autofridge in need of repair
Submitted: Monday, Mar 06, 2006 at 22:25
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robert4841
hello everyone, purchased a used autofridge will a/c adapter about 4 years ago and it has worked fine up to this trip to
alice springs this week. will not cool down to less than 3.6 in the heat of alice. had it gased up in
adelaide abouts 2 weeks ago and worked
well, on 1 it stayed a 0. called quirks today and they told me it's loosing gas and needs a complete rebuild approx $600.00. what should i do as it is a
well kept clean unit? i understand many people will respond toss it and buy their favorite make of fridge. hopefully i can get some constuctive ideas that perhaps will help everyone. at this time i'm based in
adelaide. thanks for your help. regards, robert
Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Monday, Mar 06, 2006 at 22:39
Monday, Mar 06, 2006 at 22:39
I wont say what my favorite fridge is but........
Toss it and buy a new fridge. Brand/size/cost up to you.
Otherwise you will only be throwing $600 at a very short investment.
Any of the newer fridges will give a more efficient operation.
Maybe keep the autofridge and use as an esky?
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Follow Up By: Jimbo - Monday, Mar 06, 2006 at 23:17
Monday, Mar 06, 2006 at 23:17
Ditto Repeato.
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Reply By: Bilbo - Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 01:06
Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 01:06
I wouldn't ditch it. I'd get it rebuilt. My Autofridge was rebuilt when a copper pipe burst and lost all of its gas. Quirk Victory Light rebuilt it free of charge after they found it was a bad batch of copper tube from BHP that fractured. It was 3 years old but hadn't been used much.
When they rebuild 'em they have to remove the eutectic tanks and that wrecks the fridge when they do it. So it's a TOTAL rebuild. After my rebuild 8 years ago, it hasn't missed a beat and will freeze a can of beer in 6 hours in 38C!!
For my money, Autofridge is a Rolls Royce when it comes to efficiency nad ruggedness. Mine was used in the back of prospecting ute in some very rough terrain - it still is.
Bilbo
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Follow Up By: Pajman Pete (SA) - Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 07:32
Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 07:32
"will freeze a can of beer in 6 hours"
Why would you want to do that! :o)
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Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) - Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 08:20
Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 08:20
More importantly how did he do that? Its not often a beer lasts 6 hours in the fridge with me
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Follow Up By: Ron173 - Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 08:34
Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 08:34
"Autofridge is a Rolls Royce when it comes to efficiency nad ruggedness."
It would appear that this is not so in this case.
I know they are quite good fridges, and you got yours done free!, but $600, thats the guts of a new one.
I'd get a new one, phaps sell it to an autofridge agent for spares.
Ron
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Follow Up By: Bilbo - Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 19:26
Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 19:26
Dave & Pajman,
I freeze beer regularly. !!!!!!!!! I go out prospecting a lot and usually put a cuppla "warmies" in around or after lunch, to get 'em cold fer tea. But then I find a good gold patch or getting yakking to some character in the bush the way prospectors do and BINGO - It's 9.00 pm and the beer's bloody ruined!
BTW - Dave hows the ground around W'mooltha? Wet or dry? Hot or Cold.
I wanna get out 'n find some. The gold lust is upon me.
Bilbo
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Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha) - Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 21:03
Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 21:03
Grounds drying up nicely after the 30mm or so a week ago. Weather has been mild inthge low 30s. Beutiful evenings with no wind. Flys have settled down a bit although they might build back up after the rain
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Follow Up By: Bilbo - Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 22:44
Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 22:44
Thanks Davoe.
Bilbo
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Reply By: maxtd5def - Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 08:10
Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 08:10
Autofridges are a good thing. I've just had mine rebuilt by them, after many years of use & then neglect. It'll go for quite a few years yet I'm sure.
The factory told me how to convert the lid from fore&aft to side-opening too.
I'd say just do it.
Regards
Max P
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Reply By: traveller2 - Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 08:16
Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 08:16
Yes just get it fixed, you may be lucky and they may go part of the way towards cost if there is something wrong, may not be as expensive as you think.
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Reply By: Ron173 - Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 08:37
Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 08:37
Seems to be a lot of autofridge rebuilds around.... perhaps theres a message there
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Reply By: Member No 1- Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 08:50
Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 08:50
1. why wasnt leak found when they gased it up two weeks ago....did you pay for this....if it was leaking at the time its illegal to add refrigerant without repairing the leak first
2. Where is leak
0411703609...adel based
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Reply By: SmithyWA - Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 09:30
Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 09:30
I had to have mine re-built after 10 years. I dont regret getting it done, the Autofridge out cools everything I have compared it to.
If they re-build it they will also install an exaust fan in the top near the thermostat control, which upgrades it to the latest design, making it even more efficient. One final tip. Always give your Autofridge a run every so often. The majority of Autofridges need rebuilding because they have lay idle for too long and the eutectic plates deteriorate.
Cheers
Smithy
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Reply By: Member - Willie , Epping .Syd. - Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 11:05
Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 11:05
I had to rebuild my small autofridge because I did not use it for 6 years and the fluid in the sides went to gunk and the fridge would not cool .
I got a rebuild and sold it 'cause I needed the 73 litre model now that I am retired and do longer trips . I would always get another Eutectic if I needed a new fridge .If you look at the price of a new Autofridge you will agree it is worth a re-build .
Autofridge in my opinion are the ducks guts when you take power usage into the equation . I also have a Waeco that I use as a freezer and it is no wonder it uses so much power to keep the temperature down - it has so little insulation around it .
Cheers ,
Willie
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Reply By: OzRoamer - Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 13:00
Tuesday, Mar 07, 2006 at 13:00
A rebuilt Autofridge is still far better than a new Engel or Waeco in my opinion.
When Leon does the rebuild it is as good as new.
I have 6 Autofridge units in our hire fleet and 2 are second hand rebuilt models that go just as hard as the new ones and never had a problem.
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Follow Up By: Ron173 - Thursday, Mar 09, 2006 at 12:04
Thursday, Mar 09, 2006 at 12:04
You only need a new Engel every 20yrs though LOL
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Reply By: Taize - Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 at 19:57
Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 at 19:57
I have an autofridge that was manufactured 15 years ago. Back then the fibreglass they used was not as good as the modern stuff and the eutectic tub had a hairline crack and the eutectic fluid was leaking out. It still worked great as a fridge but not so good as a eutectic fridge. I got mine rebuilt and its fantastic. Do you get rid of your car if its had some pannels damaged? Probably not - same with an autofridge - why get rid of it and replace it with something that is of much lower quaility.
my 2c
Kym
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Reply By: rolande- Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 at 22:42
Wednesday, Mar 08, 2006 at 22:42
$600 bucks cheap for what will be a new fridge, and still better than most others aorund. Only long term Autofridge owners can tell the difference
Rolande
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Follow Up By: robert4841 - Monday, Mar 13, 2006 at 20:51
Monday, Mar 13, 2006 at 20:51
thanks everyone for all the excellent input. after speaking with leon from autofridge several times, i have decided to send the fridge in for repair. will post the results again at a later date. cheers, robert
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Reply By: joc45 - Saturday, Mar 25, 2006 at 01:42
Saturday, Mar 25, 2006 at 01:42
I have a 39L R12-type Autofridge I bought back in the early 90's. After about 3 years, it wouldn't pull down to much below 0deg. Turns out, the eutectic fluid had leaked out, and had ruined the insulation in the bottom of the fridge. Although it was out of warranty, Quirk's rebuilt it for me for zilch (cost me freight one-way), admitting that there was a problem with early units. Been great ever since.
Gerry
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