fridge problem

Hi Casdol

May I suggest, with all trespect, and in the interest of safety, that you consider just taking it in and getting ti checked. The last thing you want is a gas explosion or a fire damaged caravan. I would never contenplate messing with something that canb be dangerous unless I fully knew what I was doing.

Safe travels

Marc

Hi casdol
You will find some good information on fridges here.
Cheers
Neil

Hi Casdol,

The only types that I have seen in the older caravans are as follows......

Battery Ignition (usually takes a 'D' size), just make sure an old battery hasn't corroded the terminals.

1. Open gas cylinder or pressure regulating valve
2. Turn on Battery ignitor switch
3. Turn gas control knob to the MAX position, press and hold down
4. After ignition, hold down knob for a further 15 seconds before releasing.

Piezo Ignition

1. Open gas cylinder or pressure regulating valve
2. Turn gas control knob to the MAX position, press and hold down
3. After approximately 10-15 seconds
press Piezo knob several times until pilot light a lit
4. After ignition, hold down knob for a further 15 seconds before releasing

Hope this helps,
Dennis

Also, Check to see if the gas stop cock for the fridge is turned on.

Check the 'chimney', they often get completely blocked by spiders or wasps!

We always light a stove burner first to get all the air out of the line before trying to light the fridge.

That also shows up if dopey me hasn't turned on the cylinder yet.

Pete

hi casdol
check to see if peizo ignitor is actually making a spark
if not check all connections and you may have to remove panels on outside of van and this will all enable you to check igniter if after checking for spark and there is'nt one well then replace it/check that the inside gas tap is on
on old vans it's usually found in a cupboard under or near the fridge or under bench seat near the fridge hand has to be inline with the pipe to be on

while outside at the fridge rear access hole

check the chimney and burner make sure there are no dead moths or spiders/webs etc around the burner jet etc give it a blast with air if availuble

if the vent panels have fly mesh on them make sure they are clean
wash them with truckwash and brush
blocked mesh will make a burner smoke and/or go outclean these regulary if travelling on dirt /dusty roads

and remove the baffle that hangs down in the chimney
on a wire to see if it is cleanbolw air up the pipe not down on the burner
if the gas bottles were'nt on the van at some stage prior to you purchasing which is quiet often the case they get used on bbq's etc

there could be water or condensation in the gas pipes and this will have a big effect on trying to get ignition in fact it wont ignite at all with this problem but

but as mentioned try lighting all the gas stove burners before proceeding to this step in remedy

i might add if you are not competant to do any of this do not proceed to next step and get a gas man to do this

on an 80s van last year i had to undo all the pipe conections under the van and blow compressed air through them to get out water and condensation for several minutes
if the regulator looks old it could well be the problem as a lot of old vans 80's vintage still have the original regs and the diaghams fail

replace it with the new tpye regulator as the old type are longer legal it will void your insurance fit the new fail safe type

after refitting pipes including to the fridge burner check joints with soapy water to make sure none are leaking
i did this useing low compressed air not gas with some fittings i had for connection to gas pipe at the front
then when thats done go to the stove and light all the burners first to get the air out and the gas through it may take a while only do one at a time large burner first
hoping this will be of help

but let me make it very clear

i take no responsibility for what ever you may attemp as i dont know what your capabilities are
cheers

Thanks for all the information,I will be looking at the fridge on the weekend,weather permitting.
I am rather glad I asked the question as I did not realize some of the things involved.
I will not undertake any work that I am unsure about,but i will try to eliminate the minor things before I take it for repair.Nothing worse than looking like an idiot because you did not have Gas turned on or something similar.
Thanks again for all your help.