Faulty Truma Gas Regulator

[Heethers]

Last trip out lost gas pressure, Caravan Lunar Clubman SE 2010 11 months old, took it to the Dealer who have kindly fetched my service forward by 6 weeks and are looking into the gas pressure problem. l talked to the technician who was convinced it was the regulator, its a Truma by the way. What questions should l be asking the dealer regarding what modifications have been done by Truma to try and alleviate the problem. Do l need to have stainless steel hoses or does the dealer know about the gumming up problem, l am due to pick it up this morning. l am sure l read in practical caravan that it was only effecting 3% of regulators is this correct, if this is correct l would have put money on us getting one of them considering all the other failures we have had with the van, thought we had corrected all of them in January when it went in for all the warranty work, seems like another problem hope this is the last. By the way l don't blame the dealer l blame the Industry has whole who need to look at itself otherwise next van l look at maybe foreign made. A disgruntled Hector.
NigelH

 

[HenryB1]

Our Truma regulator failed just after 6 months with a big bang and gas escaping via yellow release valve. My dealer told me that Truma would not replace them and gave me an A4 sheet sent to them by Truma detailing the reasons they did not feel it was their problem. In a nutshell, dirty gas, wrong hoses etc. Both my regulator and the hose connecting the Calor Light cylinder had traces of a yellow oily substance on them. Fortunately Bailey agreed to replace my regulator under warranty but it does beg the question as to why a suitable regulator cannot be designed that will cope with the gas or hose problems that truma say cause their regulators to fail. I have now changed to BP Light and a Gaslow hose and will see how that gets on.

Henry B

 

[mcghee]

I had noe of these regulators fail on a brand new 'van after only five weekends use. My dealer agreed to reimburse me for the regulator which I had to go and buy (and fit).

I fully understand the problem of oil deposits in the gas, but this was in use for decades before this regulator was put into service. Why wasn't it designed to be suitable for the purpose for which it is sold?

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Nigel

There were a significant number of truma regulators that became blocked with the oily substance you describe, and as it was not from any part of the regulator thet Truma supplied, they understandably feel it is not thier fault and thus they have no liability. It seems there may be a problem with where the regulator was mounted which allowed any of the gunge to flow to the regulator, and again that is not Truma's problem, that is down to who ever designed or fitted the installation. Part of the solutoin seems to be relocating the regulator so all pipes drain away from it. So the installtion is faulty by design.

As a consumer you do not need to be concerend about who made or fitted the regulator, all you need to know is that you contract is with your seller, and under the sale of Good Act, the seller is liable if the goods sold are faulty. So regardless of Truma's stance the seller is obliged to remedy the problem. T

Hello Henery,

From your description the failure mode of your regulator is very different to Nigels, thus Truma's letter to dealers has no relevance to your situation. The same Sale of Goods Act applies though,and assuming the regulator has genuinely failed through no adverse tampering or incorrect usage, then the faulit is not of merchantable quality because it has failed well within its expected life.

Often when dealing with these sorts of matter in a forum, we do not have the benefit of all the relevant information. So before pursuing any action through SoGA, it is sensible to seek professional advice.