I have a Swift caravan fitted with a Thetford fridge, It is booked in again for the third time for attention to the gas opperation. It lights and then goes out again in about four hours, somtimes less. has anyone had this problem? The van is eighteen months old. J.Lo
Thetford fridge,
- Thread starter J.Lo
- Start date
Hi just had a brand new Ace Firestar last October but didn't try the fridge on gas, will make sure l will checkout before take the van out next.
Thanks for the info.
NGH
Thanks for the info.
NGH
Damian
Moderator
Which model of fridge is it?
If it has a digital display does it display a code when it goes out?
If it has a digital display does it display a code when it goes out?
Yes Damian itis digi and reads fault 9 Gas lock out because the flame fails to ignite, its been lit for four hours. Soluton check gas supply, only have 13 killos of gas. When I relight it it sounds like a blow torch and after three or four times of failing to light and making this noise it will light and the thing is ok for a few hours.IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FROM DAY ONE AND IS DRIVING ME MAD.Sorry for shouting.J.Lo
I have had the same problem with the Thetford fridge fitted to my 2008 Coachman also.
My dealer has had it back 3 times now, and, hopefully it has now been fixed. Thetford were talking about replacing my fridge with a new one, my dealer wanted to fix the one that came with the van as a new fridge might have been just as bad!
What was happening was it would light on Friday night when we arrived. By Saturday morning it had gone out - error code 9 - than not light. We use BP Gaslight bottles so we knew we had gas. This happened at Easter, August bank holiday and in October last year. We went away last weekend and, although we were on mains, we tried the fridge on gas - and it worked , all weekend.
So pleased my dealer has managed to fix the fridge - hopefully.
David
PS I don't blame Coachman for the way fridge has been fitted, I think Thetford make better toilets then fridges.
My dealer has had it back 3 times now, and, hopefully it has now been fixed. Thetford were talking about replacing my fridge with a new one, my dealer wanted to fix the one that came with the van as a new fridge might have been just as bad!
What was happening was it would light on Friday night when we arrived. By Saturday morning it had gone out - error code 9 - than not light. We use BP Gaslight bottles so we knew we had gas. This happened at Easter, August bank holiday and in October last year. We went away last weekend and, although we were on mains, we tried the fridge on gas - and it worked , all weekend.
So pleased my dealer has managed to fix the fridge - hopefully.
David
PS I don't blame Coachman for the way fridge has been fitted, I think Thetford make better toilets then fridges.
Damian
Moderator
If you had error code 9, then the fridge needed a new control board and flame recognition probe.
There have been several issues relating to this code fault but hopefully yours wil be ok now, if the board and probe have been replaced.
One other point relating to the Thetford fridge, the burner is prone to degradation and needs replacing more often than the Dometic type, probably each year to be safe, as when they do not burn correctly they give off alarming amounts of Co, and they do not have the exhaust vent directed to the outside as Dometic, so sealing around the fridge is vitally important.
There have been several issues relating to this code fault but hopefully yours wil be ok now, if the board and probe have been replaced.
One other point relating to the Thetford fridge, the burner is prone to degradation and needs replacing more often than the Dometic type, probably each year to be safe, as when they do not burn correctly they give off alarming amounts of Co, and they do not have the exhaust vent directed to the outside as Dometic, so sealing around the fridge is vitally important.
Hello Damian,
I don't think that it is just the latest generation of caravan fridges that cause problems, as I have a 5 year old Thetford, supplied from new, that has been changed once ( by Thetford) but still gives ongoing non predictable problems on gas. At one stage, in a moment of desperation, I asked the repair workshop whether I would be better changing it over to Dometic, and their response was that they are all as bad as each other, and are too complex. I don't recall ever having a problem with the old type, where you could see the flame through a tube in the fridge. Surely in this day and age you would think that these manufacturers can make a reliable 3 way fridge?? Ater all Norcold (Thetford) and Dometic ( Electrolux) are not without experience in production of white goods.
I don't think that it is just the latest generation of caravan fridges that cause problems, as I have a 5 year old Thetford, supplied from new, that has been changed once ( by Thetford) but still gives ongoing non predictable problems on gas. At one stage, in a moment of desperation, I asked the repair workshop whether I would be better changing it over to Dometic, and their response was that they are all as bad as each other, and are too complex. I don't recall ever having a problem with the old type, where you could see the flame through a tube in the fridge. Surely in this day and age you would think that these manufacturers can make a reliable 3 way fridge?? Ater all Norcold (Thetford) and Dometic ( Electrolux) are not without experience in production of white goods.
Damian
Moderator
Rod, I am firmly of the belief that manufactirers should stick to what they are good at.
Dometic (formerly Electrolux) have always made a pretty good fridge until they have recently taken them up market with digi display and auto seeking power supply.
Much better when the end user selected the power source THEY wanted , not what the fridge decides it wants.
Dometic are now into toilets for the RV market, including caravans, but they break easily, rendering the item unusable unitl fixed.
Thetford have always made good toilets, no the same can be said if their fridge offerings.
Dometic (formerly Electrolux) have always made a pretty good fridge until they have recently taken them up market with digi display and auto seeking power supply.
Much better when the end user selected the power source THEY wanted , not what the fridge decides it wants.
Dometic are now into toilets for the RV market, including caravans, but they break easily, rendering the item unusable unitl fixed.
Thetford have always made good toilets, no the same can be said if their fridge offerings.
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