Date:         Thu, 19 Aug 1999 21:48:27 EDT
Reply-To:     Ssittservl@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         S Sittservl <Ssittservl@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Dometic Fridge on my 84 Westy
Comments: To: bricknord@webtv.net
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

You'll probably get lots of replies - the fridge is a popular topic.

The fridge always works silently (propane, 110V, or 12V), except for one
thing: a coil fan behind the fridge, that cools off the rear coils.  It turns
on when the coils get hot (about 110 degrees), regardless of whether
the fridge is on or not.  It runs off the "pump" fuse, whereas the 12V
cooling mode works off the "fridge" fuse.

12V only works when the engine is running.  There's a relay under the
driver's seat that shuts off the power if the engine is off.  Otherwise,
the fridge would drain the battery very quickly (something in the 5 to
10 hour range, if I remember right).

The fridge generally takes a few hours to get cool, but you can usually
feel that the interior fins are cold within an hour.  It's best to put cold
things in the fridge, rather than put in warm things and expect the
fridge to cool them.

The fridges are very reliable, except for two things:
(1) The coil fans frequently quit working.  This makes the fridge
    cool less well.  Solution: replace the fan.  Testing your fan:
    run the fridge on a hot day (80 or 90 degrees) with the van
    closed up.  After a few hours, you should be able to hear
    the fan through the vent beside the rear table.
(2) Many people have trouble getting the propane to light,
    or find that the fridge cools poorly on propane.  Typical
    solutions:  various lighting tricks, or clean the burner
    and/or flues, or replace the propane regulator if it's not
    supplying enough pressure.

110V almost always works, and is usually the coldest.  12V
almost always works, but is usually the least cold.

Most of the fridges aren't as cold as people would like them
to be, especially in hot weather, but I think most people find
them to be adequate most of the time.  Only a fortunate few
are able to make ice.  Some people believe performance is
noticably improved with a little interior fan, to move the cold
air around.

Parts are pretty easy to find, but service is not - Volkswagen
dealers and RV repair places often won't touch it.  Doing
the service yourself isn't too difficult, though.

                                       -Steven Sittser