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Puzzled in California
Hi PC,
I have a slow seeping water leak (I think its water) coming from under the silver metal-enclosed trough that runs the length of the bus along the wall and floor on the driver’s side. The leak is manifesting behind the trough wall by the toilet area. I noticed it when I was rebuilding my Headhunter toilet and I thought the “water” leak was originally associated with the toilet but it is not. I can’t get to the leak from underneath where it drips very slowly on to the left front side of the generator bay. I think I need to open up that trough from the inside of the bus but obviously I can’t see and don’t know what’s behind the metal or if it’s even possible to cut through it without damaging anything that’s in there.
Does anybody know what Prevo has running through that trough? I imagine there’s a lot of wires and maybe some plumbing for the OTR air? Liberty has the water lines from the kitchen sink running on top of the trough and those are all good and dry the whole length with no other water lines near the leak that I can see.
Thanks for your input and suggestions.
Fred
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8 Replies
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What you describe sounds like the area used by the OTR system to carry cool air, and by Liberty to carry drains, fresh water and wiring, as well as air lines.
There is no correct answer for your question because different floor plans dictate exactly what might be housed and running through that area. For a variety of reasons I have had sections of that uncovered in my coach and it is safe to say until you get to the actual source all you can do is guess at what it might be.
Water, drains, condensation from Cruisair refrigerant lines, etc all are potential sources.
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Ran into something similar one time. Coach was leaking at the window by the front door. Looked and looked to find the source, no avail. Took a furnace blower adapted it to pressurize the coach thru the toll window. The leak was at the rear cap. It was running all the way to the front in a similar channel. You may want to check the sealing where the caps meet the rest of the bus.
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That’s very interesting I would have never thought of that Mikee. Thanks Jon I’m tempted to drill a small hole at the top and corner of the channel and use tinsnips to slowly cut down to the floor and maybe get an eyeball on the problem. But if this is a pressure issue then it gets a little more complicated. I’m thinking I could close it up with some silicone when I’m done. It’s all hidden behind a wall and cupboard so that’s a good thing but of course it makes it harder to get to.
Thanks for the information.
Fred
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Since every floor plan routes various cables, pipes, and other functions unique to its layout , including everything under the sun, including coolant lines to the Webasto heat exchangers the only real way to chase problems is to methodically open everything up.
That is so easy to say, but the reality is it is very hard. It not only involves opening up the duct where it is covered by Liberty and relatively easy, it involves emptying cabinets and removing back or floor panels, but also pulling out drawers and in the living room pulling the sofa bed or an entire cabinet.
The only good news is you are going to learn things you never knew about how the coach was built and where everything was located.
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Fred: call me. 262-365-9088. I’ve chased water in our Liberty two or three times. I think I can give you some possibility things to try first.
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Ok, I got lucky. I opened up the channel or trough from the top and took my mirror and flashlight and much to my surprise the channel was completely empty. I could see some minor water stains along the floor in the channel but that was it. Then I thought maybe the water was running down the outer wall from the outside runner lights because the wires for the lights exit the bus on top of the leak stains I could see. No rain here of recent but I did get a wash not long ago. The runner lights were dry with good seals to them so all was good there. Next I started rechecking the two water lines coming from the kitchen running on top of the channel and underneath a big bundle of wires but no leaks there either. I’m not sure why but I checked the sewer discharge line just for the fun of it and under one of the fittings I spotted the smallest and slowest drip known to man. I would have never seen it if not for the fact that the drip was just about ready to fall. Then I started rechecking everything that I had recently done all around the toilet and while I was checking the main water line coming into the flush valve voilà or is that vodka… on the water line to the flush valve there was a very small shimmer coming from underneath the hose clamps. I was lucky to even see it. I know I checked those hose clamps before and all was good but maybe I cranked down too hard on them when I was tightening and they eventually started to seep. So I fixed both leaks and I think I’m good to go now. It’s nice to know what’s on and in that channel. I’ll keep checking back on all these water lines and connections from time to time just because well ya never know. It was a frustrating leak search but satisfying because I was able to figure it all out. I stopped drinking a long time ago but after all this… just writing the word vodka has got me thinking!
Fred
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Isn’t it amazing all that is in those ducts, and how many possible leak points there can be.
Good job. That kind of detective work is very time consuming and really requires a lot of mind numbing time and effort.
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Good job Fred, stick with tea, vodka may have you sleeping through your next recording.
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