Refrigerator won't chill August 21, 2017, 12:59:23 am Hello all. My refrigerator won't chill. There's plenty of propane, refr flame lights fine, and stays on, no check light. Flue pipe in outside compartment is hot. No sign or odor of ammonia. Roof vent is venting heat, but less than I expected. Vent is covered by a plastic shroud, and I didn't have with me tools to even think about removing it. Refr worked fine the last time out. Have trouble shooting guide, but have no fluency in wiring diagrams and multimeter. Oh, it has the Dinosaur board.It's the original Dometic in my 1999 MB.Any suggestions? Am I missing something obvious?Gotta leave for Ladeze on Wednesday morning.Thanks.Kathy Lautz
Re: Refrigerator won't chill Reply #1 – August 21, 2017, 01:42:50 am If the boiler and associated tubing are good and hot and there is no cooling in the freezer, the system probably has leaked enough of it vital fluids to stop working. You don't always see yellow fluid leaking or smell ammonia.A 18 year old refrigerator is past its due date. Our 2003's Dometic died at 12 years.Sorry to bear bad news.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Refrigerator won't chill Reply #2 – August 21, 2017, 09:51:53 am We just replaced our refrigerator on our 2004 30'IB. Time might not be on your side, sorry 😐. My suggestion is to pack an ice chest for your upcoming trip and I'm sure some of the Ladeze will let you have some space in their refrigerators 😋. Have a great time Ladeze! 🚐
Re: Refrigerator won't chill Reply #3 – August 21, 2017, 01:02:22 pm Happy to report that this morning the refr seems to be working normally. I did tap the refrigerant tubing everywhere I could reach, after I started it up again. Perhaps it was that day trip with the refr off that caused the coolant to "settle." Hope it keeps working, yes, it is living on borrowed time, and yes, the larger cooler is coming along as insurance. If it happens again, maybe a proactive replacement is in my near future?And now for the generator. 😐Thanks for all y'alls help.Kathy Lautz 2 Likes
Re: Refrigerator won't chill Reply #4 – August 22, 2017, 01:29:55 am Glad there isn't a problem, a certain group of ladies will be happy to hear this.It's surprising how long it takes a refrigerator to begin cooling off, in warm weather.The freezer is the first spot to experience any significant cooling.Say hi to the Ladezes.Larry
Re: Refrigerator won't chill Reply #5 – September 10, 2017, 12:24:42 pm So glad things are working! For what it's worth, we traveled as newbies 30,00 miles from fall of 2014 to summer of 2016 in our 1996 24' LD TK with all original parts/appliances. Of course we replaced a lot as we traveled due to wear and tear and accidents. Anyway. Having a sensitive stomach, our fridge was my major concern and I was terrified of food poisoning. During our trip we replaced 2 items: 1. the eyebrow which defaulted to no.3, and 2. The roof refrigerator vent cover which blew off in a sand storm in the middle of the Mojave Desert.My policy was to keep the freezer at about -5 - -10 and the fridge between 38 and 41.Just want to share 2 user things I had to deal with(that means they are fixable)1. The drain from the fridge is under the freezer fins (on the left in our TK model).it empties onto the road under the fridge (OK that means hollow and road grease and dirt - ich). I don't know what prompted me to check it out, but something did, and fiddling under the rig, I found something greasy and nasty and cleaned it out. I think the fridge ran better after that. I then poured a cup of vinegar water mix down the funnel per direction from a phone call to the mfg and checked that it ran onto the ground.2. Our temperature control is a wand with a stripped tip that is squeezed into a tight space between the far-most right fin and a plastic shield. How high up that probe is and how far back has everything to do with maintaining the fridge temp and it is very easily jiggled into a different position by putting groceries in and out. I have seen the fridge temp at 30 degrees and the eggs frozen and at 49 degrees and I threw almost everything perishable out. Then I forget where to position the probe and spend a couple of days jiggling it around because I can't remember the best location of it as I am not smart enough to draw a sketch.If any one reads this and has more questions about maintaining a 21 year old rig refrigerator/freezer,let me know. I am sure not everything that could happen to it has happened, but I still trust it.Sandy
Re: Refrigerator won't chill Reply #6 – September 10, 2017, 01:26:22 pm Quote from: Kathy Lautz - August 21, 2017, 12:59:23 amMy refrigerator won't chill. There's plenty of propane, refr flame lights fine, and stays on, no check light. Flue pipe in outside compartment is hot. No sign or odor of ammoniaFirst sign of a problem leak in our '83 was our carrots turned green, no smell.Steve
Re: Refrigerator won't chill Reply #7 – September 10, 2017, 01:56:34 pm "How high up that probe is and how far back has everything to do with maintaining the fridge temp..."So far you've got it right... that 'probe' as you call it is a "Thermistor" by proper name. It's intended to be placed on the right side of the cooling fins and it's placement is, as you noted, critical to maintaining the proper temperature. If you slide it downward on the fin it will raise the temp in the box, if you slide it upward on the fin it will lower the temp in the box. You get to choose what you desire. After 13 years of faithful service my original fridge quietly died, on the 1st day of a multi-day campout. Now, I have a new fridge (thanks Mothership) and as with the prior one I keep the setting on #3 which keeps the fridge about 35° and the freezer about -1°. I'm happy with that!
