Glacier Bill

We too have had roof leaking problems from when we picked up our Top Ender. To say we were disappointed would be an understatement (we expected better). Kedron tracked it down to a solar panel mount leaking. I asked David why they don't use sikaflex and his reply was too messy and wouldn't be any better. Maybe it's more to do with sika being more expensive or maybe it's too hard to dismantle items its used on as it is an adhesive as well, but will never let go or deteriorate with age as silicon does. I couldn't believe the amount of silicon used to seal the roof, but if it's not in the right place I guess it's not going to work.

Hi Phil, These fridges seem to struggle on the hot humid days. We found the extra fan helps but defrosting often is the only way to keep the desired temp. Our fridge runs at around 1deg after defrosting,with the temp increasing as the ice builds up on the evaporator plate. When the temp reaches 4-5deg its time to defrost, although you can get a few more days grace if you remove the tray from under the evaporator. Kedron reckon they're about the best 12v fridge you can get but I think they leave a lot to be desired. This fridge seems ok in the cooler months. Hope to meet up one day and have a cold beer if we can find a "cold" one. Cheers, Bill.

Chris, Just install it the same way as the original, the second one is just to increase air flow through the cooling fins on the condenser. The air is drawn from the front of the condenser, through the fins towards the compressor. You will still have to defrost on a regular basis, especially if there is high humidity. You could wire up second fan to the original so the second fan will only run when original starts. I just leave our's on all the time and sometimes it is running when original fan is stopped, has been doing this for over 12 months now and seems ok. Before I installed the second fan the original never cut out, meaning it was struggling to cope with the cooling in hot weather. You need to blow out the condenser fins with compressed air now and then depending on the dust. We were working in the Territory last year and it was amazing the amount of dust that collected there. We have a small food thermometor hanging in the fridge and when the temp rises above 4-5 deg c we think about defrosting. We have found that these fridges don't work too well in hot weather if you open the door and leave it wide open even for a short time. Hope this helps, Bill.

Yes Phil, I did add a second fan. It's just a 100mm computer fan cost about $20, simple to fit don't even have to drill holes as the holes in the second fan match up with original fan frame. Just tap into pos and neg fridge feed wires and use a switch to turn off the second fan when required. Have added a photo (if it works) not very computer savy. Regards Bill.

The dvd in our teac tv has died. Ordered another module but found out Teac don't supply them as a spare part, only in bits that need to be fitted to mother board $160 plus cost of getting it put together (problem could also be in the tv itself) so much for the big deal in the book about being able to replace the module by undoing 1 screw). Have ordered a 22" Grundig lcd (they don't make a dvd/tv combo in led) that has a 3 year warranty and a further option of an extra 4 years for $79 from Joyce Main costing $440 plus extra warranty if required. I have always considered Teac a cheap and poor quality brand so am not surprised it only lasted 15 months. At least Grundig has enough faith in their product to give it 3 year warranty. Bill.

Phil, We have the same fridge and have had the same problem. Contacted Kedron and was told if I could find a better 12v fridge to let them know. I went to vidcam and bought a computer fan about 100mm x 100mm and it bolted straight onto the condenser (which I reckon is rather small for the size of the fridge)and wired it in with a switch and we really only turn it off during winter. It certainly did make a difference but in really hot weather we remove the tray under the evaporator plate. This certainly makes the fridge colder but still keeps the top compartment frozen. In hot humid weather we find we have to defrost every 10 days. (Kedron did say not to turn the thermostat up to full and it would work better)??? Regards Bill.

Hi Phil, We have just come across the same problem. Our van is 18 months old so I guess the tv warranty is expired. After mucking around a bit I found the 12v socket where the lead plugs in is the problem. I don't think it likes being plugged in and unpluged every time you move. A new lead might help but it could be the socket on the tv. The next problem with our tv is the dvd has died. I am waiting for a reply from Teac on the price of a new dvd module, but like most of these things it's probably cheaper to get a new set. I don't think I would buy another Teac. Regards Bill.

Tony, I don't think there is anything wrong with wiring the brakesafe to the house batteries other than if the pin is pulled accidently the brakes will be activated for as long as there is charge in the battery. The small battery is used in the unit as it will go flat in about 15 - 20 minutes and not cook the magnets in the brakes. Bill.

Hi Ian, The splashback was the first to crack and Kedron replaced it. Now the benchtop has cracked at the corner of the stove since we have been parked up where we are working in the N T. Assume the heat from the stove and the laminex being a hard fit up against the stove might be the problem from expansion. I know Kedron will be happy to repair it but it such a hassle to keep returning to Brisbane when i'm sure with a bit of care problems like this could be avoided. Regards, Bill

Has anyone else had problems with the laminex benchtop cracking, or is it just us. Our van seems to be fairly dustproof but we have had a host of other problems. Very dissapointing considering what you have to pay for one of these vans. Don't know if I would ever buy another one. Bill.

Phil, We had the breakaway battery go flat on our van (only 12 months old) for no reason, caused all sorts of problems to brake controller. Had an auto electrician look at it at Longreach couldn't find anything wrong except the battery was flat. Charged battery and all has been well since. Use a loww amp charger to the red and black terminals on breakaway unit. When the battery was recharged the problems with the controller dissapeared. I occasionally put the charger on the unit if we are not mobile for awhile. Bill.

Lea & Rick, We had problems with our heater not firing up. Contacted Airtronic and talked to a bloke who said you must drain the diesel from tank at the end of the cold season as there are three things that sends diesel off, 1- sunlight, 2- oxygen, 3- agitation. The fix he recommended was to remove pump,remove delivery pipe from pump and there is a fine screen and if it is a yellow color it is blocked. He said to soak it in metho for a few hours to clean it, but be very careful with pump as they are $660 to replace. I could not remove end off the pump as it is very tight and didn't want to break anything so just pumped metho through the pump for a minute or so. I flushed the tank as it had an old paint smell (diesel gone off), refitted pump, added fresh diesel and all was good, working fine. Couldn't believe diesel could go off so quickly as it was only6 months since it was first used. They are a great heater when all is working fine Bill.

Chris, It is true! A picture is worth a thousand words. bill.

Col & Debbie, The $250 suggested by dometic is for the kit to do all windows in the Top Ender. The kit consists of silver strips that fill the the small groove on the inside window frame. You cut them to size, peel off the backing and stick them in the groove. They look ok but I'm not too sure obout things that stick on, how long they will last, I guess time will tell. There is also a felt strip that goes inside the window frame to seal the screens. You need to pop out the little plugs that hide about a dozen screws that holds the inside frame to the wall. We have not done this yet, thought we would see if just the strips work first. I think they are a bit pricey for what they are, but I guess they know we can't get them anywhere else. Regards Bill.

Ann, Have phoned dometic about the kit, possibly around $250 for the strips that stick in the groove top and bottom of internal window frame. There is also a felt track to install each side that the screens slide in and should be easy enough to do by just unscrewing the screws that fix the internal frame to the window. You don't have to take the window out. Kedron reckon they can install them for about $250 making it a $500 fix (approx). If you have the time it shouldn't be too hard to do yourself. Dometic won't sell the kit to you, need to go through a dealer. I aquired just the strips to try for now but may have to fit the full kit if the little b-----s still get in. Regards Bill