My Fridge Died

BobsYourUncle wrote:
Charlie this may be a long shot, but let me explain how I resurrected my fridge when it died. I tried everything to make it work, but no sale on that deal. It lit, the burner, 12V was fine etc but no cooling.

I was FT for 2 Alberta winters and it was really cold out. The fridge died exhibiting the symptoms you describe.
I bought a small bar fridge to hold me over until I could replace / repair my unit in the spring.

I removed the fridge from the TT and took it outside to the parking lot of where I was set up. I then "took it for a walk"

From the upright position, I laid it over on its side, waited I think about 30 seconds, may have been longer, a minute or 2, don't recall for sure. Then I turned it upside down and let it sit a for the same amount of time. Then on its side again, then back upright and so on, waiting in between flipping it. I repeated this process about 20 times or so (20 complete cycles from upright to upright), finishing with it in the upright position. I gave it about 15 minutes, then reinstalled it. I then waited for quite a number of hours, it may have been overnight, again, don't recall for sure.

After the wait was over, I turned it back on and voila!! Success!!
The fridge not only resumed operation, but worked 100% like a champ for the next few years until I sold it! It was I believe the spring of 2015 when I did that, and I sold the unit last fall, the fridge still working perfectly.

I figure a chunk of something internal came loose and blocked a pipe, and "taking it for a walk" dislodged it.

It's worth a try before you spend a gob of money and a bunch of effort on a new cooling unit or replacement fridge. What have you got to lose?

Mine was a 1997 model Dometic.

**On edit, I think it was maybe only about 10 times that I rolled it over, not 20. and I think I left it for at least a couple minutes in each position. Seems to me it took about an hour once the fridge was out. It has been a while, I forget exactly**

I've heard of that before. I've also heard that if you flip it upside down and let it set for awhile that will sometimes loosen stuff up too. But, I've also heard that this is a short time fix. If it wasn't so hard to remove it then I would be willing to try it. But, I think I'll just bite the bullet and rebuild it while I can still get the parts. Before you know it they won't be making them anymore. If I sell the camper I will remove the fridge and keep it. The Da**ed thing just works so well!!!! My brother has a 2 year old 5th wheel and his dometic fridge with the adjustable thermister on the coils works poorly and doesn't cool well. I think I will fix this one and keep it. Thanks for the post though !!!