Roma-home leaking roof vent ?

[scotty]

Hi,

Name is scotty. New to the forum. Just got my first camper van.

I have a 1994 (L) romahome C15 hi-top which is leaking from the rear roof vent ( I think) its not severe but there are patches of damp on the roof lining just forward of the roof vent after a nights constant rain. There was also 1 drip of water on the rear corner of the fly screen.
Question is, is it just a re-seal and refit job or a replacement vent and
is it a do it yourself job to remove and refit or is it a specialists job.?

Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks.
scotty

[ant]

Hi Scotty.
8 screws, and its out, scrape off the old sealant and re-fit with new ( I use Uni bond mega seal but any silicone type sealant will do). The job shouldn't take more than half an hour or so, don't do it on a damp or wet day as the sealant will not adhere to the body and it'll leak again in no time.
Ant

[scotty]

Hi ant,

Many thanks for the info. Much appreciated. Forecast is good for this w/end so will give it a try.

Do you know what position the switch on the power panel should be set at please ? It has 3 positions - up for car, down for caravan and a middle position. I have no information on how to use it. Thanks.
At the moment I leave it set to caravan and this powers the lights in the caravan from the leisure battery under the seat.

I love this little van. it has an 1800 diesel engine which is giving me about 45 - 50 mpg (driving up to 55 mph). Sweet running engine with
64,000 on the clock. Happy days !

[Graham]

scotty said:

Name is scotty. New to the forum. Just got my first camper van.

Hi Scotty

Welcome to the Forum, its great to hear from you, hope you get your leak sorted and have many happy camping trips.

Regarding the switch when its on the caravan symbol the 12 volt appliances run from the leisure battery and when its on the car symbol they run from the van battery.

When we are driving we have it on car symbol and when camping we change it to caravan symbol. Hope that helps.

Regards
Graham


Graham

[scotty]

Hi Graham,

Many thanks for the welcome and the info on the switch.
What a great forum. Perhaps one day I will be able to pass on any tips I have learned which may help someone else.

I still have not got used to other camper vans flashing and waving as we pass on the road. At first I was stopping to check what had just dropped off ! or if my headlights were on ? but I understand now and will be waving back from now on.

We call our van 'Brian' cos it looks a bit like a snail (as in the magic roundabout). and that describes it speed on the road quite well. !

Thanks again to you and Ant for the superb help.
Best wishes. Scotty.

[jayjay]

Hi Scotty! Nice to meet you! ;D

[effiemac]

Hello Scotty & all,

Just so I understand this, the car battery switch option - what's the point? What 12V appliances can you run when you're driving? Is it not just there for when the leisure battery is done and you're desperate?

Also, what are the disadvantages of keeping the switch always set up to van conversion? Sellotaped even... I ask this having several times flipped the switch down to drain the car battery when in my old van during bed-making (when the switches were at floor level) and having to be jump-started.

Dopey burd fae Glesca

[Graham]

effiemac said:

Just so I understand this, the car battery switch option - what's the point? What 12V appliances can you run when you're driving? Is it not just there for when the leisure battery is done and you're desperate?

Also, what are the disadvantages of keeping the switch always set up to van conversion? Sellotaped even... I ask this having several times flipped the switch down to drain the car battery when in my old van during bed-making (when the switches were at floor level) and having to be jump-started.

That will teach me to try and answer a technical question, someone comes back wanting more information.

You are right of course you wouldn't run 12v appliances when you are driving but we always put ours switch on car when driving, as you say perhaps the car one is for if the leisure battery is flat.

Ant should be able to clarify the switch situation. ANT HELP!!

[scotty]

jayjay said:

Hi Scotty! Nice to meet you! ;D

Hi Jayjay,

Thanks for the greetings and it's nice to meet you also.

Cheers
Scotty

[scotty]

effiemac said:

Hello Scotty & all,

Just so I understand this, the car battery switch option - what's the point? What 12V appliances can you run when you're driving? Is it not just there for when the leisure battery is done and you're desperate?

