Norcold 1210IM Refrigerator freezing food

Mahikoa wrote:
We have a 38' Fleetwood Expedition Diesel Pusher and the fridge has really been getting annoying. We originally had the temperature set to 5 of 9, right in the middle. We started noticing our food inside the fridge was freezing. It is no fun getting ready to spread some cream cheese on your bagel to find the cream cheese frozen solid. We adjusted the temperature setting all the way down to 2, but we are having the same issue. When we first had the problem, the items towards the back of the fridge were the only ones freezing, but now, items towards the front are also freezing. Has anyone else had issues like this? Any idea of how to fix it? The fridge is a Norcold model 1210IM. We have the power setting usually set to AUTO so it switches from AC to LP gas when necessary. When we are connected to power at a park or at home we have it on AC. Thanks.

been there done that it needs a new thermistor.The little unit clipped to the cooling fins on right top shelf of your 1210
easy to replace and sell for about 25.00 online part number Norcold # 620871

Yup - thermistor. The thermistor shuts down the cooling unit when it gets cold by measuring the increased electrical resistance caused by the cold. If it never shuts down then the refrigerator section becomes a freezer.

The Norcold 1200 LRIM is one of the most problematic refers EVER made. Some have never had an issue with them, yet thousands hate them for their poor performance and the fact that they can catch fire.

It's great that yours is running too cold as most don't cool well. Yours could simply need an internal fan to distribute the air better or could have an electrical issue causing it to run too cool.

Make sure your refer has the Norcold safety switch attached (black box with a red light) located on the back of the refer and can be viewed when you take off your outside refer cover.

I'm surprised that will all the bells/whistles on that fridge it didn't alarm/indicate faulty thermistor (Blinking temp setting number)

First....
Check that thermistor has not falling off fin in food section compartment.
S/B on 2nd fin from right side....mid position

Second....
Check that thermistor leads are properly plugged in/seated in connector at lamp assembly

Third.....
Download and print out this MANUAL.
As the proud owner of that Norcold you will need to refer to manual routinely.

Pg. 18 covers thermistor troubleshooting/testing

Norcold #620871.......LINK $16.50


Fridge cooling TOO much is due to faulty food section fin temp sensing.......hence thermostat can not properly control cooling cycle due to lack of feedback ...IE: THERMISTOR

One of the checks on the Norcold is to disconnect the thermister. Think of the thermister as a type of thermostat. Disconnecting it will cause the fridge to work 24/7 with no down time. This is why it's freezing up. That said, the thermister is easy to change out and takes very little mechanical knowledge to do so. But, take a picture of yours BEFORE you remove it so you can get the new one in it's proper place. The placement of the clip on the rear fin is IMPORTANT. Moving it to a different fin will produce different results. Otherwise, it's simply a plug and play arrangement. Most likely the cheapest fix you'll encounter with that fridge.

Finally, DSDP Don is absolutely correct! Make sure all recall work is up to date on that fridge. A small fan distributes the air inside the reefer section which allows the fridge to cool your foods evenly. Old-Biscuit provided you with a link to American RV...good place, good products, good prices. Best of luck....Dennis

You can check the the thermistor by putting it in warm water when you are in the third screen of the diagnostic mode which is accessed by holding down two of the buttons. I agree that it's probably bad but worth checking before you replace.

Unlike other units its location is not that critical on the fin. Boy I miss my 1200.:B

Ivylog wrote:
You can check the the thermistor by putting it in warm water when you are in the third screen of the diagnostic mode which is accessed by holding down two of the buttons. I agree that it's probably bad but worth checking before you replace.

Unlike other units its location is not that critical on the fin. Boy I miss my 1200.:B

Actually thermistor for the 1210 should be installed on 2nd fin from right

Thermistor for 1200 ----doesn't much matter which fin
Typically 10th fin

Thanks everyone for the help. I'll try some of the steps to see it the thermistor is the problem. If it is, it looks very easy to order a new one.

While there is a good possibility that it's the thermistor (90+%) there is also a control board in the system.

OP, a 1200 can give you a lot of info once you learn how to get it into the diagnostic mode.

Old B was nice enough to provide the $16 link, not $25 and a part number. I carried a spare one and had to use it more than once.
PS, it takes a fair amount to get on the wrong side of Dennis.