Motorhome Fridge Not Working (1 Viewer)

[DFMan]

Hi,
The initial euphoria of our purchase has now subsided and I am now faced with reality!

The 3 way Electrolux fridge (c 1998)which the seller said was working perfectly is now not working perfectly. I have tried 230V but there is no temperature change at all (the front panel gets hot) and I have tried Gas but nothing happens. Has anyone got any experience of this type of problem? Also is there a specialist in Lancashire I can take the van to?

I am worried that this may affect the planned Europe road trip significantly.

Thanks for your help.

 

[JJ]

Don't give up hope...

There are many possible reasons for your fridge not working... several are not that difficult to deal with.

Are you a diy man?

Can you drive a multi-meter?

Do you understand the way a absorption fridge works.

If not you'll have to find a suitable fridge servicing place.

In these types of situations I often find that "Google Is My Friend".

Got a problem... start by asking Google.



JJ

 

[Jim]

Hi,
The initial euphoria of our purchase has now subsided and I am now faced with reality!

The 3 way Electrolux fridge (c 1998)which the seller said was working perfectly is now not working perfectly. I have tried 230V but there is no temperature change at all (the front panel gets hot) and I have tried Gas but nothing happens. Has anyone got any experience of this type of problem? Also is there a specialist in Lancashire I can take the van to?

I am worried that this may affect the planned Europe road trip significantly.

Thanks for your help.

Yes, trips away without a fridge is no fun, no one likes a warm beer

If the van has not been used for a while the coolants can settle, the advice used to be to take it out and turn it upside down for an hour. But there is plenty to try before then. . tackle it one thing at a time. When on mains, See if electricity is getting to the fridge, on gas, do you have plenty? Can you see the flame through a sight glass. Meanwhile check your winter vents are not on.

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[DBK]

Hi,
The initial euphoria of our purchase has now subsided and I am now faced with reality!

The 3 way Electrolux fridge (c 1998)which the seller said was working perfectly is now not working perfectly. I have tried 230V but there is no temperature change at all (the front panel gets hot) and I have tried Gas but nothing happens. Has anyone got any experience of this type of problem? Also is there a specialist in Lancashire I can take the van to?

I am worried that this may affect the planned Europe road trip significantly.

Thanks for your help.

Is the fridge level? Not to spirit level standards but reasonably so. If the MH is parked on a slope the fridge may not work.

 

[DFMan]

Thanks for all the speedy replies. @Jim - interesting thing about the winter cover. The last owner mentioned something about those when he was showing me the van. How do those affect the running of the fridge?

 

[Jim]

If they are on in this hot weather then they won't be helping.

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[DFMan]

Is the fridge level? Not to spirit level standards but reasonably so. If the MH is parked on a slope the fridge may not work.

@DBK
Did not realise that affected it as well!

 

[DBK]

@DBK
Did not realise that affected it as well!

It generally needs to be reasonably level - about as level as you could happily sleep in the vehicle without falling out of bed.
It also depends to some degree on which way it's tilted. With a typical fridge if you look at it from the front the top left corner shouldn't be significantly lower than the top right. This ensures the condenser tube slopes downward and the refrigerant will circulate. A typical fridge is more tolerant in other directions.

 

[adonisito]

Could be a number of things, every time we sold a van to a newbie we expected questions, give them a ring. Seems strange it doesn't work at all. are you on a slope ?

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[DFMan]

Okay. The winter covers are now off. 230V green light on. The top vent is hot. The temp dial is on max. How long do I wait?

 

[mitzimad]

3 hours22 minutes 12 seconds

 

[DFMan]

@mitzimad

Starting the timer now......

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[tonka]

Okay. The winter covers are now off. 230V green light on. The top vent is hot. The temp dial is on max. How long do I wait?

In this weather using max setting will make the fridge work harder and more heat to remove.. Try a low setting..
Lots of people have issues when we have temperatures like we have at the moment.

 

[DFMan]

@tonka Thanks for the advice. Going to turn it down now.

 

[trophychap]

Ours goes up to 8 - however the Dometic engineer told me we'd sooted it up by doing that (so he swept the flue) and that they actually work far better on no 2 or 3 especially when it's scorchio. Dunno about all of them of course - but ours certainly does!

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[DFMan]

@trophychap Thanks for that. Just turned it down to 3. Will wait until the morning to see what happens....

 

[vin0114]

@trophychap Thanks for that. Just turned it down to 3. Will wait until the morning to see what happens....

We've just changed vans and similar probs to yours except winter covers had been removed but when on 240v no lights or gauges show any movement but waited a few hours and definitely working - on the gas side you have to turn up to max after turning on then off then on again - bit like the misses - you have to tell 'em twice......ooh where's me crash hat

 

[DFMan]

@vin0114 Thanks for the info. It's making me more hopeful.

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[vin0114]

@vin0114 Thanks for the info. It's making me more hopeful.

Forgot to add, mine is a domestic but the thick one where you have to switch it to 240v, running 12v or gas. Worked a treat at Stratford on gas besides the high temperatures on about 30 percent.

 

[Reallyretired]

Ours is effective when the thermostat is about half way. If it's turned right up then it is less effective. A bit counterintuitive.

 

[DFMan]

@Reallyretired Does that mean it’s colder if you don’t turn it to max?

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[vin0114]

Ours is effective when the thermostat is about half way. If it's turned right up then it is less effective. A bit counterintuitive.

I found if left on max stuff below the freezer box also froze.

 

[tonyidle]

@Reallyretired Does that mean it’s colder if you don’t turn it to max?

Under most circumstances - yes.

 

[DFMan]

You lot are amazing! I now have frozen top box and quite chilled main bit on 240V. Thanks everyone. One question down, many more to go.....

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