Refrigerator stopped working. :( - Hi-Lo camper travel trailer forum

SeaGypsy · 07-22-2013, 09:10 PM

Hi everyone. On my last trip I stocked my food in the fridge which was cold and working off electric. When we got to our site two hours later, it was not as cold. I was never able to get it working again.

The freezer part is cold but not super cold. The fridge part is not cold at all. Same results on gas, battery or electric.

Does it sound like I need to replace the whole thing?

Any suggestions?

I don't understand the directions. Is there a pilot that I'm supposed to light somewhere??

SeaGypsy · 07-22-2013, 10:20 PM

It's a 1987 FunChaser

khhorton · 07-22-2013, 10:22 PM

The guys here on the forum helped me understand our refrigerator unit a lot better. We've run into the same thing when driving. Electric and DC isn't very efficient in ours. Running it on DC drained the camper's battery.

In my experience propane has been the most efficient, but it still takes a long time for the entire unit to cool down inside. Sticking frozen water bottles helps bring the temp down quicker for us. You don't want to ride down the road with the propane on either for safety reasons.

There is a propane pilot to the unit, and if your Hi-Lo is anything like ours it's accessed via a plastic grate on the outside of the trailer you can take off. When you switch the unit to LP you should hear some clicking going on. That's a little electric sparker that's trying to ignite the propane in the burner. The fridge will make three attempts to light the pilot. If it can't light then there should be a check light that comes on the front of the refrigerator.

What usually happens with ours is that there's some dust or spider webs that accumulate in the pilot light tube. Every time we've taken ours on an adventure I've had to gently blow into that area with a can of compressed air in order to get the fridge working on propane.

Hope some of this helps!

SeaGypsy · 07-22-2013, 10:24 PM

Thank you for your reply. I'll take another look at it tomorrow.

RichR · 07-23-2013, 07:03 AM

You sure have had your problems. You said that it didn't seem to be cooling well in any mode which tells me that the cooling unit may be going bad. If you can get the make and model information from the fridge, you or I can track down the manual for it. Manuals usually have a troubleshooting section to run through. Open the outside hatch behind the fridge and check for any powdery substance collecting on or around the area and if there is any odor like ammonia noticed. Those are signs of a leaking cooling unit. If it is leaking it will probably need replaced. Cooling units can be replaced on some units.

renoites · 07-23-2013, 11:31 AM

Seagypsy
Have you smelled ammonia???? The smell would indicate the loss of coolant.

These refrig units must be very level when in stationary use. I use a 24"/2ft level, front to back and side to side or will not cool. No worry when on the road for level.

I have a 1985 funchaser, and most likely the same unit. I rebuilt it last year and it works great, and not hard to do.

When inside look at the front of the fridge. On the bottom far left there is a little window with a mirror so you can see the pilot light when it is lit. There are hopefully instructions glued to the inside of the fridge that tell how to light the pilot.
If Not....also on the lower front of the fridge there are 2 buttons, one red and one white. While pushing and HOLDING the white button push the red button and there will be a clicking sound. This is the ignitor. I don't think you will have an electric ignitor on that old of a unit.
Watch the window and you will see a flash and it will turn blue when the flame is lit. Continue holding the white button in for 30-60 seconds. Release the white button slowly and if the flame remains lit you are good to go....if not do again until it stays lit.
It takes several hours to build cool in the fridge while on 120v, longer on gas and even longer on 12v.
There is a pilot to light, only if you want a cold fridge!

The key is to make the trlr very level and it should work again. This is regardless of the 120v/gas/12v

turn on the gas at tanks
turn the fridge selector to gas
push buttons as described above
view window to make certain the pilot flame is lit.

steve

SeaGypsy · 07-23-2013, 12:19 PM

I had a friend take off the back panel, which I certainly can do myself....it was covered in dirt...and he had no idea what to do.
I will take a look at it again, but I don't know what I am doing either.

The picture below is the only info I can find on the fridge.

SeaGypsy · 07-23-2013, 12:21 PM

Thank you!! I don't see a little mirror thing, but I will try what you suggested. I raeally appreciate your help!

RichR · 07-23-2013, 12:28 PM

That is a Dometic RM2400

renoites · 07-23-2013, 12:39 PM

Yours is a newer model than mine.
Attached is a pic of the front of my unit.
google the dometic rm2400 and you will receive more info than I can give.

steve

RichR · 07-23-2013, 01:00 PM

here is a link to the manual: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...49641647,d.aWc

RichR · 07-23-2013, 01:07 PM

This is the diagnostic manual: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...49641647,d.aWc

SeaGypsy · 07-23-2013, 01:24 PM

Yes, thanks. I am printing the manual.