Replacing our Engel Combi
Submitted: Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 12:13
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41741
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Member - Allan C (VIC)
Hi,
We have a 60 L Engel Combi Fridge/freezer and it works very efficiently, but it vibrates something awful. At present it's located in the back of our Mazda Bravo Freestyle Cab, behind the drivers
seat. The problem is that it vibrates the passenger
seat so much that whenever we stop it has to be turned off, or I have a wife who becomes physically sick! Had a friend holding onto the door the other day with the car switched off and they asked what was vibrating the door! This fridge has been back to Engel, but they cannot fault it!
Can anyone recommend a fridge/freezer that comes in similar dimensions to the Engel- but DOESN'T VIBRATE.
We are also looking to change the upright Engel in our Trayon camper for exactly the same reasons - we have to turn it off overnight because it vibrates our pillows.
I know everyone swears by their Engel and we cannot fault performance. Maybe they don't have them in the situation that we do and so don't notice the vibrations.
Help please before I have a mini revolution on my hands and have to go back to a 3 way fridge.
Allan
Reply By: Member - John (Vic) - Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 12:43
Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 12:43
I have one and its as smooth as silk, brilliant unit.
My one has been run over tens of thousands of outback and High Country Tracks without any issues at all
Are you sure its not the fridge slide rattling??? (Assuming its mounted on a slide)
AnswerID:
218354
Follow Up By: Member - Allan C (VIC) - Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 12:53
Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 12:53
Thanks
John,
I wish ours was as smooth as silk- its not mounted on a slide as its easily accessed through the suicide door. Its mounted on a sheet of high density foam, and we have tried it without the foam, but with no difference. We have removed the original foam
seat (after trying it on that), and the fridge sits against the original back padding, but is not touching either of the front seats.
Allan
FollowupID:
478744
Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 13:03
Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 13:03
Still seems strange that Engel can't re create the fault in the workshop??
If it does it whilst running in the car it should do it in the workshop unless its a mounting issue in the car???
Does it do it whilst plugged into 240 volt out of the car and sitting on the garage floor??
FollowupID:
478748
Follow Up By: Member - Allan C (VIC) - Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 18:42
Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 18:42
Hi
John,
Yes, it does vibrate the same when plugged into 240 on the concrete garage floor - but according to Engel there is nothing wrong with it. Hence the desire to change it - if there was something that we could do - we would. Its going to cost us big time to change over and we are happy with the performance of the Combi.
FollowupID:
478837
Reply By: Footloose - Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 14:17
Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 14:17
Have heard of older models doing it, but not to the extent you describe. Seems strange that so many people don't have that problem. Does it make a noise when vibrating eg something loose ?
I have a Waeco, no vibration at all. Some interference to the HF that I cured, apart from that , no dramas.
AnswerID:
218377
Follow Up By: Member - Allan C (VIC) - Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 18:44
Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 18:44
Hi Footloose,
I have been over every screw etc and checked them all - nothing doing. Should have purchased the Waeco ourselves maybe
Allan
FollowupID:
478838
Reply By: meandet - Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 15:16
Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 15:16
Hi Allan
There was a problem with 40 litre Engels making lots of vibration noise a couple of years ago and they found that the screws holding the back panel on were too long and just touched the condenser, might be worth a look. We swear by our 40 litre and have taken it over many rough tracks without fault. Have a good think about what fridge you might replace it with. We have seen a few of the other popular brand with ice in them being used as esky's. Their owners often say they should have bought an Engel in the first place.
Cheers
Peter
AnswerID:
218389
Follow Up By: Member - Allan C (VIC) - Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 18:46
Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 18:46
Hello Peter
We have checked every screw and all parts that could be vibrating together and no difference - it vibrates just the same. We are researching other fridges because we do want the performance to be right - we spend a lot of time away and want the good performance.
Allan
FollowupID:
478840
Reply By: Jimbo - Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 19:07
Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 19:07
Allan,
We had a 39 L Engel, 2000 model and it had an annoying level of noisy vibration, however not to the level you are talking about.
