Fridge won't run on LP - any thoughts?

[AK_Kid]

Hi, folks. I recently bought an '07 Winnebago Vista. It has a Norcold fridge that has just quit running on propane, and I could use some insight and suggestions, please.

We've been out on the road for a month. No issues running the fridge off of the LP until today. We stopped at a Wal-Mart early in the day, and I realized as we were loading groceries that the fridge had warmed up some. I checked the indicator lights. Both the green "on" light and the yellow "gas" light were flashing. Turned it off and back on a couple of times, to no avail. I could hear it trying to light - four or five clicks, then a pause, then clicks, then a pause. But the gas never ignited. I went outside and pulled the panel to get a closer look. As soon as I did that and the wife turned on the gas, presto - ignition. "Gremlins," I figured, and went back to loading the chow.

The fridge worked fine on gas most of the rest of the day while we were driving (about 350 miles). Then this evening we stopped an boondocked outside of a casino in New Mexico. Suddenly, both lights begin flashing again. This time I can't get the darn thing to restart. Tried pulling the panel, and I just cant tell what's going on (its dark and the wind is blowing 25-30 mph).

I can tell you that we're perfectly level and that we have plenty of propane. I've lit the burners on the stove and they work fine. But when I try to light the fridge, just clicking and no ignition. Should I try giving her a tune-up in the morning (check burner tube for rust/debris, check ignitor gap, clean propane jet, etc? Thoughts on what I should focus on?

Certainly appreciate any wisdom you folks might be able to impart.

[Old-Biscuit]

There is NO pilot......flame that lights is MAIN FLAME (Only flame it has/uses)

Spark gap and position are key to lighting main burner
Add a little high altitude (thinner air) and it really is key to lighting

[AK_Kid]

Old-Biscuit wrote:

AK_Kid wrote:

corvettekent wrote:
So what is the battery voltage at the fridge? It may be to low for the igniter to work properly.

Voltage is fine. Going to try adjusting the gap whenever I have a moment. Blew a radiator hose today, so it was time for a little triage. 🙂

I should have mentioned this previously. I have also been in the high country of NM and Arizona, between 5500 and 8000 feet. I suppose its possible that the altitude may be a factor?

When you were at Walmart and removed lower vent cover and it lit OK were you at high altitude?

When you were at Casino in NM and it wouldn't lite off were you at High Altitude?

Some have reported issues at high altitudes.
Never experienced and have camped at 7000' for several stays of a week

Yes, all experiences when pilot would not light were at high altitude. But because it lights every single time when I use a lighter, I can't help but think it's the ignitor. Gap not adjusted right or not sparking directly over the gas. I don't know why altitude would be the issue if I'm not lighting the pilot with visible spark and good gas flow.

[Old-Biscuit]

AK_Kid wrote:

corvettekent wrote:
So what is the battery voltage at the fridge? It may be to low for the igniter to work properly.

Voltage is fine. Going to try adjusting the gap whenever I have a moment. Blew a radiator hose today, so it was time for a little triage. 🙂

I should have mentioned this previously. I have also been in the high country of NM and Arizona, between 5500 and 8000 feet. I suppose its possible that the altitude may be a factor?

When you were at Walmart and removed lower vent cover and it lit OK were you at high altitude?

When you were at Casino in NM and it wouldn't lite off were you at High Altitude?

Some have reported issues at high altitudes.
Never experienced and have camped at 7000' for several stays of a week

[AK_Kid]

corvettekent wrote:
So what is the battery voltage at the fridge? It may be to low for the igniter to work properly.

Voltage is fine. Going to try adjusting the gap whenever I have a moment. Blew a radiator hose today, so it was time for a little triage. 🙂

I should have mentioned this previously. I have also been in the high country of NM and Arizona, between 5500 and 8000 feet. I suppose its possible that the altitude may be a factor?

[Sillybugs2]

Our fridge went out this weekend. Thoughtfrom wind but was low battery and ignitor wouldn't work. Started generator to charge battery and once charged was fine on gas. We have a dometicbut think similar.

[Old-Biscuit]

Spark gap......should be 1/8"
Too narrow/too wide and lighting issues

Spark electrode should be positioned DIRECTLY over burner slots...centered

[doxiemom11]

I was going to suggest low batteries, low voltage. Circuit board and controls not functioning properly because of this.

[corvettekent]

So what is the battery voltage at the fridge? It may be to low for the igniter to work properly.

[AK_Kid]

Good thoughts, all. Played with it some this morning, and here is what I've found:

1) Works fine on AC.
2) Looks like nothing had been cleaned since the RV was new. I cleaned out the compartment but did not remove the tube... yet.
3) Gas is flowing properly. If I light it manually, I get a flame every time.
4) Flame is blue and constant. No orange and no variation in the flame.
5) I get a spark from the ignitor, which is odd. If I have spark, and I have proper gas flow, why won't the flame catch? However, the ignitor gap isn't very large - maybe 1/16th. So I'm wondering whether the gap is too close?
6) After I light it manually, the fridge functions properly on gas. No shutting down or anything else. I simply need to know that as I switch between gas and AC, I'll have to relight it manually.

So it seems that the spark I'm getting just isn't lighting the gas, which is flowing properly. Next I intend to learn how to adjust the gap and, if that doesn't work, replace the ignitor. Seem like a reasonable approach?

Thanks again. Love that it's so easy to get so much good feedback here.

[corvettekent]

Check to see if you have a flame at all or if you have a yellow flame. If you have a yellow flame you will need to clean the burner tube. Also what is your battery voltage?

[SCVJeff]

Give a look and see where the igniter is and what condition it's in. The probe has to be in the flame to detect fire or it will quickly kill the LP (it's also a flame detect). That doesn't explain why no gas to start but it will certinaly explain why it shut off. This is a common failure.. I know... see the owners manual for exact placement unless someone here remembers

[starcraft69]

Can you get the pilot to light but then go's out? If so then its the thermocoupler. start here clean burner tube. Second will it run on AC?

[gmctoyman]

My vote is also the burner tube....but, was it running, then shut down and wouldn't restart, or was it shut off for a period, then wouldn't start?

[lj2654]

It could be air in the line, but if it was running for hours then that shouldn't be the case. Maybe rust in the burner tube and orifice broke loose. Check that and clean it out good.