Fridge repairs in Northern Spain

[paulnkate]

Hi all. Our fridge has just stopped working on the gas (still works on electricity). Does anyone have any suggestions to fix or does anyone know where we could take it. We are currently touring in Northern Spain and are near Logrono at the moment. Kate

 

[Jim]

Can anyone help Paul and Kate?

 

[guy b]

We had issues with our gas supply and used a place in Bilbao who sorted us out immediately. Seemed a really good place and very helpful. Alde service centre so know what they are doing. I can look it up of not too far to travel

Edit… camper top services bilbao. Comes up as rental but they also do repairs

 

[MichaelT]

First of all I guess you have gas, it's turned on and other things like boiler and hob are working?

May need to clean the flue on the bottom of fridge assuming it's a dometic one?

 

[jumar]

Our past problems with no gas to our fridge was due to either.
A. Blocked jet.
N. Air in the supply pipe..

Good luck it's not a difficult fix.

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[The Wino]

We had fridge problems twice once in France once in Germany. We just looked online for local motorhome dealers and called in. I. France they disconnected the power lead to reset it ( no charge and it worked) In Germany they fitted a new PCB and gave us the old one to show where a component had shorted. Both done on the day ( in our experience not possible very often in the UK) both friendly and not particularly expensive for the PCB in Germany.
I'd just Google for a local dealer and give them a try.

 

[RustyRuss]

My, bitter, experience with 3 way fridges normally centres around the gas supply. You must take a logical approach to the solution.
Firstly, is the gas on and is there sufficient supply in the bottle/tank? Check this by using other appliances like the hob/oven and the heating.
Secondly, do you have an electricity supply to the ignition system? Check that the EHU is hooked up and all the breakers are on in the fuse box and that you can plug stuff in and check it’s working. Next 12volt supply, with the EHU disconnected are the internal lights working and is the water pump working?
Thirdly, settings, have you set the fridge on the gas setting? To make sure, switch the fridge completely off and then switch on again and make sure you’ve turn it on to the gas setting. Fourthly, when you follow the ignition instructions can you hear the piezo igniter “clicking” as it attempts to ignite the gas? You should be able to hear the exhaust fan running in the background for around 30-45 seconds before it stops and the error flashing sequence starts at the controls.
If you’ve carried out all these steps and the fridge is still not working then it’s virtually guaranteed to be a blocked gas supply.
You will need to be prepared to do some limited mechanics now. Access the back of the fridge through the external vents, remove them so you can gain access to the gas and ignition components at the back of the fridge.

TAKE LOTS OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE ASSEMBLIES BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT TO TAKE ANYTHING TO PIECES!!!

The system consists of a gas supply, a gas control valve, a feed pipe with a gas jet in it, a flame chamber with an ignition system and a flue.
Check the wiring for the ignition, get a mate to initiate the gas start up sequence from the control panel and confirm you can hear and see the piezo igniter sparking as it attempts to light the gas. Still not working? You should see a gas pipe running from the gas control valve to a machined steel bar that has the flame chamber attached to it at the opposite end to the gas pipe.

SWITCH THE FRIDGE OFF!

Undo the 11mm nut that holds the pipe to the machined steel by around 8-9 turns then loosen the screw that holds the flame chamber to the body of the flue assembly. Finish removing the nut that’s holding the gas pipe in place. Be careful how you separate the pipe from the machined steel, there will be a small 5-6mm diameter thimble like structure inside, this is the pesky blocking gas jet! Carefully inspect it, be careful not to deform it or drop it on the floor! Clean out anything blocking the jet without altering the diameter of the jet. I’ve used a fibre from a nail brush or an old toothbrush filament.
Re-assembly is fairly simple, but make sure the jet thimble is properly seated into the recess in the machined steel and the gas pipe is holding it securely in place as you tighten the 11mm nut. When the nut is nearly tight, say 0.5 to .75 of a turn to go, reposition the machined steel component onto the bottom of the flue and tighten the retaining screw. Finish tightening the nut holding the jet thimble in place to ensure it is gas tight, I recommend some thread sealant smeared lightly on the nut before you start reassembly. Make sure all the wiring is still connected for the ignition system.
Switch the fridge on and check that you can see the gas flame has lit. Place your hand above the chimney that is surrounded by a coke can diameter heat exchanger, it should get pretty hot pretty quickly.
Job jobbed.
If this problem re-occurs then it is likely that the aforementioned gas pipe is corroded and needs to be cleaned out. Or you have debris in your gas pipes, make sure you have a clean filter between the regulator on the gas bottle and the pipe that supplies gas to the rest of the van. Prevention is much better than a cure!

