Date:         Wed, 5 Sep 2001 11:17:21 -0300
Reply-To:     Michael Sheridan <msheridan@IGC.ORG>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Sheridan <msheridan@IGC.ORG>
Subject:      84 Westfalia Refrigerator noise...? (continued)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

Thanks for listees responses to my question regarding my fridge
noise.  Some, however, indicate that this cooling fan noise is normal, some
say I should replace the fan.  Can anyone tell me the following:  when a
fridge is new does this fan make any noise?  Is there any clear difference
between a fan that is making a normal amount of noise and one that is
excessive?  I want to avoid pulling the fridge out and replacing the fan,
only to find out that the new one makes a similar noise.

Thank, Michael

 >My refrigerator is making a loud electric buzz, almost sounds like a
 >grinding.  The sound comes from the upper back of the unit.  The noise only
 >occurs when it is hot outside.  So, thankfully, it is quiet at night.   It
 >does not matter whether the fridge is running off propane, battery or
electric.
 >
 >Has any one else come across this problem ... and a solution?
 >
 >Thanks, Michael

It's actually supposed to do that --- what you're hearing is a cooling fan that
is triggered by a thermocouple when it gets too hot at the back of the fridge.
The first time mine went on it scared the ^%$& out of me. It is both loud and
rather ineffective. Other listees have augmented this fan (or replaced it
altogether) with quieter and more efficient units --- something I plan to
do the
*next* time I have to pull the fridge out. That particular fan was not VW's
finest engineering hour.........

Cheers,

Doug Alcock
'84 Westy "BlueBelle"
Toronto, Canada

Michael Sheridan,
Sheridan Pictures
Filmmaking and Photography
56 Parkton Road #2, Jamaica Plain, Boston MA 02130, USA
Tel: 617-782-0908 Fax: 617-782-0146, Pager: 617-339-1278
e-mail: msheridan@igc.org