Corrosion problems with new Airstreams

[DMT]

Sal,

How did you get the light off?

Don

[fmr.capt.evi]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, this is so sad that Airstream created a new corrosion problem with the new LED clearance lamps. I think Airstream should take care of the skin problem.

I agree, but my dilemma is that replacement segments could look worse than spot repairs.

[Sal44]

Originally Posted by DMT

Sal,

How did you get the light off?

Don

The newer lenses are held on by two clips and some two sided tape. You just pull them off and the chrome base has two screws. I believe older models have lenses that have to be broken off.

[Al - K4GLU]

Originally Posted by Sal44

The newer lenses are held on by two clips and some two sided tape. You just pull them off and the chrome base has two screws. I believe older models have lenses that have to be broken off.

The older lenses do not have to be broken off. Unfortunately the clips on the first model LED light were made of plastic and break easily. I explained this in the post I wrote earlier covering the installation of the cast aluminum bezels.

[DMT]

Originally Posted by Sal44

The newer lenses are held on by two clips and some two sided tape. You just pull them off and the chrome base has two screws. I believe older models have lenses that have to be broken off.

Just pull straight off? So you need to pry underneath the lens or poke something under the lens to trip the clip?

[Gene]

This sounds like those cheap plastic clips that come with lots of vehicles—they install fast and cost little, so manufacturers like them. Repair shops like them because they can sell you new ones to replace the ones just about anyone breaks trying to remove something. If you don't have a shop manual you can go nuts trying to figure out how to remove something without breaking it, and the shop manual probably doesn't explain it either.

I tried to remove the step light lens to better seal it, but couldn't figure out how to. I didn't want to break the lens, so I gave up and sealed around it. If it ever burns out, I'll probably ignore it since it doesn't light up much of anything.

Gene

[ROBERT CROSS]

I tried to remove the step light lens to better seal it, but couldn't figure out how to. I didn't want to break the lens, so I gave up and sealed around it. If it ever burns out, I'll probably ignore it since it doesn't light up much of anything.

Gene

Gene,

I tried six waze from Sunday on that lens....then i noticed the printing on the bottom edge....."lift up to remove" duh.
#64 bright white 13 element LED bulb solved the illumination lack.

Bob

[Gene]

Thanks Bob. I'll get to it in a few years. The patio light does the job anyway.

Gene

[Sal44]

Originally Posted by DMT

Just pull straight off? So you need to pry underneath the lens or poke something under the lens to trip the clip?

I pulled mine off by hand. No tools. The clips on mine are metal and they pull right out. It seems the two sided tape and sealant do more to secure the lens than the clips do.

[DMT]

Great. Thanks. I'm back and forth with AS on this issue but getting close to a resolution. They are very receptive so far, so I am optimistic.

[GettinAway]

Originally Posted by GettinAway

Wrote my letter to AS. The corrosion showed up within the first 30 days of owning our trailer.
They are going to put the light casings on. I just have to get my trailer to the local dealer.
Looking forward to seeing the pics of them installed.

Jeff

Well I can't get a picture up of my new castings under the lights. Photobucket is not letting me into my own account??
I did want to report that Dave and Tim from Jackson Center came out to St Louis and worked on my 23FB FC late yesterday and this morning. They put the new castings under all 11 running lights, and they look very good.
There were some other issues I was having (furnace, black water sensor, propane tank cover, interior lights, and of course the white corrosion around the running lights.)
They fixed everything. My AS looks like, and operates like, I had hoped it would!!
I still have a bit of the corrosion around the rivets and edge on one corner panel, but they treated it with Corrosion X and Boshield. It is pretty hard to find at this point.
I will try again later to post a picture of the new light base. It has all the corrosion covered for now..
I really can't complain at this point. They (Dave and Tim) made a trip out from Ohio to St Louis to try and make sure I was satisfied. They are both great to work with.. First class!

Jeff

[SilverCottage]

Glad to hear you got some action. Would you mind describing exactly what they did with the Corrosion X and Boshield?

[Luckyducks]

Originally Posted by GettinAway

Well I can't get a picture up of my new castings under the lights. Photobucket is not letting me into my own account??
I did want to report that Dave and Tim from Jackson Center came out to St Louis and worked on my 23FB FC late yesterday and this morning. They put the new castings under all 11 running lights, and they look very good.
There were some other issues I was having (furnace, black water sensor, propane tank cover, interior lights, and of course the white corrosion around the running lights.)
They fixed everything. My AS looks like, and operates like, I had hoped it would!!
I still have a bit of the corrosion around the rivets and edge on one corner panel, but they treated it with Corrosion X and Boshield. It is pretty hard to find at this point.
I will try again later to post a picture of the new light base. It has all the corrosion covered for now..
I really can't complain at this point. They (Dave and Tim) made a trip out from Ohio to St Louis to try and make sure I was satisfied. They are both great to work with.. First class!

