Windshield popping loose

[MickBrennan]

This is the two year anniversary of our windshield popping loose at the corners. It has happened about 6 times. We have the Monaco Diplomat 36b at Grumbines Camping World in Harrisburg, PA where we purchased it. They have been trying to figure out why this happens to be able to repair it. The parts guy is on it, the service manager is too. Even the district service rep is adding his expertise to the mix.

Nobody knows why this is happening. Some theories: The opening for the glass is the wrong shape. The glass is wrong. Maybe I level incorrectly or do too much off roading in the DP (not). The gasket might be too old.

Anyway, our coach has been in the shop since July 17th 2011. The windshield has been popping loose since they replaced it at purchase two years ago.

Any suggestions I can pass along to the guys working to repair this continuing issue?

[Gordon66]

My windshield was popping out in the upper corner on the drivers side. We had it to the dealer, an auto glass center, and the Monaco factory for repairs and it still would pop out. Took it to an RV repair center in San Antonio for another issue and the owner asked if there was anything else they could help with. I jokingly said, fix the windshield so it doesn't pop out. He said he knew what the problem is and said "seems like all of the units coming from Elkhart have the same problem. The problem is the way the windshield was installed" Here is what they did three years ago and it hasn't popped out since. They put a 4" long piece of masking tape on the bottom of the windshield next to the rubber seal. Then they put tape on the body lined up with the one on the glass. They put a mark on both pieces of tape in line with each other. They then removed the glass and the rubber seal. They cleaned the opening, seal, and the glass. They measured the glass and located the center and marked it on the tape on the glass. They then measured the opening and marked the center of the opening. They used urethane and glued the rubber in the opening. Then they glued the glass in the rubber seal, aligning the glass center line and the opening center line marked on the tape. After all was installed the original lines that were drawn on the tape were about 5/8" off from each other. This indicated the original installation of the glass was 5/8" off center. Since the removal and reinstallation the glass hasn't moved and has stayed in place. Hope this helps.

[Barlow46]

See if you can get in touch with Brett Howard at Alliance Coach in Wildwood, FL. They took over the original Monaco Coach repair facility and have a lot of experience with this issue. Alliance Coach

[njs42]

We were hit in the front end so my windshield began popping out after the repairs were done. Incessantly.

It seems the theory is to put a sealer that stays "wet" in the gasket so the windshield will "float". Well mine, now yours floats right out of the gasket.

I finally wound up locally with a glass dealer that did a lot of fancy stuff as described by Gordon66----then glued it in------I believe that is the key----- glue. The installer mumbled a lot of stuff about telling the factory they should use glue etc;

I have no idea what happens if I ever need another replaced I guess they will just rip gasket and shield out and begin over. The only thing I know for sure is if that happens and I can I am going back to the same guy here in the Seattle area because the windshield has stayed in place.

I am very cautious about leveling---and after about a year I could see some minor seperation at the top right----I filled it with permatex and everything is fine---looks good works good. It has been seven/eight years.


Good luck to you--I know how frustrating this can be.

[wa8yxm]

My Damon intruder came with the same option (Self removing windshield)

First time my Dealer called Gardian glass in Detroit, who sent out a kid, still wet behind the ears, and he porta-powered it back,, Happned again a few months later and Dave Simpson in Las Vegas removed it, and put it back using a adheasive sealant that looked like it would hold forever.. Dave, howver was not happy with the job.

So we paid a call on the factory who found that the person who cut the opening for the windshield used a straight edge.. like this straight line ~~~~~~~~

Real straight isn't it.

They re-cut using a straight edge ---------
Much straighter, and replaced the glass.

5 years later I see it's slipping once agina

I put a couple of anchors on either side and a packing strap (Ratching type) across it.. So far.. that's holding.

[Dunner]

The windshields on my Dodge Ram trucks are part of the roof support and are glued in with urethane and have to be cut out for replacement. Don't see why they can't do the same with a MH.

[Pez]

Gordan66, Please post the name of the business in San Antonio that corrected the problem with your windshield.
No problem with my windshield at this time, time will tell.
Suggested good repair shops from members of this form I keep in a folder.

Thanks
Pez

[Tallyrver]

I had the same problem with my 2007 Neptune, it poped out three times. after the third time DW ha enough . I cost $63,000 to fix. That's $62,200 down payment on the new Winnebago Journey and $800.00 to fix the windshield.

A glass shop took out the glass and did what a previous poster said. measured twice and glued it in. That seemed to fix the issue. they said it was way off center ,and there is no frame holding it in ,only the fiberglass cap.

The Winnebago has a frame around the windshield that the glass sets into like a car.

Wayne

[Gordon66]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pez Gordan66, Please post the name of the business in San Antonio that corrected the problem with your windshield. No problem with my windshield at this time, time will tell. Suggested good repair shops from members of this form I keep in a folder. Thanks Pez

Iron Horse RV. They do excellent work. I've had mine there for several repairs. Good work and fast turnaround.
Iron Horse RV

[MickBrennan]

Thanks for your help everyone. The service team at Camping World and Grumbines got a link to your experiences today.

Much appreciated!

[jimkate]

Our coach has the two piece windshield. The left windshield cracked. We had it replaced. Then the right windshield slipped out of the gasket, we had it reset. Then the left windshield slipped out of the gasket. I found that after a time, it slipped back into place.

My brother in law, who owns an auto body shop, said he could fix it, but he didn't have time. He told me the fix, which was to remove the windshields and the rubber gaskets, glue the gaskets in with urethane, then set the glass into the rubber gaskets with urethane.

I decided, hey, what have I got to lose. I tried silicone - no good. It doesn't bond to the rubber gasket. Then I found "The Right Stuff" from Loctite. I caulked the windshield to the rubber gasket (outside the coach, and inside the coach),and I caulked the rubber gasket to the coach.

That absolutely, positively fixed it.

[DAVEfromPA]

We've had the same windshield issue as I reported in another thread, this summer. The windshield has held (urethane), but the crack in the fiberglass under the roadside rear slideout has been repaired unsuccessfully twice. I'm assuming that when we twisted the frame by raising a single rear jack in order to align the window, we broke something back there that is causing unusual stress. I have no idea how to identify what broke. Any ideas?

[MickBrennan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAVEfromPA but the crack in the fiberglass under the roadside rear slideout has been repaired unsuccessfully twice. Any ideas?

I have several suggestions:

First, consider posting your question on a separate thread (again) with an appropriate title.

Second, Call Art Etnoyer 717.433.7162 He is near Harrisburg, PA and is an amazing problem solver. If he can't fix it, nobody can.

[MoHoGuy]

regarding windshield popping and cracking : be careful with your leveling, especially if your front jacks are in front of your front axel. when you level side to side and also lift the front, you can create a pressure point in the structure that will pop the windshield out - did any of you have this happen while parked with jacks down? this is very common on 1998-2002 Fleetwood Southwind, Pace Arrow, etc with the big windshields and with front jacks located in front of the front axel.

cheers!