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rebardwa's avatar
rebardwa
Explorer
Oct 20, 2014

Dometic refrigerator issues

I own a 2006 Fleetwood Southwind with a Dometic RM3862 refrigerator that quit cooling on my last trip.
The control panel on the front of the unit seems to be working. The panel indicates when the refrigerator is switched from Ac to gas.
I have tested the AC current at the receptacle at the rear of the unit and there is sufficient power. In addition when switched to AC the amperage draw increases on my power management system. When switched to gas, the burner seems to be working fine. I can hear when it ignites and remains on. However, the unit is not cooling at all on either AC or gas. I did detect a slight ammonia smell at the rear of the unit while the gas burner was on. I had to get very close in order to smell the slight odor.
Any suggestions or comments will be greatly appreciated.
  • Had the same issue last year on my 2004 trailer. Rusted out and cracked around the burner releasing ammonia.

    Replaced the cooling unit with on from rvcooling units posted above. Cost was around $500 from what I remember. A bit of work but doable. Made quite the mess though. New unit works great.
  • Here is one place that sells cooling units.

    http://rvcoolingunit.com/DM3862-Brand-New-Dometic-Cooling-Unit-P1970026.aspx
  • If the fridge is in good condition I would replace the cooling unit. I did on mine Dometic 2862, less than half the cost of new.
  • The coils/cooling unit can be replaced. Cheaper than a new refrig...ours is going on 10 years with the replacement unit.
  • you smelled the gas ,its junk, have it rebuilt . less than half the cost of new.
  • I would assume this means the refrigerator needs replacing? Everything I have read indicates this.
  • Not cooling on either heat source.......slight smell of ammonia around burner area.

    Cooling unit has cracked....ammonia has leaked out. Cooling unit needs replaced

    No way to smell ammonia without cooling unit leaking

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