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Luvs2Camp's avatar
Luvs2Camp
Explorer
May 15, 2014

Dometic fridge not cooling

I have a 2000 Sunnybrook 5th wheel that has a Dometic model RM 3662 refrigerator in it. I leave it plugged in continuously while it is parked in my yard. I went out to get something today and found that the fridge was not working. All of the lights are on and all looks ok. I took off the outside panel and did not smell ammonia or see any yellow stains from an ammonia leak like I saw in my friend’s RV when his sprung a coil leak. Also the coils were not warm.

I have never used it on propane so I cannot say that it works when using propane. I unplugged it from the A/C outlet and could hear the ticking of the propane igniter attempting to light the burner. When I plugged it back into the A/C the unit clicked like it was turning on.

With the ticking and clicking, it leads me to believe that the circuit boards are ok. Of course I may be wrong. Since I did not smell or see any ammonia signs it leads me to think that the heating coil may have burned out from leaving it on all the time.

We changed out my friends coils last year and it was a very easy job. He is coming over tomorrow and we will pull it out of the wall and inspect it. I think I will try it on propane before we pull it.

Any suggestions before we get started?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

17 Replies

  • Old Biscuit, I checked the two fuses in the outer compartment and they are good. The camper is level. Thanks for the link. I ran out of daylight to fool with it today, but will try looking thru the manual before pulling it.

    Matt, I will try to find a Kill-a-watt but I’m not sure where to look. I have a friend that is an electrician, he may be able to help.

    Bob, I checked the thermistor and it is in place.

    Thanks to all for the suggestions! If anybody has any different ones, please post them.
  • robsouth wrote:
    I believe that if the thermistor fell off, the unit would operate a full capacity at all times and would freeze everything. JMHO!


    Yeah, I know that's what all the literature says but that's not what happens to mine!
  • I believe that if the thermistor fell off, the unit would operate a full capacity at all times and would freeze everything. JMHO!
  • Could simply be that the thermistor fell off the cooling fin inside the box. I'm always knocking if off when I shuffle things around in the refrigerator.
  • The easy way to test the electric heater is to get or borrow a Kill-A-Watt and plug the reefer into it.
    If it does not say it is drawing something a lot like 120 watts, the
    heater has died.
    If it does say it is heating at about that, the cooling unit has a problem. Before you do anything else. Disconnect everything. Pull the reefer out and turn it upside down. Leave it that way for a day. Put it back in and leave it for another day. Then, fire it up. If it doesn't cool now, think of the taking it out as practice. It needs a cooling unit. The half-life of those seems to be about seven years.

    Yes, it is that easy.

    Matt
  • No need to pull fridge out to replace electric heater element
    Electric heating element is in a tube on side of flue above gas burner area.

    There is a 5A fuse for heater circuit inside power module (lower left side in outside compartment)

    Here is a service manual for your model.....pg. 11 details how to replace element LINK

    Propane may take a while to light cause you haven't used it and there is no current demand on LP Regulator

    Make sure propane is valved in service
    Then light off stove top burners on high to get propane flow established and a demand on regulator so it is functioning

    Then try lighting fridge off on propane.....may take several attempts.

    Fridge is level and has been level when operating.....correct?