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Re: Water leaks - Followup

Reply #25 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8088
Bob, my experience leads me to believe that Larry, Curly and Moe do the staff training and quality control at all of the RV manufacturers.

Having said that, it almost seems like you are playing Russian Roulette when you buy an RV. Our first Winnie product was a 39 ft+ Journey that had a ton of faults - every time we went out we added more items to the list. Our Itasca C Class by Winnie, that we got a year ago has so far required nothing (when we picked it up the first time it got full water pressure a T in the water line let go - one side was capped and it was used for a 90 degree and it came off - and the dealer fixed it quickly. Nothing at all since then. I've been wondering if I've been lucky or if Winnie has improved.

Our Kodiak had its share of problems - much of it just outright sloppy workmanship by Jayco. We are now going through teething issues with a new 40 ft destination trailer from Forest River that is parked on our lot next to our park model in FLA. At times I wonder how they could be so sloppy and stupid. Lots of nice features but you'd swear Larry, Curly and Moe were involved again. For example, the toilet paper holder came in a box with the manuals. Well, we have two full baths. BUT, there is no place to put it in either bathroom!!! Cable TV would not work when connected to the cable input. Works fine when connected to the satellite input. BUT, it only delivers cable to the TV in the lounge - none to front or back bedroom - they only get a signal from the roof top antenna. So, I ran the line from the satellite through a splitter with one side going to the set in the lounge and the other into the coax connector for the rooftop antenna. That got cable to all three rooms. Just makes no sense. One almost wants to write Warren Buffet a letter suggesting he try some of their products. :)

Don

Re: Water leaks - Followup

Reply #26 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8089
You may want to take that shower drain apart and get some plumbers putty and put a small bead of it on the underside of the inside part of the drain. Thats the piece that if you are in the shower looking down at the drain that is what you see. Undo it from the under side go into the shower lift the drain piece out turn it over and apply the putty to the flat part that will make contact with the shower floor when reinstalled (there is probably a rubber gasket there right now) . You may also want to make sure the rubber gasket that goes on the underside is clean and in good shape before putting it together. If not apply a bead of plumbers putty there also.
It is very likely that it is just a drain problem . If it were a supply line leak it would be there all the time as the valves are inside the shower and there should be pressure on the lines at all times
hope this helps
brad

Re: Water leaks - Followup

Reply #27 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8090
We have had only one RV, our recently acquired 2007 Seneca 34SS. And, we have only had it a short while. From what I have read, I feel lucky that things are not worse. In purchasing a used vehicle like this, I always anticipate problems. So I wasn't too surprised when I started finding issues on this Jayco. Most have been relatively easy issues. The heat ducting fell apart on one run. It was readily fixed with metal duct tape instead of the fabric stuff Jayco used. I was surprised that much of the finish wood trim was loose. A brad-nailer fixed that and the air compressor doubles to blow out and winterize the pressurized plumbing. Many screws were loose including the bolts that held the stairs in place and the screws for locks on the cargo doors. The stairs started to malfunction, but tightening the bolts and Red Locktite took care of them. Red Locktite also took care of the cargo doors. The house battery compartment was a disgrace. All those electrical wires and connections were exposed to road dust and worse, moisture when it rained. On mine the electrical connections were corroded. The paint on the metal had already started to peel and rust underneath. I enclosed it leaving just enough open area for ventilation. Then I cleaned all the electrical and hydraulic components. Now it stays clean. The steel frame under the cargo doors has started to rust. I am cleaning, coating with rust stopper, and undercoating it to stop the damage. Next will come the genset. It has to be protected from the road dirt and moisture. I can't believe Jayco left such an expensive and excellent piece of equipment exposed to road salt and moisture. Ultimately I will have the entire undercarrage undercoated. Before that is done I will make sure all the electrical looms are in place and tied down. Jaycon left them hanging. As I mentioned earlier, some have been pinched to the point that the wires were showing. In some respects I just look at these problems as a challenge and an opportunity to buy a new tool to fix the problem. From what I read the Duramax is a great powerplant and the Allison transmission is bullet proof. And, Chevrolet makes a great truck. Plus servicing is reasonable compared to a diesel pusher, for example. In short, the foundations for a great unit are there.

