LinofDe Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Hi, does anyone know of a motorhome service engineer in the area? We are currently in Xabia heading north. Thanks LinofDe :-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 No - sorry I don't - but if you describe the problem - and what van you have - someone on here might have a solution - if only a temporary one to get you safe and out of trouble? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinofDe Posted March 9, 2011 Author Share Posted March 9, 2011 Thanks, we have an IH van conversion and there is a strong smell of gas in the food locker which disappears when we turn the gas off. We are on a site at the moment and only using the gas to cook in the evening but we need to start our journey back in about a week and will need the gas as we will be using aires in France. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJay Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Have you tried looking for a leaking joint/pipe ? Test all joints with a dab of washing up liquid, (With the gas on) if it bubbles , then you know you have a leak !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malc d Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 LinofDe - 2011-03-09 9:08 PM Thanks, we have an IH van conversion and there is a strong smell of gas in the food locker which disappears when we turn the gas off. We are on a site at the moment and only using the gas to cook in the evening but we need to start our journey back in about a week and will need the gas as we will be using aires in France. We once had a strong smell of gas in the van just before going on holiday. It turned out to be tiny cracks where the rubber piping was beginning to perish. How old are the pipes in your van ? ( Mine were about 6 or 7 years). Just bought a new length of pipe and replaced it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinofDe Posted March 9, 2011 Author Share Posted March 9, 2011 Thanks for the suggestions. The pipes in the cupboard are copper and the rubber pipes in the gas locker were replaced 2 years ago. We will give the washing up liquid a go and see what happens. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheer lunar-see Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Hi there, If you go down to the port area, to one of the boat repairers, they might be able to help you, as they deal with gas problems on boats. If not try the plumbing company along the main road one road back from the Arinal and paralell to the beach. Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big olga Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Hi ,The system I use for leak testing is a Solution of WATER and Washing up liquid. I froth it up with a 1/4 inch paint brush and rub the brush around the joint either copper or rubber; it will be very apparent if there is a gas leak as the tiny bubbles will froth up all on their own. So you can tighten the jubblie clips on the rubber pipes or the unions on the gas copper pipes with a spanner. Best Wishes Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGD Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 If you need a specialist Motorhome Dealer/workshop to sort your problem out, turn round and head back down the N332 into Alicante north; and get your self to Caravanas Ferrero which is on the right side of the N332 about half way into the city, but before you get to the city centre area. From Javea it'd be about 1.5 hours at a slowish chug down the N332 to them. They have proper workshop facilities and do gas fitting/repairs. A big and good dealer whose servicing/repairs work is pretty decent and reasonably priced. I bought our present MH from them 2nd hand, and have had some servicing and extras fitting work done by them since. Here's their website: http://www.caravanasferrero.com/ Their phone number is 965 262 456 (put the +34 in front if ringing from a UK mobile). The business is run by two brothers, Santi who runs sales, and jorge who runs the workshops,servicing/repairs. If you ring, ask, in English, to speak to "Santi" in Sales. He speaks pretty good English........and can translate for Jorge who only speaks Spanish. However, Jorge's senior technician speaks fluent English if you need to talk technical. Sounds as though you just need to ring them for detailed directions and so they are expecting you; then get the van down to them, they can do a leak test, and can repair the joint(s) or replace as necessary whilst you wait. One alternative is to try to find an English speaking local plumber in a town that you are passing through.......because over here in Spain plumbers also do all the gas installation and piping work for domestic boilers and house central heating systems........ask around in shops/sites near to you; or have a look through any of the local freebie newspapers for adverts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly58 Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 Check the regulator we had a strong smell of gas and it was a split diaphram in the regulator gas was escaping from the small plastic breather on the side of the reulator. If you turn the gas on you may hear it or just feel around the little plastic breather for any escaping gas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starvin marvin Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 There is a caravan service company just north of Denia/Javea on the coast road but before you reach Olivia, called Santa Ana. