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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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