Leaking roof

GillRuss

Guest
Can anyone help please - bought our motorhome for £28000 middle of October, travelled to the Algarve beginning of December, and have had to come home because the roof is leaking - it is now badly marked, and water still coming out. It is under warranty, but we have lost all faith in the dealer, not only is the roof leaking, but diesel had been put into the water tank prior to us taking it over - unfortunately, we had already paid for it when this was found out - the company did replace all pipes etc (at least they said they did and it no longer smells). Also, the first day we had it both batteries had to be replaced - is it jinxed ?

Any advice as to how we should approach the dealer - ideally we want out money back, or a different van, would be appreciated
 
Your post reads that so far you havent spoken with the dealer.

I would suggest you have a meeting with the general Manager voice your concerns and see what they are prepared to do.

If you get no joy

I would suggest that you contact your local trading standards office.( it might be worth doing that anyway)

They are naturally familiar with the Sales of Goods Act, and will act on your behalf.

They will certainly be able to advise on refunds, replacements and repairs and how to remedy your situation to best effect.

The SOGA is not as straight forward as it first appears in respect of 'merchantable quality' 'fit for purpose etc.

If you funded the vehicle on hP not a personal loan, then the finance company have a liability too.

I hope this helps.

Channa
 
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hi sorry to hear about your HM troubles.
First off you need to stop anymore water getting in, get a cover over it and ensure water is running away from the affected area.

Don't loose heart, lots of MH's develop leaks at some time in their life, some very new ones included, this site is full of similar stories, they can be repaired and the damage sorted so long as you act quickly.

I expect you have a warrenty with the dealer so this should be the first course of action but that may not include replacement only fixing any issues. You could possibly argue a case that its not been sold fit for purpose and ask for a refund but if they decide to argue the case you may find its a lot of hastle that will take a long time to resolve and meanwhile you do not have a MH you can use and it may be deteriorating until fixed. A solicitor or the local trading standards as Channa says would be able to advise you.

If you othrwise happy with the MH then If it was me and I was not confident about the supplier I would find out how much it will cost to repair the MH properly using another company and ask the supplier to pay for it.

I'm sure plenty of others will also have some good sage advise today, good luck
 
The joys of motorhoming

Hi GillRuss,
Nothing worse than finding out that your pride and joy is not all you hoped for however do not despair all is not lost.
Do as has been suggested and talk to the supplying dealer even they do not know about hidden faults and if they only had the van in for a short period of time during dry weather with the best will in the world they would not know of its leaks. They have a reputation to think of, and they did act to remedy the water problem.
Now for the warrenty. What kind is it? Is it an insurance type (ie from an independant company) in which you can make a claim and take the van to a repairer of your choice. Is it warrented by the supplier in which case M'Lud Channa's advice is good.
Chin up.
Happy new year.
Regards,
Wanderer
 
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Most vans have a water ingress warranty from the manufacturer. This is usually valid for 5 years. You did not say how old your van was, is it under 5 years old?

I doubt very much whether you will get a full refund but you could push initially for another van as you have lost confidence in yours.

Give Trading Standards a ring. I only used them once and they were very good. Just the phone call they made to the supplier I had a problem with made all the difference in my case. It was only for a few hundred pounds though.

In my experience, you need to know what to say to the dealer and be nice about it (do not rant on). Make him aware that you are deeply troubled with the problem and will take it as far as necessary to get justice.
 
Thanks for the advice, we did speak to the dealer when the leak happened whilst we were in the Algarve, and they gave us the ok to spend 96 euros trying to sort it, this didn't work, so we told them we were bringing it back home - we gaffer taped the roof, but it still came through !! We have spoken to the original owner, who told us that they had told the dealer there had been a leak on the roof, and they were supposed to fix it - we are hoping to take it back to the dealer this week, but have decided we will only speak to the MD so we have to wait for him - the dealership is about 150 miles away.Unfortunately, we paid cash and part ex for the vehicle, so cant do anything with HP companies etc. I really feel as if we may have been taken for a bit of a ride knowing now that there had been a previous leak - but we are not going to let them get away with it, even if it takes 6 months !!!!

channa said:
Your post reads that so far you havent spoken with the dealer.

I would suggest you have a meeting with the general Manager voice your concerns and see what they are prepared to do.

If you get no joy

I would suggest that you contact your local trading standards office.( it might be worth doing that anyway)

They are naturally familiar with the Sales of Goods Act, and will act on your behalf.

They will certainly be able to advise on refunds, replacements and repairs and how to remedy your situation to best effect.

The SOGA is not as straight forward as it first appears in respect of 'merchantable quality' 'fit for purpose etc.

If you funded the vehicle on hP not a personal loan, then the finance company have a liability too.

I hope this helps.

Channa
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maingate said:
Most vans have a water ingress warranty from the manufacturer. This is usually valid for 5 years. You did not say how old your van was, is it under 5 years old?

I doubt very much whether you will get a full refund but you could push initially for another van as you have lost confidence in yours.

Give Trading Standards a ring. I only used them once and they were very good. Just the phone call they made to the supplier I had a problem with made all the difference in my case. It was only for a few hundred pounds though.

In my experience, you need to know what to say to the dealer and be nice about it (do not rant on). Make him aware that you are deeply troubled with the problem and will take it as far as necessary to get justice.
Click to expand...

Pretty much echo my thoughts Maingate.

