The Caravan Owners Club

[daviesa]

Hi,
Can anyone tell me if they have had any problems with their Thetford refridgerator? My Hobby is 2yrs old and have had it from new.When switching the fridge on(with gas) I could smell fumes. On investigating i found the vent outside at the rear of the van had black soot on it and the inner mesh inside it looked like it was slightly distorted.
I have checked my paperwork and it states that it is under guarentee for 3yrs, however I need to take the fridge out to take it to a Theford service place. This is were i am struggling as I don't know how to take it out. I have unscrewed the 4 screws at the side of the fridge, but it doesn't want to come out. i have also looked through the vent at the back and there are some wires and a pipe attached which I am not qualified to unattach!!
The reason I was using the gas in the first place, was that when trying to use it with electric it didn't seem to be working. Only after trying to get the fridge out have I found that the damn thing had never been plugged in(the socket was hidden behind the drawers!!). I have emailed Thetford and have waited for a resonse for 3 weeks now.
Can anyone please give me any advice on how to get it out safely and also if they have had any similar problems.
Regards
Alex

[Ladyjan]

Hi Alex
Wait for "Hobbynut" to come online, i'm sure he will be able to help you....

[seniorwarden]

Hi,did you manage to sort out the problem with your fridge??I have a similar problem and need to remove the fridge,only i took out the 4 screws and its still solid I think the sink unit might have to come out as there maybe other fixings at the back of the fridge,but its a fiddly job and I could do with some advice before I start stripping everything out!
The reason for taking the fridge out was that it keeps tripping the power when I connect the fridge via the hookup.Anyone got any bright ideas????

[xjr1300]

sounds like the 240v element has gone creating a short hence tripping the electric.My fridge has 6 screws holding it in 3 either side under plastic caps
maybe thats why yours wont come out .
cheers
jack

[chrome dog]

[quote="daviesa"]Hi,
Can anyone tell me if they have had any problems with their Thetford refridgerator? My Hobby is 2yrs old and have had it from new.When switching the fridge on(with gas) I could smell fumes. On investigating i found the vent outside at the rear of the van had black soot on it and the inner mesh inside it looked like it was slightly distorted.

Re the smell of gas fumes... the problem is the flame is not burnibg correctly I had the same problem easy to fix...

No need to remove the fridge...
remove the bottom vent outside.. you will see the burner case at the right hand bottom of the fridge ( its a small box made of galvinized tin) it has a small inspection hole covered by a swivel cover ... lift this cover light the gas and look at the flame... it should be all blue... if there is any yellow flame the burner needs cleaning... it has three or four slots in the top of the burner ... with the burner still lit ..clean these with a small blade from a junior hacksaw or simmilar.. you should see the flame burn higher and blue.. job done...

You can remove the galvinized tin box to make things easyer but try it through the inspection hole first...

Tip.. While you have the covers off.. make sure the caseing flap is sealed down at the top of the fridge .. so any fumes can not be blown into the van if the wind is blowing from the frige side... mine wasn't and I thought that was why the fumes were coming into the van... but turned out to be the burner...