Norcold 2118SST

[Alpine3700]

Hello,
I have the Alpine 3700fl with the 2118 unit installed. Never has really worked properly. Freezer about 15-20 degrees and fridge 40-50 degrees.

Troubleshooting thus far:
1. Thermistor checked out fine
2. Each heating element is working and drawing 2.5 amps when on
3. Door seals and flapper function properly
4. Fans cycle on and off as it is in a slide when commanded by the condenser thermostat
5. I have added an additional fan on top of condenser and one on the bottom of absorber coils to help move more air with little yield.
6. Unit is level according to the requirement.
7. I did notice around the fins in the fresh food section that there is a gap where one can see the the evaporative coil and insulation. I dont have another to see if that is a design flaw or purposely manufactured as such.
8. No error codes logged in the diagnostic menu and the fin temperature seems to be accurate compared to temp gun and thermometer.

Does anyone have a service manual?
Dealer is no help and neither is Norcold. :banghead:

[Frank G]

I just went out and looked at ours and your pictures compare favorably with what I see in ours. Do the fans in the freezer and food section come ON?

We really like ours and it keeps Ice cream relatively hard. I think we run it on #5.

Right after the 4th we are going to Shipshewana, IN. There is some advertising over that way for shops that fix "sick" RV refrigerators. I will get some numbers.

[Alpine3700]

Yes both fans run inside the freezer and fresh food compartment.

[Alpine3700]

thanks for the effort and help. Appreciate that.

[NorskeBob]

I downloaded the service manual - it is to big of a file to post - I will PM you.

Did you take the outside upper cover off and look any obstructions that would impact the air flow up the back of the unit?

I have the same unit in ours - no problem with cooling. Gaps are the same on the fins - sealed them with aluminum tape that is used on metal HVAC ductwork.

Info from manuf:
Hello Bob,
This is the way they are suppose to look.

Thank you,
Amanda Douglas
Customer Service Representative
Thetford Corp. / Norcold Inc.
[email protected]


Hello Bob,
I know it look funny but it is sealed and it is how they all look. Rest easy your refrigerator is fine.

Thank you,
Amanda Douglas
Customer Service Representative
Thetford Corp. / Norcold Inc.
[email protected]

[Alpine3700]

I did take both the lower and upper covers off. Heat is definitely coming out of the top. I added a small fan on the bottom absorber coils an one on top of the condenser. I had a jumper wire on the thermostat to make all three fans run as well. Seems to have helped some but fridge temp is still mid 40s this morning with it on 7.

[chuckster57]

Here is a copy straight from Norcold:

17000

Sorry, can’t turn it since I’m at work on my phone.

[Alpine3700]

Thanks,
Looks like mine is in the correct place then...

[NorskeBob]

With the frig set at 7 it should cool it down good. If I go higher than 4 the frig section gets to cold.

The thermistor on ours is lower on the fin then recommended - will adjust it to where it should be.

Fan I added on our last RV - behind top cover. Powered via a switch and 12Vdc from the frig power.
SilenX Effizio Silent 120mm Thermistor Edition Fan
EFX-12-15T

Our present frig has 2 fans 1/2 way up the back and 1 on the bottom. And those in the frig - one in freezer section and one in frig section

[NorskeBob]

Computer fan - EFFIZIO 120mm - 12Vdc. 750 to 1300 rpm - 20-80 Deg C. That is why I mounted at the top - will adjust speed/air flow as the upper area gets hotter.

The setpoint for the installed fan on our last RV - Closes 150 deg F/Opens 130 deg F. The sensor is attached to the end fin.

[Alpine3700]

Thanks for the help and ideas so far. Anyone else have any ideas or troubleshooting knowledge that I might have overlooked for a 2118?

[RaptorJB]

Yep, have problems with mine and maybe I got it fixed.
1. The Thermistor wires to connect wasn't secure, when I took it off the fin I had wires in my hand, fix that and notice some improvements... I say that because looks like maybe I had more than one thing not working just right...
2. Door flapper was closing at an angle and not flat. Once fixed I notice that both fridge door "suck in" when closing like the freezer does. I also notice I don't hear that fan in the fridge blowing because of the doors being tightly shut.

After the 2 above its cooling down to 37 and will shut off and on when it needs too. Its the way it should work I think.... hope this helps if any... JB

[Alpine3700]

Thanks,

Alright checked these items as well... my thermistor reads what my thermometer does while in diagnostic mode. I removed it off the fin and placed it near the thermometer.

Doors seem to close fine. Did the dollar bill check like the manual says...

If anyone has anything else please let me know.

[Alpine3700]

Appreciate all the help folks. The forum had been great but Norcold service sucks at best and dealer is no help. Residential machine on its way

[rsv4pilot]

Have you checked the seal on the left door? It's the piece of plastic that is supposed to close and make a seal with the right door. Ours was hanging up on the bottom of the fridge and would only close about half way, letting all the cold air pour out between the doors.

I ended up taking the left door off and putting a 1/16th washer under the hinge pin and it has worked perfectly ever since.

In the mean time you can just close that seal by had if you close the left door, make sure the seal closes then close the right door.

