the frame of the window itself.
Logically this means that the water is finding its way in through the rubber seal attached to the inner edge of the frame. This is the seal the window closes against to prevent any leaks.
The most likely source of the leak is from one of the top corners, which have to seal very tightly to prevent any ingress, and where water can be running continually if it pours off the roof at that particular place. The top corners of these windows, unlike some others of a similar design, are a little more vulnerable to leaks here because the hinge, which offers a degree of protection from the elements, doesn’t run the full width of the window along the top. The leak could be occurring through either the outside edge of the seal that seals to the window, or the inner face where it fits over the inside edge of the frame. It is also possible, though not as likely, that water can seep in through the seals whilst draining down the sides if there are any breaks, or lack of pressure on the seal by the window.
The first course of action would be to go back to the person who replaced the seals and point out that the leak has not been cured, and request a solution. If you have lost faith in the repairer, or no offer to solve the problem is forthcoming, then I suppose you have to bite the bullet (depending on the amount charged for the repairs) and start again. Either by DIY or seeking another commercial repairer.
The first thing to do is check that the sea
