Forum Discussion

SierraSmith's avatar
SierraSmith
Explorer
Nov 19, 2014

Dometic 2652 RBX Not Properly Vented In Tango Trailer

This is an FYI for those having problems figuring out why a refrigerator wont' keep cold. I purchased a new Tango TT in 2010 Model 276RBS. Refrigerator never seemed to work effectively on propane. Electric shore power just fine. Refrigerator problems started on first trip...Dometic 2652 RBX. Dry camping in Yellowstone in October all the ammonia/refrigerant leaked out into a pool of green liquid on the floor in front of the refrigerator. Waited several days for Erickson's RV in Coeur de'Alene, Id. to find a new unit and replace it under warranty. Highly recommend Erickson's RV. New unit continued to have problems keeping cold on propane. Riser vent clear, clean burner tube, clean orifice, flame looked normal and stayed lit. The next year another cooling unit gets replaced on the refrigerator under warranty. Three new refrigerators and all still not working properly. Freezer just barely staying below 32 degrees and refrigerator compartment in the high 40's low 50's most of the time. We are camping in cool weather either at the beach or in the mountains. This month we experience another episode of refrigerator not getting cold. Call Tango mfg. Pacific Coachworks and ask them about problem. It's all long out of warranty and nothing they can do. I ask Pacific Coachworks where is a good RV shop as we are new residents to N. San Diego County. They tell me Sterling RV in Lake Elsinore. Sterling diagnoses the problem and finds that a large open space above the refrigerator existed without a baffle to effectively vent the hot gasses from the propane combustion to the roof vent. So all along my refrigerator was trying to stay cool with about 6 cubic feet of hot air above the unit. Sterling installed a plywood piece flush with the back of the refrigerator to create a chimney effect to get the hot air up to the roof vent. Tested refrigerator for last three days on propane and freezer is minus 2 degrees and refrigerator is 34 degrees. Sterling tried to get Pacific Coachworks to help with the cost of repair but no luck. Pacific Coachworks claims the baffle was likely removed when Erickson's RV changed out the refrigerator the first time. I doubt it.....it was never there in the first place most likely. There were refrigerator problems from the very beginning. Pacific Coachworks makes a good TT and I get it that things can go wrong and something can be missed. You buy a new TT and expect there not to be a hidden design flaw. So, all can look proper with your refrigerator but it needs to be properly vented. Sorry for the long post but it took us 4 years to find someone to finally figure this out and maybe this info will save someone some troubleshooting time. A few suggested we install an additional fan or two behind the refrigerator.....zeroing in on the problem but not the root cause.

18 Replies

  • SierraSmith wrote:
    Hey, I get it guys. I'm clearly not Hemmingway. There was quite a bit of word vomit in my post and I could have done a better job with making it easer to read. It's not a forum for me to vent four years of frustration trying to get a refrigerator working properly. The idea is to share problems and help each other and that's all I tried to do.

    Point well taken on the grammar issue. The important thing is you shared your experience. In the end I did learn a bit concerning the correct venting of the fridge. I imagine many will find this thread beneficial.
  • Hey, I get it guys. I'm clearly not Hemmingway. There was quite a bit of word vomit in my post and I could have done a better job with making it easer to read. It's not a forum for me to vent four years of frustration trying to get a refrigerator working properly. The idea is to share problems and help each other and that's all I tried to do.
  • I was able to follow the story. Glad to hear you got things work out.

    As to proper formatting and punctuation it would help make your post easier to read.
    While Scott G's comment was a bit blunt! There is some validity to what he is saying.
    From a pratical standpoint more formatting would be beneficial.
  • SierraSmith wrote:
    Let me summarize for ScottG…...

    Dick and Jane had a refrigerator in their TT that would not get cold.

    There was a big space for hot air to accumulate above the refrigerator that was invisible to Dick and Jane.

    When the big space was discovered it was partitioned off to let the hot air escape from behind and above Dick and Jane’s refrigerator.

    Dick and Jane’s refrigerator work’s better now.


    So the moral of the story is GFY.
    A smart guy like you can probably figure that one out too - or did I use too much punctuation for you?

    I know, you guys are just doing your part to dumb down America. Nice job, it's working.
  • Let me summarize for ScottG…...

    Dick and Jane had a refrigerator in their TT that would not get cold.

    There was a big space for hot air to accumulate above the refrigerator that was invisible to Dick and Jane.

    When the big space was discovered it was partitioned off to let the hot air escape from behind and above Dick and Jane’s refrigerator.

    Dick and Jane’s refrigerator work’s better now.
  • Sorry but that was too hard to read.
    What ever happened to paragraphs?