1 side of Waeco CF50 bowed

[Graeme]

Whilst I thought the broken hinge tab on the lid of my 3+yo Waeco CF50 was due to the lid being bowed, its actually 1 side of the fridge that's bowed out which has caused the hinge tab to break. This fridge, in its protective cover, is permanently in the vehicle and as the vehicle is parked under a carport all day with the fridge on the southern side, the sun almost never shines on the fridge.

A few days ago I asked the local Waeco service agent if there were problems with lids distorting but next time will ask about the fridge itself and what Waeco has to say about it.

Has anyone else had problems with the side of their Waeco distorting?

[cewilson]

I haven't had any issues with my 80 litre or 35 litre - I've had the 80 litre since 04, and the 35 litre since 09.

[Utemad]

My 80L that I've also had since 04 has a bowed lid. I don't think you could bow the fridge itself as they are metal walled (plastic top and bottom).
It is bowed down in the middle so the latches on either end of the front edge have to work harder so I expect them to snap one day. I also doubt that it seals at either end due to this and the very thin seal.

This combined with other operating issues has put me off Waeco for life.

[Graeme]

The side is indeed bowed outwards which really surprises me because it seems so rigid. It sticks out past the lid on that side about 4mm in the centre and it doesn't change with the lid reversed. I doubt that it was always bowed because at some time I noticed that the lid rubbed in the middle when closing and would have expected to notice that from new.

[Graeme]

Waeco has requested that the local Waeco repairer submit a warranty claim. A new lid was tried but it would soon break a hinge pivot if used on that side of the fridge. Whilst other Waecos waiting for repairs had a little curvature of the sides, none was nearly as severe as my fridge. The repairer has not seen such distortion in any other Waecos and said that Waecos often get left in the sun so the distortion wont have been caused by the sun.

It is possible the fault has existed since new but because the fridge was initially located on the other side of the vehicle and therefore hinged from the good side, I may not have noticed the curved side. The pivot broke with the fridge in its current position. Hopefully Waeco will honour the claim.

[Graeme]

There's a new replacement fridge waiting for me at the Waeco agent. That's great warranty.

[DEFENDERZOOK]

these would be the sort of faults they would want to study and rectify......
having simple problems like these would cost them a lot of business to the opposition.......

and I'm sure they wouldn't like that.........