Unbelievable

jdixon980 · 06-30-2018, 03:14 PM

Venting a little bit. Hard to believe that what we pay for these fifth wheels that you can’t get a fridge to cool. Had it to dealer, nothing wrong. I added top fridge vent fan but still no good. So now I have added two portable fans in the bottom vent trying to help. Camping in Sevierville TN for the next 8 nights and the best my fridge can do is 60 degrees. Guess I need to add one or two more fans in top vent. Don’t know if that would help or not. May have to put food in coolers.

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There has to be a way to get circulation up the back of fridge.

ctbruce · 06-30-2018, 03:25 PM

Are you on electric or propane? How long has it been running? What kind of fridge is it? Norcold or Dometic? Has it worked in the past the way it should? Is the check light on on the control panel?

This info will help get you some help.

MarkS · 06-30-2018, 03:40 PM

Something is not right, my DW complains that ours gets too cold.

jdixon980 · 06-30-2018, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctbruce

Are you on electric or propane? How long has it been running? What kind of fridge is it? Norcold or Dometic? Has it worked in the past the way it should? Is the check light on on the control panel?

This info will help get you some help.

It’s on electric, but it really don’t matter. Fridge is in slide and I just seem to not be able to get enough air circulation I guess. It is Dometic. This just our 3rd trip out in our fifth wheel. It hasn’t cooled good at all until night time. Then it will get down to 37-45. As the heat builds in the day it just gets worse from there.

gearhead · 06-30-2018, 03:52 PM

Been there.
Forget the dealer. Find a repair shop that is a Dometic authorized warranty center. Best would be a shop that only repairs, not one that sells RV's.

The Dometic should have a 2 year warranty. Get the serial number of the fridge, call Dometic and be sure it has been registered. Dometic should send you a letter before the 2 years is over offering more warranty. Take it.

Same thing with your A/C if it's Dometic.

ctbruce · 06-30-2018, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdixon980

It’s on electric, but it really don’t matter. Fridge is in slide and I just seem to not be able to get enough air circulation I guess. It is Dometic. This just our 3rd trip out in our fifth wheel. It hasn’t cooled good at all until night time. Then it will get down to 37-45. As the heat builds in the day it just gets worse from there.

Where are you camping and do you have any shade over the slideout? You didn't say how long it had been running.

gearhead · 06-30-2018, 03:59 PM

It it's been working hard for this long it may have crystallized the cooling system. What mine did. My cooling system was replaced under warranty. But it still has a mind of its own. One morning it's 34F, next morning 44F.
Another reason people are buying residential fridges.

jdixon980 · 06-30-2018, 04:42 PM

It is in shade. When I pulled out this morning, it was 37 degrees. After traveling 3.5 hours it went to 45 degrees. Right now it is sitting at 60. Fridge has been running since Thursday night.

lesleyinky · 06-30-2018, 05:20 PM

On our last two trips to that area we had some repair needs arise and we used this place - they were great!! Reasonably priced and I believe they will come to you.

https://www.rickysrv.com

ledunn · 06-30-2018, 05:27 PM

I had the same problem with my frig. After 4 trips to dealer they finally put a new cooling unit in it on the 24 month. It has worked great since. Temps stay between 32-37 even with sun on it. It took some doing but Dometic came through with the help of one of the service reps at dealer. Good luck and hope you get it resolved.

Tbos · 06-30-2018, 07:48 PM

I’m not to far from there in another CG. I saw a mobile repair guy in here today. I think it was Reece RV repair. Hope you can get it fixed.

jsmith948 · 07-01-2018, 05:31 AM

Adding fans to increase the air-flow over the coils will only help if the unit is working correctly. You have a cooling unit problem. Have you been operating the unit while it was way out of level? (this will cause the refrigerant to crystallize and clog up the unit) Are you adding hot/warm items to the fridge? Does anyone have the habit of leaving the dooropen too long (as in meal preparation and not closing the door between trips to the fridge)? Is the thermister properly placed on the cooling fins? We have had two Dometic absorption refrigerators and if the thermister is not correctly positioned, the milk will freeze.
There are folks on here that have many negative views of these refrigerators. IMHO, with proper operation and care, they work really well. As already suggested, I would find someone who services Dometic and have them check it out.

jdixon980 · 07-01-2018, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsmith948

Adding fans to increase the air-flow over the coils will only help if the unit is working correctly. You have a cooling unit problem. Have you been operating the unit while it was way out of level? (this will cause the refrigerant to crystallize and clog up the unit) Are you adding hot/warm items to the fridge? Does anyone have the habit of leaving the dooropen too long (as in meal preparation and not closing the door between trips to the fridge)? Is the thermister properly placed on the cooling fins? We have had two Dometic absorption refrigerators and if the thermister is not correctly positioned, the milk will freeze.

There are folks on here that have many negative views of these refrigerators. IMHO, with proper operation and care, they work really well. As already suggested, I would find someone who services Dometic and have them check it out.

Fridge has never been operated out of level. This is a brand new unit. This is only the 3rd used.

ctbruce · 07-01-2018, 06:34 AM

Jeff, could you supply your trailer type/model number and if your fridge is a single or double door? The model number if known will help too.

WAG: If it's a double door, make sure the piece between the doors is swinging shut to seal it.

jdixon980 · 07-01-2018, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctbruce

Jeff, could you supply your trailer type/model number and if your fridge is a single or double door? The model number if known will help too.

WAG: If it's a double door, make sure the piece between the doors is swinging shut to seal it.

2018 Cougar 367FLS
Dometic 4 door fridge

Fridge is currently 48 degrees. It did cool from 60 to 48 over night, but it is suppose to be in low 90s here today. Sure it will climb. Got food in coolers since yesterday.

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ctbruce · 07-01-2018, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdixon980

2018 Cougar 367FLS
Dometic 4 door fridge

Fridge is currently 48 degrees. It did cool from 60 to 48 over night, but it is suppose to be in low 90s here today. Sure it will climb. Got food in coolers since yesterday.Attachment 17267 Attachment 17268

That's very helpful. There have been several reports recently about the panel that seals the space between the doors not closing leaving a gap, and making temps climb.

This strip is about 2 inches wide and attached to the edge of the left hand door. It is supposed to swing out and cause a seal with the right hand door when closed.

This wood be worth checking to see if it is a problem. There may be a sticker on the bottom of the door that causes the flap to hang up and not seal.

JRS514 · 07-01-2018, 07:51 AM

I had liquids freezing in mine last year, discovered that there is a probe called a thermister (?) which sticks on the cooling fins. The positioning of that propbe-up or down- will determine how cold it gets. Unfortunately, I had had to replace mine. Somewhat difficult, but I did it myself.

jdixon980 · 07-01-2018, 07:57 AM

I have checked flap multiple times. It seems good. I don’t have a thermistor on fin. Mine attaches in back of fridge and is fastened to top of fridge.

ctbruce · 07-03-2018, 04:05 PM

Jeff, did you get any resolution to your fridge issue? I hope that you did and we haven't heard back from you because you're busy enjoying your camping trip.

jdixon980 · 07-03-2018, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctbruce

Jeff, did you get any resolution to your fridge issue? I hope that you did and we haven't back from you because you're busy enjoying your camping trip.

It has gotten some better. Ranging from 36-45 degrees. I beginning to think fridge is not working on gas when traveling. When I drove 3 plus hours to destination it was in 50s. Plug in to shore power it climbed to 60. So it took about 24-36 hours to get back to normal. Debating getting someone here to look at it or wait until I get back home and take back to Camping World. Heading to beach for a week in August so i don’t want to have this issue again there.

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