This notice was sent out to all Escapee's members. Without reading all 9 pages, I don't know if this information has already been posted.
Basically Dometic increased their 120 volt electric heat element size from 325 watts to 354 watts. This may have caused units with the larger heater to have stress cracks around the burner area. When a sudden leak occurs, AND the refrigerator is being run on LP gas, the open flame might ignite the leaking ammonia solution. So a newly designed burner cover will be installed free of charge.
Hopefully the new burner cover will take in air from outside of the RV, where it is presumed that there is not a consentration in excess of 15% ammonia - the minimum amount required to exceed flamibility. (in my humble opinion, I would rather not find out what the lower flamibility limit is). The factory installed burner cover is designed to prevent air gusts - from normal driving to blow out the flame, and also prevent superheated air from leaving the burner area (thus lowering the risk of overheating surfaces near the burner).
I am glad that my refrigerator has the smaller wattage heating element, and has never had a leak. I rarely opperate mine on 120 volts. It is noted that the safest opperation until the recall work is completed is to use the 12 volt element if you have a 3 way refrigerator and need to continue opperating the refrigerator. They also advise not to run the refrigerator at night or while in trasit.
The Escapees letter:
Club News -- Large Scale Dometic Refrigerator Recall Announced!
by Mark Nemeth
Dometic Corporation is in the process of issuing recalls for over 900,000 RV refrigerators. The problem, a potential fire hazard, affects many refrigerators manufactured between 1997 and 2003. The following is excerpted from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration’s website at www.nhtsa.gov.
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NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 06E076000
Manufacturer : DOMETIC CORPORATION
Component: EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 926877
Models Affected : NDR1062 RM2652 RM2662 RM2663 RM2852 RM2862 RM3662 RM3663 RM3862 RM3863
Summary:
CERTAIN DOMETIC TWO-DOOR REFRIGERATORS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 1997 AND MAY 2003: SERIAL NOS. 713XXXXX THROUGH 752XXXXX; 801XXXXX THROUGH 852XXXXX; 901XXXXX THROUGH 952XXXXX; 001XXXXX THROUGH 052XXXXX; 101XXXXX THROUGH 152XXXXX; 201XXXXX THROUGH 252XXXXX; 301XXXXX THROUGH 319XXXXX, INSTALLED IN CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT. A FATIGUE CRACK MAY DEVELOP IN THE BOILER TUBE WHICH MAY RELEASE A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF PRESSURIZED COOLANT SOLUTION INTO AN AREA WHERE AN IGNITION SOURCE (GAS FLAME) IS PRESENT.
Consequence:
THE RELEASE OF COOLANT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy:
THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECREATIONAL VEHICLES THAT HAD THE REFRIGERATORS INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, AND DOMETIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE AFTERMARKET REFRIGERATORS. DOMETIC WILL INSTALL A SECONDARY BURNER HOUSING FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN BETWEEN APRIL AND JUNE 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOMETIC AT 888-446-5157.
Notes:
CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.
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To verify that your refrigerator is affected, you can either call Dometic at the number listed above, or visit their website for the recall at www.dometicusa.com/recall.php . Be sure to have your refrigerator’s model number and serial number ready.
The following is excerpted from Dometic’s recall information:
The information that you entered indicated that your refrigerator is affected by this voluntary recall. Please do the following:
#1 Turn the refrigerator off immediately if you notice any of the following indicators:
· Leakage or staining at the back of the refrigerator.
· Yellow residue at the back or sides of the refrigerator.
· The smell of ammonia.
· Refrigerator does not properly cool.
Any unit found to have one or more of the characteristics mentioned above MUST be shut down and not operated until the unit is fixed and the recall rework administered.
#2 For any unit that does fall within the recall population but does not exhibit any of the four indicators mentioned in #1, consider the following: Do not operate your refrigerator on LP gas. Switching to electric power lowers the incident rate associated with LP gas. If you own a 3-way refrigerator, running the unit on 12-volt power carries the least risk of all. 3-way refrigerators have model numbers that end in "3."
Dometic recommends that the unit not be operated on electric unless absolutely necessary until your unit has been serviced. If you choose to operate your unit on electric prior to the recall rework, you must inspect the burner area weekly for any of the indicators referenced in number 1 above. Dometic recommends that you turn off the gas valve at the back of your refrigerator. DO NOT, however, attempt to disconnect the gas supply. If you must operate your refrigerator on electric, DO NOT operate your refrigerator while in transit or while asleep.
The rework kit will be available in early April 2007. At that time, call your preferred service center to set up an appointment. For help in locating a service center or for the most up-to-date recall information, call 1-888-446-5157.
Fred.
