Dometic fridge wont work/ start on LP

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   Hello fellow Podders, i have a 2011/ RP172. My problem is i cannot start the fridge in LP mode. I cleaned the burner, the small silver jet, i see a spark, but i'm certain there's no propane reaching the flu. Burners inside and water heater work fine. I read on this forum about an in-line buss fuse inside behind the interface of the fridge. That's my last hope- that it's blown- will check tomorrow (but im thinking if it's blown, i probably wouldn't see a spark) . Anyone have a similar problem in the past? Tks.

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Poddy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 22 Jul 2020 Online Status: Offline Posts: 47	Topic: Dometic fridge wont work/ start on LP Posted: 23 Jul 2020 at 2:58pm
	Hello fellow Podders, i have a 2011/ RP172. My problem is i cannot start the fridge in LP mode. I cleaned the burner, the small silver jet, i see a spark, but i'm certain there's no propane reaching the flu. Burners inside and water heater work fine. I read on this forum about an in-line buss fuse inside behind the interface of the fridge. That's my last hope- that it's blown- will check tomorrow (but im thinking if it's blown, i probably wouldn't see a spark) . Anyone have a similar problem in the past? Tks.

jato Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3350	Posted: 23 Jul 2020 at 3:29pm
	You might wish to visit your heat stack and take the chimney off and see if it is clean inside as well as the swirly piece of metal that hangs off the cap. May need a small hand mirror and flashlight to see inside stack. Possible that spiders/bees ect. could have built a nest in there. If there is any obstruction in the stack, pilot won't light. Also, if you have one of those worthless tank indicators on your propane cylinder, please remove it, you will get better pressure. I also own a 2011 (have owned it since March 2011) check your propane line to the fridge. Read a week ago (FB site) of an individual who had the same situation as you so he removed the propane hose that went from the regulator to the fridge and found out when he blew on it there was an obstruction inside (with difficulty he was able to blow air through it), the hose was beginning to come apart. Once he replaced that hose (this was on a 2012 model) everything worked like clockwork.
	God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

Poddy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 22 Jul 2020 Online Status: Offline Posts: 47	Posted: 24 Jul 2020 at 6:17am
	Thanks Jato, I'll take a look at that chimney when the rain today holds up and see if it needs a cleaning. I'm wondering if the chimney can be taken off or is it permanently attached?

jato Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3350	Posted: 24 Jul 2020 at 8:42am
	The top of the chimney (with the angle vent) comes off by wiggling it back and forth. Check first to see if you have a small screw holding it in place. I am not sure about removing the whole chimney, that is something i have not attempted.
	God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

StephenH Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6438	Posted: 24 Jul 2020 at 10:16am
	I would not advise trying to remove the chimney. It is an integral part of the plumbing and might better be termed a boiler with a chimney in the center. Remove the top, the insert, and the burner. Then run a brush down through. A 12 gauge shotgun cleaning brush attached to a stout cord such as parachute cord that won't break should be about the right caliber for the chimney.That may or may not be the problem though. I have not found the chimney to be blocked except for a mud dauber nest when we first bought our RPod. I put screens on all the vents to keep the critters out after that and have not had any chimney blockages. If you are seeing a spark but no flame ever appears, I would suspect the LP system. There are things that can go wrong. The LP line could be clogged or kinked somewhere along the path. The solenoid that needs to open to let the LP gas flow isn't opening. The line was not thoroughly purged. This last happens with mine when not used for a while on propane or when I have had to change the regulator or purge the oily liquid out of the lines that accumulated. I'll elaborate. I took the LP line off at the refrigerator and at the LP regulator. If you do this, stick the end that goes into the regulator in a container to catch any oily liquid that comes out. I then took an air compressor and air chuck and from the refrigerator end, blew out the LP line. There was a fair amount of oily liquid that came out. I think this stuff accumulates and hinders the flow of the LP gas. The stove and furnace each have a high enough flow rate that this is not an issue but the refrigerator uses very little gas to begin with. After reassembling and purging the air with the stove and furnace, I went through several cycles of the refrigerator sparking with no flame, then with short bursts of flame that would not stay lit and finally with a solid flame. I had also cleaned the burner and orifice as part of the process. My refrigerator was not cooling adequately before I did this but after this cleaning, performs much better. Also, you may have a regulator problem. You may need to get the LP system tested to make sure you have the correct 11" water column pressure available. If not, the regulator could be bad or the pigtail that goes between the LP tank and the regulator could be bad. I have had more than one pigtail that went bad, one of which was in very cold weather. I replaced the regulator which did not fix the issue. I replaced the pigtail and we were back to normal.
	StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Poddy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 22 Jul 2020 Online Status: Offline Posts: 47	Posted: 24 Jul 2020 at 10:40am
	Im starting to feel there's so many little things that can be the source of my problem that it's going to be my white Coleman Marine Cooler for the duration of this summer, but i'll keep trying and testing. Tks for all the help folks.

EchoGale Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 10 Mar 2019 Location: FL Online Status: Offline Posts: 469	Posted: 24 Jul 2020 at 11:02am
	Are your stove burners working properly? You may have thought of this but my fridge won't work on propane if the propane has been off for a while, until I light the burners first.
	Julie

Poddy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 22 Jul 2020 Online Status: Offline Posts: 47	Posted: 24 Jul 2020 at 11:23am
	EchoGale, yes burners work great.

StephenH Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6438	Posted: 24 Jul 2020 at 1:37pm
	Have you let it go through several cycles of trying to light? It will throw an error code. Either turn it off and back on or hit the triangle with the ! to acknowledge and it should try again. After several cycles, it should light if there are no electrical or propane problems. However, if gas is not getting to it, there is no way it can light, even if it does spark. Unfortunately, it isn't something we can figure out by reading here. If you leved near me, I would not mind taking a look at it, but you did not list a location, so I have no idea if you are near by or far away.
	StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Poddy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 22 Jul 2020 Online Status: Offline Posts: 47	Posted: 24 Jul 2020 at 2:15pm
	StephenH, thanks but i'm in Eastern Canada. I tried the cycle thing, off-on sequence, nothing works.