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Subject:Re: 91 fridge piezo
From:Dave
Date:Tue, 8 Jul 2008 09:03:30 -0700

>OK seems basic buut-ran my fridge out of Propane and I think piezo
>ignition brnt out trying to restart.Went thru the steps to restart
>but now can't hear it clicking to fire-any ideas befofe ordering a
>new one?Thanks matt.BTW looked in ARCHIVES and couldn't find
>anything along these lines
>-mat christensen
>
>Mat,  before getting excited and trying to replace that piezo try
>the following.   I presume that you have the automatic piezo system
>since you say your van  is a 91.    Remove the front cabinet cover
>with fridge door from  the front of the fridge by removing the grey
>plastic screw covers and removing  the screws, the cover ~ faceplate
>with fridge door can then be removed.   Actually you can remove the
>door by sliding it upwards off the hinges and this  will make it
>easier to wiggle out the front cover plate.  Once the front  cabinet
>cover has been removed peer in right above the automatic piezo
>button  switch and you will see the piezo control unit with four  (I
>think) wires going into the top of it.  The wire, a large red  one
>covered in a cloth like casing, at the farthest from the front,
>terminal is  the wire leading to the actual piezo in the fire
>box.  Using a pair of long  needle nose pliers remove this
>wire.  Then actuate the piezo.  If you  see a spark jumping from the
>terminal that you removed the wire from then your  automatic piezo
>is operating correctly, if no spark then the automatic piezo  unit
>is defective.  If you saw the spark, reconnect the wire you
>removed  and then try to light your fridge and it should light.  For
>some "unknown  to me" reason these piezos stop working and removing
>that wire, actuating the  piezo and reconnecting the wire gets them
>working again.
>
>
>Cheers,
>
>
>Frank  Condelli

My '90 fridge piezo was behaving as described above by Frank.  A
couple of weeks ago, I replaced it with a model "679" ignitor, which
costs 1/4 of the one sold by gowesty.  Downsides are that you need to
drill a new pilot hole in the top of the fridge (the replacement unit
is narrower), and you must work a round socket onto a rectangular
pin.  The piezo works perfectly now.

I bought my piezo at rvmobile in everett, washington, but you can
find them online at many places.

Note: this info only applies to 1990-1991 model years.

Dave
90 GL camper "Fritz"

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