Also, what are the disadvantages of keeping the switch always set up to van conversion? Sellotaped even... I ask this having several times flipped the switch down to drain the car battery when in my old van during bed-making (when the switches were at floor level) and having to be jump-started.

Dopey burd fae Glesca

Hi Effiemac

Thanks for the input. I have to plead ignorance here and say that I am willing to learn ....

I did wonder if this switch needs to be up or down to make the fridge work when I am on route somewhere ?I have a push switch on the dash board which says fridge which I press when about to set off. It doesn't light up or even 'press back' to inform me that it's doing anything *!! From limited experience so far, the fridge doesn't get very cold unless I am parked up and switched to gas. Then it's much colder.

My switch panel is strategically placed where a well worn size 9 boot
can gently change its setting on passing !!

Nice to hear from you.
Cheers
Scotty

[effiemac]

Scotty!
You must have my old van! Every time I made that bed up and plugged in my extension cable, I'd flip that switch by mistake and have to do the damsel in distress thang in the morning when the van battery was done. I'd carry my own jump leads after the first time..control freak or what?

Methinks the fridge needs to be cold when you ping that front fridge button as it will only keep it as cold as it started when driving. In mine the button would light up though, maybe your fuse has gone? Do you have a 240v fridge switch along the skirting in the back to flip when on hook-up? And a cable to plug in 240v to mains before you go?

Effie

[ant]

Hi all you budding techies!
Just to clarify some points. The switch on the 12volt panel can be left switched to the caravan setting. it will charge the 2nd battery (despite what the hand book says!). The older Romahomes with the "logic" rather than "Zig" charger must have the switch in the car position to charge the 2nd battery.
12volt fridge opperation, you need to do about 300 miles to get a warm fridge cold on 12volts, however Effie is right that a cool fridge will be maintained by the 12volt while you're driving. A simple test to see if the fridge might be working ( without going 300 miles) is to turn the vehicle ignition on let the glow plug light come on and switch the fridge on at the same time, if the fridge is drawing enough current to work the red ignition lights will dim and brighten as you switch the fridge on and off. dont be too concerned by the lack of light in the switch it may still work without it. If the lights don't seem to dim at all you'll need to check the fridge relay which is to the right of the battery under the bonnet ( C15's), its the little box with a heavy yellow wire going to it.

Is that all as clear as mud?
Ant

[scotty]

ant said:

Hi all you budding techies!
Just to clarify some points. The switch on the 12volt panel can be left switched to the caravan setting. it will charge the 2nd battery (despite what the hand book says!). The older Romahomes with the "logic" rather than "Zig" charger must have the switch in the car position to charge the 2nd battery.
12volt fridge opperation, you need to do about 300 miles to get a warm fridge cold on 12volts, however Effie is right that a cool fridge will be maintained by the 12volt while you're driving. A simple test to see if the fridge might be working ( without going 300 miles) is to turn the vehicle ignition on let the glow plug light come on and switch the fridge on at the same time, if the fridge is drawing enough current to work the red ignition lights will dim and brighten as you switch the fridge on and off. dont be too concerned by the lack of light in the switch it may still work without it. If the lights don't seem to dim at all you'll need to check the fridge relay which is to the right of the battery under the bonnet ( C15's), its the little box with a heavy yellow wire going to it.

Is that all as clear as mud?
Ant

Hi Ant and All,

Many thanks for the info. I have checked for ign. and heater lamps dimming with fridge switched on and off with no noticeable change in brightness so I will need to look at that relay.

Cheers and beers
Scotty

[scotty]

effiemac said:

Scotty!
You must have my old van! Every time I made that bed up and plugged in my extension cable, I'd flip that switch by mistake and have to do the damsel in distress thang in the morning when the van battery was done. I'd carry my own jump leads after the first time..control freak or what?

Methinks the fridge needs to be cold when you ping that front fridge button as it will only keep it as cold as it started when driving. In mine the button would light up though, maybe your fuse has gone? Do you have a 240v fridge switch along the skirting in the back to flip when on hook-up? And a cable to plug in 240v to mains before you go?

Effie

Hi Effie and All,

Yes I have mains hook up installed. Thanks for the tip. I will run the fridge from 240V.mains before setting off. Looks like I need to check out my fridge switch and relay this w/end.

