Weather Sealing on the Reversing Camera

Just got back from getting my Reversing Camera replaced at MMH Berks.
It took them 30 minutes to replace the camera but I'm not sure about the sealing job they have done. You can see the wire from underneath.

Do you think the weather sealing is important?
Should I finish it off myself?
What is the black compound they use?

After (from Below)
After (from Above)
Before (For comparison) a much neater finish by AS

That is appalling "workmanship"!  They've assumed that because it's high up, it won't be noticed.  Someone deserves to be shot.

Yeah, I agree, that's pretty bad.

It looks like I ran wild with a mastik gun on your van 

But, that said, I doubt anyone can see it - and you can only see it because you know it's there.  So long as it's water tight, I'd not give it another thought 

If it was me I would want it a better finish, it isn`t right, and if paying for a job to be done it needs to be to your satisfaction.

RogerThat wrote:So long as it's water tight, I'd not give it another thought 

That is the thing, it is no way water tight, especially from underneath and water will get in there.

The only thing I have ever used is the silicone sealant that goes around the top of the bath but that is always white and I dont think it is the same stuff anyhow.
So you think I need Mastik?

daisy mae wrote:If it was me I would want it a better finish, it isn`t right, and if paying for a job to be done it needs to be to your satisfaction.

I do want a better finish but I cant figure out how to achieve that goal.

I tried HARD to avoid going to Marquis Newbury because I knew they would do something like this, but AS will not look at the van unless the dealer sends them a "back to factory" warranty claim. Marquis Newbury insisted on doing the fitment in their own workshop.

I think the most pragmatic fix is if I just go over it again myself. As the camera is fitted high up, it cant be seen easily, but I want it to be water tight.

Problem is I can not figure out what the black sealant compound is? It is like soft putty for a few hours then it sets hard.

The work by the dealer is clearly a poor job, but the solution originally specified by AS is also pretty poor and not robust in my view. I'm assuming the design intent here is to seal the entry point of the cable into the van? Well, if so, then surely something like a black nylon cable gland would be far more neat, effective and longer lasting?

Another point to note. In my experience cheap reversing cameras can also suffer from moisture ingress into the camera thus fogging the glass in cold weather and possibly damaging the electronics. Judicious application of sealant to the joints in the camera body and the point of cable entry might be of benefit, particularly if an earlier camera of the same type had failed. However there are some schools of thought which say that any electronic enclosure such as this, unless it's fully hermetically sealed, it will inevitably 'breathe' as the atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature varies. So you might be better leaving them unsealed or even providing drain holes in the bottom to let any water out. Food for thought perhaps?

Bartfarst

PS the sealant may be one of the Sikaflex range. Some are identified specifically for caravan applications.

My twin  cameras set up has two gromets where the wires go into the van body, also sealed with sealant, husband did mine as they were replacement cameras, he has done a neat job. 

Hope you can sort it.

Best wishes,
M

I may be wrong, but the sealant looks suspiciously like a product called Dum Dum, which had a rather strange thixotropic consistency - it could be moulded into shape after kneading it, but would then slowly revert to an almost solid form. I used some a few years ago but I didn't like it because it had a tendency to go semi-fluid in strong sunlight!

On the basis that it may need to be disturbed if the camera needs attention, I would probably use a silicone sealant rather than a Sikaflex-type PU one - far easier to cut away if needed.

This seems like a much neater solution and something as could do from new. It would reduce build time and have one less hole to seal.

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For completeness, I will answer my own question
I called AS and they told me to use any black silicone sealant (they use a sealant called "Soudal Fix All").  They said Sikaflex would do the job but it is harder to use.

I checked the spec sheet and oddly Soudal Fix All does not contain any silcone

Kemerton-bath wrote:That is appalling "workmanship"!  They've assumed that because it's high up, it won't be noticed.  Someone deserves to be shot.

Agreed, thats a bloody disgrace

AutoSleepy_Don wrote:Just got back from getting my Reversing Camera replaced at MMH Berks.
It took them 30 minutes to replace the camera but I'm not sure about the sealing job they have done. You can see the wire from underneath.

Do you think the weather sealing is important?
Should I finish it off myself?
What is the black compound they use?

After (from Below)
After (from Above)
Before (For comparison) a much neater finish by AS

Just take it back, that workmanship is CLEARLY not acceptable. COMPLAIN

your right of course, I should of just taken it back and complained.
I just thought it would be a simple fix to do myself now the camera is working again.

I got this bog standard silicone sealant from Halfords and applying was easy after I did a little test to get a feel for how to apply it.

I feel I have bonded with my van doing this myself  

I think, if I were you, I'd buy a tube of black Sikaflex. Fantastic sealant and adhesive, it will do just what you want!
BTW, your experience of MMH echo's ours at Plymouth - a bunch of used car salesmen. I've given up taking our 1 year old symbol back to them, they don't fix anything and treat us as idiots. 

Good luck,

Dave