Caravan fridge will not stay lit?

Just had similar problem of Fridge lighting on gas OK but going out after as few seconds - RM122F. Suspected a faulty thermocouple so got a new one. But rather than the expensive "original". I got a generic one from Screwfix https://www.screwfix.com/p/super-universal-thermocouple-900mm/97516?tc=FT2&ds_kid=92700055281954502&ds_rl=1249404&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgO2XBhCaARIsANrW2X31CGhQW8PBc7Va5KOAhL77j2wFv9jl0YOl5FolWv_hTygJWTM5iLkaAm-PEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
for £7.48 I got the super version that is threaded and comes with lots of adapters. It replaces the old one perfectly and now my fridge stays lit!

nick e
August 2022

Terry is spot on, same problem with my fridge, would lite but not stay on...button was stuck in too far...removed and pushed it back on and tried again and it works a treat.

Ollie
April 2017

Can someone tell me what pete solution was it seems to have worked for everyone and seen as I'm having the same problem with ours (rm6361) I'd like to try it thanks

alan
May 2015

Thanks Cliff, by just moving the thormocouple a few mil closer to the centre of the flame my fridge now stays lit.

zimmun
October 2013

I have try lit pilot on gas fridge not come burner? lit pilot worked no burner wonder what went wrong last time i used it was worked last year August few weeks ago used elecrtic worked need clean somewhere or leak gas ? i don't smell any gas

Shaun

Shaun mossop
May 2012

I have 212b fridge it works mint on 12v and 240 but when i put it on gas the pilot light is on but it does not cool fridge at all .Can any one help many thanks

Scott Edge
May 2012

Had the same problem with my Electrolux RM4237. Tried the tin foil trick and now it stays lit and is working fine. Many thanks for the tip, i am new to caravaning

Roger Jolly
December 2011

The RM4210 page has now moved to http://www.obrienscamping.co.uk/caravan_fridges/RM4210.htm www.obrienscamping.co.uk will always help where possible.
Regards

Terry
March 2011

Hi - solution to your problem may be the gas flow to the burner. I messed about with mine for ages - cleaned the burner and jet (there was a bit of soot in the casing) but still no joy ) all tho my problem was that the burner would light but the fridge would not cool - I was told that the internal coolant was degraded and it an absolute fortune to fix - if at all, any way - - I put the fridge on mains , and it did its job fine - so I was now convinced that the coolant was OK. so just by chance, I felt at the chimney - and it was really warm - where as on gas, it was only aired - so I thought for a min - wot can I do now - I will check the burner jet again, so, I undid the pipe - then I thought, I will just give it a blow thru - so I undid it at the top -where the nob is (the one u hold in while lighting it) and I couldn't blow down it - further examination showed me that it was almost solid with-muck so I gently poked it with a needle (its quite a big aperture) and I tapped it onto a bit of wood - and it all dropped out - it seems that, there must have been just a bit of gas getting thru - enough to light and stay on but it was only a half size flame , Well - to cut a long story short, when I connected everything up again -BINGO... WHAT A GOOD FLAME and the I patted myself on the back - - so never take owt for granted - whoe'd a thowt that a pipe like that would bung up, well there you go - I do hope that this info will be usefull to anybody with a similar problem. Tom.

TOM MIRFIELD
March 2011

Hi,

My fridge stopped working on gas one week in to a month long trip!! It seems the 'clicker' (switch flashes until lit) doesn't work to ignite the gas, the switch was tested in France and ok but still doesn't light has anyone got any suggestions?

Simon
September 2010

Superstars all!

Just returned from a glorious festival and week in Wales where the trusty fudge gave up the ghost - envisaged an evening taking apart and refitting, suspecting the worst.....the 'silver foil' trick worked perfectly!

Thank you!

Cybertec
May 2010

Pete, you are a legend, i turned the gas button to full flame, pulled the knob off, depressed the switch without the knob on and hey presto the pilot light stayed going when i released the switch, so i put a piece of plastic in side the knob so it doesnt go back on so far. fridge lights every time and stays going no trouble. cheers pete!