Jeff

Jeff, thanks for the report. Did they reuse the old lights when installing the new castings? Any problems getting the plastic lens covers off without breaking the tabs? I need all this done too as I have some corrosion popping out from under my running lights. Looking forward to your picture of the new casting base. Thanks, Russ

[Bluto]

Originally Posted by GettinAway

Well I can't get a picture up of my new castings under the lights. Photobucket is not letting me into my own account??
I did want to report that Dave and Tim from Jackson Center came out to St Louis and worked on my 23FB FC late yesterday and this morning. They put the new castings under all 11 running lights, and they look very good.
There were some other issues I was having (furnace, black water sensor, propane tank cover, interior lights, and of course the white corrosion around the running lights.)
They fixed everything. My AS looks like, and operates like, I had hoped it would!!
I still have a bit of the corrosion around the rivets and edge on one corner panel, but they treated it with Corrosion X and Boshield. It is pretty hard to find at this point.
I will try again later to post a picture of the new light base. It has all the corrosion covered for now..
I really can't complain at this point. They (Dave and Tim) made a trip out from Ohio to St Louis to try and make sure I was satisfied. They are both great to work with.. First class!

Jeff

You silver tongue devil, how did you manage having them travel to you?
Whatever you did, it works!

Looks like Airstream at Jackson Center has reached a new high in customer service.

[DMT]

Well folks, after some back and forth with AS it looks like I am to receive the new castings for each running light as well. The have to send the items to me (no dealer within reasonable distance) so when I receive them and implement the repairs I will post a play by play with pictures here.

So far I am satisfied with AS customer service. Don't get me wrong - the corrosion defect due to the LED marker light design should not have occurred and when it was discovered it should never have taken AS so long to rectify. Corporately they need a swift kick in the profit margin or some other motivational means to get the lead out efficiently. But the Customer Service group has been above average in my opinion.

Don

[Bluto]

Don, that's good news. The pix are what this thread needs, look forward to seeing them and the steps you use to complete the repairs.

[GettinAway]

Originally Posted by Luckyducks

Jeff, thanks for the report. Did they reuse the old lights when installing the new castings? Any problems getting the plastic lens covers off without breaking the tabs? I need all this done too as I have some corrosion popping out from under my running lights. Looking forward to your picture of the new casting base. Thanks, Russ

I specifically asked if they used the original lights, and was told they did re-use them. It's somewhat confusing in that I was also told that they don't have to disconnect them, but it would be impossible to get the cast base in place without disconnecting them. They also used some "I think" silicon sealant to go around the new base.
I will try a picture again tonight. I'm traveling today.. (work is in the way)

They did show me how the tabs pop in and out of the old base. They look fairly strong. It's a complete unit with more of a centrally located clip. One near each end. I suspect they just carefully pry them apart.

Hope this helps

[GettinAway]

Originally Posted by DMT

Well folks, after some back and forth with AS it looks like I am to receive the new castings for each running light as well. The have to send the items to me (no dealer within reasonable distance) so when I receive them and implement the repairs I will post a play by play with pictures here.

So far I am satisfied with AS customer service. Don't get me wrong - the corrosion defect due to the LED marker light design should not have occurred and when it was discovered it should never have taken AS so long to rectify. Corporately they need a swift kick in the profit margin or some other motivational means to get the lead out efficiently. But the Customer Service group has been above average in my opinion.

Don

Don,
I agree with what your saying, and I might add that these new bases are only going to be standard one one model. (I assume the most $$ models)
I'm not sure if they are going to change anything in regards to current flying cloud production.

Jeff

[GettinAway]

Originally Posted by SilverCottage

Glad to hear you got some action. Would you mind describing exactly what they did with the Corrosion X and Boshield?

I was not there when they did any treatment to the corrosion, but I was told they went over it first with the corrosion X, then coated it with the Boshield.
Dave also told me to spray on some Boshield monthly, then wipe off the excess.
He also told me to apply a coat of the new protective sealant they are selling. I am not sure of the name. I'll go to the website and double check. It's called Glare, I think.. He said it was good for 12 months..

[Gene]

It seems people get different responses from Airstream on warranty issues. Perhaps it is who you talk to, how you talk to them and the positions of the planets. If I get stymied with someone at the bottom at any company, I go right to the top and that has usually worked for me.

But there is a strange thread about a leaker Airstream ( http://www.airforums.com/forums/f44/...ml#post1157314 ). It is hard to tell exactly what happened, but this is a story that sounds like a total breakdown between customer, dealer(s) and Airstream.

Gene