Fridge on the fritz any suggestions?

[Tilly]

Two days ago my fridge would not light. With the cover off I could see the blue flame sparking but it would not stay light. It makes a puff sound like its trying. All other propane appliances work OK. I finally found a forest river dealer wou would look at it since most don't seem to handle warranty unless they sold it. Myers RV center in Albuquerque was very friendly and said they fixed it but alas 24 hours later it won't work again. Now I can hear it burning but the igniter keeps sparking. Then it goes out and puffs for awhile then catches on but keeps sparking. It cycles like this for a few min the check light goes on and it gives up.

Any suggestions? I'm giving away all my perishibles since I'm 100 miles from a dealer and have an appointment tomorrow.

Thanks in advance
Malinda

Ps I am now in Sedona az. Any recommended dealers in Phoenix?

[TURBS]

Sound like the gas valve isn't holding?

Make and model of fridge would help.

Depending on the fridge Lou may have a trouble shooting file for it.


Turbs

[Tilly]

It's a dometic. Dmx2652rbx. It can run on gas or 110. I'm not hooked up and not allowed generators where I am now

[Road-King]

Originally Posted by Tilly

Now I can hear it burning but the igniter keeps sparking. Then it goes out and puffs for awhile then catches on but keeps sparking. It cycles like this for a few min the check light goes on and it gives up.

I don't have a Dometic, but to me it sounds like the thermocouple is not doing it's job. If the igniter is still trying to light the flame after it is already lit, the thermocouple is not sensing the flame. Just a educated guess....

[Tilly]

That makes sense. It's definitely a sensor issue of some sort. It finally caught and is doing OK for now but not sure how long to trust it. Intermittent issues are a bugger to diagnose.

[jeerme]

I second the thermal coupler.

[Herk7769]

It could also be bugs have built a nest in your flue pipe.

I am assuming that from the "start - out - start" sputtering, that the gas stays on through the entire cycle.

If so, a spider web in the flue can alter the mixture to above or below its optimum mix for combustion. Too much or too little propane vs the available air (determined by the shutter on the burner pipe) and the propane will not light.

If the flue is obstructed, exhaust gases from the flame have no place to go and will snuff out the flame. Once it clears it could relight and the cycle repeats similar to a pulse jet engine.

Sounds like eventually the heat has burned out the nest/web and it should work ok. If that is the case, I would still have it checked as the flue could still be partially obstructed.

Here are my files on your fridge.

[jkklops]

mine did that on my rockwood travel trailer had to move the sparker so it was close to flame and it work fine ever since

[Tilly]

I'll look at the sparker and see if that's odd. With some I the roads I've been in it could have loosened. It's been running fine the last couple of days. Thanks to everyone for the replies.