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drapes

Yahoo Message Number: 14204
Has anyone found a method of removing water stains from driver's compartment drapes? I still cannot find the source of the leak. Have replaced rubber seal around windshilds, resealed seam on front cap and around clearance lights and still it leaks. We are on our third set of drapes and it's getting expensive.

Stan 2002 Intrigue #11471

Re: drapes

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 14213
I surely can relate to what you are saying! My drapes are really awful, but I don't see any reason to spend money replacing them when nobody can find the source of the leaks. One person told me to use ScotchGard--spray it on to a thick foam. I did, it helped some, but I never finished the job.

Ree

Current location---San Antonio, TX

2003 Allure 30852

Home is www.eldoradoranch.com near www.sanfelipe.com.mx

Re: drapes

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 14214
Ree, Our drapes had some stains already in place when we purchased the coach. I looked everywhere for a leak but found none.

 However, on occasion we have experience considerable condensation on the inside of the front windshield. I'm thinking that maybe this had happened with the prior owners and that maybe the drapes had been pushed against this wet surface without them realizing.

 We have a cat and he walks all over the front dash, usually between the drape and windshield but he could just as easily walk on the other side and push the drape against the wet surface.

 Just a thought.

 BTW Those little furry friends are quite good at walking on the panel that holds the light switches next to the driver. I couldn't understand why I had left the switch to the side lights in the on position and then our cat provided the answer by walking all over the switches and causing one of them to go into the live position!

Re: drapes

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 14216
No, David, this is water coming in not condensation. It runs down the windshield. When it is "really" raining, it will fill the cup holder on the tray on the dash. Water is being trapped somewhere. I finally convinced CC of it when one of the drivers was moving the coach one morning. There had been a shower during the night--did not come in until the coach was moved and the water came in. There can be a really hard rain and it won't come in, but during a long steady rain, it accumulates enough to come inside. But, not always. As a rule, I normally don't drive in the rain, but last year I was near my stopping point so continued to drive in the rain. Before I knew it, water poured out around the TV--of course dumped a bunch on the computer sitting on the tray. Strange thing was that the next day, a friend helped me take the TV out--and there was no sign of water. I thought I was "losing it", but the carpet was still wet as evidence. But, that has only happened once. The rest of the time it is comes in, I think, mostly from behind the plastic molding by the windshield. I have had it "water tested" and such, and they find nothing. Different ones have checked the seal of all the stuff on the roof, re-sealed it even though it looked okay.

I really don't know where to go from here with it.

Ree

Current location---San Antonio, TX until morning

2003 Allure 30852

Home is www.eldoradoranch.com near www.sanfelipe.com.mx

Re: drapes

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 14218
Stan, get a can of spray on Scotch Guard and really soak the stains.
Spray both sides of the fabric to the point where it looks like you dunked the drapes in a bucket of water. Then let them dry and the stains will be gone. I have never used the foamy stuff so I don't know if that will work or not.
Don

'02 Intrigue #11427

Quote from: Nila Combs
Has anyone found a method of removing water stains from driver's
compartment drapes? I still cannot find the source of the leak. Have replaced rubber seal around windshilds, resealed seam on front cap and around clearance lights and still it leaks. We are on our third set of drapes and it's getting expensive.
'02 Intrigue #11427

Re: drapes

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 14220
Hi Ree

Years ago I had a Winnibago that did the same thing. Turned out the leak was in the rear of the coach and it would get on the top of the ceiling and work it's way to the front. When I stopped it would run down all over the front and on my head. This isn't much help as to where to look for the leak but just to suggest it could be anywhere.
(As you no doubt know already)

Good luck
Andy

02 Allure 36'

Re: drapes

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 14229
Don,

Do you have the drapes then dry cleaned and pressed after you spray them?

Jim Hughes

2000 Allure #30511

Quote from: dons2346
Stan, get a can of spray on Scotch Guard and really soak the

stains.

Quote
Spray both sides of the fabric to the point where it looks like you > dunked the drapes in a bucket of water. Then let them dry and the > stains will be gone. I have never used the foamy stuff so I don't

know

Quote
if that will work or not.

Don

'02 Intrigue #11427

[quote author=Nila Combs"

> Has anyone found a method of removing water stains from driver's > compartment drapes? I still cannot find the source of the leak.

Have

Quote
replaced rubber seal around windshilds, resealed seam on front cap

and

Quote
around clearance lights and still it leaks. We are on our third

set

Re: drapes & water entry

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 14230
I have noticed that in Florida we get a lot of condensation in the inside of the windshield. From this, we get water soaking into the drape materials in places where it makes contact. Thus, resulting in water stains. The problem with water stains, is if you let them age (oxidize) they seem to be permanent. Does anyone have some neat tricks to remove aged water stains?

