Motorhome Thetford 3-way Fridge Fault, Help

billyhilly

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Best wishes to you all, on our way down south to the New Forrest Rallie this week but have just discovered our thetford fridge will not ignite on Gas Mode, it works on 240v and 12v but when switching it over to gas we can hear the pilot light clicking continues clicking and will light up ok for about 15 secs . We can see the fame light but then cuts out . Gas is getting through but the spark keeps clicking so it looks like the sensor is not recognising that the flame is alight and so cuts off the gas supply. Was wondering if any one with knowledge off these type off thetford 3 way fridges got any suggestions or a slim possibility they are also on way down to the NewForrest Rallie. Much appreciated, regards billyhilly
 
Once at the Rally I’m sure there will be plenty to help... you only have to lift a screwdriver and the men saunter across. 😂😂

We have had intermittent problems with our gas fridge so maybe able to help.
 
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We had very similar.
There is a gas control valve (Not the main regulator)
Our symptons were identical.
We neede a new valve. This can be fitted (on ours) by removing the lower vent !
We got the dealer who had the replacement valve to change it
About £150 all in
OR the thermostat which controls the valve. which does seem likely
.but my money is on the valve !
 
I have just ordered a new universal thermo couplng off ebay for our fridge. £ 7.90 free post.
 
Yes that could be a possibility on the gas control valve . Just hope its not the main PCB ( motherboard ) had that changed 4 years ago and cost a arm and a leg. Thanks Linda and jagmanx,
 
Unlikely to be an electrical fault.
My money is on either a poor flame or thermo couple.
 
When this happened on our first van, I managed to remove the thermo couple and clean up the probe element of it. Fixed our fault and it never happened again.
Good Luck
 
I wouldn't be surprised if just removing the cover and cleaning burner does the trick.
Then you'll have a spare thermocouple - whilst they can fail it's not where I'd look first.
A lot of crude builds up over the years and while you're in there rummaging around tapping the chimney to see what falls down is always a good idea. Improving the draught will help efficiency significantly and again might improve flame enough to keep thermocouple open.
FWIW both Screwfix and Toolstation do thermocouple under £6 😀
 
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billyhilly said:
... when switching it over to gas we can hear the pilot light clicking continues clicking and will light up ok for about 15 secs . We can see the fame light but then cuts out . Gas is getting through but the spark keeps clicking so it looks like the sensor is not recognising that the flame is alight and so cuts off the gas supply.
Click to expand...
Just to confirm I'm understanding this correctly.
You switch the gas ignition on and it goes click, click click.
You turn and press the gas knob and the gas lights.
At this point, is the igniter still going click click click, or does this pause, then resume after about 15 seconds, when the gas flame goes out?
 
Hi
I have just joined the thread.I have a Thetford N175 3 way fridge.. After the winter the gas will not start. Similar to above threads,
clicks for 15 seconds approx, gas runs , then closes down.
I did get it running for about 1/2 hr, but is went out while my back was turned.
I took the fridge out, cleaned the burner and flue,, soaked the jet in a cleaning fluid, but the same result.
The fridge is 9 yrs old, but is very clean with little use on gas.
Any help would be appreciated. In NZ, no thetford fridge agents listed.
 
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