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JnJnKatiebug's avatar
JnJnKatiebug
Explorer
Jun 01, 2015

Help, my refrigerator is dying

My refrigerator is a Norcold 1200, RV is a 2003 HR Endeavor. It was on the recall list and we took it in about three years ago for the recall repair. Since that time it seems that it does not get as cold as it did. Before that it would lightly freeze the food if it was on the coldest setting. At the end of last year we noticed it did not seem to be cooling very well at all. On our last trip we bought a temp gauge and put inside. It was about 45 degrees which I know is too warm. On the way home it pretty much quick working and was showing 55 degrees when we arrived home. The freezer is still working fine and everything in it was still hard frozen.

Here is the bad part. I call my local dealer which has done excellent work for me in the past. They said it sounded like it had a restriction in it which would require the cooler to be replaced. $1200 to $1400 for the parts and $400 to $500 for labor. Or a new 4 door fridge like we have is $4500 installed.

Anyone have any experience with this? I need some ideas on what to check or where I can go to have this checked out. We have a big trip planned in July-August, Jeeping in Colorado. I need to have a working refrigerator before then.

Someone plese help me with a better plan. We live in the NW Arkansas River Valley (which is flooded right now by the way).
thanks in advance

10 Replies

  • Canadian_Rainbi's avatar
    Canadian_Rainbi
    Explorer
    Jun 01, 2015
    dougrainer wrote:
    1. The recall has NOTHING to do with how well the 1200 cools(unless he does something wrong-- seem item 4).
    2. IF the dealer has NOT looked at it in person, then he should NOT be quoting any parts/labor.
    3. From your description, the FIRST thing to verify is IF the rear cooling unit fans are running. If they are not operating what you have experienced is what will happen. Most common failure is the fan tstat that causes the fans to not operate.
    4. Depending on the specific model 1200, they may have reversed the fan control wires on the rear control board which will render those fans INOP. I have fixed at least a dozen 1200 recall refers that the Technician reversed those wires and caused inadequate cooling. The refers worked pretty well in sub 70 degree temps but when it got hotter, the refer needed those fans to keep it cool. Doug


    We had a similar problem (1201). As Doug said, check the t stat. Bypassed, the fans worked fine and the fridge cooled. Didn't even have to replace the t stat; corroded contacts. Cleaned, the fridge was a good and new. Doug knows his stuff. Pay attention to his comments.
  • Gene_Ginny's avatar
    Gene_Ginny
    Explorer
    Jun 01, 2015
    JnJnKatiebug wrote:
    .... On our last trip we bought a temp gauge and put inside. It was about 45 degrees which I know is too warm. On the way home it pretty much quick working and was showing 55 degrees when we arrived home. The freezer is still working fine and everything in it was still hard frozen....
    Had a similar experience a couple of years ago. Fridge DID cool ok while running on AC but not gas. Long story short, after all the usual cleaning of burner and jet I found my LP regulator pressure had dropped from 11 inches WC to 8 inches WC so the gas flame was too low to cool properly. New regulator solved the problem. Does it cool properly on shore power?

    PS - hope you are not direcly in the flood.
  • louiskathy's avatar
    louiskathy
    Explorer
    Jun 01, 2015
    If you are near Portland Oregon...I'd highly recommend

    Laurelhurst Distributors
    14 Southeast 56th Avenue
     Portland, OR 97215
    (503) 236-2679
  • louiskathy's avatar
    louiskathy
    Explorer
    Jun 01, 2015
    Dakota98 wrote:
    louiskathy wrote:
    In case you are thinking of replacing a cooling unit and doing the work yourself... know what you are getting in to.
    Our cooling unit replacement in pictures.


    YIKES !!!

    That's the unit I have -- :E


    Ours was a nightmare... I don't want to go into it. Here's my advice. Call Dometic (or Norcold for those that have that kind)
    and have them recommend a place to take your rig and have a certified Norcold replacement shop do the work. The unit will be warrantied and so will the labor no matter where you go in the USA. That way if the replacement fails... you won't have to take it out and replace it yourself again.


    Or better...just go with a residential fridge... if you don't camp without electric very often.. invest in four new house batteries, a Wizard charging system and tune up your generator. JMHO
  • midnightsadie's avatar
    midnightsadie
    Explorer II
    Jun 01, 2015
    theres a place in indiana that rebuids frigs here it is national rv refrigeration shipsawanna indiana. better than new and fair price.
  • dougrainer's avatar
    dougrainer
    Nomad
    Jun 01, 2015
    1. The recall has NOTHING to do with how well the 1200 cools(unless he does something wrong-- seem item 4).
    2. IF the dealer has NOT looked at it in person, then he should NOT be quoting any parts/labor.
    3. From your description, the FIRST thing to verify is IF the rear cooling unit fans are running. If they are not operating what you have experienced is what will happen. Most common failure is the fan tstat that causes the fans to not operate.
    4. Depending on the specific model 1200, they may have reversed the fan control wires on the rear control board which will render those fans INOP. I have fixed at least a dozen 1200 recall refers that the Technician reversed those wires and caused inadequate cooling. The refers worked pretty well in sub 70 degree temps but when it got hotter, the refer needed those fans to keep it cool. Doug
  • the_bear_II's avatar
    the_bear_II
    Explorer
    Jun 01, 2015
    We have a Dometic refrigerator when the frig part stopped but the freezer still worked it turned out to be the control board. I was able to buy a Dinosaur Replacement Board at the local RV shop and replaced it myself...that was 15 years ago it still works fine.

    We did have to replace the cooling unit it was leaking. There was a smell of rotten egg in the RV when the cooling unit went bad. That was a $1200 repair with a rebuilt cooling unit from an Amish Company.

    You might have the control board tested. Before going to the expense of a new refrigerator or cooling unit.
  • P3TC's avatar
    P3TC
    Explorer
    Jun 01, 2015
    When mine did that, I went to a residential, total cost with install by someone else was about $1000 for a Whirlpool wrt111.

    If you want to do extensive camping with no hookups, this not a good solution.

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