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coolhandsurf
Samba Member
Joined: July 12, 2007
Posts: 18
Location: jax, fl
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 Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 3:07 pm Post subject: fridge problems |
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| I just bought my first westy (85) and have pulled the fridge out b/c it wasn't working. I plugged it in to an outlet in the garage and still can't get it to come on. Any help would be appreciated, Thanks, Luke |
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Lanval
Samba Member
Joined: June 09, 2007
Posts: 905
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coolhandsurf
Samba Member
Joined: July 12, 2007
Posts: 18
Location: jax, fl
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| Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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| thanks, I found all these links and a few more but nothing has helped yet, Thanks for the reply, Luke |
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[email protected]
Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2003
Posts: 1839
Location: Englewood, FL
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| Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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make sure the tempature control valve (center knob is turned all the way to the right, plug it into known working 110 outlet make sure the toggle is in the correct position for 110 and walk away for at the very least a few hours, if nothing then you gotta problem.
let us know
_________________
Markus |
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coolhandsurf
Samba Member
Joined: July 12, 2007
Posts: 18
Location: jax, fl
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 6:37 pm Post subject: |
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| thanks Markus; after plugging it in and leaving it for a while it was cool when I checked it later. I thought it wasn't working b/c I never heard it click on and the fan on the bottom back never came on. Before I put it back in I am going to do the fan upgrades and clean everything real well. thanks for your post. if you or anyone else has the time I would appreciate the instructions on lighting the fridge (and stove for that matter) on propane. I feel embarrassed having to ask but figure better to ask than blow something up. Thanks, Luke |
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[email protected]
Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2003
Posts: 1839
Location: Englewood, FL
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 7:43 pm Post subject: |
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| coolhandsurf wrote: |
| thanks Markus; after plugging it in and leaving it for a while it was cool when I checked it later. I thought it wasn't working b/c I never heard it click on and the fan on the bottom back never came on. Before I put it back in I am going to do the fan upgrades and clean everything real well. thanks for your post. if you or anyone else has the time I would appreciate the instructions on lighting the fridge (and stove for that matter) on propane. I feel embarrassed having to ask but figure better to ask than blow something up. Thanks, Luke |
Cool the fridge works (literally  )
far as the propane goes, when your get the fridge back in and the gas lines hooked back up go out and turn on the valve on the tank outside. Good time to leak test with some soapy water at around the connections outside and the one you just hooked back up at the fridge.
If all is ok then to light the stove its simply a matter of turning the knob on the burner and holding a lit match to the burner (I'm working on an electric ignition mod for mine, I like gadgets, and I'm lazy too)
For the fridge its a good idea to run a burner for a little bit, so others have said. Supposedly to get the juices flowing in the lines. This is not the case in my opinon, but it is a good verification that you have gas in the tank.
The overall directions I belive are right on the door of the fridge, I can't verify this right now my westy is kind of unaccessable at this time.
lighting the fridge is kind of an art form. I would say first outing you need to see if you can see the spark through the sightglass. that sometimes is not an easy task but until you get the fridge running you cant really verify the light in the panel is going to come on to tell you the frdge is lit and the thermo is holding its own and you can release the button (the panels are notorious for having cold solders etc.).
One thing that does help is pre cooling the fridge. good idea anyway as you want it cool before a trip, so plug it in beforehand and get it cooling. The heat produced helps the airflow in the burner setup so the propane does not "puddle up" so to speak in the burner area.
On another note, you gonnna be camping in that thing?? we have some cool campouts coming up here in FL!!! Ginnie Springs "farfigtubin" campout is coming up the first part of october. Its in the high springs/gainsville area, wicked cool privately owned campground (party central for the UF) like 5 springs on the property tubin' down the river etc... Last trip we had around 20 VW's and well over 40 people.
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Markus |
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msinabottle
Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2005
Posts: 3492
Location: Denver Area, Colorado
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| Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 10:49 pm Post subject: As Long as it's Out... |
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Do the drill about the leaks in the air and vent hoses, you'll have to search them out... and it probably won't hurt, and COULD help, if you invert the Dometic several times and/or leave it upside down overnight. Supposedly that gets rid of or consolidates the air bubbles in the ammonia.
But, as long as it's out!
Best!
