It was all going so well and then this.The fridge isn't cooling down. I followed the instructions, set to line voltage, turn therm 1/4 turn and nuttin. I can hear some gurgling from the back of the unit and the tower looking device on the back seems to be warm to the touch. I made sure the vent on the roof was clear. A cob web or two and that was about it. I know there is 115 at the plug and the inline fuse is good. Its not 100% level but its in the driveway which is pretty flat and even. (If I sat a ball in the middle of it it wouldn't roll. )I was searching on line for replacements and new I'm looking at 1300.00 which is out of the question. For the little I believe were going to use it that can buy a ton of ICE..literally. I also found a company that rebuilds the device that cools it for about 350.00 plus the core return. 5 year warranty. Any suggestions? Thanks Ed

Make sure that the inside thermister is connected and not corroded on the cooling fins in the food compartment

I don't know what size your refrigerator is but I have a 4.3 cu ft NovaKool, 12V/110V compressor fridge. I have 200W solar and it runs fine dry camping with at least some sunshine. Of course, it works off short power, too. Unlike the several absorption fridges I've had, this one keeps a constant internal temperature instead of wide fluctuations with ambient temperatures. AND, you don't have to be level.

they say the rebuilds are better than new, place in indiana does them.

I just checked and the probe is super clean. As far as level how level does it need to be? The camper has a slight slope as the driveway does run down hill bit I'm thinking these things have to have some tolerance if your driving up mountains and parking for the night. Ed

Have you tried it on propane? They seem to operate much better on gas. It also takes quite a bit of time for them to cool. I'd always run mine overnite the evening before I needed it.

Dometic is a no go | Good Sam Community

20 Replies

Ed-N-Dani
Explorer
Aug 28, 2016
For what its worth I have a Makita level app on my phone. Shows as pretty level. It the best I have available to me right now.

You gotta go by the one the left.
hedge
Explorer
Aug 28, 2016
someone had his quit, took it out and rolled it upside down and over a few times and it's been working ever since.

If you've ran it out of level a lot that may have wrecked it, I hope to go to a compressor fridge when mine dies to avoid the levelling.
ronniedean1234
Explorer
Aug 28, 2016
Our Norcold quit working, always plugged in at home, I read somewhere that you have to sometimes burp the refrigerator, meaning I think shut off for 24 hours then restart, restarted ours and all is good again, might be worth a try, there are many Youtube videos about this issue....Good Luck
Tiger4x4RV
Nomad
Aug 28, 2016
My 10-year-old Dometic 3-way has intermittent problems (it won't cool enough for safe food in very hot weather and the igniter sometimes does its job and sometimes not). Sometimes the fridge works fine on both propane shore power. I don't feel like replacing it right now.

Plan B when it lets me down is to use it like an ice chest. At home, I have a large collection of refreezable blue ice blocks which can be used. In case of failure during a trip, bags of ice from the store.

For hot-weather trips, when I can pretty much figure no cooling from the Dometic 3-way, I have recently purchased a small portable 12V Dometic CDF-11. This worked very well on a recent trip in 105 degree weather. It cost about $300, fits between the cab seats, and runs off either the truck's 12V or the coach batteries.
Ed-N-Dani
Explorer
Aug 28, 2016
shellbackcva59 wrote:
Have you tried it on propane? They seem to operate much better on gas. It also takes quite a bit of time for them to cool. I'd always run mine overnite the evening before I needed it.

Not yet, I still have to update the propane connection. Ordered those this morning. I have had it on for about 6 hrs and the fins are hot.

I can try the gas sometime this week.

Kindest regards
Ed
shellbackcva59
Explorer
Aug 28, 2016
Have you tried it on propane? They seem to operate much better on gas. It also takes quite a bit of time for them to cool. I'd always run mine overnite the evening before I needed it.
Ed-N-Dani
Explorer
Aug 28, 2016
I just checked and the probe is super clean. As far as level how level does it need to be? The camper has a slight slope as the driveway does run down hill bit I'm thinking these things have to have some tolerance if your driving up mountains and parking for the night.
Ed
midnightsadie
Explorer II
Aug 28, 2016
they say the rebuilds are better than new, place in indiana does them.
mockturtle
Explorer II
Aug 28, 2016
I don't know what size your refrigerator is but I have a 4.3 cu ft NovaKool, 12V/110V compressor fridge. I have 200W solar and it runs fine dry camping with at least some sunshine. Of course, it works off short power, too. Unlike the several absorption fridges I've had, this one keeps a constant internal temperature instead of wide fluctuations with ambient temperatures. AND, you don't have to be level.
Buzzcut1
Nomad II
Aug 28, 2016
Make sure that the inside thermister is connected and not corroded on the cooling fins in the food compartment

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Dometic is a no go

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