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Subject Topic: Elddis Firestorm: Bulging Window Post Reply Post New Topic
Personpgl150
07/8/2010 at 8:47pm
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Hi all

Well I'm a new member of this extremely helpful site and having read a few 'fixed it' members projects there appears to be more than enough expertise here to help if that's ok?

On holiday recently in our Elddis Firestorm (2000) which has served us well for many years and initially the interior of our van looked ok:


Then we noticed this:


and this:


So it was off with the curtains, blinds and vinyl which revealed this:



So far it looks like the middle window section is dry although one or two bottom curtain rail screws had rust on them at the bottom...should I be worried?

I tried removing the top shelf by undoing all visible screws but it won't budge, so I suspect it's screwed at the front, under the front panel. Question is...do I need to remove the top shelf or not (if so how?) and what about the bottom shelf? I'll remove the remaining vinyl to the left of the offending window tomorrow to see if it's spread to there and also look in the front locker to see if I can find any screws for the bottom shelf.

Anyway, having seen my brief progress to date, what do you think my next steps should be? I intend to repair the left window before resealing all windows, awning rails etc. If you need any more info' or pics then just let me know and I'll do my best to provide it.

Thanks in advance folks.

Paul (and his somewhat apprehensive family!!)


Personpgl150
08/8/2010 at 1:09pm
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Hi all, well you're obviously enjoying your weekend away in your respective vans...hopefully someone will comment through the week.

Anyway, day two so far...

Removed some more vinyl but not sure whether to bother with removing it from the left and right corners as the screws holding curtain tie backs had no rust on them...still, I may do it later, we'll see.

Vinyl removed:


Went into front locker to see if there were any screws for the bottom shelf in there and the extent of damp damage to the underside of the shelf can be seen...no screws though. :-(

Front locker looking right


Front locker looking left:


Looking at these pictures the batons for the window frames are behind the front shelf so it needs to come off, but I'm stumped as to how...any ideas?

Can't see any screws or anything under the seats:




Anyway, would appreciate any advice anyone can offer when they get time. Gonna chill and do some fishing for now.

Look forward to your replies.

Thanks

Paul


Personpgl150
11/8/2010 at 12:38pm
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What no takers? First sign of madness talking to yourself isn't it? Lol


PersonGrad Sailor
11/8/2010 at 4:55pm
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That looks just like the front end of ours earlier this year. Ours is a different make but for what it's worth I found that the batons are screwed onto the wall before the wall is fitted to the van - ie the screws come through from behind. What I did was to remove the whole panel and then I could get at them.

If you take the window out then removing the panel isn't that hard. I rebuilt the whole section from the 'waistline' upwards and once you see what's involved it's very simple.

At first glance it looks as though the problem is most likely the window trim not sealing properly - on ours it was simply that the screws holding the window stays in place had come loose and water was coming through the brackets.


Personjeff juke
11/8/2010 at 6:10pm
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Looks to me you have water ingress from the rail above the windows.Looking from the front, out side, right corner, the water appears to come in from the rail run down to the window then spits sending the water to the other.If you strip it out,use a hose on the rail not forgetting the window rubber and watch for water coming in. PS i saw a van which had a puncture mark made by a stone just above the window rail it was hard to spot but the aluminum had split and over a coarse of time water came in.


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Personmichael
12/8/2010 at 6:31pm
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contact wizard

Fixed It Club Members Directory



-------------
the only silly question is the one you do not ask.


Personpgl150
14/8/2010 at 11:50am
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Thanks for your replies...I'm going to have another look at it this weekend. I've also emailed Wizard to see what his thoughts are. Hopefully he can assist further.

Ta everyone

Paul


Personwizard9956
14/8/2010 at 10:50pm
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Hi Paul , have just sent you a reply .

atb

Wizard


Personpgl150
15/8/2010 at 11:51am
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Thanks Wizard, got your message.

Here's an update on what I did yesterday...

Had another look at the shelf from underneath and yes the screws go in from the front of the caravan towards the back. Only option available (without removing entire front panel!) was to feel for where they were located, dig out the wood around them and then as I wasn't sure which way the shelf would come off i.e. caravan or locker side; I wedged open a gap wide enough to allow me to hacksaw them off.



You can just see the wedge and screw prior to sawing. Apologies if it's a bit dark, it was sunny for a change yesterday!

Persevering like this eventually resulted in the following:


Shelf removed (in one piece)

However, you may have noticed that there was some trim on the front of the shelf. This had to be carefully prised off revealing some more screws which screwed into the front panel below the shelf.

If you're doing this yourself, just be aware of the shelf corner screws as well, which are very difficult to get at. I just dug them out, rather than cut them.



That's it for now, will update again next week.

Thanks for assistance so far.

Paul

Post last edited on 15/08/2010 15:19:26


PersonGemma12
12/10/2011 at 2:24pm
 Location: Derbyshire
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Hi, got the exact same problem on the opposite side to your problem soft boards along the shelf line. any more photos of your progress? did you reseal any of the outer alu trims or round the windows? did you find where water was getting in? where your repairs successful did you manage to get a match to the original vinyl. i might just reseal around the one window which has soft board below it? i think waters coming under the window and leaking in around the seal. mine is the firestorm 400/4 2000 model is that same as yours? i have just been quoted £500 pounds for the repair. hope to hear back from you i am intersted to see how you got on. thanks tim.



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