Old Dometic RM3604 might be toast

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Old Dometic RM3604 might be toast

June 17, 2019, 07:34:03 pm

Hello everyone, My 1990 Lazy Daze has sat in the driveway now for about a month and a half from our last trip. I had the shore power plugged in, and refrigerator off and doors open to vent. I noticed a strong ammonia smell from inside, so I unplugged it to further investigate. I have not seen any sign of yellow discharge anywhere. I then decided to wipe down the inside of the refrigerator to try to get rid of the ammonia smell, and it seemed to help. Out of curiosity I decided to start up the fridge and everything works fine, and the ammonia smell is gone. How is it that the smell went away and everything seems normal. Do I still need to replace refrigerator? Thank you for any input on this matter.

Re: Old Dometic RM3604 might be a toast

Reply #1 – June 17, 2019, 07:57:10 pm

You have a clue. Look for others. Doesn't cool as well would be one. The downside is that an absorption fridge that doesn't cool well or at all will never turn off the flame. The boiler can get very hot. Fire would be a possibility.

Mine started acting up. It began not cooling well. I had a way to tell boiler temp and it would go high when it shouldn't. Finally there was a big yellow mess around the boiler and the conclusion was obvious. I was slower to react than I should have been. I never smelled ammonia.

After 29 years I'd replace it before it burned your RV down.

Just an opinion.

Re: Old Dometic RM3604 might be toast

Reply #2 – June 17, 2019, 08:05:38 pm

Quote from: jalamaJon - June 17, 2019, 07:34:03 pm

Out of curiosity I decided to start up the fridge and everything works fine, and the ammonia smell is gone. How is it that the smell went away and everything seems normal. Do I still need to replace refrigerator? Thank you for any input on this matter.

With the fridge on, place a carrot inside overnight. If it turns green, you have an ammonia leak and will need either a new cooling unit or new fridge.

Steve

Re: Old Dometic RM3604 might be toast

Reply #3 – June 17, 2019, 09:15:05 pm

In baked goods, carrots will turn green when baking soda is not completely dispersed throughout the batter, but I didn’t know that exposing a carrot to ammonia would have the same result! Very cool! 😉

Re: Old Dometic RM3604 might be toast

Reply #4 – June 17, 2019, 10:22:55 pm

"I have not seen any sign of yellow discharge ..."

When my '04 fridge went out some two years ago the smell was enough to gag a maggot, yet I saw no sign of yellow powder!

Re: Old Dometic RM3604 might be toast

Reply #5 – June 17, 2019, 10:56:03 pm

I am trying the carrot technique, so I will keep you all posted tomorrow on how it goes. The refrigerator is running on borrowed time, as I am sure Larry would say. 😎

Re: Old Dometic RM3604 might be toast

Reply #6 – June 17, 2019, 11:39:48 pm

Looks like Dometic RM 2620 is the recommended replacement. I don't know what a recommended compressor fridge would be. It would require an upgraded electrical system.

Re: Old Dometic RM3604 might be toast

Reply #7 – June 18, 2019, 12:31:23 am

Quote from: jalamaJon - June 17, 2019, 07:34:03 pm

I noticed a strong ammonia smell from inside

That's the smell of death.
Visible leaks are not always present.

One of the disadvantages of owning an older LD is replacing the refrigerator. We a similar issue when the refrigerator on our 1983 LD died in late 2002, a couple months before taking delivery of our 2003 LD.
None of the available Dometics would fit without modifying the refrigerator's cabinet. We were lucky and had enough room to expand the opening. That isn't alway an available solution.
Your RM 3604 has the same problem, none of he available Dometics will fit, they are all much bigger.
You could replace the cooling unit but on a 29 year old refrigerator, it probably isn't practical.

The Norcold N3150 appears to fit your opening.
Norcold N3150: The 5.3 cubic feet classy-looking RV refrigerator
Norcold N3150 Refrigerator (5.3 cubic ft refrigerator) - The Norcold Guy
Amazon.com: Norcold 3.7 cu. ft. N3150AGR 5.3 Cf Refrigerator 2 Door: Gateway

It can be run on 12-volts, while traveling, if the wiring is upgraded.

Larry

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