What? Is this a design flaw? VW? Design flaws?

--- ;^)

Interesting. I'll look into that.

I appreciate the pointer Jim!

Neil.

On 1/21/08, Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@gmail.com> wrote:
> Neil -
>
> While yer yankin' stuff, yank the curtain straps and the screw-in snaps on
> each side of the door.  What happens is the screw-in snaps (when the door is
> closed) rests on the "bulb" seal of the Rear Hatch Seal and creates just
> enough of a gap to allow moisture through in the rain.
>
> In the almost 9 years of full-timing in my Westy, I discovered early on that
> when it rained, I often found a west mattress and sleeping bag near the Rear
> Hatch Door.  I even replaced the Rear Hatch Seal with no success in
> preventing the leak(s) until I discovered what the strap screw-in snap heads
> were doing to the "bulb" seal.  Since then I've had a dry mattress and
> sleeping bag, even in the heaviest of storms.
>
> I usually drive with Rear Curtains closed anyway, so I don't miss the
> hold-back straps, even when I keep the curtains open there.
> --
> Jim Thompson
> 84 GL 1.9 "Gloria"
> 84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
> 73 K Ghia Coupe "Denise"
> 72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
> oldvolkshome@gmail.com
> http://www.oldvolkshome.com
> ***********************************
>
> On Jan 21, 2008 12:26 PM, neil N <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Hi all.
> >
> > Last week I opened the rear hatch and found it would close part way on
> > its' own. ?? I put in new supports just over a year ago. Shouldn't
> > happen I thought.....
> >
> > My theory is that water gathered and froze, adding extra weight. Today
> > in warm sun, water ran out of bottom of hatch and it functions as it
> > used to. Mystery solved. But rear matresses are kind of wet. Water is
> > getting into van.
> >
> > My Westy is parked on an incline with rear end pointed downhill.
> > Recently weather has been cold.
> >
> > Where are the typical water leaks points on the rear hatch?
> >
> > Water normally gathers in rear hatch bottom and drains out when opened
> > when parked on incline. Is this normal?
> >
> > IF it isn't a water leak, could it be that with a frozen chunk o ice
> > at the bottom of the hatch, any "new" water coming in would overflow
> > into/onto the rear?
> >
> > TIA, and hope my questions make sense!
> >
> > Neil.
>

--
Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia - "Jaco"
http://web.mac.com/tubaneil

Engine swap beginings: http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/