Engel Refrigerators

G'Day cant,
Recently I purchased a 50ltr Waeco because of the same experiences you've had. Most of my mates seem to have an equal ownership of Engels and Waecos. It seems that the very early Engels performed faultlessly but the latter ones had a few problems. This is to be expected, to some degree, with all makes. I do'nt have a problem with that. But I do have a problem with non-existant service from a number of their agents, and as you experienced, also from Engel themselves. Two of my mates were given the run-around with their units with the faults being blamed on everthing else but the product it's self. These issues with Engel drove me to buy a Waeco. No doubt Waecos also have problems but up untill now I have never heard of complaint regarding the service Waceo provides, actually quite the opposite, most people commend them for their prompt service.
Untill I'm proved wrong ...I'm staying with the Waecos
Regards,
Bazza.

Not quite the same but I bought a fridge slide for my 60 Litre Engel. It cost me $375 and once I fitted it I thought it was nothing but a heap of crap. When you slide the fridge right out it drops on one side and appears to be precariously balanced. I rang Engel and got nothing but a tough titties response. I swear if he was within driving distance I would have driven there & smacked him one for his attitude.Allyn
Where to next ?

Just another for the mix. I've had my Engel for about 3.5 years and had to interact with engel twice in the first 12 months of owning the product. Both times I phoned engel directly as I was not in towns with engel service people and spoke to quite helpful people who immediately addressed the problem.

FYI, the problem was with the 12 volt power lead. The end that plugs into the fridge failed as it protruded directly out of the fridge and was held at a slight angle by the fridge slide - clearly causing fatigue in the lead. A replacment lead had the same problem a few months later. When I spoke to them on this 2nd occaision they indicated they had resovled the problem. Sure enough - when the new lead arrived it had a 90 degree bend in the fridge plug end thus negating the problem with the lead being forced against the slide.

Cheers

Cant. You say SA agent...who was it?

I have used a SA service agent for a repair which went back for repair again (2nd time) only to fail a 3rd and the ( my ) customer got a brand new engel for his troubles.....I reckon this was good service. (albeit somewhat of an inconvenence at the time)

Are you adelaide based?...if so send an email to wherethefugawi@hotmail.com and i will give the name of agent that I use....

If it wasnt for the frequency drive and swing compressor i'd fix them myself but that's Engel fridges.....Wow! am I cute
If yer ain't fishing, Yer ain't livin
Richard

Engels are like diesels...if they stuff up you pay through the nose. That is the luxury you have to afford by purchasing an Engel. I have two Engels. One is 18 years of age with a totally stuffed body but it still works faultlessly and has never been serviced. My new Engel is 2 years old and works faultlessly. I have no complaints. I have never had to go back to Engel for repairs so I cannot comment on their service. Just the luck of the draw, I suppose.
Cheers,

Willem

Always going somewhere

Its like everything you have had bleep service from Engel, others have had it with Waeco.

We went to Rays to look at a Waeco, wife opened the lid it broke off, no not came off BROKE off... needless to say, happy as the NAB with Engel..

Thanks everyone for responses. Much appreciated. I guess I have been around or aware of Engels virtually since they first came to NT. Their reputation for taking the hard knocks bouncing around Stock Inspectors utes etc is legendary. However, it appears that the older units (say eight to ten years) built the reputation. Not so now as most people who have had trouble seem to have had the new models.
First diagnosis with mine ( six years old) in Adelaide - 12v cord ($60 new cord). Second diagnosis in Alice Springs a couple of weeks later - thermostat ($100). Still unserviceable. Third diagnosis - compressor $450. However, $250 just to look at it on a Saturday morning when I was leaving for Simpson on the Sunday. Didn't have compressor in stock anyway! Not impressed. Fourth diagnosis, compressor and cooling system - $648.50. To provide this quote $69.30. Try dealing with Engel for empathy or even a half decent response - forget it!