Re: Refrigerator won't chill Reply #8 – September 10, 2017, 02:39:41 pm "maybe a proactive replacement is in my near future?"It's not a bad idea, given the age of your current fridge. Of course you can let well enough alone, hope for the best, and try to keep it going as long as you can. Some folks feel that's the way to go, since it puts off a major expenditure.My philosophy is different. I figure when a fridge dies, it will be at the least convenient time and at the furthest possible distance from a good service facility. Result: panicky scrambling. Eat food before it goes bad, throw out the rest, drive like hell to the nearest RV service place, and most likely pay through the nose for a new fridge--if you're lucky and they have the model you want in stock.I hate panicky scrambling. When my 2003-vintage Dometic fridge was nine years old and had malfunctioned a couple of times, I opted to proactively replace it... at a time and place of my choosing, where I could get the model I wanted at a decent price. It could be argued that by doing it this way, I actually saved money, since I didn't have some local yokel charging me full list price. But regardless of that, I minimized the likelihood of a refrigerator emergency. To me, it was worth it. 1 Likes
Re: Refrigerator won't chill Reply #9 – September 10, 2017, 04:57:17 pm Quote from: Andy Baird - September 10, 2017, 02:39:41 pm"maybe a proactive replacement is in my near future?"It's not a bad idea, given the age of your current fridge. I actually saved money, since I didn't have some local yokel charging me full list price. But regardless of that, I minimized the likelihood of a refrigerator emergency. To me, it was worth it.Older refrigerators lose efficiency and will die eventually.For the full timer or long-term traveler, a failure, on the road is a big PIA. Been there. If it is over ten years old, chances are it is going to fail in the near future.I would take Andy's suggestion to heart.Larry
Re: Refrigerator won't chill Reply #10 – September 10, 2017, 05:11:07 pm Well, seeing as how my refr is going on 18 years, (old enough to go to colllege) it is on my list. Where to have it replaced? Where do I find the sometimes elusive "less than full price" unit, and who to install it? Is the factory my best bet? Will have to call them for pricing before I visit them for my bear damage repair. (See separate post.) Will enjoy the slightly larger interior of a new refr.KEL
Re: Refrigerator won't chill Reply #11 – September 10, 2017, 05:22:15 pm Quote from: Kathy Lautz - September 10, 2017, 05:11:07 pmWell, seeing as how my refr is going on 18 years, (old enough to go to colllege) it is on my list. Where to have it replaced? Where do I find the sometimes elusive "less than full price" unit, and who to install it? Is the factory my best bet? Will have to call them for pricing before I visit them for my bear damage repair. (See separate post.) Will enjoy the slightly larger interior of a new refr.KEL We have thought about and probably will replace our frig in our 06 in the near future. In reference to the larger frig. Ours is 8CF and Dometic has one now that fits the same space and is 9CF. I spoke with Vince about it a couple of years ago and they didn't carry or install the larger one then. Maybe that has changed.Jim
Re: Refrigerator won't chill Reply #12 – September 10, 2017, 07:00:08 pm Kathy "Where to have it replaced? Is the factory my best bet?"When my original (2004) fridge failed on the 1st day of the 2017 Morro Bay GTG I didn't waste any time in making an appointment with Vince at the factory. Turned out my concerns were unfounded. On the appointed day they pulled my 30' into the Inner Sanctum and left me to worry. To my utter amazement they had her back out in the parking lot by 2pm, ready to roll. What surprised me the most was that they took the old box out as well as the new box in through one of the large windows with no more effort that sliding it open. All that's required is an opening 24" X 24". The price was comparable to other quotes I'd gotten and came in at just under $1600 (but that included some other small work as well). At least I had the comfort in knowing that they installed the original and I am now enjoying it's replacement. 2 Likes
Re: Refrigerator won't chill Reply #13 – September 11, 2017, 12:49:02 pm Quote from: Lazy Bones - September 10, 2017, 07:00:08 pmWhat surprised me the most was that they took the old box out as well as the new box in through one of the large windows with no more effort that sliding it open. All that's required is an opening 24" X 24". The price was comparable to other quotes I'd gotten and came in at just under $1600 (but that included some other small work as well). The refrigerators in all LDs can pass through one of the large windows, it's the only way to do it.Any decent RV shop or talented home mechanic can change one as long as there is a helper available to help lift and pass it thorough the window.When having one replaced, it is a good time to make sure all the Factory insulation is still intact. Its even a better time to add insulation to the sides and top. It makes a difference.Reinstalling refrigerator | FlickrLarry
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