I am fully sympathetic with Dee, however, when you work and work and work and work on a problem and never get it fixed. That is really frustrating. I too would point the finger directly at Jayco. It seems they purchase mostly good quality components and then slap them together haphazardly. I only hope they haven't screwed our unit up to the point I cannot make it right. For the moment I believe things are under control.

Dee, what about trying to locate the general area where the water is coming from? Perhaps you could check in the wheel well with a flashlight while someone is using the shower. How about not running the shower head and filling the shower pan with water? That might tell you if the leak is in the shower pan or the pressurized plumbing. If the the leaks appear with water only in the shower pan, it would seem that the leak is between the pan and where ever you can see the pipe is dry. If you found one loose connnection downstream from the shower pan, I'll bet they didn't tight the others. But, from what I remember of driver's side wheel well of my truck, getting to the bottom of the shower pan from outside looked impossible. Also, what about using food coloring to locate leaks if you can't see the water? I am betting on a loose connection near the shower pan. Getting there looks like a challenge.

My view is that no matter how difficult it is, if you can find the problem and fix it, you know it has been done right. Unless you know the service technician well, I am afraid you just get a big bill and a patch job. Then they will just tell you you need to buy a new unit.

I wonder if Jayco management reads these posts. Someone should send them to management. "Made In The USA" used to mean something good. If it doesn't start meaning that again soon, we all will be in trouble.

Re: Water leaks - Followup

Reply #28 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8091
In the shower stall repair I did this summer - I discovered that the gap with the wall was very large on one side. The water was condensing on the sides, and that could cause other problems. There was also a narrow gap against one wall (a few inches) and there was some work to do in there.

Along one close wall - the gap was too large just to caulk. I used gap foam, carefully to make sure it would not put pressure on the stall wall. Once the gap was bridged I used a knife to cut back the foam to the edge and then caulked.

Kevin

Kevin (Real) McCoy [KF5FUZ / WQJE447]
("Roscoe Ventura" Jayco Seneca HD SS 34 Diesel 2006; "Toad" Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 2007)

Re: Water leaks - Followup

Reply #29 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8092
I was the one with the opening at the top of the stall the Jayco was kind enough to fill. That may well have been the source of our water - but I'll never really know as it never happened again.

Don

Re: Water leaks - Followup

Reply #30 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8093
We thought of using food coloring and pouring it down the drain.

What we can't understand is that the water is running on the vinyl floor above the underside of the shower drain. The subfloor that the vinyl has been adhered to, shows signs of water damage. This is all so irritating and frustrating.

Re: Water leaks - Followup

Reply #31 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8094
Dee,

If you can get to it to tighten the drain, you should be able to remove the drain piece from the pan. Some of them will unscrew from the top. Can you send us a picture of it?

Dan

Re: Water leaks - Followup

Reply #32 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8095
That reinforces my comment that it is probably the shower enclosure. I had to reseal all the metal channel where it meets the fiberglass, sides and bottom. The water was following the lower metal track and running out in the back corner where that short wall is in the hall. If you look closely there is a hole there as well where the wiring comes up for all the switches and thermostat on the wall so the majority ended up under the shower and dripped out on the ground under the coach. It would also allow it to run on top of the vinyl depending on how the coach is tilted and if the vinyl wasn't cut clean around the hole. Take a shower, use a flashlight and see if water is back there, where the channel and base meet. Check the bottom corner by the vanity as well.

Re: Water leaks - EUREKA!!!

Reply #33 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8099
We found the leak, with a lot of detective work! We checked the shower caulking and it was all fine. It had been done recently on one of our "repairs" at Owasco. We checked that anyway, by sealing up the shower drain with duct tape and spraying the shower enclosure with water - nothing. Then dried everything out and poured water down the drain - nothing. Then thought it may have something to do with the hot water system. Turned on the hot water tank and DH felt a drip coming off the hot water pipe to the shower faucet.

We stuck a camera inside the hole under the pantry shelf and filmed the connection and filmed the water dripping off the elbow at the bottom of the pipe. Then he traced the water up the pipe. He opened the access panel in the pantry and felt water leaking out of the joint where the pipe joins the faucet. The winged nut was loose. So he tightened that. He had felt in there before but as the hot water heater was off, the pressure had not built up and the water was not leaking. The leaking only occurred when we showered as we only turn on the hot water tank when we shower!! Thanks to everyone for their help! What a great forum.