Bevan - NZ
October 2009

I don't like the idea of jamming paper or foil in the override button; it was not supposed to work like that and if the flame gets blown out, gas will still emit. Draw your own conclusions.
I removed the pipework under the fridge and tapped it on clean paper. The result was a few tiny bits of crud. I also tapoped the jet hoder and more muck came out. On reinstallation I could hear the gas blowing through, sounding more like a burner it should be than a pilot light. The flame stayed on and the regulator responds like it should. The annoying thing was that the fridge had been serviced before I bought the 'van. It won't be going there again.

David
July 2009

I ordered a new thermocouple on Monday for my RM6401L from Leisureshop direct but lastnight (tues) decided to take the burner assembly off, at first it looked clear but as I gently tapped it large bits of coaky type stuff fell out, as the gas enters the burner it passes through a hole no bigger than a pinprick so anything in there would affect it, needless to say reassembled it and it works like a gudden.

Alan
June 2009

I have the same problem with the flame slowly going out when the button is released, tried the paper trick but that did not work

Chris
April 2009

I have all the same problems with my RM 6270 fridge and tried most things, today tried a new solenoid but it did not make any differance. So have now put in new thermo coupler cleaned all pipes and burner assembly , i suppose the next step is the valve assembly and maybe the electrical side where the knob which turns for the three methods of operating the fridge. Any other idea's ?.

Robert
March 2009

Move the end of the thermocouple closer to the centre of the flame.

Cliff
November 2008

hi , my name is tony , and i came across your site , whilst trying to
find out about a problem i seem to have with my
electrolux rm122f fridge.

the peizo works fine and it ignites the flame no problem ,
after letting out the the knob (15 seconds) the flame will wilt, change
shape, then stop, sometimes it will stay on for a while, ( the other day
it stayed on for about 30minutes) other times it cuts off pretty much
straight away,
ive had it apart
ive cleaned out every thing, thinking it was a blocked jet,
i want to replace the thermocouple, but not only are the originals
expensive, but i cant help thinking its not the answer,
could it be the plasic soleniod in the valve where the thermocouple
screws into?
the flame doesnt shut of sharp, it just slackens then goes out , ( abit
like a candle going out)

any help please?

tony
August 2008

Dear Pete, you're the main Man! You are my hero.
When I read your remedy I thought you were avin' a larf, but I tried it and it worked!!!
I had already removed the fridge & replaced the thermocouple without any luck. So I was looking on the net for a replacement shut-off valve when I came across this site. Thanks very much, I owe you a beer!

Mike
August 2008

our fridge would not stay alight just tried pete's tip with the paper and it has worked a treat tried fridge 10 times and it stayed on thanks pete

kit
July 2008

The knob that you press in until the flame has lit sometimes gets worn and doesn't go in quite as far as when new. Pull the knob off and try jamming a small qty of paper or tin foil in the hole, effectively making the knob stand further out when it is put back on. Also keep the knob in for at least 15 seconds after the flame has lit.

Pete
May 2008

I had the same problem and paid a guy good money to service it on site,it still did not work so i checked it out myself only to find a rusty gas pipe had coroded and was leaking.
Having changed the pipe all is now fine.
The pipe is the one at the rear of your fridge i guess where most troubles begin.

Mr Rob Field
March 2008

Hello I just came across the site with your problem question. I am having exactly the same problem with the same model, excpet it is on a narrowboat.
I have emailed the problm to O'Briens, who have a website for this range of fridges. I'm not sure how old mine is, although the boat was built in 1975.
Bob Weatherley
Littleborough Lancs

bob weatherley
September 2007

Vic,


I'm sorry to hear your having problems with your RM212 staying alight. Some experience I have had with new fridges with this problem is that the gas control button can get stuck causing it to cut off the gas supply. Try removing the control button and then putting it back on. If this does not work you can call us at www.obrienscamping.co.uk and we can give you a number for a Dometic (formally Electrolux) service agent in your area. I would not spend too much money on this model though as it is rather old and the average life span of one of these fridges is 10 years old. The replacement model for this fridge is a rm4210 where full details can be found at www.obrienscamping.co.uk/Fridges/RM4210.htm. I hope this has been helpful.

Terry O’Brien
www.obrienscamping.co.uk

Terry O'Brien
August 2007