I think Don is onto something here. Perhaps it's all part of the Vanagon ownership experience. If we wanted to have a vehicle that always worked as we expect them to, then we would've gotten ourselves a Toyota Camry or something. But we got ourselves VW Vanagon Westfalias. These have a way to shape us into a certain way. Although mine (stock Dometic unit on my 87 Westy) lights each time I don't know why it does or when it will stop lighting. It's a nice metaphor for life I guess. We define ourselves by how we solve the problems.

On Sep 1, 2011, at 8:02 AM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

>  This is not a constructive or instructive reply, but rather an observatory
> reply....No, Scott...not Observatory like Palomar or Mt. Wilson..for
> star-gazing,  but an  anecdotal observation of what happens with my Dometic
> fridge..
> 
>  Mine works.  Dependably, for the most part,  but without a predictable
> sequence of behavior.
> Mine sometimes requires lots of patience to get lit but not always..
> Sometimes it fires up and stay lit right off...  No logic to why or when.
> When it is being stubborn about lighting and staying lit...I think..."This
> is it, the time it just won't work"....but if I persist, it always has, so
> far.  It may help if that side of the van is in the sun when lighting the
> flame...I think that may start the chimney drawing a little
> better...probably my imagination....I shall have to consult my
> vanagon-specific Ouija Board...
> 
>  I have cleaned everything.  It is just 'cantankerous' and unpredictable.
> Better than the other vehicles that we own with Dometics, however.
> 
>  Once lit, I can usually drive a thousand miles without losing the flame.
> But not always.  Sometimes it blows out..  Sometimes, rarely, it even goes
> off when the van is just parked.
> 
>  Once lit and running the Dometic I have works very well indeed.  It keeps
> stuff well and lasts about 3 weeks, full time, on a 5 gallon portable tank.
> These just seem to be 'fussy' fridges.  I have never encountered one that
> behaved. (I've owned or been around about half a dozen)
> 
>  Don Hanson
> 
> 
> 
> On Thu, Sep 1, 2011 at 5:42 AM, Leonard Sitongia <sitongia@onebeam.net>wrote:
> 
>> On Aug 31, 2011, at 11:08 PM, neil n wrote:
>> 
>>> Are you certain the drain plug is clear? If so.....
>> 
>> The condensation drain?  Yes, I can pump air into it.
>> 
>>> 
>>> This takes patience, but if you can see when the flame is dying, open
>>> the drain. Or, pump the air pump. Anything to introduce more air into
>> 
>> I have a small hand pump for blowing up fit balls and stuff like that.  It
>> fits nicely into the drain pipe.  If I pump while the flame is on, it goes
>> out.
>> 
>>> the burner box. If either keeps the flame alive, either the air
>>> in/exhaust out cycle isn't happening or your intake tube is still
>>> clogged. If no change, it *may* be a fuel delivery problem. Clogged
>>> burner jet, LP line, etc.  Also.....
>>> 
>>> The flame will be 2 different sizes when fridge operating normally; no
>> 
>> Ah, I didn't know that!  Makes sense.
>> 
>>> cooling needed, smaller flame, cooling needed, larger flame. Since
>>> your LED doesn't work and that it can be hard to see the flame via the
>>> viewer, you may think it's out but the flame is just at the smaller
>>> size (unlikely though given that flame likely in full size mode to
>>> cool down the fridge) A cardboard tube held up against the viewer is
>>> great or seeing if the flame is alive. Especially during daylight
>>> hours.
>> 
>> I'll try that.
>> 
>> Thanks!
>> 
>> ==Leonard E. Sitongia
>> One Inextricable Beam
>> http://www.onebeam.net/
>>