Noticed when I was changing wheels that the inside top of my wheel arches had bare patches of chipboard and impact signs where the sealing paint had been laid bare, obviously by stones. I wasn't aware the inside of the arches were chipboard (better late than never). This bare chipboard would allow water penetration into the chipboard thrown up by the tyres in wet weather. As we all know chipboard doesn't react kindly to water. Solution, keep an eye on the inside wheel arches and reseal now and again, or maybe line the arch with some sort of material (tin?).

For your info,

Regards Vic Ward

From: "Bob Eustace" bob@c-mat.com.au
To: "Vic & Carol" viccarol@optusnet.com.au
Sent: Tuesday, January 21, 2003 9:48 AM
Subject: Re: STONE DAMAGE TO INSIDE OF WHEEL ARCH SEALING PAINT

Vic you must have an old A'van as they have been plywood for almost two years now. The black gunk comes from Autobarn

Bob Eustace

Thanks for all the info Bob, also, my A'liner, A'van was built in 2000, but not the one that came out as the "2000" if that makes sense, with the boot in front. It may be that the arches are plywood, I may need my glasses checked, from the stone indentations in the wood it looked like chipboard, but could have been wrong, I have painted it over in black now, so a bit hard to tell. Thanks again for your help.

Kind regards