Will the existing thermocoupler have a part number on it?
Can you post a photo of the fridge? When you press the ignition button do you hear a ticking sound? Some of these buttons contain an AA battery. Have you checked?
If I remember correctly you bought the caravan less than 6 months ago from a dealer so it is still under warranty using CRA 2015! Take it back to the dealer for the repair. BTW the dealer should have serviced prior to selling it?Well it's not the thermocouple at fault. Original is reading a healthy 25millivolts. Seemed to vary a bit if I moved it about and looked battered so nonetheless installed the new as it was cheap. Very occasionally, it works. You can clearly hear the solenoid engage and disengage when it does decide to work.
Already booked a service for 30th June. Even if the thermocouple replacement worked, I was going to get it all checked over. Annoyingly it's first thing on the day I am leaving for a trip to the Brecon Beacons, nearest availability I could find. I was hoping to get it fixed before then as I was going to an off grid CL site. Going to an EHU site instead now. Hopefully I can get it sorted in time for my planned trip to the Royal International Air Tattoo in July.
I suspect that the solenoid gas valve may be at fault, but who knows. Apart from any safety implications I think it's better to get a professional diagnosis instead of chucking parts / money at it on a whim a prayer which may cost more money in the long run. Annoyed with myself for not checking the fridge on gas whilst it was still on warranty! Lesson learned for next time I buy a second hand van. Take heed any other newbies reading!
I bought it in Weston Super Mare. I think the cost of going cack there with it will exceed getting it repaired.If I remember correctly you bought the caravan less than 6 months ago from a dealer so it is still under warranty using CRA 2015! Take it back to the dealer for the repair. BTW the dealer should have serviced prior to selling it?
As far as I'm aware there is no requirement for a dealer to carry out a "service" before selling secondhand goods. It may be a sensible thing to do, but it's not a legal requirement. All the dealer has to do is describe the goods accurately.If I remember correctly you bought the caravan less than 6 months ago from a dealer so it is still under warranty using CRA 2015! Take it back to the dealer for the repair. BTW the dealer should have serviced prior to selling it?
From what I understand the CRA gives the buyer of used goods the same benefits providing it is purchased from a Dealer. I’ve never seen a dealer make a comment about any on board equipment. And after SOGA didn’t CRA attempt to protect the customer against Caveat Emptor? Well worth having a go at the dealer. Nothing ventured nothing gainedAs far as I'm aware there is no requirement for a dealer to carry out a "service" before selling secondhand goods. It may be a sensible thing to do, but it's not a legal requirement. All the dealer has to do is describe the goods accurately.
If the dealer said or implied the caravan was fully functional then yes this failure probably would fall into the CRA, but if no statement was made about the condition of the fridge, then sadly its buyer beware.
Any respectable dealer would normally service or pdi a caravan prior to purchase to avoid any comebacks although they have no obligation.As far as I'm aware there is no requirement for a dealer to carry out a "service" before selling secondhand goods. It may be a sensible thing to do, but it's not a legal requirement. All the dealer has to do is describe the goods accurately.
If the dealer said or implied the caravan was fully functional then yes this failure probably would fall into the CRA, but if no statement was made about the condition of the fridge, then sadly its buyer beware.
The van had the standard "hab service" which doesn't include detailed service of the individual appliances. On the service report it has a check box next to each item, followed by a comments window and another checkbox. So there is a cross on the first checkbox by the fridge with a comment saying "doesn't stay lit", followed by a tick in the second check box but no comment on what they did to rectify it.Any respectable dealer would normally service or pdi a caravan prior to purchase to avoid any comebacks although they have no obligation.
There is no need to a dealer to state that fridge was fully functional when selling as it is covered by CRA 2015 anyway! No such thing as "buyer beware" when buying from a dealer.
Any service on any caravan does not include any item in the caravan to be serviced, only checked. If you require gas items to be serviced you pay extra. Only real servicing is on the running gear.The van had the standard "hab service" which doesn't include detailed service of the individual appliances. On the service report it has a check box next to each item, followed by a comments window and another checkbox. So there is a cross on the first checkbox by the fridge with a comment saying "doesn't stay lit", followed by a tick in the second check box but no comment on what they did to rectify it.
I'm tempted to have the whole thing replaced. The heat exchanger on the back is very rusty and I don't want to suddenly end up with no fridge whilst away somewhere.
Any service on any caravan does not include any item in the caravan to be serviced, only checked. If you require gas items to be serviced you pay extra. Only real servicing is on the running gear.
Expect to pay several hundred pounds for a new fridge or if you are lucky, buy a second hand fridge, but that may also give you issues.
Why not get the dealer to rectify the issue as that is the cheapest solution. Have you spoken to the dealer about the issue?
I did not think you were that far away, but still cheaper than buying a new fridge. Why not get an Approved Workshop Scheme technician to look at it before lashing out on another fridge. See https://www.approvedworkshops.co.uk/find-approved-workshopThe dealer is in Weston-Super-Mare. I don't think it would be the cheapest option.
A new fridge is circa £800. You may be lucky with a used one from a breakers or eBay, but then you will have to fit it. Just how far are you from the dealer?I did not think you were that far away, but still cheaper than buying a new fridge. Why not get an Approved Workshop Scheme technician to look at it before lashing out on another fridge. See https://www.approvedworkshops.co.uk/find-approved-workshop
When we lived by the coast in a high humidity area, we had a fridge that was more than 20 years old and it had stood outside most of its life. It was still going strong when we gave it away. They can last a very long time.I'm having it looked at by an engineer on the 30th. I wasn't decided on getting a new fridge, it was just a fleeting thought. I don't know how long these things can be expected to last.
Mines 15 years old , used all year and still going strong.I'm having it looked at by an engineer on the 30th. I wasn't decided on getting a new fridge, it was just a fleeting thought. I don't know how long these things can be expected to last.
The new development is the revelation that caravan had been checked prior to the sale, and the fridges faulty gas operation noted. This clearly shows the fault was present at the point of sale, and that someone at the dealership knew about it.
The question now is, was the fault brought to attention of the buyer before the sale was agreed? If it wasn't brought to your attention, there is a strong argument the dealer has failed and should repair or replace the fridge regardless of which warranty.
The nature of the fault and indeed your further investigations strongly points to a problem with teh gas control valve, either there is something preventing it from being fully depressed to set the FFD solenoid open, or the FFD solenoid has failed. In either case the cost should be minimal. I have seen the retail cost of similar valves in the order of £70 or less plus fitting
Discuss the matter with your seller, and provided they agree to a repair, it might be more cost effective for them to allow a mobile AWS fitter to complete the repairs and the dealer to fund it.