Water leak when rains

[Rmercado414]

Hi I have a 2003 Newmar Dutch Star and under heavy rain I see some water coming from the drivers side area on the roof and on the front also. I have the roof done 4 years ago and I never had any issues I don’t think is the roof but something around maybe the sliding glass frame or even the clearance lights. Please seee pictures attached any recommendations? And thanks

[chuckftboy]

There should be weep holes along the window track that may be clogged causing water to wick in around the window. Make sure they are clear.

[Rmercado414]

Originally Posted by chuckftboy

There should be weep holes along the window track that may be clogged causing water to wick in around the window. Make sure they are clear.

And will show a leak from the top? Like the one in the pictures? If the drain is clogged I think it will leak from the button. I’m going to check those to

[Jake21]

Leak around the window and windshield? Check the windshield gasket. Pull the lip of the gasket gently and look for gaps in the seal. Reseal the areas that need it. Clean it out first of course. Same with the top of the windows if the other leaks are at the windows. Market lights also. I recently scraped off the silicon on those, cleaned them really well and applied 3M marine grade sealer to them.

[bentjm]

Check the clearance lights.

[Ray,IN]

I vote with Jim. I once had clearance lights leaking and had to rebuild a setion of wall to correct the damage.
The clearance lens had dust inside and when they leaked the water built up to where it ran through the wiring hole. Since the light base was sealed to the RV, the only place for the water to go was run along the wiring into the RV.
I solved that by removing and cleaning each lens, then before replacing each one, I drilled a 1/8" hole in the bottom of each. Never had one leak into the RV again.


On this MH I had a water leak around the air horns on the roof. I solved that by painting all around them with rubberized white paint, never had a roof leak since. Can't remember the paint name, but it's the one in the commercial where the guy paints a screen boat and it floats.

[DJJ]

If you are not a get on the roof do it yourself person. Look for a place that has a “sealtech” machine. The device pulls outside air into the RV creating a slight positive pressure in the coach. Then they spray a soap solution outside looking for bubbles all around the roof and sides. If air comes out creating bubbles water can get in. No guessing where the leaks are.

If you are a do it yourself person. Four years is too long to go between roof inspections/attention. On my 2003 Dutch Star it’s an every year thing to replace some caulking or attention to a roof vent etc.

Jeff

[Rmercado414]

Originally Posted by Jake21

Leak around the window and windshield? Check the windshield gasket. Pull the lip of the gasket gently and look for gaps in the seal. Reseal the areas that need it. Clean it out first of course. Same with the top of the windows if the other leaks are at the windows. Market lights also. I recently scraped off the silicon on those, cleaned them really well and applied 3M marine grade sealer to them.

make sense, but do you think the water coming from the clearance lights will run back to the side of the drivers side window area.. look at the pictures

[bentjm]

Originally Posted by Rmercado414

make sense, but do you think the water coming from the clearance lights will run back to the side of the drivers side window area.. look at the pictures

It very well could. The marker lights can leak where the screws penetrate the cap or, more likely, through the hole for the wires. If they leak through the wire holes, the water will tend to follow the wiring and can show up many feet away from the marker lights themselves.

[Arkansas RV]

Originally Posted by Rmercado414

Hi I have a 2003 Newmar Dutch Star and under heavy rain I see some water coming from the drivers side area on the roof and on the front also. I have the roof done 4 years ago and I never had any issues I don’t think is the roof but something around maybe the sliding glass frame or even the clearance lights. Please seee pictures attached any recommendations? And thanks

I have a 2000 DSDP. I can assure you it’s the marker lights. It’s a crappy design on early Newmar’s. Mine had a 1 1/4 inch hole behind each marker light. With the newer LED lights there is no need to leave that hole especially when the gasket is 1/8 th thick at 12 o’clock and six.
I made templates from the new LED lights an epoxied them to the recessed area in the body where the originals were. I used 1/8 inch thick fiberglass. Before epoxying the filler piece drill a 3/16 hole dead center and pass the wires thru first. When installing the new lights don’t use the gasket that comes with them. I coated the entire back of the light with solar seal 900 or equivalent. Put the screws in and gently tighten until most of the sealer has oozed out; clean up the excess with your finger like caulking, I also used acetone. Permanent seal job. Also windshield rubber should be changed on these older coaches every 10-12 years per Newmar’s instruction. The rubber should be hard not soft again per Newmar.