Dometic fridge - gas ignition problems (1 Viewer)

magicsurfbus

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Oct 11, 2010
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On the last few days of our recent trip abroad, our Dometic 3 way fridge (c. 10 years old) started refusing to ignite when on gas, and has been struggling to maintain the right temperature in the fridge compartment with the thermostat set to the mid-point on the dial which is supposed to be the optimum. I've fitted a LCD temperature display and we rarely if ever see the air temperature go down to 5 degrees C or below.

Oddly enough, if I blow hard through the bottom vent (near the burner) when the ignition is operating, the gas lights first time, but after a random length of time it fades and cuts out.

I've tried igniting it with each of our cylinders (one is completely full) just to check the refillable wasn't getting low, and the problem is the same. The cooker and water heater are running fine as well.

Is this likely to be something as simple as cack in the pipe or jet that needs poking out? I noticed the evaporation tray has a small amount of dark fluid in it, enough to cover the bottom. Is that normal?
 

funflair

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Dec 11, 2013
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I reckon Dave's comments above will be pretty spot on, our caravan fridge used to get scaled up in the flue and then this falls down onto the burner, the other problem we had was rust in the pipe to the burner reducing the flow of gas to the burner.

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Sep 3, 2012
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I had the same problem and blew out the gas burner pipes with a couple of straws taped together ( to reach the burner through the casing) as we were WC'ing at the time . It worked and when we reached home I cleaned out the burner jets with an air line. So far we have had no issues and the fridge lights first time . ( as a back up I also carry a compressed air can -bought from the computer bits section of poundland)

give it a try before you spend a fortune
:)
 

iceni

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Dec 3, 2007
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27yrs
Another reason may be cos the modern dometic fridge has an adjutabkle burner and this needs readjusting from time to time or the flame will change shape and heat, and then the thermocouple wont fully engergise and the flame will go out.
try the cleaning first as suggested and if this doesnt work then the above is most likely the reason. Get a decent fridge engineer who specialised in caravans to service it etc. Its money well spent as all your grub is in there.

I have the mumber of a really good bloke who lives and breathes fridges in caravans (bit of an anorac really but handly to know) but he lives in Coventry but will travel for a fee but will do this so that you pay the least cost possible (eg do it when hes on another job in the area.)

John Clempson
07879 458415
 

sedge

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Jul 7, 2009
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Well Mark of Central Leisure Services fame told us in March he had applied to be a Dometic engineer so he could deal with warranty work the same as he already does Truma, Thetford etc, as the guy for this area (ie Warwickshire) was retiring.

He told us this in March when he did our first hab service, we mentioned said Malcolm the Dometic chap had to come out last year to clean the flue and replace the thermocouple on our fridge under wtty. Dunno if he got the ticket from Dometic for them or not.

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magicsurfbus

magicsurfbus

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Oct 11, 2010
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As a postscript, my local friendly mobile engineer came and sorted it on the drive - a lump of rust had dropped off the inside of the flue and partially blocked the burner. All seems well, and the fridge should chill things better now too. He used a large air compressor to clear it all out but I take the point about carrying a compressed air can for future use.
 
Jun 13, 2013
12
8
Kenilworth
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26,472
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A class Burstner
Exp
2003
I have a problem we are in Spain and using Spanish gas,runs ok all day,then 2-3am the alarm goes of the ignition failed ,and keeps on failing so turn on electric, switch to gas in the morning and it runs fine, we are running on Butane and the temp outside has not dropped below 10 c ,the fridge was serviced before we left the uk and cleaned with a air line ,any suggestions .
 

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