As for possible leaks I have seen several potential areas to look at. While doing some modifications in my coach I removed the TV and all the audio/video equipment from the overhead cabinets. There are a number of water entry points that can be observed from that advantage point. One of them is the antenna for the CB/AM radio.
Water could come in a travel down the coax cable to a point along the front windshield. Other areas include the horn and marker lights on the front cap.

One problem I had with water entry is water running down the wiring to the wall lamp mounted between the LR and DR windows on the passenger side. It was filling up the wall sconce base with water to the point it began dripping out the small switch button.
Needless to say when I discovered it the switch no longer worked. I found a very small break/void in the sealant along the awning attach point about six feet aft where the wall lamp was mounted. It was apparently entering there under the mount, traveling forward to a scree and was wicking to the inside wall and wiring. The water then wicked down the wiring to the lamp. I filled the break/void and then remove each mounting screw in the awning mount one at a time and dipped each in some silicone sealant and reinstalled the screws. No more leaks.

Jim Hughes

2000 Allure #30511

Quote from: Nila Combs
Has anyone found a method of removing water stains from driver's
compartment drapes? I still cannot find the source of the leak.
Have replaced rubber seal around windshilds, resealed seam on front
cap and around clearance lights and still it leaks. We are on our
third set of drapes and it's getting expensive.

Re: drapes & water entry -- I found a source!!

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 14231
To all with front end water leaks:
I had a similar problem. The driveway at our "fixed foundation" home where I park the coach slopes downward. This causes a waterfall to cascade off the roof and down the front of the coach when it rains hard. Water would "stream" down the inside of the windshield in four or five different places at the plastic trim on the top of the windshield.
I first thought it was the windshield seal, but that proved incorrect
My next thought was the clearance lights, (five leaks, five streams of water). The lenses on these were all badly faded, cracked, and otherwise disgusting, so I replaced the lenses. Bad move, the leaks got a LOT worse. As I looked closer at these little lights, it became apparent the Bargman replacements don't really fit the OEM Chinese made housings. Fortunately, I had purchased complete lamp assemblies at Camping World with the intention of replacing all of them in the future. As I removed the old housings they all disintegrated right in my hands. Don't know what kind of plastic the manufacturer used but definitely not UV stabilized. Apparently the degraded and warped housings and lenses were letting a LOT of water in.
When replacing the housings, I sealed all around the outside edge to the fiberglass of the coach body using silicone windshield sealer, prior to mounting them. I also replaced the mounting screws with stainless steel ones, as the original zinc plated screws were badly rusted.
In over six months,I have not had another drop of water on the inside of the windshield since, excepting condensation. Since water had entered the lamp assemblies, I also replaced all the lamp sockets.
Interestingly, the Bargman lamp assemblies are made in the US and appear to be constructed of much higher grade materials than the OEM units.
Time will tell.

There, of course could be other sources of water ingress on other coaches. This one was not really obvious, but it solved my leak.

Dave

2000 Allure 36'

#30444 Blt. Sept. 99

Re: drapes

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 14235
No Jim, we just let the drapes dry from the Scotch Guard treatment.
They didn't need any pressing. Guess it wouldn't hurt to have them cleaned and pressed.
Don

'02 Intrigue #11427

Quote from: Jim Hughes
'02 Intrigue #11427

Re: drapes

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 14237
Stan,

When we purchased our coach 2 yrs ago the drapes were already stained and from previous experience we were afraid to have them dry cleaned since our previous drapes came back with holes in them. We met a couple that had an Allure about the same age as ours and their drapes looked like new. We asked if they had replaced them and they told us no that they just washed them in cold water.
After 2 yrs we decided we had to do something even if it was wrong so after arriving home we took them down and threw them in the washer on gentle cycle and laundered them like any thing else. Wallah!! Stains were gone! Oh happy day. Hope it works for you.

Harvey Grooms Magna #5377

Quote from: Nila Combs
Has anyone found a method of removing water stains from driver's
compartment drapes? I still cannot find the source of the leak.
Have replaced rubber seal around windshilds, resealed seam on front cap and around clearance lights and still it leaks. We are on our third set of drapes and it's getting expensive.

Re: drapes

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 14241
Thanks to all who responded. We will use your ideas and suggestions! Nila & Stan Combs

Re: drapes

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 14243
Stan check the rivets inside the clearance lites some of them hold water when it rains and fills the lense then seaps into the front cap mine had a leak like your 2 years ago but sealed the horns and cleaned the lenses with no more problems

Brian

95' intrigue 10030

Re: drapes

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 14244
From: "Nila Combs" sncombs@...>

Quote
Has anyone found a method of removing water stains from driver's > compartment drapes? I still cannot find the source of the leak. Have > replaced rubber seal around windshilds, resealed seam on front cap and > around clearance lights and still it leaks. We are on our third set of > drapes and it's getting expensive.
Ours are stained, too, but I've "assumed" it's from when they touch the condensation on the inside of the windshield on a cold day when the coach heat is on. I could be wrong since I've been wrong before .

