Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 09:03:30 -0700
Reply-To: Dave <fritzthevan@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave <fritzthevan@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: 91 fridge piezo
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
>OK seems basic buut-ran my fridge out of Propane and I think piezo
>ignition brnt out trying to restart.Went thru the steps to restart
>but now can't hear it clicking to fire-any ideas befofe ordering a
>new one?Thanks matt.BTW looked in ARCHIVES and couldn't find
>anything along these lines
>-mat christensen
>
>Mat, before getting excited and trying to replace that piezo try
>the following. I presume that you have the automatic piezo system
>since you say your van is a 91. Remove the front cabinet cover
>with fridge door from the front of the fridge by removing the grey
>plastic screw covers and removing the screws, the cover ~ faceplate
>with fridge door can then be removed. Actually you can remove the
>door by sliding it upwards off the hinges and this will make it
>easier to wiggle out the front cover plate. Once the front cabinet
>cover has been removed peer in right above the automatic piezo
>button switch and you will see the piezo control unit with four (I
>think) wires going into the top of it. The wire, a large red one
>covered in a cloth like casing, at the farthest from the front,
>terminal is the wire leading to the actual piezo in the fire
>box. Using a pair of long needle nose pliers remove this
>wire. Then actuate the piezo. If you see a spark jumping from the
>terminal that you removed the wire from then your automatic piezo
>is operating correctly, if no spark then the automatic piezo unit
>is defective. If you saw the spark, reconnect the wire you
>removed and then try to light your fridge and it should light. For
>some "unknown to me" reason these piezos stop working and removing
>that wire, actuating the piezo and reconnecting the wire gets them
>working again.
>
>
>Cheers,
>
>
>Frank Condelli
My '90 fridge piezo was behaving as described above by Frank. A
couple of weeks ago, I replaced it with a model "679" ignitor, which
costs 1/4 of the one sold by gowesty. Downsides are that you need to
drill a new pilot hole in the top of the fridge (the replacement unit
is narrower), and you must work a round socket onto a rectangular
pin. The piezo works perfectly now.
I bought my piezo at rvmobile in everett, washington, but you can
find them online at many places.
Note: this info only applies to 1990-1991 model years.
Dave
90 GL camper "Fritz"
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