Need Help with Gqs Fridge

[amann10602]

We are on our second camping trip in our '95 Solaris T2363. We have no electric hook-ups so we are trying to use the fridge on gas. It keeps going off. The check light comes on. Then I turn it off, wait a while, try again. And it may work on gas for a while. It is windy here. Does that have anything to do with it? We are totally ignorant of how this thing works. Does it hurt to continue to try to restart it? I just moved out truck to the side of the trailer to try to block the wind. Any advise would be helpful. Thanks. Audrey

 

[amann10602]

Well, the wind has died down and the fridge still is not working properly. It seems like the "gas" light comes on for about 5 minutes and then the check light comes on. We left our owner's manual at home. So if anyone has any advise we would appreciate it.

 

[poppyandnana]

Did you bleed the propane line? Make sure gas is flowing - check your stove to see if it stays lit. Have you opened the propane all the way...DH had a problem one time when the line was not on all the way.

OH - just thought of somethng else....did you check for spiders around the pilot light? If not it may be a faulty thermocoupler.

Good Luck!

 

[JohnGB]

Hi Amann

Can you give us a model number and make of the fridge? It is easier to look up on line to know what it is you have so the info matches.

Have you actually seen the gas flame burning thru the sheet metal? If so what does it look like?

Is this fridge/camper new to you? Has it ever worked right? When did it last work correct?

Do not know if you are fighting an old problem or a new one.

Once I know which model you have I can them maybe help more so I know what type of controls it has on it. I am not fluent in what Sunline installed in 1995 or if the fridge was ever changed by the prior owner.

Let us know and we can try to help more.

Thanks

John

 

[SteveC7010]

These electric/propane RV refrigerators have not changed much over the years since '95. And a lot of the maintenance, etc. is virtually identical.

Making sure you have sufficient propane, that it's turned on properly and the lines are purged are the first steps. Purging is easy, just light up the stove for a couple of minutes and then make sure the HW heater runs OK. Even then you may have to go through a few on/off cycles to get the last bit of air out of the line.

There's a sort of a chimney above the flame. It can be cleaned out with a little ingenuity. A paper towel wadded up and fastened to the end of a wire coat hanger works. You only have to remove a few screws and an access plate or two. That chimney is prime residential space to spiders who seem to love the propane odor. If the trailer has not been used for a while, other insects may have moved in as well.

While in there, there may be a build-up of crud on or around the flame orifice. A good brushing with an old toothbrush takes care of that. Be careful not to push the crud into the pin hole where the gas comes out.

The thermocouple is supposed to be squarely in the flame so that the heat of the flame keeps it functioning. If the thermocouple looses heat, it switches off and the fridge shuts down. A very gentle bending will move it back into position. Do NOT crimp the metal tube of it.

You said it's windy. Assuming that the access plate to the fridge on the outside of the TT is there and in decent condition, that should block most of the wind troubles. Remove the plate and make sure that the cover plate on the chimney where the gas flame is located is there. If it has been removed, even a gentle breeze will blow the flame out.

Many owners manuals for RV appliances are available here:
http://www.aerocoachinc.com/ownManual.php

Dometic's website also has them online (my '99's model is listed there so your '95's maybe well be, too):
http://www.dometic.com/enus/Americas/USA/Customer-Support/Operation--Installation-Manuals/

 

[amann10602]

Many thanks for all of our replies. We're back home now and my hubby will spend some time chasing down the problem. The fridge was installed about five years ago. I'm sure he'll figure it out. We usually camp where there are hook-ups, but this weekend we were at a swap meet and the camping was happening on a graveled lot. Thankfully it wasn't real hot as it can get here in Texas even in April and we were ok without the AC. We appreciate all of your input and are so happy to have bought a Sunline.