Fridge Permanently switched on

[Jabberwocky]

So, i'm back from my month away in my wonderful brand new Cali...apart from the very difficult to use fridge. I'll phone the dealer today and make an appointment to have the control unit looked at. Just one quick (maybe stupid) question before i do. In order to get my fridge to switch off, (and it sometimes just comes on without me asking it too) I have to switch on the control panel, (by pressing the O/I button) turn the fridge ON, then OFF, and then switch the control panel off (by pressing the O/I button again). Only with this last action does the fridge stop buzzing/switch off. If i want to switch the fridge on, i have to turn it on then not touch the O/I button, because if i do it will simply switch the fridge off. (i.e. i have to let the control panel display 'time out' and that leaves the fridge on)

I just wanted to check that this is all very odd. (i.e. apart from the fridge switching on randomly, the O/I button shouldn't independently switch the fridge on and off?)

Thanks!

From my experience the fridge was uncontrollable by me. Random switching on and off with main control panel on. This random switching was not by me! The only sure way to switch fridge off was to switch off the main control panel. The Fridge is easy to control and manage when all is working well which can not be said in your case. Take it to the dealer, do not stress and let them fix it under warranty. After all that is why you have a warranty. Don't worry its not a huge job to replace the fridge control unit (if that is the problem in your case).
All the best.

 

[CaliKate]

I’m just picking up this thread! Hope you all got sorted! I’m having a similar issue with my brand new Cali. Fridge thinks it’s on and on at highest setting when on the control panel it says it’s off!

I’m calling the van centre today but going to take these tips on board and see if resetting the control panel turns the fridge off!

 

[babble]

i phoned to ask that it be looked at about two weeks ago and the first appointment they had to look at it is in 2 weeks. So i will have had a new van with a non-operational fridge for about two months basically. It's an odd fault though, when i just illuminate the control panel, it switches on the fridge, even though all fridge switches are off.

 

[Jabberwocky]

i phoned to ask that it be looked at about two weeks ago and the first appointment they had to look at it is in 2 weeks. So i will have had a new van with a non-operational fridge for about two months basically. It's an odd fault though, when i just illuminate the control panel, it switches on the fridge, even though all fridge switches are off.

Sounds like exactly the same fault I had. It took two visits, one was two days, to sort. Fridge controller was out of stock and on back order (Non in UK). That took an extra week.
All the best (mine is now working perfectly).

 

[Ta51tac]

I’m just picking up this thread! Hope you all got sorted! I’m having a similar issue with my brand new Cali. Fridge thinks it’s on and on at highest setting when on the control panel it says it’s off!

I’m calling the van centre today but going to take these tips on board and see if resetting the control panel turns the fridge off!

Frustratingly, looks like we have the same problem too. Control unit says it’s off but it definitely isn’t.

 

[WelshGas]

Frustratingly, looks like we have the same problem too. Control unit says it’s off but it definitely isn’t.

But you haven't got your California yet, according to your Avatar Information.

 

[Ta51tac]

But you haven't got your California yet, according to your Avatar Information.

Oops. Noted! Changed now... so about that fridge...

 

[WelshGas]

Oops. Noted! Changed now... so about that fridge...

It would seem to be a batch of faulty Controllers/Relays. It would seem to be a trip back to a Dealership.

However, it might be worthwhile getting all the information from this thread and Dealership names, who have fixed the problem, to give your local Dealer a helping hand.

 

[flying banana]

Pleased to hear this.

I suppose now you know the end is in sight you can "chill" a bit?

Sorry No need to throw me my coat .....

It's often a bit frosty in my van if I've been drinking too much

 

[babble]

so it took them a month to take a look at mine and of course everything seems to be working fine today they say. grrrr. three hours of my time wasted. (indeed, this morning, when i pressed the fridge button, it would light up, then go off, and the fridge didn't go on at all)

 

[babble]

can i just confirm with you all that the O/I button is simply for illuminating the control panel, and should not in and of itself, play any role in switching on and off the fridge?

 

[babble]

(another question actually, when i press the O/I button it only stays illuminated for about 20 seconds - that's normal right?)

 

[Beeechke1]

can i just confirm with you all that the O/I button is simply for illuminating the control panel, and should not in and of itself, play any role in switching on and off the fridge?

You may need this confirmed by someone on here with a T6 but on my T5 the control panel has to be on or on with screen in standbye before the fridge will switch on. If the control panel is switched off using the O/I button the fridge is switched off.

 

[flying banana]

You may need this confirmed by someone on here with a T6 but on my T5 the control panel has to be on or on with screen in standbye before the fridge will switch on. If the control panel is switched off using the O/I button the fridge is switched off.

