Hello-Getting ready to take off for a short weekend trip and while stocking the fridge in the MH I noticed the freezer working well but the fridge is not getting the slightest bit cool. I had it set on "auto" then changed it to "gas".....waiting to see if the fridge gets cold that way but very curious as to why it would not on the auto setting. This is on a 2016 Winnebago Minnie Winnie 25B Motorhome.

If its a Norcold it takes a while for the frig to cool down. But mine is quite old though. The freezer always gets cold before the frig.

Brand of fridge? It may have something that slides up an down on the fins inside the fridge. Cannot remember if up is colder or warmer.

Its been about 4 hours now....freezer is ice cold but I can barely feel the slightest chill on the fridge fins....its a Norcold brand fridge

The flow of the heat absorbing gas is through the freezer section first, so until the freezer cools down sufficiently, there's little or no heat absorbing capacity for the fridge section. Unfortunately, a prolonged period, usually in excess of 12 hours or so, with no significant change in the fridge temp, is usually an indicator that the absorption unit is failing in some way.

You should feel some cooling in the fridge after 4 hours. As others mentioned, the freezer gets cold first in the RV-type fridges, but the fridge should follow soon after. If it wasn't a 2016 I'd say your cooling unit is going bad - but...your cooling unit may be going bad. If operated in non-level conditions you can ruin it pretty quick.

Fridge issue | Good Sam Community

turbojimmy
Explorer
May 29, 2017
pennysmom09 wrote:
I use a frig thermometer. Then you can see the temp slowly going down even though you can't "feel" it. I give ours a full 24 hours. The freezer gets cold quickly, but it is a much smaller space.

I use a handheld thingy. It lets me check different areas of the fridge. The 28 degree reading in the pic was about 12 hours after I fired up the fridge last week.
John_Wayne
Explorer II
May 29, 2017
I speed the process up a little each time I do it put some blocks of blue ice in the top and bottom. Then leave 2 in the top when on your trip. I always carry a collapsible cooler in the car. Then with the blue ice in the RV if we want to take a day trip with a lunch we have blue ice for the cooler.
pennysmom09
Explorer
May 29, 2017
I use a frig thermometer. Then you can see the temp slowly going down even though you can't "feel" it. I give ours a full 24 hours. The freezer gets cold quickly, but it is a much smaller space.
turbojimmy
Explorer
May 29, 2017
PackerBacker wrote:
wa8yxm wrote:
Can thke all day for fridge 24 hrs

Pretty much my thoughts too. I start our's a day before I stock anything in either the freezer or fridge part.

I do too, but my fridge is noticeably cooler after 4 hours. Not cold, but you can feel it working. It does take a solid 24 hours before it stabilizes. It sounds like the OP's is functioning fine now, so that's good.
Community Alumni
May 29, 2017
wa8yxm wrote:
Can thke all day for fridge 24 hrs

Pretty much my thoughts too. I start our's a day before I stock anything in either the freezer or fridge part.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
May 29, 2017
Can thke all day for fridge 24 hrs
OSCBRADLEY
Explorer
May 29, 2017
Thanks very much everyone, I guess I got a little anxious.....fridge seems to be cooling down fine now. I had no idea it took that long. Thanks again!!!
doxiemom11
Explorer II
May 29, 2017
It always helps to load the freezer and fridge with already frozen, cold food. If doesn't cool as efficiently when empty or room temperature items are added.
pianotuna
Nomad III
May 29, 2017
Some one posted results of a test. It took 25 hours for the fridge to reach the desired temperature.
bikendan
Explorer
May 29, 2017
OSCBRADLEY wrote:
Its been about 4 hours now....freezer is ice cold but I can barely feel the slightest chill on the fridge fins....its a Norcold brand fridge

Freezer always cools first.
I'd give it 8 hours.

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