Fridge emergency!

[JaneyBMotorhomer In Hants]

The alarm on our Dometic Fridge keeps going off. Repairers have replaced the catch (possible condensation issues) and yesterday he replaced the board which meant he had to take the fridge out to do this. To get round this we have been using the fridge on gas, the alarm does not go off then so we get a decent night's sleep.

But something has gone wrong. When you put the fridge on gas you can hear the ignition switch clicking but the pilot light doesn't light. Repairer came back and fixed both the electric and gas but 20 minutes after he had gone it started beeping again on electric and the gas would not light. Useless in fact.

Maybe we can get someone to visit the site to fix it whilst we are away? I have left messages with two local mobile repairers in the hope that they can do it tomorrow before we go to Cornwall. We are in Dawlish Devon but would be grateful if anyone can point us towards a skilled fridge fixer in Cornwall!

My question is would this electric coolbox work in the motorhome if we are desperate?

Halfords 40 Litre Mains and 12V & 24V Electric Coolbox | Halfords UK

Shop the latest Versatile and portable, the Halfords 40 Litre Mains and 12V & 24V Electric Coolbox will help to keep your food and drink at the perfect temperature on long car journeys, staycations and camping trips. at Halfords UK

www.halfords.com

 

[philw111]

We have that box as a back-up for the fridge (there's never enough room in the fridge for beer apparently!) and it's great. It travels on 12V behind the driver's seat and is plugged in to 240V in the garage when on site. Definitely recommend

 

[Riverbankannie]

Sorry about your woes, the forum seems full of fridge problems today.
I made a note of this recommended mobile repairer in Devon.

One of the best mobile engineers in the South or South West recommended

If you live in the South West or Southern England . I can recommend 100% a company , who are mobile and will come to your house, secure yards or place of work. They are fully trained in all aspects of caravan and Motorhome habitation and full services. Plus is their charges are VERY...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Stag man]

The coolbox will work ok for you, it should be ok for static (with 240v EHU) and on the move if you have a 12 v socket
The only thing you won’t have is a freezer (but you know that anyway I guess)
Good luck

 

[Jev88]

A lot more expensive but you can also buy 3 way portable fridge. Runs in gas cannister if no hook up.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Swifter]

Sorry to hear about the problems with the fridge . The item you linked to at Halfords is a cool box that will chill “up to “ 16 degrees below room temperature ,just be aware on a very hot day , things like milk , meat and cheese may not be cold enough . The alternative is a compressor fridge which Halfords also stock

 

[sallylillian]

Call Paul he will sort it

 

[Toady]

Bag of ice in the cool box definitely helps

 

[Campervan_man]

The 240V element could be on the way out { working intermittently }.
The fridge could be playing up on gas because there is air in the gas line.
If it was My van I would try pulling the gas through again.

 

[John H.]

Bag of ice in the cool box definitely helps

When we first started with my parent's MH, there used to be guys selling bottles of frozen water on the French aires/campsites.
Does anyone do that these days?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Jamesh]

Yeap I use a 12v coolbox and freeze 2l of milk which with the fan keeps it cool all weekend.

Cheers James

 

[Minxy]

Can you tell me what model of fridge you have so I can do some research for you.

 

[Devon Sue]

Try Westcountry Onsite Caravan Services. Call Mark,07930 612760

 

[JaneyBMotorhomer In Hants]

Thank you for all your help and sorry for delay replying. Neighbour who is suitably qualified discovered that when the repairer had the fridge out to put a new board in he forgot to connect the cable that tells the gas to come through, hence igniter clicking but no gas lighting. Won't be using him again! Still got the problem with the alarm constantly going off on electric. He says it is a power supply problem and can look at it when we are back or I will use one of your recommendations above.

I know that it isn't the board or the catch/light as these have been replaced. Maybe a faulty cable or even plug? It is a Dometic MRS 8501

 

[JaneyBMotorhomer In Hants]

Can you tell me what model of fridge you have so I can do some research for you.

Dometic RMS8501. See my latest post and thanks.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[DaveFromBarrow]

Rather than start a new thread I'll add to this one. Our RM7361 is working fine on mains and battery but not on gas. It was working fine last season but I only tried it this season once on the road - I know. I can hear the igniter ticking but then the gas status light starts flashing meaning it hasn't lit. Cooker fine so gas moving about OK. Not sure how to "purge" the gas line to the fridge in case it's just air in the system.

It's not a biggie but if anyone has any tips that would be appreciated.

d

 

[rb62]

Rather than start a new thread I'll add to this one. Our RM7361 is working fine on mains and battery but not on gas. It was working fine last season but I only tried it this season once on the road - I know. I can hear the igniter ticking but then the gas status light starts flashing meaning it hasn't lit. Cooker fine so gas moving about OK. Not sure how to "purge" the gas line to the fridge in case it's just air in the system.

It's not a biggie but if anyone has any tips that would be appreciated.

d

Maybe the gas valve has stuck and needs a tap.

 

[DaveFromBarrow]

The gas shut off valves are just ball valves I think, I don't think they can stick as such but I'll investigate - thanks.

d

 

[JaneyBMotorhomer In Hants]

Rather than start a new thread I'll add to this one. Our RM7361 is working fine on mains and battery but not on gas. It was working fine last season but I only tried it this season once on the road - I know. I can hear the igniter ticking but then the gas status light starts flashing meaning it hasn't lit. Cooker fine so gas moving about OK. Not sure how to "purge" the gas line to the fridge in case it's just air in the system.

It's not a biggie but if anyone has any tips that would be appreciated.

d

there is a video on YouTube showing you which bits to tap lightly with a hammer to get rid of debris in the burner and airlocks in the pipes both of which could stop the gas igniting. Search for "gas not working on motorhome fridge". Good luck!

 

[DaveFromBarrow]

Right, so I've opened and closed the fridge supply isolation valve a few times and bingo, all good. Thanks for the help once again.

d

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[ChrisSue]

If a 25ltr one will do we bought one in the Jack's store in Chatteris last Sunday. Jack's is Tescos answer to Aldi/Lidl