mansell Posted October 29, 2006 Posted October 29, 2006 Hi again, We bought a used Hymer 640 Starline form Hymer at the York show, collected the week later and low and behold a few problems, that took 5 days and stretched me very nearly to breaking point to fix, the major one being the fridge. The engineer, having replaced one by one, the thermostzt, the solonoid, and switches, to try and get the confounded thing to work on gas eventually said it was OK. So off we came home. Sod's law says and it works the first time we try it hey presto the fridge will not work on gas. Yes, it is under guarantee but it involves a 400 mile round trip - just wondered if anyone else had had similar problem to this extreme. Your thoughts please! Keep trying it will happen.
Terrytraveller Posted October 29, 2006 Posted October 29, 2006 Hi Val, The only time our fridge takes time to light is when its been on 12 volts as we travel, it sometimes takes about 6 strikes before the flame ignites, looking at the little round window in the fridge, you can see condensation on it, if there is no condensation, then its a oncer - lights first time. Have a look at Brians site for lots of useful tips and hints, the address below will take you to the page which might be useful. http://www.ourwanderer.org/wan6.htm#Fridge%20Element Regards Terry
Don Madge Posted October 29, 2006 Posted October 29, 2006 [QUOTE]mansell - 2006-10-29 4:15 PM Hi again, We bought a used Hymer 640 Starline form Hymer at the York show, collected the week later and low and behold a few problems, that took 5 days and stretched me very nearly to breaking point to fix, the major one being the fridge. The engineer, having replaced one by one, the thermostzt, the solonoid, and switches, to try and get the confounded thing to work on gas eventually said it was OK. So off we came home. Sod's law says and it works the first time we try it hey presto the fridge will not work on gas. Yes, it is under guarantee but it involves a 400 mile round trip - just wondered if anyone else had had similar problem to this extreme. Your thoughts please! Keep trying it will happen.[/QUOTE] Barry, This was posted by Roy who lives near scarborough. The chap might be able to help you out. I've spoken to him on the phone, he seems to be on the ball. I'm taking my van across to get my fridge serviced once I get my act together. "I use M.D Caravans, Newhaven,West Lane, Burton Fleming, EAST YORKSHIRE. Tel: 01262 470852 or 07813 403892 for my habitation service (£65 in March at my house). One man business - Mike Donkin- does mobile service which is very useful. (No VAT!). Mike is a fully qualified 'caravan man' and has a modern workshop. I reckon he would also be able to sort out your fridge problem." Regards Don
mansell Posted October 29, 2006 Author Posted October 29, 2006 Hi Don And thanks for that, I will get in touch with mike as he is not far away. I have lost all faith in Hymer technicians as they dont seem to have a clue with fridges, and it means a 400 mile round trip plus whatever a stop over. Will let yoiu know how I get on. Thanks again. barrie.
mansell Posted October 30, 2006 Author Posted October 30, 2006 Hi Don, New number for Mike 01262470643 he is to busy at the moment but has given me the name of a guy in Flamborough who he passes on work to, so will see how we go. Barrie. keep trying it will happen.
mansell Posted November 3, 2006 Author Posted November 3, 2006 Hi, Made an appoitment tosee the guy about the fridge and now sods law prevails the thing is working perfectly. I GIVE UP keep trying it will happen.
Don Madge Posted November 3, 2006 Posted November 3, 2006 [QUOTE]mansell - 2006-11-03 1:26 PM Hi, Made an appoitment tosee the guy about the fridge and now sods law prevails the thing is working perfectly. I GIVE UP keep trying it will happen.[/QUOTE] Barrie, I'm not having a good day either 8-) 8-) Don
Mel B Posted November 3, 2006 Posted November 3, 2006 Mansell What exactly happens when you try to use gas, it might help to know the exact problem so that we may be able to suggest some other possibilities. Mel
mansell Posted November 4, 2006 Author Posted November 4, 2006 Hi, It lights, but as soon as you take your finger of the switch it goes out. Barrie. keep trying it will happen.
Don Madge Posted November 4, 2006 Posted November 4, 2006 [QUOTE]mansell - 2006-11-04 8:06 AM Hi, It lights, but as soon as you take your finger of the switch it goes out. Barrie. keep trying it will happen.[/QUOTE] Barrie, We had this problem once and it's something to do with the flame failure device, it needs changing, I think. It was a long time ago, if I'm right it's very easy to fix or it was in those days. On the other hand I could be wrong. When Clive gets out of bed he will put me right. Don
Brambles Posted November 4, 2006 Posted November 4, 2006 Just to make sure. Are you are holding the button in long enough to heat up the flame failure device? Some times you do have to give it a second shot if you release too soon. Assuming you are, then as mentioned above flame failure device is suspect. Jon
mansell Posted November 4, 2006 Author Posted November 4, 2006 For the last 3 days it has worked fine, the 2 days prior it would not work for love or money. keep trying it will happen
Mel B Posted November 4, 2006 Posted November 4, 2006 We had this happen in the summer just as we were away on holiday, in the UK fortunately. We were able to change to sites with electric hook up and during the day just had to manage, although as we move around a fair bit it didn't have to stay off more than a couple of hours at a time. The problem we had was the valve which sits behind the temperature control knob, it was faulty, it seemed that the seal itself had stopped sealing properly, it needed a new part fixing £147.00 in total I think, fortunately we were covered on warranty. Before it went totally it got to the point when some times it took ages to light, until eventually it did exactly as you say yours is doing and as soon as you took your finger off the button it went out ... not sure that's what you want to hear though bearing in mind the cost of fixing it!!! :-S
madguy4 Posted November 5, 2006 Posted November 5, 2006 Hi there. i have a talbot express highwayman 1990. ive never used the fridge on gas,,it works on battery and electric...but how do you know if its working on gas...there are no lights or windows to see if its alight... any ideas please ??
