water leak on wall behind drivers seat in a 1973

RonaldPottol

Member
Sep 4, 2012
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A coach I'm looking at buying has developed a leak since I saw it last summer (the coach is usually garaged, but was out in our recent rains to be
shown). The leak is from the bottom forward curve of the window, down to the floor, in the area of the steps behind the drivers seat. Suggestions for
good write ups on fixing this, and what I should plan on having on hand to do the work?

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/7015/medium/IMG_20161222_155913.jpg
--
prospective owner in the San Francisco Bay Area
 
Carefully note the posture of the vehicle when it was leaking( level/front
low/front high etc). Remove interior in the area and with coach at same
attitude flow water on the center of the roof directly inboard of the leak
area. Move inside and search for the entry point with good lighting, some
towels and an air gun off of a compressor to thoroughly dry damp areas. You
will eventually detect a stream of water. Char it up hill to the entry
point and address. It could be coming from several areas to end up where
you are finding it. I think in order of likelihood it is

The side window behind the cockpit window

The cockpit window

The joint between the smc roof cap/sidewall/roof drip extrusion

You may find that your coach only leaks or leaks far worse when parked at a
certain list. For axample my coach will leak a bit onto the floor around
the entry door from water that comes in around the refrigerator external
access door but only when the coach is listing away from that side. When
level the water escapes back out the bottom of the coach and the interior
stays dry.
Sully
77 eleganza 2
Seattle
On Sun, Jan 22, 2017 at 9:48 AM Ronald Pottol
wrote:

> A coach I'm looking at buying has developed a leak since I saw it last
> summer (the coach is usually garaged, but was out in our recent rains to be
>
> shown). The leak is from the bottom forward curve of the window, down to
> the floor, in the area of the steps behind the drivers seat. Suggestions for
>
> good write ups on fixing this, and what I should plan on having on hand to
> do the work?
>
>
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/7015/medium/IMG_20161222_155913.jpg
>
> --
>
> prospective owner in the San Francisco Bay Area
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
> GMCnet mailing list
>
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
>
 
There is a good chance it is leaking from the roof between the front cap and the main roof and running down the side(s) between the driver’s window and the couch window.
A leak in that area will not drip straight down but it will run in the aluminum channel and over to the side.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick,
co

>
> A coach I'm looking at buying has developed a leak since I saw it last summer (the coach is usually garaged, but was out in our recent rains to be
> shown). The leak is from the bottom forward curve of the window, down to the floor, in the area of the steps behind the drivers seat. Suggestions for
> good write ups on fixing this, and what I should plan on having on hand to do the work?
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/7015/medium/IMG_20161222_155913.jpg
> --
> prospective owner in the San Francisco Bay Area
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
I just fixed a leak that is right where Emery said - where the top corner of the windshield meets the top corner of the side window frame. It leaked
right where your damage is. There was a small hole there that I found using a blower and some soapy water. I could not believe how much water was
coming in that little hole. I tried to fix it once but left just a pin hole and even that leaked like it was a huge hole - capillary action in action.
--
Armand Minnie
Marana, AZ
'76 Eleganza II TZE166V103202
http://www.minniebiz.com
http://www.gmcws.org
 
Ron.

In my case, the leak was coming from the rear of the side window.
The first attempt was to reseal the window, with no luck.
The second time I noticed some body cracks where the front SMC joins the body alum rib at top and bottom,
cut cracks open and epoxy resealed the cracks. That almost stopped it, still a little drip.
The drip was entering from 2 of the window rear mounting screw holes slots, in assembly the slots where made large that
the window lip and seal didn't fully cover them (but was not really visible on the outside).
After that filling in, no more leaks even in heavy rain.
Your situation may be a combination of all that has been talked about.
Wood will rot, but it can also be replaced.

--
”When we avoid the mistakes we might have made, we sometimes make the mistakes that we might have avoided.”

Adrien & Jenny Genesoto
75 Glenbrook 26-3
Yuba City,Ca. Text 530-nine-3-three-3-nine-nine-6
 
I have a similar situation on the passenger side of the coach. I took care of most of the problem by cleaning and resealing the seam between the front
cap and the "main" roof. I still have a small leak at the bottom, rear of the passenger side window.

Les
T.O. CA
 
One other thing to easily check is the lower track that the slider run in. There are some slits in the aluminum frame for the window. These are
drains for water that builds up in the track when it rains.

Make sure that those slots are open. If necessary put a hose with water running against the window and verify that you have the water draining. That
lower track rubber seal is easily replaceable. Jim K should have them and Jim Bounds definitely has them.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
I had a seam leak from the rear side of the passenger sliding window frame. Used a marine grade caulk and filled the noticible gap between the window
frame and windshields. Stopped that leak, plus the one along the windshield. I have noticed several coaches that have taken the same approach.
Tom, MS II

--
1975 GMC Avion
KA4CSG