_________________
'Winston,' '84 1.9 WBX Westy
Vanagon Poet Laureate: "I have suffered in
many ways, but never, never, never in silence." |
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MarkWard
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 18709
Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:42 am Post subject: |
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| The site glass on mine is inside the fridge bottom back left. It looks like a piece of dirt. It took me an hour to figure out that was it. I have not done any of the mods, but with a little patience I was able to get mine working in all 3 modes. The biggest part was learning how it worked. Follow the directions on the door. It is best to be out of direct sunlight so you can see the flame through the site glass. Too bright and you can't see it. You need to hold the push button to light it and continue to hold it while the flame heats up. I think it is tied to a safety valve to keep propane from leaking if the pilot light blows out. Once you get the hang of how it works on propane, you don't even need to watch the site glass. The green led below the water tank level will glow once the fridge lights. It also glows on 12 volt and 110. |
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coolhandsurf
Samba Member
Joined: July 12, 2007
Posts: 18
Location: jax, fl
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| Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 2:01 pm Post subject: |
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| thanks for all the help. I am running out to get a fan for the back of the fridge and one for inside to improve the circulation. Just reading up on what power source to use for the inside fan, thanks for all the help. I'll let you know my success when I have it re-installed, Luke |
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CF
Samba Member
Joined: February 17, 2005
Posts: 802
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| Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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luke
the one thing i did is add a 3 fans
1 on the fridge coils ,connected to the fridge stock fan
1 on the side cooling vent (the gray grate ) connected to 2nd battery
1 on the top vent (the rear section of the kitchen unit) connected to 2nd battery
that brought me down to 40-45% abiant(sp?) temp.
there is a lot of info on the fridge on the vanagon.com site. |
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backcountrymedic
Samba Member
Joined: February 17, 2006
Posts: 583
Location: Monterey, CA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 5:41 pm Post subject: |
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Here's a little tip for getting a good view of the pilot through the sight glass... buy (and use) a roll of heavy duty aluminum foil. When you're done with the foil, save the cardboard tube, and store it in the shelf above the galley. When you light the fridge, place one end of the tube over the sight glass, and take a gander down the other end. Makes it real easy to see if the pilot's lit or not. Of course, you can use a paper towel tube too, but I like the length of the industrial width foil.
Oh yeah... and buy the fridge update kit from GoWesty! Well worth it IMHO.
Cheers!
-Jared
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No need to bear the weight of your worries, you let them all fall away...
Sector 9 longboard
Kona Kikapu Deluxe MTB
Novarra Big Buzz
Electra Cruiser
'01 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 |
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captainpartytime
Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2005
Posts: 721
Location: Mission Viejo, CA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 7:44 pm Post subject: |
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| backcountrymedic wrote: |
Here's a little tip for getting a good view of the pilot through the sight glass... buy (and use) a roll of heavy duty aluminum foil. When you're done with the foil, save the cardboard tube, and store it in the shelf above the galley. When you light the fridge, place one end of the tube over the sight glass, and take a gander down the other end. Makes it real easy to see if the pilot's lit or not. Of course, you can use a paper towel tube too, but I like the length of the industrial width foil.
Oh yeah... and buy the fridge update kit from GoWesty! Well worth it IMHO. |
Great tip Jared, thanks!!! I just installed the GoWesty kit and can't wait to see the results.
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-Kerry
1982 turbo diesel Westfalia |
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MootPoint
Samba Member
Joined: September 16, 2006
Posts: 862
Location: ABQ, NM
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| Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:29 pm Post subject: |
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| When you light the fridge, place one end of the tube over the sight glass, and take a gander down the other end. Makes it real easy to see if the pilot's lit or not. |
I just "built" the same thing over the weekend with a short length of scrap PVC pipe, about 1" ID. I rounded the ends slightly so they fit into the corner where the sight glass lives so it makes a good dark seal. I made it just under the same length as the width of the 'fridge interior so I could store it inside.
The biggest problem is getting the alignment right so you actually see the flame. I think about 20 degrees up from the floor and fairly close to the left hand wall of the 'fridge is just about right.
Happy squinting...
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1984 Westy with tencentlife power! |
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elizrichardson
Samba Member
Joined: August 23, 2007
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 1:16 pm Post subject: Where's this campground? |
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Where is this campground in Florida? What's the formal name? I went to school in Sarasota and I just finished getting my Westfalia totally roadworthy. I'd love to drive down, sounds like a great spot. Please inform, Markus.
Thanks, Elizabeth, Washington, DC |
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[email protected]
Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2003
Posts: 1839
Location: Englewood, FL
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| Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 7:34 pm Post subject: |
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Where is this campground in Florida? What's the formal name? I went to school in Sarasota and I just finished getting my Westfalia totally roadworthy. I'd love to drive down, sounds like a great spot. Please inform, Markus.
Thanks, Elizabeth, Washington, DC |
heres a link to the campground. We will be there October 4-7. We get a group rate so it saves a couple bucks. So if you or any others are interested in camping with us that weekend let me know and I will get you more specifics. We reserve a very large area right on the waters edge you tube right up to your camper. We have pot luck dinners and breakfasts as well, We've also been know to break out the gas powered blender from time to time as well 
http://www.ginniespringsoutdoors.com/
we start camping ALOT here in FL starting september We have one the first of sept. in Ruskin area, this one at Ginnie, and one at the beatiful Ft. Desoto park the end of October as well. Thats just the kick off for the season here in the south!
Hope to see you around the campfire!!!!
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Markus |
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coolhandsurf
Samba Member
Joined: July 12, 2007
Posts: 18
Location: jax, fl
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| Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 10:03 pm Post subject: |
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| sounds fun but I noticed no dogs are allowed at the camp. We like having ours dog with us so I don't think it will work out for us to be there in Oct. thanks for the invite though-Luke |
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