On 28 Aug 2003 at 21:09, Robert Keezer <warmerwagen@hotmail.com> wrote:

> <<wish it were that easy on my '88... :-(
> Just spent a 1/2 hour trying to get it going and all I get is the occasional
> loud pop. I've trying sucking and blowing from the drain tube by mouth and shop
> vac, to no avail. I can hear the gas flowing when bypass button is pressed (with
> hose to ear), so I know has is there. I'm starting suspect the piezo is not
> firing every time, or the spark is very weak, so it is flooded with gas, then a
> large pop ignites a whole lot of gas an blows the flame out (or runs out of O2).
> Any quick tips to getting it going tonight w/o pulling the fridge? Otherwise I
> guess I'll be buying ice :-(
>
> --
> Shawn Wright>>
>
> Even if you do remove the fridge and clean the burn chamber and nozzle,  the
> regulator is often worn out also. I have serviced several fridges this year and
> they ran well on my test tank with new regulator, but were hard to light or
> did'nt get as cold on the vehicle.
>
> The regulator needed replacement in every case.

You may be right - the regulator is original afaik. I did manage to get it going about
1/2 hour ago. This was after trying it on 120V and finding it didn't work! It's been at
least 5 years since I've tried 120V, but it used to work fine. I couldn't remember if the
LED lit on 120V so I waited 1/2 hour and no cold at all. I checked power at the outlet
inside cabinet - it was fine. Then I jumpered the two fuses behind driver seat to get it
going on 12V and the LED lit and it got cold quite quickly, within a minute. So I then
tried lighting on gas again for maybe 30 seconds while 12V was still on, then gave
up. I pulled out the spoon that I had bridged the fuses with, went to turn the LED
panel off, and saw the fridge LED was lit! This can't be! I put my ear to the hose still
hanging off the drain tube, and could hear a definite flame!
I've had the flame start (and LED light) sometimes a few seconds after spark, but
never this long after (maybe 10-20 seconds). I'm leaving it on overnight and hoping it
will last the weekend... :-)

> You can run your fridge from a portable tank with new regulator to determine
> this, or measure the pressure in inches water column.

I assume special fittings are needed for this - is there somewhere to get these
cheap?

Thanks for the info.
--
Shawn Wright
http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright
'88 Westy 375k
'85 Jetta D 263k
'85 Jetta TD 482k (retired)
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