fridge on gas operation??????

[Deleted member 26362]

One of the first things to check is that your van is level. The fridge works by heating a liquid which basically boils turns to a gas which travels up through the pipes and as it condenses cools and returns back to the heater to start all over again. Even a slight slope will stop it working in the first place.

Its worth a try, you could try putting the fridge on gas and driving around a little. The motion can sometimes shift a small airlock or similar and get it all going again. I wouldn't recommend using the fridge on gas whilst driving under normal circumstances but it may getting the fridge going for you.

Dai

 

[wints]

New Hippy's who started this thread stated the the fridge is ok on 12 v & 230 v, so there'll be nothing wrong with refridgerant, air locks, out of level etc.

I'm sure it'll be a blocked / dirty jet, burner, or flue.

It's an easy job to tackle, especially if your fridge vents are easily removable ones ie with the little plastic 1/4 turn screws. If they are the older style, with numerous screws around their perimeter and set in mastic it's a little fiddly & messy, but still worth doing.

This is a recurring problem that many have had, I posted this in 2009 as the most likely cause and the remedy :-

''you've got to dismantle the burner assembly, then the remove the jet from it, then throw the jet away and replace with new one. It's possible to clean the jet, very carefully with a fine strand of wire.
Remove bottom fridge vent.
Remove the wind sheild from around the burner assembly, this will be held in position by 1 or 2 small screws, and will require tugging a bit, but it's only thin tin and will take this. Then remove the union nut between the gas inlet pipe and the 'square' section assembly. The gas jet is 'held' in position between the end of the gas pipe and inside the burner. Then disconnect the small cable (gas ignition cable) and the thermocouple line (thin bendy metal pipe). You'll wonder were all the muck comes from during this dismantling !
Give the burner a good banging and poking and cleaning with a pin, you can't damage it.
Then take the top fridge vent off.
Remove upper section(s) of flue, these are usually quite loose and don't need to be gas tight. You'll see / feel a thin steel wire which is hooked over the vertical flue lowest pipe, pull this up. A 'swirl plate' is attached to this, and will certainly be covered in carbon This needs cleaning till it shines. Then get a flue brush or something to clean / push through the remaining length of flue. I always put a sheet of white paper at the bottom of the flue to see how much rust, sh*te, etc falls down.
Then put it all back. I'm convinced that this will cure your problem.''

Hope that sorts it.

regards
Allen

 

[Smaug]

Im also new to motorhoming. On our motorhome there is a cover on the outside that needs to be taken off otherwise the gas fails to stay lit. its a safety thing. Luckily this was explained to us by previous owner otherwise we might have assumed our fridge wasn't working either. Hope you get it working,

Those covers are probably winter covers & don't need to be left on in the summer. Mine go in a locker once the frosts are over & don't go back on until they return, lots of vans simply don't bother with them, especially if stored in the winter.

 

[Caz]

You shouldn't need to take it out, remove the lower outside vent cover & you should have access to the jet & the flue, you may also need to remove the top vent to get access to the top of the flue, it isn't difficult.

Sorry, only just got round to having another look at it. I've managed to get it to light now and am waiting to see if it gets cold, but the flame doesn't look very big.

It doesn't have a lower outside vent cover, only one over two feet further up the side of the van which I assume is the one at the top of the flue.

 

[Teutone]

New Hippy's who started this thread stated the the fridge is ok on 12 v & 230 v, so there'll be nothing wrong with refridgerant, air locks, out of level etc.

I'm sure it'll be a blocked / dirty jet, burner, or flue.

It's an easy job to tackle, especially if your fridge vents are easily removable ones ie with the little plastic 1/4 turn screws. If they are the older style, with numerous screws around their perimeter and set in mastic it's a little fiddly & messy, but still worth doing.

