Ho can I test my fridge igniter?

[chriscburgess]

OK yet another Fridge question.

My Westy Fridge RM189 works wonderfully well on 240v and 12v and did on gas on Friday eve. We went away Sat and it was nicely chilled when we arrived at our destination having had it on 12v.

Went to switch to gas and the igniter would just not click. This is not a piezo it is one of the ones where you just press the (square) gas button in and press and hold the little round button and it starts sparking until gas is alight. Usually this takes about 10 seconds.

As i said it worked fine on Friday eve it was just after our drive on Sat it stopped. It is getting 12v as it runs fine on 12v when driving.

I have the fridge out (got this down to a fine art now - only 10 minutes!)

However, I have no idea how to check whether the ignitor is working. does it need to connect to gas to test it? Not even sure what the igniter looks like.

[1664]

The 12v to the ignition switch is a different 12v supply to the one supplying the fridge when you're driving. My ignition switch is fed seperately via the 'Zig' unit. I'm not that familiar with Westies (other than you can't make toast ) but a fuse to the ignition switch may have ruptured cutting off the juice. Have you got a voltmeter you can use to check the ignition switch is getting 12v? Failing that a bit of wire and a 12v lamp will suffice.

Oh, and you don't need the gas to test the ignitor, you should see the spark right next to the gas burner at the bottom on the back of the fridge on the right hand side. (Might have to remove the metal 'shield' though as I've never had to actually watch it myself)

[Mr Bean]

Well if it ain't clicking it ain't sparking. First thing to do is to get a twelve volt supply to the input terminal at the fridge. If you have twelve volts at the fridge and no clicking then even with no knowledge at all you should be able to trace it through to see if you have a pulled off wire or something. Then with a little more basic knowledge you can probe about with a multimeter (£9.99 at Maplins) and see where the voltage aint going. Why not get brave(stupid) and test it with a finger at the spark gap - usual disclaimers apply as this voltage could kill someone of wimpish constitution. The fault is usally mechanical - busted wire, blown fuse etc but fiddling in the igniter circuit board takes a little more skill and some more equipment.
Good luck
Wolfie

[toolsntat]

If the area where the spark is supposed to jump across has a build up of carbon from the flame burning then it will not spark ....
With the fridge out just have a gander and see if the area looks black

[1664]

If the area where the spark is supposed to jump across has a build up of carbon from the flame burning then it will not spark ....
With the fridge out just have a gander and see if the area looks black

I had a lump of carbon like a small piece of coal in the fridge of my old camper.......little wonder it had trouble lighting the gas

[lhd]

Do a search on here and brickyard I'm sure I saw it somewhere.
All I needed to do was replace the actual sparker and lead, but I think that connects to a spark module which can be faulty.
Mine was sparking but not ignighting so I can't really help.I replaced the sparker for £15 from Ashbridge.
Rob.

[chriscburgess]

Thanks everyone for their help.

I have managed to trace power going into the igniter but not coming out so I assume the igniter is buggered - i hope so as I have just ordered a new one from Ashbridge at £41!

This fridge will be completely rebuilt soon!

[sevy]

41 , jeus , should have said , i got one from electrolux (Dometic) for £12 ,, PM if you have ign box issues as Dometic do spares !!! and some Potterton bits fit . I take it you have the RM122 fridge !! I have spares catalogue here ok

[lhd]

I think he means the actual module sevy, as I bought my sparker for about £15 from the same palce.
Rob.

[chriscburgess]

No its the automatic igniter that just keeps sparking until is lit. not the piezo that you have to keep pushing. You are right they are only about £12