I find two points so far quite interesting,

1) The dealer agreed/authorised an attempted repair to damage that could have been brought about by the OP walloping the van ( sure they didnt but a few dishonest folk around) or possibly a leak could have been induced by bodyflexing all part and parcel of the pastime ? And not down to the dealer ?

We dont know what van it is but prevalent in coachbuilts I suspect more than van conversions and A class.

2) The previous RK suggests they told the dealer of a fault. Forgive my sceptism but on the basis that the px allowance would be lower for recon I suspect most people keep their gobs shut ?.conversley most folks like to think they can get one over a dealer?.

I think that the OP should have dialogue with the MD, and give them the opportunity to put things right, possibly push for an exchange van in the meantime contact their local TS so that an accurate record of what has been offered and hasn;t is documented should it turn nasty.

Channa
 
I have now contacted Trading Standards, and they have told us what to say, and depending on the outcome of the conversation what to say in a letter. We have to give them the oportunity of fixing it, and we have said that we will have any repair independantly checked. They have also said that if the repair is no good, we should go for a like for like change, or a full refund. Also, the previous owner, has said that when he p/ex this vehicle for a new one, he told them that there was a leak, it appears that the leak is in exactly the same place - this man is prepared to give a statement to this effect. It would appear that they didn't do the repair/
Hopefully we will get sorted next week - I will keep you all informed -
 
GillRuss said:
Forget to mention it is an Autosleeper, 55 plate
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Thanks for keeping us updated, I hope you reach a satisfactory conclusion.

FWIW, TS have given a predictable but fair answer.i.e giving the dealer the opportunity to make a wrong right.

I would still press for a meeting with the MD, Outline your concerns, accept that you are prepared to let them make right the wrong, but emphasise that you will seek remedies that the law provides should they fall short in their duty to sell a van that is patently not fit for purpose and of merchantable quality

Channa
 
If its on a 55 plate and the leak is not caused by an accident or other external occurrence then surely its a warranty claim under the water ingress guarantee. The dealer will be paid for putting it right.

If it has been caused by some kind of accident then I would want to know exactly how it happened and why the dealer knowingly sold it in that condition. The water leak might just be a symptom of other problems.

If there is a chance of more trouble down the line, I think I would be looking at getting an independant engineers report on the vehicle.
 
GillRuss said:
Autosleeper Inca on 55 plate - I believe we are 3rd owner
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Could the water be entering from around the kitchen roof light/extractor fan vent, I ask this because there has been some publicity in the not to distant passed that autosleeper had been using a pre fabricated seal that wasn't up to the job instead of using the normal sealing compound. They recognised there was a problem and I believe it was resolved on later production.
 
defitzi

All that and more but just a tip: gaffer 's not waterproof. After hundreds of feet of it used for everything imaginable ( including temporary bodywork which has become permanent sort of) i say it 's great for many tings as is WD 40 (great for I million things- didn't U know?) but de best for watere especially alu van bodies is aluminium tape. My 1878 Hymer ("baby") Merc 204 (4 speed box) has many holes upstairs (various sharp street signs in narrow streets in Italy and... and also two skylights I rebuilt with shopping bags, some cardboard and whatever all overlaid with rolls and rolls of alu tape after they disintegrated from anno Domini . I patches 'em like bodywork with same foil and it is still waterproof and has had some very very hefty rail , cloudbursts, hail and now snow but I'm 73, baby is also a senior and it is just keek us both going- no time or energy replace anything that can't be patched, Heath Robinsoned (elastic cord replaces broken door catches etc) as are is most of the bits and pieces inside and out, perspex side windows, sealed patches on reqar double glaze... but mechanically at 190000km as good as New Year's Day when it was first registered in Austria and then drove over an Alpine pass !
Some day i'll get a camera and take a pic and post meantime Merc and alutape forever!
Oh yes-watch this space: Baby really is a real classic but soon I will ave to find her a home for the future and it will not be a question of money but o a kind biod able and willing to undertyake body restoration ( the chassis and mechanicals are A1) and that decision will be soon for having only veer spent a couple of nights in/on? as campsite in Baby's lifetime, Baby reg in Ir 78 LH ??? ( will seek a preserver through this website. And sadly, that's likely this year-
 
just to let you all know, been in touch with the dealer today - not very helpful, and he asked if we had had problems with other cars and caravans - when we said no he said we were very lucky. However, we have had advice from Trading Standards and from a solicitor, done the letter, and arranged for them to collect it from us - we are still trying to get them on unfit for purpose/inherent defect, because they now say they put in the new roof light, but couldn't answer why they hadn't put in either a woodenn frame or wooden blocks to screw it to !!!!
 
Best thing is assuming it is a metal roof putty and rag all joints, and get brushes and fibered aluminum roof coating and give it a nice coat. Oh have some goop for cleaning up after you putty and rag, and have on clothes you can throw away, messy job but it's the best way. shoes get some kinda booties to go over them or you will ruin them too.
You do a good job and you will never have any leak , learn to do it yourself. When you hire someone most don't like getting tarred anymore than you do. So they might do a half way job. :)
 
Really dont think after paying out £27995 two months ago I should have to do anything !!
 
Hi Roland Rat - thank you for the info re the roof vent - can you remember where you got this info from, because the more we think about it, the more it makes sense that the water comes in there (high side) cant get out anywhere else except the large skylight which had no frame round it, and as the man in Portugal said, was a really badj fixing job. Impossible for the water to go up hill - and as it leaked after rain as well as during rain we guess it is holding water somewhere.
 
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