The jump leads sound like a great idea. Must get a set.

Thanks again
Scotty.

[effiemac]

Don't know the size of your engine, but I have a van/lorry diesel set from Halfords for the big, sexy Berlingo engine as smaller ones melt - the ones I had for my 600cc Smart car just didn't cut the mustard.
E

[scotty]

effiemac said:

Don't know the size of your engine, but I have a van/lorry diesel set from Halfords for the big, sexy Berlingo engine as smaller ones melt - the ones I had for my 600cc Smart car just didn't cut the mustard.
E

Hi E,

My engine is an 1800 cc diesel. Thanks for the tip, will get a sturdy pair.
I don't think this engine is big or sexy, but it starts first time and runs like a goodun. Very pleased with it.

Regards
Scotty.

[scotty]

ant said:

Hi Scotty.
8 screws, and its out, scrape off the old sealant and re-fit with new ( I use Uni bond mega seal but any silicone type sealant will do). The job shouldn't take more than half an hour or so, don't do it on a damp or wet day as the sealant will not adhere to the body and it'll leak again in no time.
Ant

Hi Ant,

I have fixed the leaking roof vent -just as you advised. It took a long time as there was a lot of old sealant (bodge) ! on the roof and the inner roof lining was very wet. However after drying it all out I used Mega seal and it looks like as good as new now. The next rain shower will prove the job either way but I know it will be OK.
Getting the Mega seal was the hard bit. Only a firm called 'Screw Fix'
had it in stock but it is a superb product.

Thanks for the help and advice.
Cheers and beers
Scotty.

[ant]

Well done Scotty, you should be fine, not much gets past "Mega seal"
Ant

[lizziehill]

Hi Scotty! Hope you're enjoying your van.

Right, now I'm confused...!

I have a C15, but I don't have a fridge button on the dashboard... Although did I maybe read somewhere that the heated rear windscreen button does something to the fridge?

And where is the car/caravan button??

Help!

Lizzie

[scotty]

lizziehill said:

Hi Scotty! Hope you're enjoying your van.

Right, now I'm confused...!

I have a C15, but I don't have a fridge button on the dashboard... Although did I maybe read somewhere that the heated rear windscreen button does something to the fridge?

And where is the car/caravan button??

Help!

Lizzie

Hi Lizzie,

Yes thanks I am having a great time in my romahome.
Being a bit of an anorak and plane spotter ( that's like a train spotter without the hot cinders in your hair) ! I get to the local air bases and really enjoy being able to get out of the cold and make a 'brew'. Very nice ....better than home cos no lawn to cut or windows to paint !

Anyway back to the techy stuff. I have no idea about the rear window switch cos I haven't got one of those !! Maybe we could swap but then my fridge wouldn't work ! ;D.
You have got a fridge though haven't you ? ;D .

Re the car / caravan button.. on my C15 its behind the passenger seat in the caravan just above floor level and its a panel with a volt meter and 3 fuses and switches and the car/ caravan switch.

It's all very confusing but I am learning as I go along with lots of help from the experts and kind folk on this forum. I hope you manage to sort it out.

I am slowly fixing my faults as they crop up. My latest mystery is that every time I set off, the roof vents are closed and when I arrive the front one is open ?? now thats magic ?! who is doing it ? not me.

Cheers and Beers
Scotty

[lizziehill]

scotty said:

Re the car / caravan button.. on my C15 its behind the passenger seat in the caravan just above floor level and its a panel with a volt meter and 3 fuses and switches and the car/ caravan switch.

Hi Scotty,

Ah, ok, I have one of those, but it's at the back of the van, under the seat beside the sink/cupboard.

I'll have to go have another look at some point.

L.

[ant]

Hi Lizzie.
You have a "logic" panel, Scotty has a "Zig" panel. You need to switch your Car/Caravan switch to the Car position in order to charge the second battery ( if you have one). The 12v switch only controls the lights,pump and any 12v sockets you may have, it doesn't have anything to do with the fridge.
Ant

[lizziehill]

Great, thanks Ant!