HELP: Fridge issues and trip tmw!

I appreciate the help guys! Yes an IR thermometer is not the most accurate but was enough to confirm I have a problem. I installed the AccuRite wireless fridge and freezer thermometer and it's confirming my readings. Amazon same-day delivery is a great innovation, but save that for another post. Ordered at 10 am and was delivered by 1:30pm.

I set the fridge to "GAS" and dialed the temp control up to "5".


I double checked the thermistor, and this is as far as it will go up on the fin:


Here's the readings I'm getting on the Accurate sensors after being installed for about an hour. These were close to the same readings I was getting with the IR thermometer (the -15 must have been wrong, Doug).


So it looks like the cooling unit is bad? I thought switching over to gas would rule out a weak heating element but that doesn't appear to be the problem.

Let’s try to stay on task kids. Stop arguing about thermometers. Pretty sure OP could tell his fridge was way to warm

Joe417 wrote:
The thermistor won't cause that much difference in temp. I had the same issue with our Norcold. Freezer worked but fridge didn't. I had to replace the cooling unit last fall.

The test to prove cooling unit operation, disconnect the AC heating element from the control board and connect the AC heating element directly to AC power and allow it to run overnight. Next morning, it should be below freezing in both the fridge and freezer.

I replaced ours with a Dutch Aire and it seems to be a more efficient unit than the Norcold.

Like you, we discovered our fridge problem as we got ready to take a trip. Fortunately, we have a 12V chest cooler and it didn't stop our trip.

Good Luck

Joel, An IR thermometer is NEVER used for refer and AC cooling temp measurements. The ONLY accurate temp measurement is a small glass of water left inside the refer for 24 hours and then taken with a metal probe type thermometer. You can argue all you want but you are plain wrong. Your testing procedure is spot on and that is what is needed for this OP's testing.

The thermistor won't cause that much difference in temp. I had the same issue with our Norcold. Freezer worked but fridge didn't. I had to replace the cooling unit last fall.

The test to prove cooling unit operation, disconnect the AC heating element from the control board and connect the AC heating element directly to AC power and allow it to run overnight. Next morning, it should be below freezing in both the fridge and freezer.

I replaced ours with a Dutch Aire and it seems to be a more efficient unit than the Norcold.

Like you, we discovered our fridge problem as we got ready to take a trip. Fortunately, we have a 12V chest cooler and it didn't stop our trip.

Good Luck

I did use an IR thermometer

1. What KIND of digital thermometer? Did you place the Thermometer in a glass of water that had been in the refer 24 hours without opening the doors? There is NO WAY your freezer read -15 degrees. That -15 is interpreted as BELOW 0 degrees by 15 degrees. Or do you mean the temp was 15 degrees?
2. I hope you did not use a IR thermometer. These will not give correct accurate temps for refer readings
3. There is NO temp adjustment on RV refers for the freezer. The Temp system only adjusts the lower refer section and since you have an adjustable temp setting do not worry about the slider on the fins. Moving the slider is an option for Auto temp refers that have NO adjustable tstat. And that only changes the set temp by about 4 degrees.
4. Your normal temps shopuld be 0 to 10 degrees in the freezer and 28 to 36 in the refer.
5. Is it possible you were not completely level when loading up? That would degrade the ability to cool correctly. Doug

Unfortunately, there may be a blocked tube.

You should have some play in the cord. Try pulling it out some. I use a clothes pin to keep ours at the top of the fin.