Tab 400 fridge won’t work on propane

OysterTab400

Looking for some help here on 3 way fridge on propane. Boondocking right now. Tab 400 is level. Opened propane valve slowly. Propane on stove has been running for over a minute just to make sure it’s bled out. Set the fridge to propane (not just auto) and I hear the clicking of the igniter for 15 seconds or so and then error code 3. Tried about 15 times now. Took the cover off outside and everything appears connected right. Hoping not to keep fridge on battery because I’ll wake up with no battery. Any other ideas? 

‘22 Tab 400

tinknocker

Takes a long time to bleed out the refer gas line due to the low flow. Keep reseting, took me about 10 to 12 tries before mine started up first time.

OysterTab400

@tinknocker By resetting do you mean turning the fridge off to clear the error code and trying again? Does it help to run the stove? Not sure if it’s the same propane line since it’s the opposite side of the trailer. 

tinknocker

Yes, turn it off and try again. No need to run the stove.

paulgbernard

Had the exact same issue. Try tapping on the propane shutoff relay with a screwdriver. Mine was stuck shut, and after I gave it a few taps, it started working. Also a 2022 Tab 400 Boondock.

OysterTab400

@paulgbernard where is that again? 

Sharon_is_SAM

How about a photo @paulgbernard!

paulgbernard

Unfortunately I do not have my trailer here at the moment, so I cannot take a picture. It's behind the bottom cover. Little blue box on the propane feed line to the burner. I will post a picture if I can find one. 

paulgbernard

This is what you are looking for. If it is not clicking on, that's your culprit. If it is clicking on, make sure the screw below the relay is turned on and allowing propane to flow through. Good luck!

subkron

Agggggggg, I could just scream.

I had been running the fridge on AC for 24hours prior to a four day trip last week.  Fridge was good, then about 2 hours before leaving tried to startup (first time since I've owned the T@B) on propane . No go, same problem. Tried maybe 10 times. I opened the exterior lower side panel and igniter cover and verified visible spark. You can do this by just removing a couple of screws.  Just to make sure it was a gas delivery issue I put a lighter to the burner during the clicking time (which lasted like 30 seconds).  Tapped the solenoid a few times.  Gas on stove came right on worked fine.  Shutoff gas at tank, loosened tank fitting, re-tightened and opened valve slowly.  Nothing. Called dealer, they indicated I did exactly what they recommended and said bring it in. Nope, not an option. Since the fridge was cold put the food in fridge but I grabbed a cooler. At destination tried again, nothing.  Switched food to a cooler and dealt with that for 4-days.  What a PITA.

Returned last night, checked this morning, still did not work.  Opened side panel, rapped the solenoid a few times, tried again and after 2 clicks it fired up.  I repeat, Arggggggggggggg.

The solenoid is the blue part in the pic, I just used the handle end of the square drive tool to whack on it. I had to hold the black cover (with the grey wire attached) since the assembly can rotate on the valve.

OysterTab400

Thanks for the pictures and the testimonials. Glad we aren’t alone. 

Ok, so the screw should be “open” and in the same direction as the pipe to allow propane through and then whack at the solenoid while it’s clicking to get the propane to flow through. I’ll report back if this works. Note to self: always have a cooler with an already cold freezer pack on hand if you plan on boondocking. Or just get the fridge ice cold at level 5 on shore power before leaving and then run it at level 1 on battery when you can during the day while the solar trickle charges the battery. 

OysterTab400

@paulgbernard thanks for the response again. Just tried boondocking on propane for the fridge again. I heard the clicking and started hitting the solenoid with the screwdriver a few times. Then I heard a flame lit and the fridge appears to be running with no error code 3. I can actually use my 3 way fridge now without power and killing my battery. Thanks again for the pictures too. 

ScottG

@OysterTab400, note that the "battery" (a.k.a. DC) setting on a 3-way fridge is only intended for use when the trailer is connected to a running tow vehicle (i.e., while in transit). You are correct that running the fridge on battery while in camp will kill your battery--and probably pretty quickly at that. Even solar--unless you have a lot of it--probably won't keep up with the drain.

It's also my understanding that the fridge temperature control does not operate in battery mode, so setting it to "1" will have no effect on battery life.

If I found myself in the same predicament I'd probably just get a big block of ice and treat the fridge as a really expensive cooler...  :-)

Deerfox

Hugs and kisses to all of you. Our first trip of the year and our upcoming trip to the beach are saved because of this incredible forum. I am SOOO relieved! Thank you so much! 

GregChris

Ucamp23 was a wonderland of useful and correct info. Their techs stated that if are having propane problems(refer or alde) the first thing to check is the regulator on the tanks. 

RFraer

I just returned from a 30 day 6000 mile excursion from South Carolina to Arizona and Utah and back. On the way out our 3-way frig stopped cooling on gas. This prevented use from cool the frig on travel days and boondocking. We had no error code because there was a flame on the frig burner. I also noticed the stove had enough gas to cook with but when turned to full the flame did not make that typical fluttering sound that I taught I had remembered. We traveled this was for several days untill I realized it was a pressure problem and went to Camping World and changed out the regulator. If you to see the efficiency of the frig on gas drop consider changing the gas regulator. Now that I know the regulator is more fragile than I taught I am considering putting a gauge on the regulated pressure side.

dgrovebees

I, too, am very grateful for the posts above, and the solution for me came at the “ June 2022 Subkron” post, where there is actually a photo of the solenoid to tap. Ironically, after praying with my wife for a solution to this issue before we leave on a vacation soon, I came out, prepared to tap the solenoid, and tried one more time to fire it up—and found the gas running and flame burning without tapping it at all :-) thank you, Lord! And thank you all for sharing above! What a great Forum!  What a happy sight and sound!!  And by the way, for those who are losing heart —-keep trying. this was at least my fifth try at turning off and turning on the refrigerator on propane after having run it on shore power for several days

markhanks

Yah, same problem with my Norcold n4000 3 way, would not operate in propane mode.  Tapping the solenoid worked!  Thankfully it was nice to see that the lower vent panel provides wonderful access to the business end of the fridge.

GatorEgg

Very common on this model refrigerator.  Mine is currently awaiting parts.  When talking to my dealer service, they mentioned they have three other trailers in for same problem.