T6 you can switch the fridge on with that button. Lights up ora ge and usually asks for the temperature selection

 

[babble]

so update.....having driven for one hour through traffic to drop off the van today, then being told nothing is wrong with it, (did you charge the battery properly they ask...) and driving back (in a courtesy car i was told i would have to pay for the fuel of), i'm feeling a little stupid. i drive back, get in the van, test the fridge, it switches off automatically immediately after i switch it on. battery at 80%, so i get the sales guys up to look at it, and they confirm it's not working properly on my behalf , and phone a friend who says there are four such news vans in belgium in the garage with faulty units right now. they come with me to the garage bit, and confirm it. i'm told fine, they will book the van back in again....in a month! haha. jesus. i firmly complained and i'm back home with the courtesy car again.

so far - 3 hours driving back and forth. first a problem with the van, then incompetence. i've had no sort of apology, made to feel stupid, and i'll have to drive back there again to pick it up.

service - poor. love the van though.

 

[babble]

T6 you can switch the fridge on with that button. Lights up ora ge and usually asks for the temperature selection

there is a fridge butter, AND an O/I button for the control panel - are you saying they both switch on the fridge?.

 

[Ta51tac]

so update.....having driven for one hour through traffic to drop off the van today, then being told nothing is wrong with it, (did you charge the battery properly they ask...) and driving back (in a courtesy car i was told i would have to pay for the fuel of), i'm feeling a little stupid. i drive back, get in the van, test the fridge, it switches off automatically immediately after i switch it on. battery at 80%, so i get the sales guys up to look at it, and they confirm it's not working properly on my behalf , and phone a friend who says there are four such news vans in belgium in the garage with faulty units right now. they come with me to the garage bit, and confirm it. i'm told fine, they will book the van back in again....in a month! haha. jesus. i firmly complained and i'm back home with the courtesy car again.

so far - 3 hours driving back and forth. first a problem with the van, then incompetence. i've had no sort of apology, made to feel stupid, and i'll have to drive back there again to pick it up.

service - poor. love the van though.

I had a similar experience today but without the driving there and back issue. Discussion was had over the phone. The Cali is still in the garage for them to work out what is wrong despite my suggestion that it is likely to be a control panel fault and relay, and pointing them to this site for more information, they apparently have to go through a fault finding process.

We will see if tomorrow brings better news...

 

[Ta51tac]

Anyone shed some light on why the alternator would affect the fridge working? Just picked up a message from the garage which says that there wasn’t enough charge in the vehicle battery to allow the fridge to work?? Surely this isn’t right? I thought the fridge worked from the leisure batteries? I also don’t understand why there wasn’t enough charge. It has done 300 miles since we collected it on Friday.

 

[WelshGas]

Anyone shed some light on why the alternator would affect the fridge working? Just picked up a message from the garage which says that there wasn’t enough charge in the vehicle battery to allow the fridge to work?? Surely this isn’t right? I thought the fridge worked from the leisure batteries? I also don’t understand why there wasn’t enough charge. It has done 300 miles since we collected it on Friday.

The Fridge works from the Leisure Batteries Only. If the Leisure Battery Voltage drops below 11.5v then the Fridge switches Off to protect the Leisure Batteries.

 

[Ta51tac]

The Fridge works from the Leisure Batteries Only. If the Leisure Battery Voltage drops below 11.5v then the Fridge switches Off to protect the Leisure Batteries.

@WelshGas thanks.

 

[WelshGas]

there is a fridge butter, AND an O/I button for the control panel - are you saying they both switch on the fridge?.

The Control Panel must be On , via the O/I Button for the Fridge to work. Just having the Control Panel On will Not Switch the Fridge On. Once the Panel is On then you can use the Fridge Button, 1 Press shows the Fridge Temperature Selected which you can alter with the Knob, 2nd Press switches the Fridge On.

 

[babble]

Got it. To conclude: mine is not working properly at all. They plugged it in to the hook up and it worked, it got cold, so they said - "it's all fine" and didn't listen to me at all, when i asked them to test it in all conditions to avoid me having to drive all the way back there again. When i got back it took me about five seconds to see it still wasn't working, and to show the California sales team. They then had to come with me to explain how the fridge should work to the after sales people. Rather frustrating. I will send a full complaint when its all over I guess. I've had the van one month and a half and had to do 4 return journeys to the garage now, 3 of which were completely avoidable.

 

[Ta51tac]

Got it. To conclude: mine is not working properly at all. They plugged it in to the hook up and it worked, it got cold, so they said - "it's all fine" and didn't listen to me at all, when i asked them to test it in all conditions to avoid me having to drive all the way back there again. When i got back it took me about five seconds to see it still wasn't working, and to show the California sales team. They then had to come with me to explain how the fridge should work to the after sales people. Rather frustrating. I will send a full complaint when its all over I guess. I've had the van one month and a half and had to do 4 return journeys to the garage now, 3 of which were completely avoidable.

I feel your pain right now!

 

[babble]

i wouldn't mind just a simply apology to be honest, but i've had nothing at all.

 

[tribloke]

Just back from VW Leicester, they just replaced the fridge control box to fix my brand new Cali fridge which had a mind of it's own.

It went in a few weeks ago but this part wasn't available. Seems fine now. VW Leicester have a Cali Specialist called Craig - nice bloke and good to chat too.