[ctbruce]

About these hanging up, there are reports from others that there is a sticker on the door bottom that causes the flap to not close.

[rsv4pilot]

Yea, I removed that sticker and the seal still hung up on bottom of door. Washer did the trick.

[Alpine3700]

I’ve never had the door alignment issue. Door closure function is perfect.

[kench]

Hello,
I have the Alpine 3700fl with the 2118 unit installed. Never has really worked properly. Freezer about 15-20 degrees and fridge 40-50 degrees.

Troubleshooting thus far:
1. Thermistor checked out fine
2. Each heating element is working and drawing 2.5 amps when on
3. Door seals and flapper function properly
4. Fans cycle on and off as it is in a slide when commanded by the condenser thermostat
5. I have added an additional fan on top of condenser and one on the bottom of absorber coils to help move more air with little yield.
6. Unit is level according to the requirement.
7. I did notice around the fins in the fresh food section that there is a gap where one can see the the evaporative coil and insulation. I dont have another to see if that is a design flaw or purposely manufactured as such.
8. No error codes logged in the diagnostic menu and the fin temperature seems to be accurate compared to temp gun and thermometer.

Does anyone have a service manual?
Dealer is no help and neither is Norcold. :banghead:
HI After 3 years we finally fixed the numerous problems with our Norcold 2118. We replaced it with an all electric residential model and inverter. We found that the freezer temp according to Norcold is 15F. Keeps ice cubes and meat frozen but sucks with ice cream. Apparently the higher quality cream content in ice cream is harder(impossible)) to keep frozen. Alternative is to buy cheap ice cream or ice milk. Make sure you are not overloading the contents of the fridge as we were and there is room for the air to circulate. Going on our first long trip ( 8 hour driving day) and will try putting frozen gallons of water in the fridge to help keep it cool while travelling. Will also be shutting off the fridge when we drive it is well insulated and put a digital remote indoor outdoor thermometer in the fridge and our truck so we can monitor the temperature as we drive. Let you know how that works out . Found that life is too short for all that aggrevation.

[ChuckS]

Have you tried adjusting the position of the thermisistor on the cooling fins. Yours seems positioned way too high

[chuckster57]

I just shimmed the doors on a 2118 yesterday in a Bighorn. Watched. The fridge go from 44 to 33.

[mcomeaux]

I have a Norcold 1210T in a 2017 Fuzion not that if it matters.
The problem I'm having is temp in fridge is 48-50 and the freezer is a artic blast cold. I've replaced the thermositor in fridge changed the fan thermostat outside and still no help any answers would be appreciated. In southern Arizona with little to no help out here...

Regards Mike

[Mroe67]

I downloaded the service manual - it is to big of a file to post - I will PM you.

Did you take the outside upper cover off and look any obstructions that would impact the air flow up the back of the unit?

I have the same unit in ours - no problem with cooling. Gaps are the same on the fins - sealed them with aluminum tape that is used on metal HVAC ductwork.

Info from manuf:
Hello Bob,
This is the way they are suppose to look.

Thank you,
Amanda Douglas
Customer Service Representative
Thetford Corp. / Norcold Inc.
[email protected]


Hello Bob,
I know it look funny but it is sealed and it is how they all look. Rest easy your refrigerator is fine.

Thank you,
Amanda Douglas
Customer Service Representative
Thetford Corp. / Norcold Inc.
[email protected]



You said you finally found and downloaded the service manual. Can you please share the link?

[Showard]

I have been set on 9 and no luck cooking down ours. We are at 40 in the refrigerator and 12 in the freezer. Where is everyone placing their thermistor

[xrated]

I have a 2118 in my G.D. Momentum and according to the owner's manual that came with mine, the thermistor is supposed to be on the second fin from the right...NOT the last fin, and the top of the clip of the thermistor should be 1/2" down from the top of the fin.....which is where mine was from the factory. I did the door/flapper mod too...except that instead of shimming the door up just a bit, I took the flapper off and used some 80 grit sandpaper and honed the bottom of the flapper at a slight angle to allow the flapper to close without hitting the bottom of the refrigerator inside when it closes. I went from #8 down to number 4 on the settings and the temperature inside the refrig was 33 degrees......and that was during a camping trip with outside temps in the mid 90's outside and absolutely zero shade on the refrigerator side of the camper.

[fatcatzzz]

I had the cooling unit on my Norcold 2118 replaced over a year ago. Replaced it with an Amish cooling unit. The difference between the original and the Amish unit is like night and day. First the burner tube goes from about 20' to 60". Then the number of cooling coils is about three times as many. Cooling is far greater with the Amish unit. I have been in temps well over 100 deg. and still have hard frozen ice cream. The Norcold refer is not a bad refer, but the cooling unit has something to be desired.
https://rvcoolingunit.com/

[mcomeaux]

I posted my concerns regarding my norcold in prior post. I did the conversion to Amish and has worked better than ever. Side by side when my old system was removed you can see a substantial difference and quality. The Amish seen a need and filled it. The tubing alone is much thicker and more fins. When I was in Arizona last winter I seen 2 rv's get converted and no more problems. I waited till I got home and in hind site should have had it done down there. Would have relieved a lot of frustration and wasted food.