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Topic: Refrigerator not cooling when traveling (Read 12 times) previous topic - next topic
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Refrigerator not cooling when traveling
Yahoo Message Number: 129972
Anybody experience the following?
 Refrigerator/freezer that fails to cool when driving. Temperature in refrigerator rises from 28 degress to nearly 50 degrees over a period of a few hours.   On short trips this is not a a problem, but on longer drives it becomes an issue.  I could 'band aid' the problem by adding dry ice, etc, but I'm trying to resolve the problem.  I've done the following:

- Cools fine when on shore power - Cools fine when stationary on propane - The refrigerator is not opened excessively when traveling - Wired inverter to power refrigerator when traveling to help isolate whether it was a propane burner issue when driving.  No effect, refrigerator still fails to cool.
 Since it appears that neither propane nor electric power cools the fridge when driving, I'm starting to think the only common ingredient is possibly venting.  Is it possible that while driving a positive pressure is created preventing the refrigerator from venting properly when driving?  If so, would it make sense to install fans either at the vent opening or at the coils to help air circulation?  Any suggestions on a proper setup?
 We are proud owners of a 2001 Mid Bath.  To me the refrigerator always had issues cooling when traveling but it seems to either be worse or more noticeable now that we are taking longer trips.
 With all the experience on this board, I have a feeling someone must have been down this path before and might be able to assist.

Thanks! Andy
Re: Refrigerator not cooling when traveling
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 129979
Refrigerator/freezer that fails to cool when driving.
 We have had the exact same problem with our 1994 TK.  Because of the age of the reefer I replaced with a brand new unit, but that did the same thing.
So I had CW do a reefer check and they discovered a bad thermistor...in a brand new unit.  That seemed to solve the problem, but I'm not 100% sure.
Haven't had a chance to see if the same problem persists this year.  If it does, I'm tempted to swap out the board.
 Others may say you have a downdraft problem but if that's true, everyone with your exact same LD model would have the exact same problem.  Since they do not, I find it hard to believe the issue is downdraft.  In addition, I've found after traveling if one parks even in the shade that the reefer temp increases, so this can't be caused by downdraft.  It's almost as if the reefer reverses itself, trying to cool the outside air instead of the inside air.
 Wish I could be of more help other than to say I may still have the same problem with no sure solution yet.  Contact me off-line at ae369t at gmail dot com if you wish to discuss further.

John 1994 22' TK Chug

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Refrigerator not cooling when traveling
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 129984
Quote
Anybody experience the following?

Refrigerator/freezer that fails to cool when driving. Temperature
Hi Andy, I have a 94 MB and have had exactly the same problem.  Mine has a fan pulling air into the coils at the back of the unit, and I just recently installed a fan at the top vent to help pull hot air out.  Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to see if I have made a difference.  In looking for a solution it seems that the venting is critical.  I have made sure the flue is clean and free of rust, and also checked to make sure the burner is working correctly.  And Like you I have checked it on ac, using my generator while traveling, to no avail.  So I too tend to think it is a venting problem.
I will post results with the new fan as soon as I can.  Would be interested in hearing if you come up with a solution.
Thanks and good luck, Skip
Re: Refrigerator not cooling when traveling
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 129998
Thanks John - good points you bring up.  I purchased a roof vent fan thinking at worst, it would be a upgrade that can be used to improve cooling in all situations.  Whether it actually  has any effect on the cooling while driving is certainly an unknown at this point.

Thanks! Andy
Re: Refrigerator not cooling when traveling
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 129999
Quote



Anybody experience the following?

Refrigerator/freezer that fails to cool when driving. Temperature

Hi Andy, I have a 94 MB and have had exactly the same problem.  Mine has a fan pulling air into the coils at the back of the unit, and I just recently installed a fan at the top vent to help pull hot air out.  Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to see if I have made a difference.  In looking for a solution it seems that the venting is critical.  I have made sure the flue is clean and free of rust, and also checked to make sure the burner is working correctly.  And Like you I have checked it on ac, using my generator while traveling, to no avail.  So I too tend to think it is a venting problem.
I will post results with the new fan as soon as I can.  Would be interested in hearing if you come up with a solution.
Thanks and good luck, Skip
Thanks Skip for the info, much appreciated.  That was sort of my thinking also...that it was venting related although I do admit if this is true, then certainly many other MB owners would be complaining of the same issue.  Since we both will be installing fans at the roof vent, it will be interesting to see the results.
 The only other possible cause I have come across involves the sealing of the reefer unit.  Both at the door seals (which I believe mine are sealing properly), and also around the exterior portion which I have yet to truly figure out specifically what area is being referred to.
 I'll start with the roof vent fan and see where that takes me. I live in SoCal and have a trip to Phoenix scheduled at the end of June which should be a great test.

Keep me posted on your results.

Thanks! Andy
Re: Refrigerator not cooling when traveling
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 130001
First thing I would do is get a reefer check. Might be something simple.

John A Wozniak  Sent from iPhone Please excuse any typos

 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Refrigerator not cooling when traveling
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 130032
I had the same problem with my '91 MB.  What I discovered was that when I started the engine, the refer went into it's 15 minute delay mode.  But would not come out of it.  My work around was to shut off the refer after starting the engine, then turn it back on.  This would circumvent the 15 minute delay and the refer would just start up.  But on occasion, even that wouldn't do it.  For some reason, it would just not want to start.  So I would select propane mode immediately after turning the refer on.  That always worked.

Mind you, I had a 3 way refer and 12v was the default mode with the engine running. Oh, I also had a fan installed in the vent, just under the vent cap to help exhaust the rear of the refer.

Hope that helps,

-Victor