Dick (& Geri) Campagna
'98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfd: 11/97

Re: drapes

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 14245

We did same thing with our 9 year old drapes. Cleaned up great in cold water.

Dean

Magna 5280

Re: drapes

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 14250
Stan,

We had a water stain on the ceiling of our old Windbag from the AC. We told to use a product called, "Insta-Gone" We found it on the Internet but the wife thinks it can be purchased at Walgreens Drug Store.

Good luck.

Jim C, Hillsborough, NC
2003 MADP

Re: drapes & water entry -- I found a source!!

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 14257
Dave,

wer the bargeman light assemblies an exact replacement? Did the screw hole line up? If they did, do you recall a part number? I need tio do the same thing to my lights as well. While my light are not leaking inside yet, I have taken the lenses off to clean them of trapped water and spray the contacts and bulbs. I have also sealed with silicone to try and keep the water out.

Jim Hughes

2000 Allure #30511

Re: drapes & water entry -- I found a source!!

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 14261
Jim,

The Bargman lamps are an exact fit. It would appear the original KII brand import lamps are a copy of the Bargmans. The Bargman lenses do not work with the KII housings, however. They will fit, but do not seal well. The screw holes are the same.
I have not noticed any water trapped inside the lenses since the change out.

Part nunbers are:

Red P/N 34-59-001
Amber P/N 34-59-002

This gets you a new lamp housing with lens, socket and bulb.
The way the lens and housing are designed, they seem to be leakproof without any sealant. This is as it should be, after all, some day we will need to replace the bulbs. ^:} The only place I applied sealant is all along the rear mounting surfaces, including the screw hole bosses.
Also, the original sheet metal screws had rusted and swelled, so when removed they enlarged the holes in the coach fiberglass somewhat. I used the next size stainless steel replacements which fit just right.

Dave

2000 Allure 36'

#30444 Blt. Sept. 99

Jim Hughes wrote:

Re: drapes

Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 14263
Stan,

My wife has brought to my attn that I left out 1 step in the laundering of drapes. She soaked them overnight in the bathtub in Oxiclean and lukewarm water.

Harvey

Quote from: Nila Combs
Thanks to all who responded. We will use your ideas and
suggestions! Nila & Stan Combs

Re: drapes & water entry -- I found a source!!

Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 14272
Dave,

Thank you for the details. on the marker lights. Have you ever had to change the docking lights or the porch light fixture? One of my docking lights will not keep the lense in place. The body of the light is brittle from age and the retaining slots are not in the best of shape. Also I was thinking of adding a porch light under the awning between the two window on the passenger side. I figured I could tap into 12vdc at the wall light on the inside.

Thanks again....

Jim Hughes

2000 Allure #30511

Re: drapes & water entry -- I found a source!!

Reply #20 –
Yahoo Message Number: 14307
Jim,

Your welcome.

Have not done anything to the docking lights yet. They will need attention soon, as they are also deteriorating. (I called those my training lights, as I used them to see the road stripes in the convex rear view mirrors at night in oreder to stay centered in the lane. -- This is my first RV of any kind, so it took a while to get used to driving such a large vehicle.)

I like the porch light idea, I may look into that when I replace the docking lights.

I see your coach is not too far from mine. A question if I may. Does your inverter have the Link controller, or a remote switch? Mine only had a remote "OFF/ON" switch providing no battery charging or status information, not even an LED to indicate the inverter was "ON".

Dave

2000 Allure 36'

#30444 Blt. Sept. 99

Jim Hughes wrote:

Inverter -was:Re: drapes & water entry -- I found a source!!

Reply #21 –
Yahoo Message Number: 14465
Dave,

Sorry it took a few days to respond.....we were in Tampa at the RV show and did not bother to get on computer.

I had the remote ON/OFF switch as well. The Heart (now Xantrex) 2000 system as it was installed would automatically switch to 2 of the 3 charge states the charger was designed to. That is, a regular and float (trickle) charge. The third state is equalization. This is not automatic and there is no way to select that mode with the remote on/off switch. I installed a remote control panel just above my existing control panel (see photo section) and it uses the same RJ connector as the remote switch. I made a small shadow box out of red oak and stained it to match. Mounted it above the existing panel. Just make sure the doors oncabinet on front do not hit it.
The box is just deep enough for the control panel. No other modifications needed.

Of course remember tht the only time you should use equalization is on lead acid batteries. I do it about once a year.

Jim Hughes

2000 Allure #30511
 

Re: drapes

Reply #22 –
Yahoo Message Number: 14470
Stan,

If you are ever in the Lakeland, florida area stop at Buddy Greggs and ask Tim Reed to fix your leak. He knows CC like the back of his hand, he worked for CC and Lazy Days. He fixed our up front leak in 30 minutes and I tried to fix it for 6 months. He has seen every leak possible.

Bill G. 2005Magna #6425