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garyemunson's avatar
garyemunson
Explorer II
Feb 02, 2016

Winnebago cold air leaks

We just purchased a new 2015 Winnebago Vista 'left-over'. My problem probably applies to most Winnebago 2015s as the dashs seem to be the same. It gets cold out West at night and we noticed quite a bit of cold air seeping into the front of the RV under the dash on both sides when parked for the night. The 2015 Winnebagos have a huge molded dash that would be near impossible to remove to chase air leaks and I was hoping someone else has had and found the remedy for this issue. Because of the dash, access from inside is very limited so getting in to apply spray foam in all needed areas would be very difficult if not impossible. Anyone out there encounter this and fix it?
Class A

10 Replies

  • fourmat's avatar
    fourmat
    Explorer
    Feb 12, 2016
    garyemunson wrote:
    What I finally found was that the A/C-heater box is held to the front of the firewall with a number of 3/8 nuts. The box is plastic and has a rubber gasket attached to it that seals it to the firewall. Looking at the bottom of it from under the front passenger wheel well there appeared to be a gap between the gasket and firewall. I found a hacksaw blade easily slid in the space. Either the gasket had shrunk a little since the coach was built or the nuts holding the box to the firewall were never properly tightened. I suspect #2. I snugged up all the nuts and now do not have that gap. Waiting for another cold snap to see it that was all of it...
    You may want to put some loc tite on them
  • garyemunson's avatar
    garyemunson
    Explorer II
    Feb 12, 2016
    What I finally found was that the A/C-heater box is held to the front of the firewall with a number of 3/8 nuts. The box is plastic and has a rubber gasket attached to it that seals it to the firewall. Looking at the bottom of it from under the front passenger wheel well there appeared to be a gap between the gasket and firewall. I found a hacksaw blade easily slid in the space. Either the gasket had shrunk a little since the coach was built or the nuts holding the box to the firewall were never properly tightened. I suspect #2. I snugged up all the nuts and now do not have that gap. Waiting for another cold snap to see it that was all of it...
  • garyemunson's avatar
    garyemunson
    Explorer II
    Feb 05, 2016
    Once it warms up a little and I get the RV back out of the storage yard, that's my next project!
  • Clay_L's avatar
    Clay_L
    Explorer
    Feb 05, 2016
    Have you checked the firewall from the outside for gaps? I had a couple of gaps that could only be seen with the hood open.
  • timmac's avatar
    timmac
    Explorer
    Feb 05, 2016
    Well the nights have been cold here in Nevada as late, my Bounder is also colder up near the front than the back, they don't insulate the front area under the dash very well in most motorhomes, I have seen some people use thick blankets and place them over the dash during the winter months for insulation, also all those windows up front add to the cold coming in as well, just wait come July/August you will be complaining hot the RV is even while the a/c's are running..
  • smacdiesel's avatar
    smacdiesel
    Explorer
    Feb 03, 2016
    Haven't noticed drafts like that in our vista, but we don't cold camp much either. I hope you get it fixed, it's a pain trusting a dealer to fix things.
  • imgoin4it's avatar
    imgoin4it
    Explorer
    Feb 02, 2016
    Turn the dash heater/acnd control to "off" or max acnd. These are the only two positions that close up and seal the front of the coach from taking outside air staight into the inside. Do that first and then go from there if you still feel cold air.
  • garyemunson's avatar
    garyemunson
    Explorer II
    Feb 02, 2016
    Thanks for that tip, however, the air leaks seem to be coming in around the sides and top of the a/c-heater unit on the passenger side and from somewhere above the steering column on the driver's side. Not from any of the various ducts and grilles on the hvac.
  • rgatijnet1's avatar
    rgatijnet1
    Explorer III
    Feb 02, 2016
    Make sure that when you park for the night, you close the dash vent by pushing the button for "recirculate" rather than for fresh air in. This must be done while the engine is running.
  • dougrainer's avatar
    dougrainer
    Nomad
    Feb 02, 2016
    The simple solution is the go to a Winne Dealer and have them fix it. It is under warranty. Air leaks are a warranty issue. Doug

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