Roof Leak in Factory Seam - Sprinter-Forum

Ruby · 02-18-2010, 10:06 PM

We Recently bought a 2005 Pleasure-Way sprinter and experienced a substantial roof leak that all but defied locating it. After considerable sealing around vents etc. and having the AC gaskets replaced, we still had a leak. I finally found it in the factory seam.

Anyone had this problem and how did you fix it?

bladerunner · 02-18-2010, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruby

We Recently bought a 2005 Pleasure-Way sprinter and experienced a substantial roof leak that all but defied locating it. After considerable sealing around vents etc. and having the AC gaskets replaced, we still had a leak. I finally found it in the factory seam.

Anyone had this problem and how did you fix it?

Methinks a 'proper fix' would be for a panel shop to weld the seam, grind, fill and respray the area.

But that could entail major works if you have insulation and a headliner to contend with.

Or the easy way out would be to just clean the joint and seal it with Sikaflex sealant.

WeBeGone · 02-18-2010, 11:37 PM

One of the members here had his roof sprayed with a bedliner type material that not only seals it completely but protects it from those nasty branches that scratch up the High tops. I am thinking about doing that to my van as I have the same seam leak. Until then, I just cleaned it out good and sealed it with 3M 4200, which worked great.

NBB · 02-19-2010, 12:42 AM

The paint looks damaged and the metal rusted. I'd sand back the paint maybe 4-5mm, taking off any rust in the process, then a dab on a light coat of an etching auto primer. Sherwin Williams 988 is pretty good - spray into a puddle elsewhere and use a small brush to apply to the metal - so no overspay. It has corrosion inhibiters. The 3m 4200 mentioned is also pretty good stuff as it will flow down into the crack a bit before setting, and it's bright white, so the repair will be less visible.

ben322 · 02-19-2010, 12:40 PM

I had a small leak around one of the roof vents probably from sitting on the lot in the AZ sun last summer. Airstream recommends Sikaflex 221 which is a polyurethane sealant adhesive and has the benefit of being paintable unlike silicone. It's also on sale for $9/tube here

Altered Sprinter · 02-20-2010, 04:59 AM

Standard Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
Roof sealant
Two 1+1=2 layers
DSC01150(1) (Large) (Custom).jpg

handsome · 03-05-2010, 05:11 AM

I have faced same problem,I applied polyurea coatings on the roofing for the leakage problem.

handsome · 03-08-2010, 05:48 AM

I have applied Ultimate linings polyurethane spray for leakage problem.It's result amazing.

seans · 03-24-2010, 04:59 PM

Thank you everyone who posted about this and offered solutions. I realized that water staining at the bottom of the headliner in my 2006 passenger wagon near the center was caused by a similar leak in a roof seam. It has been temporarily addressed with a bead of caulk. While I was applying the bead, I noticed that a thin crack in the paint extended past the line of rust along the seam. So, if you have this problem and decide to repair it and not treat the entire seam, be sure to extend well past any obvious rusty area along the seam and look for a faint crack in the paint.

david_42 · 03-25-2010, 04:36 PM

Capt. Tolley's Creeping Crack Cure! It wicks into thin cracks and seams and sets up. Just about invisible on the surface. I've used this around windows to keep tiny ants out. It's a boating product for sealing decks. You wet down the deck and let it almost dry. The damp lines are cracks and the Tolley's will displace the remaining water.

02-18-2010, 11:37 PM	#3
WeBeGone Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Tacoma, Wa Posts: 71 Thanks: 29 Thanked 31 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Roof Leak in Factory Seam One of the members here had his roof sprayed with a bedliner type material that not only seals it completely but protects it from those nasty branches that scratch up the High tops. I am thinking about doing that to my van as I have the same seam leak. Until then, I just cleaned it out good and sealed it with 3M 4200, which worked great. __________________ 2004 140" 2500 SHC window van

02-19-2010, 12:42 AM	#4
NBB Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 923 Thanks: 68 Thanked 219 Times in 164 Posts	Re: Roof Leak in Factory Seam The paint looks damaged and the metal rusted. I'd sand back the paint maybe 4-5mm, taking off any rust in the process, then a dab on a light coat of an etching auto primer. Sherwin Williams 988 is pretty good - spray into a puddle elsewhere and use a small brush to apply to the metal - so no overspay. It has corrosion inhibiters. The 3m 4200 mentioned is also pretty good stuff as it will flow down into the crack a bit before setting, and it's bright white, so the repair will be less visible. Last edited by NBB; 02-19-2010 at 12:45 AM.

02-19-2010, 12:40 PM	#5
ben322 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 224 Thanks: 25 Thanked 51 Times in 40 Posts	Re: Roof Leak in Factory Seam I had a small leak around one of the roof vents probably from sitting on the lot in the AZ sun last summer. Airstream recommends Sikaflex 221 which is a polyurethane sealant adhesive and has the benefit of being paintable unlike silicone. It's also on sale for $9/tube here __________________ 2009 Airstream Interstate 2006 E320CDI 2000 F350 CC 4WD Powerstroke 1996 Passat TDI

02-20-2010, 04:59 AM	#6
Altered Sprinter Happy Little Vegemite Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hobart Tasmania Australia Posts: 14,862 Thanks: 1,095 Thanked 2,132 Times in 1,728 Posts	Re: Roof Leak in Factory Seam Standard Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Roof sealant Two 1+1=2 layers DSC01150(1) (Large) (Custom).jpg __________________ I get My Rocks off! In a Mercedes Sprinter AU..Tasmanian time AEST Hobart There is a peaceful solution.It's called a peace Revolution. No Shalam - No Shalom Now lets take back the - Sprinter-Forum. Of course I'm being totally biased. *Driving my life Away in a 313 Cdi Mercedes-Sprinter*

03-05-2010, 05:11 AM	#7
handsome Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Roof Leak in Factory Seam I have faced same problem,I applied polyurea coatings on the roofing for the leakage problem.

03-24-2010, 04:59 PM	#9
seans Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Near Washington DC Posts: 298 Thanks: 278 Thanked 108 Times in 57 Posts	Re: Roof Leak in Factory Seam Thank you everyone who posted about this and offered solutions. I realized that water staining at the bottom of the headliner in my 2006 passenger wagon near the center was caused by a similar leak in a roof seam. It has been temporarily addressed with a bead of caulk. While I was applying the bead, I noticed that a thin crack in the paint extended past the line of rust along the seam. So, if you have this problem and decide to repair it and not treat the entire seam, be sure to extend well past any obvious rusty area along the seam and look for a faint crack in the paint. __________________ 2006 Dodge T1N 158" Tall Roof Passenger Wagon w/Rear AC

03-25-2010, 04:36 PM	#10
david_42 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 866 Thanks: 4 Thanked 117 Times in 106 Posts	Re: Roof Leak in Factory Seam Capt. Tolley's Creeping Crack Cure! It wicks into thin cracks and seams and sets up. Just about invisible on the surface. I've used this around windows to keep tiny ants out. It's a boating product for sealing decks. You wet down the deck and let it almost dry. The damp lines are cracks and the Tolley's will displace the remaining water. __________________ 2004 140 SHC Greyhound, toy poodle and a big black mutt hauler Last edited by hkpierce; 03-25-2010 at 04:49 PM.

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