Thanks for your responses to my earlier post. The fridge in our 2004 PW Plateau wasn't cooling on propane. We cleaned it out, etc. It still didn't work so we took it to our RV repair guy yesterday and he couldn't find anything. We have strong propane pressure, it's clean, good thermocouple, etc. He suggested we just using the DC and/or shore power if we didn't want to pay the labor for him to take the unit out and look further for what's wrong. we can't do this work ourselves. Weren't sure we wanted to put the money into a 14 yo unit. I turned it to DC driving home, then shore power at home and it won't cool at all now. My question is: what is the expected "lifetime" on these units? Should I just get a new fridge installed rather than put more money into an old unit?

Could be lots of things, many of them cheap or free. Sounds like you picked a mechanic that did not have a clue. When you switch to gas do you see a flame?

Did you ever smell an ammonia odor? See any yellow powder in the back?My 05 cooling unit failed; developed a leak in the cooling tubes.I replaced it with a new Amish built unit which costs less than half of a new unit.You can watch videos on youtube.

Ford RV Refrigeration Benton, KY He only works on ammonia type fridges and teaches RV refrigeration.Ford RV Refrigeration

The guy who worked on it is very experienced; he said it would cost quite a lot for him to take it out and find the problem. It does have a flame, it's not strong enough to heat well. No ammonia leak. I'd like your input on whether a 14 yo fridge is worth putting money into, or would I be better off investing in a new one.

lucytravel12 wrote:It does have a flame, it's not strong enough to heat well.This is exactly the symptom of a clogged burner but since you say it now does not work on DC or 110 it must be something else. How long did you let it run before you decided it did not work on the electrical options? Don't jump to a quick conclusion that it is not working on electric power. Ours has always worked best on propane.You say it was cleaned but did not specifically say the burner had been cleaned. The burner can be replaced (I did it on ours), it's not that complicated but does require disconnecting the propane supply. If it really does not work on any of the modes then your guy may be right, it would be better to replace it.It sounds like our LTV in which we had to have the generator replaced last fall. It was not cheap but the only option, it would have cost more to fix it.

Dometic Fridge - Now it Doesn't Cool At All! | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

stan909
Explorer
May 15, 2016
Ditto on the 12 volt. When or if ours dies it will be replaced by a compressor fridge.
candlback
Explorer
May 15, 2016
Guess my 2 cents is too late now, but when my fridge went out, I bought a 12 volt compressor fridge. It was the same price, fit in the same place and cools down quickly. I can park at an angle all day and now worry about whether it is still working when I get back. 2002 Roadtrek.
lucytravel12
Explorer
May 12, 2016
Thanks for your replies. The repair guy checked everything; I was standing right there. We've ordered a new one and figure it will last the life of the van.
My_Roadtrek
Explorer
May 12, 2016
Hers may not need DC, older ones were all manual.
midnightsadie
Explorer II
May 12, 2016
find another repair guy, and your 12 volt battery is charged up? it will not work without 12v.
Liketoroam
Explorer
May 12, 2016
The thermistor went out on my refrigerator. I had nothing working at all. quite an easy fix and didn't cost much.
poncho62
Explorer
May 12, 2016
Are you getting decent airflow over the cooling coils?.....One my popup camper, (which like a van doesnt have a chimney for the fridge)...I put a computer fan sucking air out of the top vent. This made better airflow over the coils which helps cooling. Worth a shot
lucytravel12
Explorer
May 11, 2016
I left it on electric overnight, and nothing. The repair guy suggested we get a new one, and he would be the one being paid hourly if we wanted to try to repair it so he is being upfront with us. Oh well - another day, another dollar!
Thanks for your input.
AsheGuy
Explorer
May 11, 2016
lucytravel12 wrote:
It does have a flame, it's not strong enough to heat well.
This is exactly the symptom of a clogged burner but since you say it now does not work on DC or 110 it must be something else. How long did you let it run before you decided it did not work on the electrical options? Don't jump to a quick conclusion that it is not working on electric power. Ours has always worked best on propane.

You say it was cleaned but did not specifically say the burner had been cleaned. The burner can be replaced (I did it on ours), it's not that complicated but does require disconnecting the propane supply. If it really does not work on any of the modes then your guy may be right, it would be better to replace it.

It sounds like our LTV in which we had to have the generator replaced last fall. It was not cheap but the only option, it would have cost more to fix it.
lucytravel12
Explorer
May 11, 2016
The guy who worked on it is very experienced; he said it would cost quite a lot for him to take it out and find the problem. It does have a flame, it's not strong enough to heat well. No ammonia leak. I'd like your input on whether a 14 yo fridge is worth putting money into, or would I be better off investing in a new one.