This is a recurring problem that many have had, I posted this in 2009 as the most likely cause and the remedy :-

''you've got to dismantle the burner assembly, then the remove the jet from it, then throw the jet away and replace with new one. It's possible to clean the jet, very carefully with a fine strand of wire.
Remove bottom fridge vent.
Remove the wind sheild from around the burner assembly, this will be held in position by 1 or 2 small screws, and will require tugging a bit, but it's only thin tin and will take this. Then remove the union nut between the gas inlet pipe and the 'square' section assembly. The gas jet is 'held' in position between the end of the gas pipe and inside the burner. Then disconnect the small cable (gas ignition cable) and the thermocouple line (thin bendy metal pipe). You'll wonder were all the muck comes from during this dismantling !
Give the burner a good banging and poking and cleaning with a pin, you can't damage it.
Then take the top fridge vent off.
Remove upper section(s) of flue, these are usually quite loose and don't need to be gas tight. You'll see / feel a thin steel wire which is hooked over the vertical flue lowest pipe, pull this up. A 'swirl plate' is attached to this, and will certainly be covered in carbon This needs cleaning till it shines. Then get a flue brush or something to clean / push through the remaining length of flue. I always put a sheet of white paper at the bottom of the flue to see how much rust, sh*te, etc falls down.
Then put it all back. I'm convinced that this will cure your problem.''

Hope that sorts it.

regards
Allen

what I have done today:
-- dismantled burner (square thing) and removed all the rust etc from INSIDE it!
-- could get the flame to stay on but a soon as I fitted the tin cover, the flame won't stay on
-- measured the thermo couple and the resistance changes when I heat it up.
-- there is a white plastic insert in the gas main valve (behind where you press the button in to override the thermocouple when first lighting up) with two black cables. What does this do?
-- after fettling with the above white part, flame will only stay on when override button is pressed.

I am going to buy a new thermocouple, hope this solves my problem. Fingers crossed.

 

[Deleted member 30249]

I had a go at sorting out similar fridge problems a couple of years ago. All was OK I thought. Then we started getting headaches and noticed a strong smell of soot. Took it to a caravan repairers (Gas repair approved) who checked the system. Result fridge repaired correctly and a bollocking from the repair man. He told me my repair was a serious accident waiting to happen. My advice get it look at by a professional. Yes it may cost a few bob but worth it.,

 

[Caz]

Sorry, only just got round to having another look at it. I've managed to get it to light now and am waiting to see if it gets cold, but the flame doesn't look very big.

It doesn't have a lower outside vent cover, only one over two feet further up the side of the van which I assume is the one at the top of the flue.

Good news - fridge is now cold. :cool1:

 

[Smaug]

what I have done today:
-- dismantled burner (square thing) and removed all the rust etc from INSIDE it!
-- could get the flame to stay on but a soon as I fitted the tin cover, the flame won't stay on
-- measured the thermo couple and the resistance changes when I heat it up.
-- there is a white plastic insert in the gas main valve (behind where you press the button in to override the thermocouple when first lighting up) with two black cables. What does this do?
-- after fettling with the above white part, flame will only stay on when override button is pressed.

I am going to buy a new thermocouple, hope this solves my problem. Fingers crossed.

Sounds quite likely to me. well done.

 

[Smaug]

I had a go at sorting out similar fridge problems a couple of years ago. All was OK I thought. Then we started getting headaches and noticed a strong smell of soot. Took it to a caravan repairers (Gas repair approved) who checked the system. Result fridge repaired correctly and a bollocking from the repair man. He told me my repair was a serious accident waiting to happen. My advice get it look at by a professional. Yes it may cost a few bob but worth it.,

Was it the flue blocked, or did your engineer not tell you? I distrust people who try to withhold information to frighten you into paying for there "services". It is a very common attitude in the motor trade.

 

[Teutone]

Sounds quite likely to me. well done.

went out yesterday and switched the fridge on. And it stayed on the first try!
Left it on for half an hour, switched off and didn't stay on after this.
After trying for another two hours different things, I gave uo and put everything back together.
Before locking up I gave it one more try and guess what, it stayed ON first attempt.

Random faults are the worst!