Good luck!

Cheers!
Russ

This is how a three way fridge works…..

how a 3way fridge works

 

[paulnkate]

We had issues with our gas supply and used a place in Bilbao who sorted us out immediately. Seemed a really good place and very helpful. Alde service centre so know what they are doing. I can look it up of not too far to travel

Edit… camper top services bilbao. Comes up as rental but they also do repairs

We had issues with our gas supply and used a place in Bilbao who sorted us out immediately. Seemed a really good place and very helpful. Alde service centre so know what they are doing. I can look it up of not too far to travel

Edit… camper top services bilbao. Comes up as rental but they also do repairs

Thank you Guy b. Will check it out

 

[paulnkate]

First of all I guess you have gas, it's turned on and other things like boiler and hob are working?

May need to clean the flue on the bottom of fridge assuming it's a dometic one?

Yes, everything else using the gas is working

 

[paulnkate]

My, bitter, experience with 3 way fridges normally centres around the gas supply. You must take a logical approach to the solution.
Firstly, is the gas on and is there sufficient supply in the bottle/tank? Check this by using other appliances like the hob/oven and the heating.
Secondly, do you have an electricity supply to the ignition system? Check that the EHU is hooked up and all the breakers are on in the fuse box and that you can plug stuff in and check it’s working. Next 12volt supply, with the EHU disconnected are the internal lights working and is the water pump working?
Thirdly, settings, have you set the fridge on the gas setting? To make sure, switch the fridge completely off and then switch on again and make sure you’ve turn it on to the gas setting. Fourthly, when you follow the ignition instructions can you hear the piezo igniter “clicking” as it attempts to ignite the gas? You should be able to hear the exhaust fan running in the background for around 30-45 seconds before it stops and the error flashing sequence starts at the controls.
If you’ve carried out all these steps and the fridge is still not working then it’s virtually guaranteed to be a blocked gas supply.
You will need to be prepared to do some limited mechanics now. Access the back of the fridge through the external vents, remove them so you can gain access to the gas and ignition components at the back of the fridge.

TAKE LOTS OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE ASSEMBLIES BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT TO TAKE ANYTHING TO PIECES!!!

The system consists of a gas supply, a gas control valve, a feed pipe with a gas jet in it, a flame chamber with an ignition system and a flue.
Check the wiring for the ignition, get a mate to initiate the gas start up sequence from the control panel and confirm you can hear and see the piezo igniter sparking as it attempts to light the gas. Still not working? You should see a gas pipe running from the gas control valve to a machined steel bar that has the flame chamber attached to it at the opposite end to the gas pipe.

SWITCH THE FRIDGE OFF!

Undo the 11mm nut that holds the pipe to the machined steel by around 8-9 turns then loosen the screw that holds the flame chamber to the body of the flue assembly. Finish removing the nut that’s holding the gas pipe in place. Be careful how you separate the pipe from the machined steel, there will be a small 5-6mm diameter thimble like structure inside, this is the pesky blocking gas jet! Carefully inspect it, be careful not to deform it or drop it on the floor! Clean out anything blocking the jet without altering the diameter of the jet. I’ve used a fibre from a nail brush or an old toothbrush filament.
Re-assembly is fairly simple, but make sure the jet thimble is properly seated into the recess in the machined steel and the gas pipe is holding it securely in place as you tighten the 11mm nut. When the nut is nearly tight, say 0.5 to .75 of a turn to go, reposition the machined steel component onto the bottom of the flue and tighten the retaining screw. Finish tightening the nut holding the jet thimble in place to ensure it is gas tight, I recommend some thread sealant smeared lightly on the nut before you start reassembly. Make sure all the wiring is still connected for the ignition system.
Switch the fridge on and check that you can see the gas flame has lit. Place your hand above the chimney that is surrounded by a coke can diameter heat exchanger, it should get pretty hot pretty quickly.
Job jobbed.
If this problem re-occurs then it is likely that the aforementioned gas pipe is corroded and needs to be cleaned out. Or you have debris in your gas pipes, make sure you have a clean filter between the regulator on the gas bottle and the pipe that supplies gas to the rest of the van. Prevention is much better than a cure!

