grand California 600 fridge not working

[dixie1996]

Hello, I have a GC 600 4 years old,the fridge was freezing and now has stopped working. The fuses under the bed seem fine. I can't see any fuses under the passenger seat. I've tried unsuccessfully to remove the fridge with a friend helping me but was unable to do that (it seemed loose but wouldn't budge). Any ideas please? I don't want to replace a fridge when a part will do but I am not at all technical.
Many thanks, Ali

 

[GS O'brino]

Could be the push botton:https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/gc-fridge-stuck-in-the-on-position.56720/post-738780

 

[dixie1996]

Thank you, I'll have a go.

 

[MattH]

We have had problems with our fridge not working or working intermittently. Fuses were fine. Switched the isolation switch off and back on again after 20 mins and still didn’t work. I decided to take off the grill below the fridge (large grill, not the small one) to see if I could see any problems. I then pulled off the two lower connections from the Secop controller. Reconnected them five minutes later and it worked. It might not work for you but it got our fridge going again. You’ll need the right sized Torx screw if you decide to try it. The Secop controller also has a power light behind it so you can check that this is lit up.

My knowledge of electrical and refrigeration systems is very, very basic so I can’t say why this worked but it did……hoping it hasn’t done any harm.

 

[Matt Adams]

Try removing the fuse for the fridge and putting it back in then start the engine before turning the fridge back on

 

[dixie1996]

I'm not sure where the fuse for the fridge is) I'm a complete novice at this). Thanks

 

[dixie1996]

We have had problems with our fridge not working or working intermittently. Fuses were fine. Switched the isolation switch off and back on again after 20 mins and still didn’t work. I decided to take off the grill below the fridge (large grill, not the small one) to see if I could see any problems. I then pulled off the two lower connections from the Secop controller. Reconnected them five minutes later and it worked. It might not work for you but it got our fridge going again. You’ll need the right sized Torx screw if you decide to try it. The Secop controller also has a power light behind it so you can check that this is lit up.

My knowledge of electrical and refrigeration systems is very, very basic so I can’t say why this worked but it did……hoping it hasn’t done any harm.

Brilliant thank you for your advice. I'll try that.

 

[Jamescobbs]

Hello, I have a GC 600 4 years old,the fridge was freezing and now has stopped working. The fuses under the bed seem fine. I can't see any fuses under the passenger seat. I've tried unsuccessfully to remove the fridge with a friend helping me but was unable to do that (it seemed loose but wouldn't budge). Any ideas please? I don't want to replace a fridge when a part will do but I am not at all technical.
Many thanks, Ali

Hi Ali, I wouldn’t rush into replacing the fridge just yet. If it was freezing properly and has now stopped working, there’s a good chance it’s an electrical/control issue rather than the fridge itself. On the GC 600, I’d first check that the fridge is actually getting power in both 12V and 230V hookup modes, rather than just relying on the fuses looking OK. A fuse can sometimes look fine but still be worth testing properly with a meter. Also, if the fridge has completely stopped rather than simply not cooling, listen for whether you can hear the compressor/fan attempting to start. If there’s absolutely no sign of life, I’d suspect the power supply, fuse/relay, wiring or control board before condemning the fridge. I wouldn’t force the fridge out either. They can feel loose but still be retained by fixings/brackets or the surrounding trim, and you don’t want to damage the cabinetry.

Given that you say you’re not technical, I’d get an auto electrician or VW camper specialist to check the voltage at the fridge first. That’s a relatively quick diagnostic and could save you the cost of a replacement fridge. If you can post the exact fridge model number and tell us whether the display/lights on the fridge are completely dead or whether it powers up but doesn’t cool, we can narrow it down considerably.

 

[dixie1996]

Thanks for your reply, that is so helpful. I'm passing the information on to caravan electrician. The fridge is completely dead, no lights and no sound of the compressor . Below is a photo of sticker.
I really appreciate your advice, thank you