We found ANOTHER leak in the Silver Lining. We just picked it up last Saturday after having a leak in the panoramic windows fixed. Now the window by the entry door has a leak.
I am rather upset that we spent five times as much on this as our old SOB, and in 13 years we never had a leak with that trailer. I talked to the dealer, and they said bring her in anytime, but we need to wait until we get the hitch issue straightened out. I also called Airstream, and emailed them some pictures of the leak. They assured me that it could be fixed, but I don't understand how a trailer less than two months old, and never really used could have two different leaks. Where is the quality control!
We found ANOTHER leak in the Silver Lining. We just picked it up last Saturday after having a leak in the panoramic windows fixed. Now the window by the entry door has a leak.
I am rather upset that we spent five times as much on this as our old SOB, and in 13 years we never had a leak with that trailer. I talked to the dealer, and they said bring her in anytime, but we need to wait until we get the hitch issue straightened out. I also called Airstream, and emailed them some pictures of the leak. They assured me that it could be fixed, but I don't understand how a trailer less than two months old, and never really used could have two different leaks. Where is the quality control!
Diane
When we took the Factory Tour several years ago, like most we were
very impressed with the "water test" during production, how about another
after
Really sorry your having such trouble with the new rig.
That's not a good thing to have happen and you haven't even camped in it yet. I'd be having a discussion with the dealer about their own testing as well. Surely they washed it before you picked it up at the very least. Tell them this time you'll be standing inside while they go vent to vent and window to window with water and test for leaks, and just how disappointed you are.
Barry
__________________ Take care. Unlike your puppy, it is so embarrassing to put your Airstream to bed belly up.
Barry & Donna Life is short - so's the door on an Flying Cloud (ouch) 1951 Flying Cloud 21' 1957 Pontiac Safari 2dr wagon TV AIR #7364 WBCCI #8110 member 4CU
Sorry to hear about the issues you are having. As Joe said, make sure to post your findings with your unit to the 2008 model year quality thread. It's a great place for folks to read about each year's issues...good, bad or otherwise.
As for your issue, the questions going through your mind are most likely the same ones I had as I found a leak in my unit straight off the factory build line only a day at the dealership right down the street from the factory.
Airstream has what looks like the length of half of a car wash, where they spray the shell every which way at once to locate leaks. In my case, the leak was due to no caulk in the wheel well area, where frankly there is little water that I saw in that test hit that area.
In your case however, since the leaks you are talking about are in the area where the water test should have caught it, draws two conclusions from me (which may or may not be correct). Either both were missed in the water test, or, the most likely senario, it was not sealed correctly and although it did pass the water test at the factory, while in transit, the body did flex a bit (as it normally might) and the lack of correct sealant or assembly became more pronounced, thus allowing the water to now pass by into the interior.
One other area I agree with Joe on is that in some cases, it can take a full camping season to find any of the little joys these artisans (as Airstream calls their line workers) did or did not do.
I would encourage you to read at least the last 3 model year quality threads to see some of the items you too may come across and/or be on the lookout for. There is a wealth of good info. The model years go as far back as 2004.
__________________
Computers manufactured by companies such as IBM, Compaq and millions of others are by far the most popular with about 70 million machines in use worldwide. Macintosh fans note that cockroaches are far more numerous than humans and that numbers alone do not denote a higher life form. -NY Times 1991
Thanks for all the good advice. I did add a post to the 2008 model year quality thread.
One disadvantage to picking up the AS in December was that the temps were below freezing (and it was snowing) the day that we picked it up. Not sure if they every did a full water test then, we had a very hard driving rain the day before we picked her up from the repair of the first leak, and this leak did not show up then. It has been very cold here the last few days, and we are thinking that it might be best to wait until the weather gets a bit warmer to take her in for the repair, so that they CAN do a complete water test and not make the lot an ice skating rink .
FWIW, the factory water test is indoors, so regardless of outdoor temps, that unit runs every work day. We were told on hot days, the factory workers hangout around it a lot!
__________________
Computers manufactured by companies such as IBM, Compaq and millions of others are by far the most popular with about 70 million machines in use worldwide. Macintosh fans note that cockroaches are far more numerous than humans and that numbers alone do not denote a higher life form. -NY Times 1991
---the 'leak testing' i referenced above uses air pressure INSIDE to find the gaps, the unit isn't hosed down 4 this...
the only water used is a bottle of soapy spray...
cheers
2air'
Thanks 2Air, I will check with the dealer and see if they can do that type of test.
The leak was not so major as to cause interior damage, but I was concerned about the insulation getting wet. The dealer said that is not usually a problem, and the factory rep said they can peel back the aluminum to check for wetness of the insulation. But I hope that does not cause other problems.
We have a 2008 Intl 25fb that was delivered in August. We have had some minor warranty work done (mostly cosmetic) but... during those really heavy rains in December we were in SoCal and water started coming in behind the stove (where a backsplash would be in a home kitchen). We have the exposed aluminum interior and the water was coming in through one of the overlapping seems. I called up Airstream and they gave a recommendation of a dealer in Irvine who could fix it. We took it there and they were able to diagnose it as a leak from our skylight that was running down the sides to the stove area. They knew where it was coming from without really doing any testing yet. Guess it is a common issue now It is fixed now as far as we can tell but it is kind of a bummer that Airstream seems to be having so many problems with these new trailers.
We had a few leaks when we first got our A/S. They've since been fixed. After a long drive back to Southwest Coaches (not a fun drive through L.A.). Overall, the number of things that needed attention were minimal. I wish the experience with the manager and service manager went as well. Never did I imagine spending so much for something to be treated so poorly. We now take our trailer to C&G. Fortunately, we have had zero problems with the A/S since. We average about 9 trips a year. Did I mention that we love our A/S? You'll get the bugs worked out and you'll have many enjoyable adventures. ~Rob~
Rob, it stinks that you were not treated better by the service department at Southwest. The service department at Colonial has been very good to deal with. We averaged about 16 trips a year with our old SOB, and plan to do at least that many in the SilverLining.
We are going to wait till the weather improves before we take it back in to have the leaks fixed. Our first weekend trip is in the end of March, we cannot wait!
Quick Links
Why thank you very much
LOST IN THE SIXTIES
2006 3/4 Burb 8.1
The A/s Water Test
When we took the Factory Tour several years ago, like most we were
.
It is fixed now as far as we can tell but it is kind of a bummer that Airstream seems to be having so many problems with these new trailers.
Linear Mode