Good luck!

Cheers!
Russ

This is how a three way fridge works…..

how a 3way fridge works

Wow. Thank you Russ. My husband did everything you have said and it's still not working but he did notice some corrosion so I think that must be the problem you describe.

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[RustyRuss]

IF YOU HAVEN’T JOINED MOTORHOME FUN YET YOU HAVE ONE FREE POST LEFT, USE IT WISELY OR JOIN, IT’S ONLY ABOUT £20 AND WORTH EVERY PENNY. Do you get an ignition spark from the piezo igniter? It should arc from the tip of the igniter to the nearest piece of earthed metal. Should be a nice strong arc around 3-4mm in length and you should also hear it multiple times as it tries to ignite the gas. Do you get a flame, even if for only a second or two? This means you have gas. Still no flame? No gas! Clean it all again and hold the thimble like jet up so you can see through it, it is VERY small and may still be blocked or have re-blocked as you reassembled it.
Check the gas control valve, they sometimes stick closed if they haven’t been used for a few months, using a decent size screwdriver placed against the valve, give it a tap with a hammer, this might unstick it.
There should be a thermocouple that will be in the gas flame when it lights, these are a service item, they contain wax that expands as it heats up and becomes liquid, it’s connected to the gas control valve, this keeps the gas control valve open and the gas flowing. Is it definitely going to be exposed to the flame when everything is working? Look very carefully at it’s tip, is it still in good condition or has it burned out, there will be telltale missing metal from the tip, see a new one below. Replacement is reasonably easy, again TAKE LOTS OF PHOTOS FIRST.
Are all the screws that hold everything together, tight? Loosen them a couple of turns and retighten, you might have corrosion that’s preventing the assembly from having a good earth. Check that all the electrical connections that you can see are in good condition, that none of the wires have broken or the insulation has failed, a gentle tug will tell you. Spade connectors are notorious for having good MECHANICAL connections, but poor ELECTRICAL connections, or they may actually be loose!
If you are still having problems then as an absolute last resort undo the nut holding the gas feed to the gas control valve a couple of turns, listen for a hiss of gas and a distinctive LPG smell. Retighten but don’t overtighten. Check it’s still gas tight by squirting a little 50/50 mix of washing up liquid and water on the junctions and check really carefully for bubbles forming. Getting bubbles? It’s not tight enough yet. I must emphasise that this is absolutely a last resort.
If the fridge is still not working then it’s likely that the gas control valve has failed, but this is quite a rare occurrence, you’ll need a professional to replace it.

Good luck!

Let us know how you get on as providing the solution will help others in the same situation.

Cheers!

Russ

 

[RustyRuss]

These fridges are used by more or less all UK and European motorhome and caravan manufacturers, so getting hold of spare parts shouldn’t be too much problem as long as you can find a decent caravan/moho spares dealer. You might even find the parts in really big hyper markets that have camping sections.

 

[paulnkate]

These fridges are used by more or less all UK and European motorhome and caravan manufacturers, so getting hold of spare parts shouldn’t be too much problem as long as you can find a decent caravan/moho spares dealer. You might even find the parts in really big hyper markets that have camping sections.

We have booked it into a place in Logroño for tomorrow morning. New part required. The burner tube was badly corroded? Thanks Russ for your help and advice. And good idea to join motorhome fun. Looks quite proactive

 

[RustyRuss]

I’m really glad you’ve found the solution! A request, can you take a photo of the problem part and post it so we can all see what the issue was? As I’ve said before, posting the solution to your problem will help others who are having, or are about to have, the same problem. Hope you join and do some interesting posts for us all to enjoy!

Cheers!

Russ