Hi all I am new to the forum but not to the grey nomad brigade. We have had 3 caravans and currently have a Hamilton Retreat 2014 which we have had since new. Has anyone had trouble with the external clearance lights filling up with water & hence not working. We have brought this to the attention of the service dept since we have had the van but nothing has been done. We have just had another service done and again mentioned the problem & and were told due to the van being out of warranty it would cost us $600 to replace the lights.Also the outside LED lights have yellowed and we have the van covered when not in use. I thought caravans were built with UV protected materials. Thanks Marls50
Possum3 said
04:35 PM Jul 13, 2017
Basically they now put on clearance lights with a smear of silicon (RTV) behind them rather than providing a proper rubber gasket which would keep the water from going behind light/s and filling them. Cost cutting to the extreme.
CC Bear said
07:57 PM Jul 13, 2017
You can replace them with LED lights which are normally fully sealed. I just orded some from this mob brightlightautoparts.com.au $52 for four. Lot cheaper than $600 and easy to install.
Hetho said
08:38 PM Jul 13, 2017
Hi Marls50.
I agree with CC Bear, LED`s are the answer, fully sealed and I think from memory when I built my van; Narva sell a combo with a reflector in the centre for side, rear and front marker lights.
Apply a liberal amount of SIKA Sealant to the base and problem solved.
Regards.
Hetho.
Tony Bev said
08:52 PM Jul 13, 2017
I had the same problem on my Jayco, as per my Avatar, with my side clearance lights
One out of four failed on my first trip, water had got in and had obviously damaged the light
I just brought new clearance lights from eBay
They were about $5 each, so I renewed all 4, just to be sociable
$600 does seem a little excessive, perhaps if you put a photo up, someone may know where to get your type of clearance lights
Hope that this info is useful to you
Tony Bev said
08:54 PM Jul 13, 2017
Tony Bev wrote:
I had the same problem on my Jayco, as per my Avatar, with my side clearance lights
One out of four failed on my first trip, water had got in and had obviously damaged the light
I just brought new clearance lights from eBay
They were about $5 each, so I renewed all 4, just to be sociable
$600 does seem a little excessive, perhaps if you put a photo up, someone may know where to get your type of clearance lights
Hope that this info is useful to you
Opps, edit to say, forgetting my manners again
Welcome to the forum
oldbloke said
09:04 PM Jul 13, 2017
This is just typical. It seems to me the caravan manufacturing and servicing industry is stuck in the 60s when it comes to quality and customer service.
As suggested fit new leds from eBay. Easy peasy.
Aus-Kiwi said
12:01 AM Jul 14, 2017
Welcome .. Can drill a small hole in the bottom of lense old HQ Holden trick..Lets water out ..Did this when I was an apprentice.. Yes led is way to go ..
Desert Dweller said
06:03 AM Jul 14, 2017
We were talking to some people a few weeks back with the same problem. $600 is ridiculous, as others have commented fit some LED's. Job done.
Some repairers treat older folk as like they're breaking into their piggy bank & grabbing the lot. Tell 'em they're dreamin'.
Roving-Dutchy said
11:59 AM Jul 15, 2017
If you brought it to the attention of the service department during warranty they can't turn round and say you are now out of warranty and refuse to fix it
Though it's probably far easier to fix them yourself, though it would be good to be able to stick it up them, this is what they are relying on that you will just go away and the more we allow companies to get away with this attitude the worse things will get.
If you are retired it might be good to become a thorn in their side, at least the company will have to expend time dealing with you every time you contact them and that takes them away from using their time more profitably.
Cheers
David
Sarge9 said
10:14 PM Jul 15, 2017
Marls50 you got the right message from Aus-Kiwi.... Zero cost to you and over the last 5 or 6 years no light issues for me. Had to do it to the truck as well, I have no idea if it is condensation or rain water, but all dry once the hole was done. I think I used smaller than 1/8th.
Hi Marls50.
I agree with CC Bear, LED`s are the answer, fully sealed and I think from memory when I built my van; Narva sell a combo with a reflector in the centre for side, rear and front marker lights.
Apply a liberal amount of SIKA Sealant to the base and problem solved.
Regards.
Hetho.
One out of four failed on my first trip, water had got in and had obviously damaged the light
I just brought new clearance lights from eBay
They were about $5 each, so I renewed all 4, just to be sociable
$600 does seem a little excessive, perhaps if you put a photo up, someone may know where to get your type of clearance lights
Hope that this info is useful to you
Opps, edit to say, forgetting my manners again
Welcome to the forum
Some repairers treat older folk as like they're breaking into their piggy bank & grabbing the lot. Tell 'em they're dreamin'.
Though it's probably far easier to fix them yourself, though it would be good to be able to stick it up them, this is what they are relying on that you will just go away and the more we allow companies to get away with this attitude the worse things will get.
If you are retired it might be good to become a thorn in their side, at least the company will have to expend time dealing with you every time you contact them and that takes them away from using their time more profitably.
Cheers
David
Sarge.