Skylight repair

[sehsteve@gmail.com]

Driving in the recent SoCal rain deluge with water driping on my head and the back of my seat reenforced the need to fix the skylight. I have a 2002 Dodge Roadtrek which of course has the three skylights in the top cap. The exterior rubber casket has shrunk due to time and sun, but I think problem is deeper than just that gasket. Any and all help or links regarding repairs appreciated.
Who said it never rains is sourthern California?
Safe travels.
Steve

[Doneworking]

My first line of defense for cracks like this is:

https://www.amazon.com/Captain-Tolle...s%2C161&sr=8-1


If you RT celestial windows are in a very poor gasket condition you may have to do the whole replacement of the gaskets route. But, being basically cheap and lazy, I usually just do what is necessary to provide a fix.

Boat folks really like this product. If it works, it works. If it doesn't you are out less than fifteen bucks and a little time to treat all three windows. Then, you can step up the ladder to the more involved repairs that will put the seals back like new.

If you search this forum or do a general web search, you will find others who have dealt with this .

[SteveJ]

Captain Tolley's was effective for stopping the infamous leaking problem in our 2000 200. Nothing else worked before. It required 2 or 3 applications. I also used it for a minor windshield leak on our current Safari Trek. Single application worked just fine in this instance.

Wonderful stuff.

[sehsteve@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by SteveJ

Captain Tolley's was effective for stopping the infamous leaking problem in our 2000 200. Nothing else worked before. It required 2 or 3 applications. I also used it for a minor windshield leak on our current Safari Trek. Single application worked just fine in this instance.

Wonderful stuff.

Appreciate the note. Several have mentioned it. Guess I'd best get on Amazon.

[SteveJ]

Originally Posted by sehsteve@gmail.com

Appreciate the note. Several have mentioned it. Guess I'd best get on Amazon.

Be careful on your first use, the stuff is quite runny. Otherwise, just follow the directions.

[ChicagoTom]

Originally Posted by sehsteve@gmail.com

Appreciate the note. Several have mentioned it. Guess I'd best get on Amazon.

I just got mine from Amazon, but have not used it yet. I'm in So California and this is the most rain I've seen since moving here in 2018. I thought for sure I solved the issue with windshield adhesive, but that had zero effect. I plan to blow out the sitting water with compressed air, like I did for the adhesive, and then build up section by section with masking tape and drip the Capt stuff on all 4 sides. I have syringe to inject, and the built up masking tape to prevent it from just running onto the glass. Nothing but great reviews for the stuff. We shall see.

[Mike Bee]

I had a leaking skylight - one closest to passenger side.
I took the gaskets and inside frame off. The window needed to be sealed onto the frame. I removed the window and scraped off all the old gasket seal. I applied new bead of black gasket seal . After letting it cure for 24 hours put the frame, trim and gasket back on.
Watered everything down with a hose from outside, no leaks.

Mike Bee
'97 Roadtrek 170P
formerly '89 VW Westfalia

[sehsteve@gmail.com]

Thanks so much Mike. I had thought about removing it from the inside but had not ventured into that yet. However your note has encouraged me to give it a try before our next trip.

[Mike Bee]

The outside gasket is there to apply pressure to the glass.
The glass is sealed to the frame by a bead of silicone/gasket seal etc.
to the bottom of the metal window frame.

After taking the outside gasket off , I pushed the window out from inside the van and you could see where the seal had dried up.

All of my three outside window gaskets have a gap where the gasket doesn't meet. I did feel this gap with seal so water wouldn't feeeze under the gasket forcing it out of its groove ( I live in Ontario,Canada).
I had 2 places where it had popped out and using a wooden dowel and rubber hammer knocked it back into its groove.

Good luck. It is not the hard to do. I did purchase premium glass seal from an RV deakler that cost about $18.
I'm sure any good waterproof seal would do.

Mike