Dometic Failure - Yellow Slime January 06, 2008, 07:52:32 pm Yahoo Message Number: 87973I just went to my refrigerator to get a cold water, and no cold. I went outside to check the rear of the unit and immediately saw the yellow residue which indicates a failure of my refrigerant tubing. I did the Dometic recall last spring.Does anyone have any ideas about a "class action" lawsuit against Dometic. My rig is a 2002 and is slightly more than five years old. Pretty crummy service from such an expensive piece of equipment. Any suggestions as to an inexpensive fix? Can this be done by the owner (me), or am I at the mercy of an RV shop?Thanks - Mike 2002 30'IB
Re: Dometic Failure - Yellow Slime Reply #1 – January 06, 2008, 09:05:09 pm Yahoo Message Number: 87976"Does anyone have any ideas about a 'class action' lawsuit against Dometic."I don't know of one, and a Google search on 'dometic class action suit' didn't turn up anything other than a few suggestions that there ought to be one--with which I heartily agree! I also have a refrigerator affected by the recall, so for all I know, I could find myself in the same boat as you at any time."Any suggestions as to an inexpensive fix?" As I understand it, you have two choices, both of them unfortunately expensive: have the entire cooling unit replaced, or buy a new refrigerator (in which case I suggest you consider a Norcold). RV techs I've talked with say that while you can save some money by replacing the cooling unit, very often some other part of the fridge will fail shortly thereafter, leaving you facing yet another repair. Their advice is to bite the bullet and get a whole new fridge. "Can this be done by the owner (me), or am I at the mercy of an RV shop?"I won't say it's impossible for an owner to do, but from what I've heard, it's a fairly major job. Even if you can do the installation yourself, you'll want a qualified technician to check out the propane connections. Personally, I'd leave the whole job to a professional.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Dometic Failure - Yellow Slime Reply #2 – January 06, 2008, 09:31:22 pm Yahoo Message Number: 87978Quote I just went to my refrigerator to get a cold water, and no cold. I went outside to check the rear of the unit and immediately saw the yellow residue which indicates a failure of my refrigerant tubing. I did the Dometic recall last spring.Does anyone have any ideas about a "class action" lawsuit against Dometic. My rig is a 2002 and is slightly more than five years old. Pretty crummy service from such an expensive piece of equipment. Any suggestions as to an inexpensive fix? Can this be done by the owner (me), or am I at the mercy of an RV shop?Thanks - Mike 2002 30'IB Mike, I suffered this same exact problem last summer on my 2002. CW quoted me $800 (for a new cooling unit) to $1800 for a new fridge). I called a local RV tech and, after inputting all my numbers, i.e., unit ID and rig VIN, he reported that Dometic would fix the unit, parts and labor included. Parts were on backorder and I had to wait 2.5 months, but I eventually got it fixed. My advice, try to find a local, trusted RV tech and let him try to get it fixed for you.Good luck,Jeanne
Re: Dometic Failure - Yellow Slime Reply #3 – January 06, 2008, 11:12:34 pm Yahoo Message Number: 87982As Jeanne said, Dometic will cover the repair. I also have a friend with an '03 SOB that got the yellow slime. After contacting Dometic, he took it to the folks in Vallejo that repair absorption fridges (can't think of the name but it's been posted on this list). They ordered a new cooling unit from Dometic and installed it for him . . . good as new.bumper
Re: Dometic Failure - Yellow Slime Reply #4 – January 07, 2008, 08:23:24 am Yahoo Message Number: 87983wrote: "...the folks in Vallejo that repair absorption fridges (can't think of the name but it's been posted on this list)." --- Crane's Refrigeration Repair -- www.gasrefrigeration.netThe website offers plenty of information, including a good "fault diagnosis" page.Joan
Re: Dometic Refirgerator Failure - Yellow Slime Reply #5 – January 07, 2008, 09:59:34 am Yahoo Message Number: 87985Quote As Jeanne said, Dometic will cover the repair. I also have a friend with an '03 SOB that got the yellow slime. After contacting Dometic, he took it to the folks in Vallejo that repair absorption fridges (can't think of the name but it's been posted on this list). They ordered a new cooling unit from Dometic and installed it for him . . . good as new.Quote bumper So, bumper and Jeanne, you are saying Dometic covered the repair even though the refer was out of warranty? If it did, is that because of the recent heating element recall?Chris
Re: Dometic Refirgerator Failure - Yellow Slime Reply #6 – January 07, 2008, 10:47:23 am Yahoo Message Number: 87988Quote As Jeanne said, Dometic will cover the repair. I also have a friend with an '03 SOB that got the yellow slime. After contacting Dometic, he took it to the folks in Vallejo that repair absorption fridges (can't think of the name but it's been posted on this list). They ordered a new cooling unit from Dometic and installed it for him . . . good as new.bumper So, bumper and Jeanne, you are saying Dometic covered the repair even though the refer was out of warranty? If it did, is that because of the recent heating element recall?Chris As I understand it, yes. However, my refer was just under five years old but I don't know if that had anything to do with it. My RV tech took care of the whole thing. Sorry I can't give you more info. It's sure worth trying to get them to cover it though.Jeanne
Re: Dometic Refirgerator Failure - Yellow Slime Reply #7 – January 07, 2008, 11:30:39 am Yahoo Message Number: 87993Yes, that's my understanding. However, my friend's fridge was covered under the recall, so that may have influenced Dometic's decision to pay for parts and labor to replace his cooling unit. Bottom line, even if the fridge *isn't* covered by the recall, it sure wouldn't hurt to try to get them to cover it . . . seems like an inherently poor design if a bit more heat (caused by a higher wattage electric heating unit) can cause cracking and failure.bumperbumper
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