Steve Macaulay wrote:

> My frig is hard to start on propane unless I drive it around for 15-30
>
> minutes with the controls set to battery operation.  It will then
> usually
> start right up on gas after that.  There is a factory mod described in
> the
> Bentley manual that requires you to remove the frig, add an o-ring to
> the
> pump, drill a bigger air in/out hole, and add a one-way valve.  I was
> thinking about trying this out myself in the Spring.  Anyone on the
> list
> every try this mod and if so, did it make it easier to start up on
> propane?
> It's seems easy enough to do, but I've heard it is somewhat of a pain
> to get
> the frig back in properly so I'm not sure that I want to go through
> that
> unless I hear that this mod has worked well for other people with this
>
> common problem.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Steve
>
> 89 Westy (caveinn)
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@vanagon.com]On Behalf Of
> > Chris Paquette
> > Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 1998 5:15 PM
> > To: vanagon@VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: 88 Westie: Problematic Fridge
> >
> >
> > Before anyone gets annoyed, yes, I did go through the archives
> > and found  a
> > couple of suggestions on how to get the fridge lit - I could use
> some more
> > tips, though.
> >
> > What I've tried:
> >
> > - Followed the instructions printed on the fridge
> > - Lit the burners on the stove to get the propane flowing (stove
> > lit, fridge
> > didn't)
> > - Made sure the condensation drain thing under the fridge was
> drained
> > - Blew into same to clear "dead air" per archive article
> > - Read through the Dometic manual that was forwarded in .PDF format
> by a
> > listee for other tips
> > - Rubbed two chicken bones together, voodoo style, while chanting
> and
> > thinking good thoughts
> >
> > Results: nada.
> >
> > Questions:
> >
> > According to the manual, there is a light on the battery/water level
>
> > indicator panel that lights up when the propane burner in the fridge
> is
> > working and lit.  Am I right in saying that the light in question is
> the
> > green light below the red water level light?  If so, mine stays on
> all the
> > time, even thought the entire propane system is turned off at the
> tank.
> > Does this light serve any other function?
> >
> > There is a peephole in the lower left corner of the fridge
> > interior.  Is the
> > fridge pilot light plainly visible through this hole when lit?
> > Should I be
> > able to see the flame through this hole in the daytime?
> >
> > I'd be happy if I could get the fridge running on propane.  Any
> tips,
> > pointers, or other help would be appreciated.
> >
> > Chris Paquette
> > '88 Westie, Rozinante
> > Los Angeles
> >

   Hi Westy fridge people. I was also going to try the pump mod this
spring. Let me know if it works. I really don't want to do it until I
know if it works. Your lucky your fridge works on gas at all. Mine only
works if I plug it in and I have tried every thing except taking it out.
Almost burped it driving down coast today doesn't take turns as well as
I thought!