Car fridge

[Alex]

I got given a pretty ancient Engel car fridge, it's probably 15 years old. It apparently worked sweet last time it was used (albeit years back) and has been sitting in a shed since. I'v given it a good clean and it doesn't look too bad. It turns on and whirrs along, so the engine seems fine, but it doesn't get cold -so at the moment it's about as useful as tits on a bull. I have no idea about the operations of a car fridge, but I'm assuming it's gas operated and over time the gas has leaked out.

Is it possible to re-gas the fridge or am I flogging a dead horse? If it is, does anyone know whereabouts in Sydney I can go?

Cheers
Alex

[Captain_Rightfoot]

They say engels last forever, so maybe it's worth finding a repair agent. They are quite expensive new, so it may be worth fixing up style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[DaveS3]

Just get it serviced.

We've sent a few away at work to Engel and seem to comback as good as new.

Should be far less $$$ than buying a new one.

Dave.

[Alex]

I can't find a national webpage for engel, or a number to call to get the fridge serviced. How did you get in contact with engel Dave?

[LRHybrid100]

Originally posted by Alex
I can't find a national webpage for engel, or a number to call to get the fridge serviced. How did you get in contact with engel Dave?

HTH

http://www.engelaustralia.com.au/

There is a Service Agents link there - I spoke to the Bloke at ARNDELL PARK - Alternate Gas & Refrigeration 02 9672 1664 and he was very helpful with advice when I was looking for one, plus he carries most of the spares.

LRH

[seqfisho]

The bloke at Arndell park is great, there aint nothing he cant do to and Engle, plus last time when I bought a fridge we got it from him, about 8 years ago, actually bought two at once, one for the old man and me, and his prices were the cheapest I could find in Sydney at the time, plus he took some off for two and cash so they ended up heaps cheaper, mine was a dud in the box :roll: and took it back and they swapped it no questions even then threw in some extra's for the hassel caused, he is also, or was back then the no1 repairer for Engle in the country.

Glen.

[LRHybrid100]

aha I did talk to the right man then - that was a bit of luck! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

[Alex]

Thanks for that, I'll get right on it

[DaveS3]

Originally posted by Alex
I can't find a national webpage for engel, or a number to call to get the fridge serviced. How did you get in contact with engel Dave?

I work for an Engel re-distributor in Melbourne :wink:

Just go with the bloke mentioned above.

Dave

[RoverOne]

There is a Service Agents link there - I spoke to the Bloke at ARNDELL PARK - Alternate Gas & Refrigeration 02 9672 1664 and he was very helpful with advice when I was looking for one, plus he carries most of the spares.

LRH[/quote]

I also can confirm these are the right guys to go to. I had my engel there not getting cold enough, and he tested and it turned out to be the model not as good as all the others the"C" model (the first grey one) it just needs to be a number higher for real cold, they charged me nothing.

Cheers
Bryce

[p38arover]

I've got an oldie that needs regassing as well. I'd be interestd to know what it ends up costing for yours.

Ron

[Alex]

<span style="color:red">I've got an oldie that needs regassing as well. I'd be interestd to know what it ends up costing for yours. </span>

Took the fridge in today and although the electrics were sweet, the motor was seized. He quoted $650 to fix it style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif

So I'm renting for the trip for $60 a week. Just a bit more affordable :wink:

Although he did say that most oldies that come in need a $100-150 clean up and service and they're as good as new. He does a check over which lasts 10 min and gives you a free quote, so it's certainly worth taking it in to have it checked out.

[DEFENDERZOOK]

<span style="color:darkred">there was a fridge similar to a finch fridge at the show....
i think it was a companion......

under $400..... it was a three way fridge and it sounded like a decent one.... will run 23 days on a 9kg bottle of lpg....

gotta be cheaper than renting.....and then you you end up with a fridge....</span>

[Disco300Tdi]

I bought one of those "Finch lookalikes" from Repco,

1st trip Cigarette lighter socket short circuited and melted the plug

2nd trip at xmas, refused to run on gas

Unfortunately they draw as much as 10amp on 12V power

The good side was I took it back to Repco and they swapped
it straight over for another one

[DEFENDERZOOK]

<span style="color:blue">this one im talking about aws a couple of old guys selling them.....
apparently they are refrigeration technicians and they have designed their own fridge to high standards....
they even sell the control panel (brains) of the fridge for only $35 should anything go wrong it will most likely be the panel....

so cheap repair if it breaks.....has a 5 year warranty......and they have a built in bypass switch...should the fridge die during a long and lonely trip to woop woop....you flick the switch and it will just go to maximum cooling(freeze) so your meat etc wont spoil......
you will have to manually switch the thing on and off youself to save power and regulate temperatures.....but hey...you still have a fridge...</span>

[DEFENDERZOOK]

<span style="color:blue">even better....i just found the pamphlet....then the name of the fridge.....
bushman fridge freezer......

and then i found the web site.....
and they are in manns rd gosford...</span>


http://www.bushman.com.au/bushman_features.html

[Dinty]

My old Engel 29lt is now 31yo and still going strong long live the Engel fridge cheers Dennis
PS it's never had a problem in all that time either!!

[Alex]

That fridge looks pretty awesome. Especially if they're under $400....
Shame they're up in Gosford. Don't think I'lll have time to check them out with exams till Friday and heading off on Sunday. Still, when I save up enough $$ (when I get out of uni next year) I'll definetly look them up.

[DEFENDERZOOK]

<span style="color:blue">i was just doing the maths.....
if you rent for ten days @ $60/day....

you could instead buy one of these...and the fuel to go and pick it up....
and a new gas bottle....and gas.....and still have change left over for the trip or fuel.....</span>

[matbor]

[quote=DEFENDERZOOK]<span style="color:blue">this one im talking about aws a couple of old guys selling them.....
apparently they are refrigeration technicians and they have designed their own fridge to high standards....
they even sell the control panel (brains) of the fridge for only $35 should anything go wrong it will most likely be the panel....

so cheap repair if it breaks.....has a 5 year warranty......and they have a built in bypass switch...should the fridge die during a long and lonely trip to woop woop....you flick the switch and it will just go to maximum cooling(freeze) so your meat etc wont spoil......
you will have to manually switch the thing on and off youself to save power and regulate temperatures.....but hey...you still have a fridge...</span>

Looks good, only has a 3 year warranty though.
http://www.bushman.com.au/faq.html

Matt.

[rick130]

Bushman, eh.

Might just have to make some enquiries.......
and the three year warranty is OK, I know my way around a set of gauges and a multimeter.... :wink:

[Alex]

[q

[Alex]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>i was just doing the maths.....
if you rent for ten days @ $60/day....
[/b][/quote]
DefenderZook- I'm renting at $60 a week not a day! So only setting me back $120.
I checked the prices on those Bushman fridges and they're plus or minus $1000, so either they were doing the deal of a century at the show you were at, or they must have been selling a mini fridge!

I think I'll still wait a while till I spend such big bucks on something that I'll v. rarely use

[DEFENDERZOOK]

<span style="color:darkblue">he said they had dings in the lids or some sort of imperfections.....

they looked fine to me........

but retail was nowhere near $1000

if you are interested give them a call....(02) 4321 1555</span>