Europa Rear Window Will Not Close

Ddahle

Advanced Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2020
Messages
66
Location
Minnesota
I need help finding a way to close the rear emergency window on my 2024 Europa 32KD. I opened the window just to see how it works and now it will not close. It is stuck open at a pretty good angle. It seems like it is under a lot of tension. I'm afraid if I force it closed, I could break it. Is this normal for these windows? Any ideas on what to do?

Thanks!
 

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That window is an emergency exit window. It is not meant to be opened except in case of an emergency. It is designed to actually fall out once it is opened. So I suspect it is coming out of the vinyl seal that holds it and will not close back since the window is now out of alignment. Just a guess.
 
^^this^^ likely need to go outside on a ladder and take some weight off the window to get it realigned in the hinge again.

Its basically an open C on a shaft. Open it far enough, you get to the open part of the C and the whole thing comes off.
 
^^this^^ likely need to go outside on a ladder and take some weight off the window to get it realigned in the hinge again.

Its basically an open C on a shaft. Open it far enough, you get to the open part of the C and the whole thing comes off.

I setup some scaffolding, and I worked on it with my wife for an hour with no luck. I can see that one side of the hinge is tight and the other is loose, and I don't know which end is properly aligned. I'm not sure how much pressure I can put on it without risking breaking the window. I contacted Lippert support and they recommended bring the window to 90 degrees to get it back into alignment. That did not work. Also, we were not able to remove the window. It is just stuck in the position it is in the picture.

It would be nice if there was a warning sticker on the window or in manual that informed you this could happen if you open the window.

At this point I don't know what to do. I can't drive the RV in this condition.
 

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I would assume the end that is tight is correct. Maybe get a little soapy water in a spray bottle and shoot some in the track and see if it doesn't slide in easier. Other than that, you may need to call a mobile RV repair company to come out and align it for you.
 
It would be nice if there was a warning sticker on the window or in manual that informed you this could happen if you open the window.

[/QUOTE]

I'm pretty sure there is a red letter sticker on the window that says Emergency Exit. Might be a good idea if that sticker was updated to say, "Do Not Open Except In Case Of Emergency".
 
I've always been terrified to open our emergency exit window. The tech who was making last minute repairs when we bought our rig strongly emphasized not to open that emergency window because it would drop to the ground and the whole window would need to be replaced.

At this point, you may need to check with an rv shop to see if it can be replaced . You could also call an rv mechanic and see if they would attempt a repair.

Sorry. This is probably an expensive lesson learned.
 
as MoJoe stated, I would try some soapy water, or maybe some dry silicone spray, slide it back and forth in the track, it maybe too far left or right.

It is frustrating, but I gurantee if they put any more “warning stickers” on things you wont even be able to see out of the window.
 
Yes....I feel like "Emergency Exit"... implies that it should only be opened in the case of an emergency.

I will say, in the 20+ years I have been doing this, I have never seen an emergency exit window open and someone not be able to get it closed. So I can't really put a warning sticker on something that I was not even aware could happen.

I am sure one side is just tweaked and needs to be "massaged" back into place.
 
Yes....I feel like "Emergency Exit"... implies that it should only be opened in the case of an emergency.

To be fair. It does only say “Exit”. In red letters. Maybe I’m a fool for opening it but I never thought it would cause me this much trouble. I just appreciate any help I can get to resolved this so I can get back to enjoying the new RV.
 
I would not say fool, Just an unfortunate event that from my experience is uncommon, if not unique. We open them at the plant all the time, just not more than 45 degrees.

I also don't think a sticker is the answer.
 
OK, I went to go look myself and ran into our tech. He said it can happen...if you open it too far the hinge will lock and it is not easy to get back into place. it is an exit window and allows it to stay up for exit.

He said there is a small black set screw on one end of the hinge. He said he has been able to pull that setscrew and slide the window off the hinge. Then you slide it back on, at a better angle (30 degrees-ish,,,less than 90) and he has bene able to get them back on.
 
He said there is a small black set screw on one end of the hinge. He said he has been able to pull that setscrew and slide the window off the hinge. Then you slide it back on, at a better angle (30 degrees-ish,,,less than 90) and he has bene able to get them back on.

Is the screw accessed from the inside or outside of the RV?

Looking at the pictures I took I’m not seeing the screw. All are from the outside .
 
I’m certain this event isn’t considered remotely humorous to the OP, and I hope he is able to get the window closed without any further (and expensive) problem. That said, who here can honestly say they looked at something like this and their inner nine year-old never whispered, “Go ahead, open it and see what happens.”
 
There are those that will say this is not related to the OP having a major problem after opening his “Emergency Exit” or the red “Exit” window, and now he can’t close it.


After driving school buses for more years and miles than I’d like to admit, I can tell you that a school bus driver’s responsibility is to actually OPEN and CLOSE all Emergency windows, doors and roof hatches…..EVERY DAY.

That, and a lot of other tests are to be logged everytime the vehicle goes into service. Maybe the RV industry needs to learn how to design their EXIT windows.
 
He said there is a small black set screw on one end of the hinge. He said he has been able to pull that setscrew and slide the window off the hinge. Then you slide it back on, at a better angle (30 degrees-ish,,,less than 90) and he has bene able to get them back on.

So far, I have had no luck finding the set screw. Is it possible to get a picture of it?

Thanks
 
Well, it looks like the set screw is only on the "full panel" that is a top hinge. In looking at yours again, that is a split mullion (top fixed) so it is different. That is just a C-channel hooked onto a C-channel. If you open it too far, it can bend/bind the C-channel and lock up. My guys on the line say you can "shimmy it" right to left to try and get it back in...but it is tempered glass and if you push too hard, it can shatter.

Wish I had better news.
 
Window Update

Thanks for the replies and suggestions. The Window is now closed again. It took some prying on the right-hand side of the hinge with a plastic prybar. After a few scary popping noises, it went back into place. Special thanks to Jason at Koehnen Mobile RV Service for helping out. :trink39:
 

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:trink39:

Hooray! Glad it was a happy ending. Next step was going to be shipping a new window. This seems like a much better option.
 

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