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindiboy Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 Try the soapy water test around the Regulator if you have the Regulator to bottle type, very often this area can be the source of a leak as some bottles get scratched where the cone of the Regulator mates with the bottle neck, if you see bubbles here just tighten the Regulator nut a bit more, this usually cures it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terryW Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 starvin marvin - 2011-03-10 9:08 AM There is a caravan service company just north of Denia/Javea on the coast road but before you reach Olivia, called Santa Ana. Younger chap in the shop speaks good English. You can recognise it by the large caravan storage area. On the left heading North Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGD Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 terryW - 2011-03-10 4:44 PM starvin marvin - 2011-03-10 9:08 AM There is a caravan service company just north of Denia/Javea on the coast road but before you reach Olivia, called Santa Ana. Younger chap in the shop speaks good English. You can recognise it by the large caravan storage area. On the left heading North Not any more. The Santa Ana caravan storage area is still there on the N332, but the shop/workshop building has been closed down for a few months now, in fact knocked down, to make way for a big extension to the water treatment works that are behind it. The Santa Ana caravan/motorhome accessories shop has moved to a unit on the El Verger industrial estate, which is about 1 km south on the OLD N332 (now called the N332a). It's about a quarter of the way down the industrial estate if heading south, on the right hand side. Doesn't appear to be a workshop at this new location. The accessories guy, who speaks English, has moved with the shop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terryW Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 BGD - 2011-03-10 4:58 PM terryW - 2011-03-10 4:44 PM starvin marvin - 2011-03-10 9:08 AM There is a caravan service company just north of Denia/Javea on the coast road but before you reach Olivia, called Santa Ana. Younger chap in the shop speaks good English. You can recognise it by the large caravan storage area. On the left heading North Not any more. The Santa Ana caravan storage area is still there on the N332, but the shop/workshop building has been closed down for a few months now, in fact knocked down, to make way for a big extension to the water treatment works that are behind it. The Santa Ana caravan/motorhome accessories shop has moved to a unit on the El Verger industrial estate, which is about 1 km south on the OLD N332 (now called the N332a). It's about a quarter of the way down the industrial estate if heading south, on the right hand side. Doesn't appear to be a workshop at this new location. The accessories guy, who speaks English, has moved with the shop. Thanks for the update. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 I too would suspect the pigtail joint to the gas bottle and also the other end on to the regulator. If you are on Calor the propane (red) is a metal to metal connection and it can get scratched or a spec of grit prevent a good seal - although if it has been OK and has suddenly begun to leak I would be more inclined to suspect it not being tight enough? Propane bottles (blue) used to have a rubber sealing washer and these were known to fail. The dilute wash up liquid test should find it for you but it could be anywhere so check the internal joints as well. Have you emailed IH to ask their views? http://www.ihmotorhomes.com/contactus.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nowtelse2do Posted March 10, 2011 Share Posted March 10, 2011 LinofDe - 2011-03-09 9:08 PM Thanks, we have an IH van conversion and there is a strong smell of gas in the food locker which disappears when we turn the gas off. We are on a site at the moment and only using the gas to cook in the evening I really don't think you should be cooking if you have a strong smell of gas. 8-)Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ips Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 I too would suspect the pigtail joint to the gas bottle and also the other end on to the regulator. OP stated that the smell was from a food locker not the gas locker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1footinthegrave Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 I too have an IH, a Savanna Tio, if it is the same model there is a gas manifold in your cupboard with several taps providing the supply to your appliances. Quite a few compression joints there also, and it is a bit vulnerable doubling up as it does as a cupboard. This would be the place to start by turning all of the taps off, then turn each one on and leaving it for a minute or two to see if you can isolate the problem by nose. Or try some soapy solution around all of the taps/ connections that are there, hope that helps. In the meantime I would urge you like others not to use any of your appliances until it's sorted.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Newell Posted March 11, 2011 Share Posted March 11, 2011 nowtelse2do - 2011-03-10 7:59 PMLinofDe - 2011-03-09 9:08 PM Thanks, we have an IH van conversion and there is a strong smell of gas in the food locker which disappears when we turn the gas off. We are on a site at the moment and only using the gas to cook in the evening I really don't think you should be cooking if you have a strong smell of gas. 8-)DaveAt last a sensible bit of advice!D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinofDe Posted March 31, 2011 Author Share Posted March 31, 2011 Thanks for all the replies We lost our internet access so I have not had chance to thank you. We found our leak with the soapy water technique and tried to tighten the nut where it was leaking. Unfortunately the nut broke and when we went to get a replacement we discovered that the Spanish nuts are not quite the same thread! The leak was on our cooker spur so we managed our final 2 weeks without a cooker, relying on 1 pan meals cooked on our trusty trangia. We are now back in the UK and have obtained a supply of British standard nuts just in case. I think it was a bottle of cava that caused the problem as 1footinthegrave said, it is not the best place for the manifold! B-) B-) B-) B-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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