Community Forums

Waiter21 · 05-24-2015, 09:05 AM

The reason my Mirada suffered from water damage was because water intruded under the frig access door.

If you have a similar door and frame, you may want to look at it and see if this could also be impacting you.

The access door frame did not have a lip on the bottom, so water would run under the door and drip down inside the wall below the frig.

You can see how I did the modification HERE

Photo 1 and 2 - No lip on bottom of Frig access panel frame.

Photo 3 - I aided a lip on the bottom of the frame so water cannot get in to the frig compartment.

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Waiter21 · 05-24-2015, 09:15 AM

I just finished doing some water damage repairs to my 2001 Mirada.

Basically, everything directly under the frig access door was rotted away.

I cut new plywood for both the interior and exterior side of the styrofoam core. I also rebuilt the bottom of the frig frame and the cargo compartment door frame with new 1x2 and plywood.

See the article HERE.

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Skip426 · 05-24-2015, 09:25 AM

Just a comment , what I can't see in you picture is the cooling fin drip tray drain hose, that runs from the tray in the back of the fridge compartment , and must be routed through the vent panel as it's re-installed , to get any water from the defrost cycle of the fridge , out side the coach.

Is the drain hose there , and just doesn't show up in the picture?

Waiter21 · 05-24-2015, 12:05 PM

The drain hose is tucked out of the way while making repairs, that why its not seen in these photos. It normally sticks out the bottom louver of the cover to drain to the outside world.

HOWEVER, With no lip on the bottom of the frame, any water that comes out that drain could also run back inside.

pop-sicle · 05-25-2015, 03:57 AM

Good job. ... I found the same problem on mine recently when I took access panel off to repaint white from yellowing.

I also have that same delam. How long before you will be in Florida so you can fix mine? LOL.
If you bring me a six pack I will let you do it. ....I think I have that wrong, I will supply a six pack.....no I had it right it looks like fun so you provide beer.

Thanks for the report.......

Waiter21 · 05-25-2015, 06:23 AM

Jerry, I have a feeling this problem is in a lot of MHs. Thats one of the reasons I posted it here, so people can go take a look.

The delams won't show up for a few years, depending on the amount of rain and how good a job the original builder did sealing the bottom of the frig compartment.

Its a real pain in the behind to fix, but it has to be done.

I would urge people to take the external access cover off and look at the bottom of the frame to see if water can get inside. If it can, take 15 minutes and install the lip.

bobsharon · 05-26-2015, 06:15 AM

Looking at the frame and remembering other access panels I have seen, it looks like the original frame installation was upside down. Just a thought.
Bob

Waiter21 · 05-26-2015, 06:21 AM

Bob, I looked at the frame wondering the same thing.

However, looking at how the cover attaches to the frame, it will only attach one way. If I flip the frame over, When I install the cover, it will be upside down with the louvers on the cover pointing up and water will run inside.

ALSO - The top of the frame has the same problem, there is no lip on it, so even if it could be flipped over, same problem.