A bit over two years ago we moved to an 80 L Waeco. Much quieter. The real advantage of it over the Engel is that it has dividers between the fridge and freezer section which lift out, turning it into an 80 L all fridge when you don't need the freezer section. $980 from The Fridgeshop. Bargain.
ATB,
Jim.
AnswerID:
218449
Follow Up By: Member - Allan C (VIC) - Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 21:11
Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 21:11
Thanks Jim,
We have looked at the 80 L Waeco and it is just a bit long for us - but we may have to do some re-thinking about our space - although we don't really need 80L.
The Waeco 60L is either Fridge or Freezer only and having got used to both........
Allan
FollowupID:
478891
Reply By: Derek from Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 20:34
Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 20:34
Hi Allan
My new fridge is super quite and smooth. You need to look at the amp meter to see if it is running.
They should be here in 2 months.
Regards
Derek.
AnswerID:
218472
Follow Up By: Member - Allan C (VIC) - Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 21:12
Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 21:12
Hi Derek
We will be in touch by phone to have a chat
Allan
FollowupID:
478892
Reply By: Sparkie C - Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 20:37
Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 20:37
Allan,
I have a old 39 ltr Engel that developed a noisy vibration after many years of hard use, I traced it down to the rubber mounts on the compressor motor they were held in place with speed washers/nuts . The type that simply push on and rely on friction to hold them on the shaft. These had worked loose and needed to be pushed back down tight onto the rubber mounts and all my noise problems were solved.
I'm not familiar with the 60l combo but I hope you can solve your problem maybe this will be of some help.
Regards Sparkie.
AnswerID:
218473
Follow Up By: Member - Allan C (VIC) - Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 21:17
Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 21:17
Hi Sparkie,
Wouldn't mind a vibration so much if we had had many years of hard use from ours. I have checked all the mounts, tightened every screw and lost track of the times I've had the grill off the top of the motor and still it vibrates. That's why we have come to the conclusion that we need to change the brand - even if it does cost us.
Allan
FollowupID:
478894
Reply By: MartyB - Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 21:49
Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 21:49
OK I'll be the first.
Give ya 50 bucks for it.
Marty.
AnswerID:
218495
Follow Up By: Member - Allan C (VIC) - Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 21:53
Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 21:53
Gee thanks Marty,
At the moment we feel that's about all its worth - but we have had higher offers, but only from people that are putting it either right at the back of a troopy or the back of a ute!
Cheers
Allan
FollowupID:
478912
Follow Up By: MartyB - Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 22:00
Monday, Jan 29, 2007 at 22:00
Alan,
I didn't really think so, it was a toungue in cheek offer.
Marty
FollowupID:
478916
Reply By: Twintrail(W.A.) - Tuesday, Jan 30, 2007 at 00:54
Tuesday, Jan 30, 2007 at 00:54
The bottom line is how much do you want for the engel. Could be very intersted.Regards.twintrail(W.A.)
AnswerID:
218527
Follow Up By: thomasando - Tuesday, Jan 30, 2007 at 07:58
Tuesday, Jan 30, 2007 at 07:58
Yes, I may be interested too...
FollowupID:
478957
Follow Up By: Member - Allan C (VIC) - Tuesday, Jan 30, 2007 at 12:28
Tuesday, Jan 30, 2007 at 12:28
We have already promised the fridge to the guy who felt it vibrating through the door. He is putting it in an
old well worn 60 series Toyota - down the back where he doesn't think he will notice the vibration in amongst all the others he has.
FollowupID:
478994
Reply By: derraux - Tuesday, Jan 30, 2007 at 11:17
Tuesday, Jan 30, 2007 at 11:17
Allan
Nobody has sugested a replacment fridge yet so ill go out on a limb and suggest one the 56l explorer should be very close in size and is very efficient and quiet.
Derraux
AnswerID:
218563
Follow Up By: Member - Allan C (VIC) - Tuesday, Jan 30, 2007 at 12:31
Tuesday, Jan 30, 2007 at 12:31
Thanks Derraux,
We had a good look at the explorer and have heard they are very good, but we have had a discussion with Derek Bester at ABR and decided to order the new fridge/freezer he will have available in a couple of months. They sound great.
Allan
FollowupID:
478995