Caravan repairs Geraldton?
Submitted: Monday, Dec 31, 2012 at 11:30
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Road Trippin Hippies
Good Morning, We are currently in
Geraldton(staying in
Drummond Cove caravan park) and are having a couple of problems in our caravan that need fixing - today if possible!
The fridge has stopped functioning properly; doesn't cool down no matter what i set the thermostat at - yet the freezer still works fine. And secondly; having dramas with the oven, it will stay lit for a while then just click off after 5 minutes, and also sometimes its hard to keep lit in the first place.
If anyone knows someone who could help it would be great! especially if they could come out to us at the caravan park
Thanks :)
Reply By: moss - Monday, Dec 31, 2012 at 12:46
Monday, Dec 31, 2012 at 12:46
Hi
I live in Gero and if you have all day then see Caravanland, but if you are into good fast service then there is only one choice, Country Time.
No affiliation blaa bla, just can not stand waiting for any service.
I work in retail and speak with a lot of travellers who have also found out the above.
regards and enjoy our coast
David
AnswerID:
501331
Follow Up By: Road Trippin Hippies - Monday, Dec 31, 2012 at 14:08
Monday, Dec 31, 2012 at 14:08
Thanks mate, I tried both and they are shut until the 7th :( I'm going to take it to an auto spark on the 2nd and see if they can help
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Follow Up By: Road Trippin Hippies - Monday, Dec 31, 2012 at 14:10
Monday, Dec 31, 2012 at 14:10
PS. We are loving the beautiful coast! Heading to Wagoe next on the 2nd, will take the van in to gerro that morning before we head off to try get it fixed
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Reply By: hazo - Monday, Dec 31, 2012 at 13:48
Monday, Dec 31, 2012 at 13:48
Considering its new years eve, and holiday time I think you will be struggling fullstop ! You are in WA --wait awhile state !
Is the fridge a 3-way ? if so it is probably not working correctly due to the heat ! its been hovering around 40c (we are just South of
Geraldton) for the last week !
3-ways are notoriously poor in these conditions.
Maybe remove the outside vents to try and get some air moving over the condenser ? Are you level ? again another 3-way trait.
The oven is more than likely a dirty jet/thermocouple near where the flame is in the oven.
With the oven off look where the flame is and clean around the burner, there should be a thermocouple near or where the flame is when lit, it may have moved slightly out from the flame or just be faulty so needs a new thermocouple.
Good luck.
AnswerID:
501338
Follow Up By: Road Trippin Hippies - Monday, Dec 31, 2012 at 14:14
Monday, Dec 31, 2012 at 14:14
Thanks for your advice. Yes it is a small three way fridge inside a jayco swan. The van is level, I will try remove the vents like you suggest. It does make sense that it simple might just be struggling due to the heat. I wonder if it will work better if I switch it to run off gas instead of mains power?
Also I will have a look at your ideas with the oven
Thanks!
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Follow Up By: Member - John G - Monday, Dec 31, 2012 at 14:22
Monday, Dec 31, 2012 at 14:22
G'day Hippies
Everything I read says that the 3-ways work best on gas. We always use gas to run our's in an Eagle Outback. Give it a go.
Cheers
John
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Follow Up By: Road Trippin Hippies - Monday, Dec 31, 2012 at 14:45
Monday, Dec 31, 2012 at 14:45
Hi
John, cheers mate, I'll give it a go. Plus it is 40+ degrees right now so that wouldn't help. Someone also suggested the compressor may need gas? But if the freezer still works it must have gas in it surely, unless they are separate chambers for fridge n freezer
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Follow Up By: Dennis Ellery - Monday, Dec 31, 2012 at 15:15
Monday, Dec 31, 2012 at 15:15
A small compressor fridge like a Waeco or Engle can at best achieve 50 deg below ambient.
Your 3 way doesn’t have a compressor and in 40+ heat it has no show – the best you can do is leave it shut and don’t open in during the day.
They work like the old Kero fridge – woeful in Temps above 35 deg
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Follow Up By: Road Trippin Hippies - Monday, Dec 31, 2012 at 22:29
Monday, Dec 31, 2012 at 22:29
Cheers Dennis. It seems like a common response, anything over 35 and the fridge runs pretty poor. I've tried it on gas now too and it still struggles, the elements are still barely below room temp.
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Reply By: jacent - Tuesday, Jan 01, 2013 at 13:08
Tuesday, Jan 01, 2013 at 13:08
Hi mate we had the same problem with our gas / elec fridge in our van, Gero have had a lot of hot weather and as others have said there would be nothing wrong with the fridge just the weather giving it a hard time, we also have a waeco 60 ltr and when it gets hot we just transferred everything to that as they are a compressor fridge, I have seen mini awnings of shade cloth that ppl have set up at the back of the fridge, others have installed a computer fan to help with circulation, if you removed the back cover you could possible get a ten dollar fan from bunnings and help the air circulate, or mayb some block ice in a tub in the fridge and help it cool down, like an esky
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Follow Up By: Road Trippin Hippies - Tuesday, Jan 01, 2013 at 14:10
Tuesday, Jan 01, 2013 at 14:10
That's a good idea with the fan and ice. Another option could be just to rip it out and put another 12/240 car fridge in there. I already have a National Luna fridge/freezer and its been working fine, even in this heat
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