We had problems with our dometic fridge and the pilot getting blown out while driving. Our dealer fixed it under warranty (it's still only 8 months old and has never worked properly.) It wasn't cooling properly and they fixed that as well saying there was some insulation in the wrong place. We took it out camping for the first time since the fix and it didn't work. Running on LP, haven't checked 110 since the repair. After one day the fridge was 68 degrees inside. It was in the 20's overnight and highs in the low 50's. The dealer told us not to run the fridge on the coldest setting because it would freeze up and stop working. We tried the 1st (warmest) and 2nd setting to no avail. We were PERFECTLY level just to make sure that wouldn't be an issue. Is this normal? Do we have a lemon? Should I be taking a brand new fridge back the dealer for a 4th time in 8 months or ask for a replacement?

It should be doing FAR better than what you're reporting. Have you had an RV fridge before? Compared to residential fridges, they take much longer to cool initially, take much longer to recover from warm food being put in them or the door left open while you figure out where something is, and don't freeze anywhere near as hard.BUT, it should still be doing FAR better... Are you able to look at how it's installed? In from the back vent on the side of your coach? Is the fridge in a slide? Or does it have a roof vent?Installation is VERY critical!!! Our friend Chris Bryant is an RV tech and has a website with lots of information HERE! Take a look at Installation and Troubleshooting. It'll at least arm you with some understanding. As I said, installation is critical. Insulation, baffling, and clearances all matter. If the fridge is in a slide, special attention is required. If air flow upward over its coils is restricted or there's too much back clearance it'll have trouble cooling. Same if a baffle above is required and missing. Again, in the slide is a special case.

I had never used an RV fridge prior to this, no. I know they're not going to function as well as a residential fridge. I stocked it with cold food after letting it cool down on 110. When it got up to 68 it had been closed for 24 straight hours running on propane. It's an Eagle Cap 960. Yes the fridge is in the wall slide. Vents out the side. I feel like Eagle Cap did a **** job installing so that would make sense. We almost exclusively boondock down awfully bumpy forest service roads and 4WD trails. I'm wondering if the insulation slipped back out of place. Is it unrealistic to think that everything will stay in place and the fridge will work in these conditions? Thanks for the link, I'll read up.***Edit to add: the freezer has worked fine, almost every time if not every time. I can't remember it ever failing even when the fridge did but I didn't check this last time.

Open the cover and get some pics of the coils and the chimney if you can.The heater/burner needs to work but you also need good airflow to cool the rest of the coils. Air is pulled through with convection and needs to be drawn over the coils not just up the open space.I had to add a baffle to redirect the airflow in my old pop-up. Very similar with a short chimney.

long story but the truck broke down this weekend and the camper is stuck out the mountains so no pics til later this week when the truck is fixed. the insulation was over the coils, which is what the dealer said they fixed last time. i'm wondering if it fell back over the coils. however, if it did i only drove a total of 30 miles which would be a bummer if it's going to keep happening.

I guess I'm also wondering if these issues are permanently solvable or every trip that I take will I have to take the vents off to move insulation or fix the fridge in some regard? I'm frustrated that we have lost 3 refrigerators worth of food to these issues too.

Dometic Fridge not working...again | Good Sam Community

RAS43
Explorer III
Oct 29, 2015
I would find a Dometic dealer and have them troubleshoot it since the RV dealer can't fix it.
dougrainer
Nomad
Oct 29, 2015
The admin for this forum deleted the part of my thread that called your dealer/TECH a derogatory name. I stand by what I stated. DO NOT GO BACK TO THAT DEALER. They are not qualified to fix your problem. The problem you have is simple but the fix and who pays will be complicated. From your post, the OEM (NOT Dometic) did not install the refer and cabinet to specs(insulation not secured). So, Dometic will probably pay for a new cooling unit, but the modifications to the cabinet and insulation and adding a 12 volt fan will go back to the OEM maker of your Camper. Dometic is not responsible for anything other than the actual refer. You need to contac the OEM maker of your camper and ask if they will pay for another shop to fix your refer correctly. Doug
RJsfishin
Explorer
Oct 29, 2015
Was the fire burning all the time it was not cooling properly, you didn't say.
And you're just thinking that the dealer didn't do the insulation correctly ?

Isn't it possible that the dealer fixed what they obviously seen was a problem, and that if you took it back, they would now know the cooling system is the problem, and replace the fridge ? But if you have a closer authorized warranty station, do it.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Oct 29, 2015
adambeck7 wrote:
old-biscuit - pretty sure it's the DM2862RB

doug - thanks for all that.

since it's a new fridge do i need to take it back to the dealer where we bought the truck camper or could i go anywhere that does dometic warranty work? getting a little frustrated driving 40 min each way for work that doesn't fix the problem. i don't want to do too much myself for fear of the dealer then saying that i caused the problem. thanks for the help everyone.

First off...........

EVERYTHING DOUG posted is right on the mark!!!!!!
He has over 35 yrs. RV TECH SERVICE
YOUR Dometic fridge cooling unit has been damaged due to the insulation falling down and blocking draft air flow. That has resulted in overheating of cooling unit (as evidenced by high food compartment temps) Overheating cases crystals to form, plate out on inside of tubing causing blockage which cause more overheating more crystals more blockage ......damage is accumulative and permanent.

You need to contact MFG. Representative, Dometic Representative and fight your case for replacement. You will never get satisfactory results with that current fridge.

HERE is Installation Manual.

Print it out so you have a copy to use in your discussions.
Dometic provides the instructions to RV mfg.
RV MFG. are suppose to follow those instructions.....not doing so results in poor fridge cooling. RV mfg. causes....NOT Dometic Fridge

Get ALL parties involved with you ...........!!!!

Good luck. Get that damaged fridge replaced.
COboondocker
Explorer
Oct 29, 2015
thanks. i'll be contacting them then. thanks again for all the help everyone.

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