Praying that this is the end of the saga.....

Photos posted in my album. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KodiakChassisClassC/photos/album/1540195846/pic/list

Re: Water leaks - EUREKA!!!

Reply #35 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8101
Quote
We found the leak, with a lot of detective work! We checked the shower caulking and it was all fine. It had been done recently on one of our "repairs" at Owasco. We checked that anyway, by sealing up the shower drain with duct tape and spraying the shower enclosure with water - nothing. Then dried everything out and poured water down the drain - nothing. Then thought it may have something to do with the hot water system. Turned on the hot water tank and DH felt a drip coming off the hot water pipe to the shower faucet.

We stuck a camera inside the hole under the pantry shelf and filmed the connection and filmed the water dripping off the elbow at the bottom of the pipe. Then he traced the water up the pipe. He opened the access panel in the pantry and felt water leaking out of the joint where the pipe joins the faucet. The winged nut was loose. So he tightened that. He had felt in there before but as the hot water heater was off, the pressure had not built up and the water was not leaking. The leaking only occurred when we showered as we only turn on the hot water tank when we shower!! Thanks to everyone for their help! What a great forum.

Praying that this is the end of the saga.....

Photos posted in my album. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KodiakChassisClassC/photos/album/1540195846/pic/list
Congradulations: I have been following your postings the past few days and I'm very glad you found the culprit. Leaks are annoying, but once the problem has been discovered, the repairs are usually easy to fix. Glad you kept us all posted on the KODIAK site..russ

Re: Water leaks

Reply #36 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8102
Good repairs and Info. I like the video. I helped Dane fix a leak in his kitchen sink at the Sweetheart rally last year. Took a while to find problem. Needed to get new fittings to fix problem.
My GS has access ports to the shower fittings. So far I have not had a problem. Hope it stays that way.
Best
Ron Hall

Re: Water leaks - EUREKA!!!

Reply #38 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8104
Congratulations!!! I'll bet finally solving that problem feels great!!! Also, I love the idea of using a camera to see in hard to get at locations. Hadn't thought of that. I always just used a mirror. A camera is a great idea. That one is going into my little bag of tricks.

I agree. It's time for a drink.

Re: Water leaks - EUREKA!!!

Reply #39 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8105
Dee wrote:

Quote
We found the leak, with a lot of detective work!

I know that's a load off your mind, glad you found it.

Quote
We stuck a camera inside the hole under the pantry shelf and filmed the
connection and filmed the water dripping off the elbow

Okay, this is pure genius! I never thought of sliding one of my video
cams up inside some of these tight places. That's very good thinking.

Take care,
Greg

Re: Water leaks - EUREKA!!!

Reply #40 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8106
I use my cameras to do a lot of info collecting. Gets you to use features that you may not normally use. Like Macro and Video.
We took pictures of Gary's Converter and Inverter for wiring and part numbers in Elkhart last year. Hope he saved them.
Best
Ron Hall

Re: Water leaks - OH NO!

Reply #41 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8107
We woke up this morning and turned on the hot water heater and heard the pitter patter of tiny drips! Another leak! Easy to trace as it is from the hot water tap in the vanity. Took a picture and see that there is a winged nut up there too. Easy to tighten.

Yes, we did have a small celebration last evening. Hopefully we will have another one today!

Re: Water leaks - OH NO!

Reply #42 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8108
FYI: The other 4 you need to watch are the ones near the floor under the kit slide. I check them every other time before I open the slide. Apparently as the slide goes in and out the hose has a tendency to twist and loosen them up.

Re: Water leaks - OH NO!

Reply #43 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8109
That's the one Dane and I worked on in his MH.
Best
Ron Hall

Re: Water leaks - OH NO!

Reply #44 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8110
Thanks Dave. We will check those. We now know a whole lot more about the plumbing in a 35GS that we would like! New leak fixed easily. Just monitoring for a few days before we cancel the Camping World appointment.

Re: Water leaks - OH NO!

Reply #46 –
Yahoo Message Number: 8112
When the slide is in you can see them by laying on the floor by the bath and looking under the kitchen slide.