FAO swift gas strut breakin off twice now!

[Nicola_374323910]

Does anyone else have this problem. My Sterling Europa 530 2008 has had this happen twice now. The dealer has fixed it once but it has still come off again as the screws which attach it at the top just keep turning as there is nothing for them to grip into. The ledge inside has been damaged as the screws to be tightened enough has come through when we had to fix it ourselves when away at the time. Going away for 3 weeks to England on saturday and will now have to hold open my front locker with a stick. Not enough time for dealer to fix and likely problem will arise again so is there any point. Not good publicity for Sterling or Swift on caravan sites in such a new van.!

 

[paul_374410560]

try and find some shorter screws but with a meatier thread

you may have to drill the plate holes bigger

is where the strut attaches to, a metal plate and does this metal plate screw through a wood block or straight onto the bulkhead shelf

as a help i would remove the plate and cover it with silicone sealant/no more nails, where it sticks to the bulkhead and wedge it up with a stick for the sealant to set

it wont come off again

 

[trucker]

I wouldnt do anything to it as it may well invalidate your waranty. Use the stick and let your dealer sort the problem on your return from holiday. We have a Sterling eccles with a single gas strut but no problems with it.

Have a look at others at a deales to see if its the same as yours, it could be a manufacturing fault which will need fixing/replacing.

If the dealer cant fix it they may have to replace the locker door under waranty.

LEAVE IT TO THEM

Enjoy your holiday, and dont forget your stick (Smiley thingy)

Kevin

 

[paul_374410560]

its me again, contrary to trucker, your not going to invalidate your warranty by trying to fix your own van, the warranty would be invalidated ie if you put a socket on the side of the van and it leaked in and caused damp, and something like screwing through a wire.

to save your time going back to the dealer who 'fixed it twice'

putting two screws in and a bit of sealant is not going to invalidate your warranty

 

[trucker]

And what if the screw used is a bit long and goes through the gell coat, Or it breaks off again and breaks something else.

When your van is under waranty you should not undertake any diy repairs unless authorised by the dealer, as i asure you Paul you could invalidate your waranty.

Kevin

 

[Nicola_374323910]

Thanks for replies. Think we will leave it until we come back. Still no reply from Swift though so bit disappointed.

 

[SwiftGroup_374327846]

Nicola,

This is the first incidence I am aware of a gas strut bracket becoming loose. Every Caravan we produce uses the same attachment method and has done for some years, but regardless of this I am sorry that this has happened to your caravan.

Without details its difficult for me to speculate as to the cause. I am sure your dealer will be able to rectify the problem even though their first attempt appears to have failed.

Thanks

Andy

 

[paul_374410560]

trucker, you need to read the fault before you tell me i am wrong, the part that has come off is inside there is two ends to a gas strut its not on the lid and about a foot away from any gel coat it is inside underneath a shelf with a fibreglass covering and wood behind

a simple job for somebody with a screwdriver and two screws!!!

 

[paul_374410560]

And what if the screw used is a bit long and goes through the gell coat, Or it breaks off again and breaks something else.

When your van is under waranty you should not undertake any diy repairs unless authorised by the dealer, as i asure you Paul you could invalidate your waranty.

Kevin

when is been policy that you have to ring your dealer and get permission to work on your own van, you are taking the michael