Community Forums

Ken L. · 01-25-2016, 12:42 PM

I am having an on-going problem with my windshield leaking air and, or water around the perimeter of the glass. I have resealed them several times, and it seems it only works for about a year. It looks like the glass gets hot and expands horizontally pulling the seal away from fiberglass side posts. It has also leaked across the top to the point where water runs down the inside of the glass. I now have glass damage from road debris to both windshields. Has anyone had this problem, and will replacing both glass panels solve the problem?? Any ideas will help. Thank You, Ken

wolfe10 · 01-25-2016, 01:58 PM

Ken,

Over the years, have found that Sikaflex 221 black works very well to adhere fiberglass/painted fiberglass to glass. It comes in black and white.

The real work is in cleaning out the old caulk/sealant. Then, I use the blue painter's tape to define a sharp line on glass and cap. Apply the sealant to a 4' or so area. Smooth with finger. Immediately remove tape and again smooth with finger. Leaves a nice sharp line.

I am sure there are less expensive products, but have had good luck with this one.

Brett
2003 Alpine 38FDDS

DrDaveMA · 01-25-2016, 03:01 PM

Ken, if you replace the windshields be sure they first level the coach on the jacks and only do 1 windshield at a time. The windshields are an integral part of the frame and I have heard horror stories of the frame getting racked when the glass is removed and it being almost impossible to get it straightened out.

Janet and Todd · 01-26-2016, 04:33 PM

When RV Glass Solutions replaced ours, they forbade us to drive it, extend the jacks or the front slides for 24 hours to let it set.

bcbowers · 01-26-2016, 04:51 PM

This may not be your issue but we experienced an unusual windshield leaking issue that we believe WRV created. Our DS windshield had leaked under heavy rain resulting in slow dripping down the inside. I had asked a body shop to reseal it while performing some other work and believe they atleast tried to because it then had a flaw along the middle post edge afterwards. However, it continued to leak.

Finally, we had it replaced here in AZ and the installer showed me a a small rubber block about 1/4" X 1/4" X 1" that had been used as a spacer to "push" the windshield outward by about 1/4". The reason was that the fiberglass around the DS windshield was apparently not formed properly at the factory so the spacer made it look even with the PS windshield. He was willing to re-install the rubber spacer but wouldn't guarantee a good long-term seal. I opted to not use the spacer so the DS windshield looks slightly "sunken" compared to the PS windshield. It's not all that noticeable. The main thing is NO MORE LEAKS!

Perhaps yours just needs to be resealed but if WRV used the spacer on mine they probably used it on other coaches as well.

TRAKKER · 01-27-2016, 01:49 AM

I had water pouring in over the windshield badly staining the curtain. I though it was the windshield until I discovered that the top of the front cap on the roof had separated from the roof. The space was open enough for my fingers to enter. I cleaned it out and sealed it with silicon. I waited a few days for the silicon to set and put that roof tape over the joint. Did the rear cap while I was at it. No more "windshield" leak.

Ken L. · 01-28-2016, 10:13 AM

Well I have been dealing with this periodic leaking issue for a long time. I have checked the roof seal and added sealant there. I have checked the top clearance lights and even replaced three in the center with new LED lights. I have been in and all around the front cap area and found no sign of water infiltration. My leaking is at the joint where the glass meets the fiberglass. I have resealed with glass setting compound a couple of times. It works for a while, maybe a year more or less? When we got to New Mexico last fall we had a LOUD wind leak at the passenger side and at the bottom edge of her glass. Rain was looming and I wanted to seal out any water that might get in. I went to Camping World and bought a roll of clear Gorilla Tape 2" wide. I taped around that window and went on my way. No more wind noise could be heard. The thing is, I put the tape on, it was a cool day. The tape was smooth and flat, later on a hot day with the sun shinning on the front of the coach I noticed a series of stress wrinkles diagonally along the lower piece of tape. It was as if the Glass had expanded farther than the Fiberglass had, and pulled these wrinkles into the tape. When the coach goes back to cool the tape goes back to flat. It seems like the Glass is acting independently from the Coach and is braking the seal at the outer edge where the glass curves around the side of the coach. To add fuel to this fire, which I hate to do, My driveway meats the road in front of my house from an uphill angle. I have to pull out and turn left to get out, and when I pull in I have to back in making the same left turn. It is the only way to get the coach on to my property. Maybe the twisting of the coach is compromising the integrity of the windshield setting. If here is a question here, Do you think removing the glass and redoing the setting completely will hold up to the stresses that might be causing the problem? I guess I need new glass anyway. There is supposed to be a GOOD glass source in Oregon I was told. Back to Ya'll, Ken