David Dwight Posted November 5, 2006 Posted November 5, 2006 Lee, Inside the fridge at the bottom on the back wall, there shoud be a small round glass viewing port if the fridge is running on gas you should see a blue flame. David
Brambles Posted November 5, 2006 Posted November 5, 2006 Hi, just to add, on later fridges there is no window, you know when it starts ticking away from the spark ignitor and the little neon light flashes. The other way is when your ice cream runs out the bottom. :-S Jon
mansell Posted December 5, 2006 Author Posted December 5, 2006 one day someone will produce a trouble free fridge at a reasonable price.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! keep trying it will happen
metz Posted December 5, 2006 Posted December 5, 2006 Hi, Re your fridge, If you holding in the FFD long enough (ie 15-20 secs )and the flame is going out, then the problem can be one of several, the FFD could be faulty and require replacing, the thermo magnet has failed, requires replacing, the fridge is not burning correctly and therefore not providing enough heat to the FFD,or the FFD is not in the correct position in the flame.
chas Posted December 5, 2006 Posted December 5, 2006 I have found over a period of time that if you use the fridge on 12volt whille travelling, its always best to wait 10-15 mins after stopping on site and then when going onto gas just press the control knob in for a few seconds without igniting, to allow gas to purge through the lines, wait another min and then press in and ignite, it never fails then to ignite. chas
Brian Kirby Posted December 5, 2006 Posted December 5, 2006 OK, my turn. We recently had a little fridge problem that needed urgent attention. I looked on Dometic's website on which you can enter your postcode and get a list of (relatively) nearby approved service agents. Phoned the two nearest. Voice mail from one, and an over the phone quote of £230 (including £78 call out charge, no labour included - I kid you not!) from the other. Shaken, but not stirred, I phoned Dometic customer services. (You may have to look on the website for the address, and then in the online 'phone book for the 'phone number, since Dometic have forgotten to put the number on the website!) Very nice man said speak to firm in Chichester. He was the number with the voicemail, so left message and when he phoned back he said OK, £60 plus parts, no call out charge, no extras. He arrived when he said he would, repaired the fridge, cleaned up, waited around for half a hour to prove the fridge was working properly , and still only charged exactly what he had said, which was £110. He also told me many useful things about Dometic fridges at no extra cost! Based on that experience I can only suggest it may be very well worthwhile getting hold of someone who really knows Dometic fridges. Hymer just buy the fridges, it is unlikely they (Brownhills?) have any fully trained Dometic technicians available to troubleshoot at Hymer UK. Go straight to the fountainhead, I'm sure it'll save you money in the long run.
docted Posted December 5, 2006 Posted December 5, 2006 Mansell if you sre near to Preston try Pete Hambilton 01772315078. He fioxed up my fridge and he is Hymer trained. Good luck Docted
mansell Posted December 7, 2006 Author Posted December 7, 2006 Hi Everyone and thanks for all letters. For no apperant reason the fridge has now worked perfectly fot the last 2 club meets, and as we leave for Spain next week I am just hoping it continues. As all of you know intermittent faults are the worst. Merry christmas to all.
mansell Posted January 16, 2007 Author Posted January 16, 2007 The XXXXXXXXXXXXX fridge that worked fine for about a month decided the minute we crossed the channel and needed it on an "aire" that it would not work on gas, light it will, stay alight it will not. Back to Downhills OH SORRRY mean Brownhills they had it 3 days last time maybe they can do better this time, but I am not holding my breath.
Mel B Posted January 16, 2007 Posted January 16, 2007 Hi mansell Do a search for 'Fridge Wonky' (23 July 2006), when we were having similar problems, go down to the last few bits of the posting as I suspect you may have the same problem as us - the temperature control/valve bit (ie behind the button that you twist and push in). Regards Mel
mansell Posted January 25, 2007 Author Posted January 25, 2007 Thanks everyone for all your replies. Being as it is still under warranty I decided I would give DOWNHILLS another go, but this time instead of Preston who had it 3 days last time I took it to Newark. And behold it needed a service [ although I was told Preston had done one ] but the real problem was it had the wrong JET in the burner, all seems to be well at the moment. What I cant understand is Preston had it for 3 days and failed to spot the wrong JET. So I am keeping everything crossed and in future will use Newark as apposed to Preston. KEEP TRYING IT WILL HAPPEN.
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