I recently pulled a valve from the propane system and it took a
loooong time to get the fridge--or the stove--working again. It could
be that you simply had not burned enough propane.

I once believed that the fridge lit better after being preheated on
110, and it was true at the time because I had problems with my burner
that I did not know about at the time. Since I cleared up the problem,
it lights as instantly on gas as it does after a preheat on 110.

Jim

On Sat, Aug 8, 2009 at 9:43 AM, Robert Keezer<warmerwagen@yahoo.com> wrote:
> "It ran cold at the shop"
>
> Ask the shop how they got it to start. Was the fridge removed?� I removed a fridge recently, cleaned the burn chamber, etc, and it started instantly on my portable propane tank .
> It ran very cold . But after i installed it, I noticed the line comimg to the fridge was badly squashed. In the car the fridge was hard to start , and did'nt run cold, because of the pinched line.
> I figured the owner damaged it since he said he tried to remove�, as he said he�tried to remove it before bringing it to me,and said he could only get it to move e few inches
> So Now i always check the line from tank to fridge for damage.
>
> Old regualtors can also be the reason. If it's hard starting in or out, doing the air pump mod as outlined in the Bentley might work..
> Karl showed me how this was done once, with� a drill you increase the amount of air sent to the combustion chamber.
>
> --- On Fri, 8/7/09, Melissa Mourkas <westywoman@MAC.COM> wrote:
>
>
> From: Melissa Mourkas <westywoman@MAC.COM>
> Subject: Dometic 182 B Fridge- Ad Nauseum
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Date: Friday, August 7, 2009, 9:11 PM
>
>
> Volks-
>
> The OE Dometic 182B fridge was pulled from the van, cleaned &
> serviced this week.� Ran super COLD at the shop on propane.� I
> brought her home and tried to fire up the fridge on propane this
> afternoon. (Yes, the valve was on, the burners on the stove
> lighted).� No dice.� I have to admit, I got a bit pissed off.
> Plugged the damn thing in on 110V and went in to have dinner.� Bear
> in mind I have read all available online posts on how to start these
> things, ad nauseum.
>
> Post-prandials, I went out to the van to try again.� 110V had lowered
> the temp nicely, so I knew it was working. First try, it started on
> propane.� Go figure.
>
> Question:
> 1.Is it because it was dark and I could see the LED? or
> 2. Because I pre-cooled the fridge on 110V.
>
> I will be on my maiden voyage tomorrow (and my trusty mechanic will
> be in tow, how lucky am I?).� But I'd really like this fridge to
> work.� After all, I dumped an '81 for this....
>
> Melissa Mourkas
> 84 Westy
>
>
>
>
>