Check Your Water Filler 4 Internal Damage

[Dean Anderson]

Just doing a bit of wiring and found damage to the inside wall below the water filler. Probable cause is a bad seal between the external checker-plate and filler surround frame. I'll be slapping a bit of silicon on mine to hopefully prevent the problem from getting worse.

My vans a 2012 model and has always been outdoors with no cover but I'd advise checking yours anyway because the depth of the checker-plate and thickness of the gasket when installed don't look like there was ever a good seal.

 

[Crusty181]

I had the same issue in our van (Nov 2014 model). Luckily discovered relatively early and had electrical tape over the gap until we got home and took it back. Thats a major design fault thats been going for 6 years that Im aware of ... it was the same on my 2009 16.49OB. Hence why we found the new early on.

Another issue is the rubbish gap filler that is used on the new style external hatches. It dries out in the sun, cracks and leaks in a similar way.

 

[Bushman]

You also need to check the water heater external seal if you have one fitted, that's where mine leaked on the previous van.

 

[Dean Anderson]

Replaced the whole panel for the water heater six months back. The bottom door hinge was loose and
I was going to fix it at the next stop (home). Quick fix with some multi-grips when I get home ......I thought "She'll be right"......NOPE...........Lost the door and had to replace the door and surround cause you can't buy one without the other...when I saw that it blew off I said "Oh dear". or something similar.

 

[Bushman]

Replaced the whole panel for the water heater six months back. The bottom door hinge was loose and
I was going to fix it at the next stop (home). Quick fix with some multi-grips when I get home ......I thought "She'll be right"......NOPE...........Lost the door and had to replace the door and surround cause you can't buy one without the other...when I saw that it blew off I said "Oh dear". or something similar.

Know that feeling! though I ripped mine off on the boom gate control panel coming out of a park, luckily only bent the hatch out of shape, but yep had to buy the whole thing,

 

[Tricky]

Great heads up. Thanks for the tip.