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garyg's avatar
garyg
Explorer
Jun 10, 2013

Norcold N841 suddenly stopped cooling last weekend

Hi, everyone. I'm researching a problem with my Norcold N841 fridge in my 2000 Jayco Eagle Class C. I've had this RV for 5 years and have never had any problem with the fridge. On a weekend camping trip, I woke up Sunday morning to a fridge that wasn't cooling. It doesn't cool on LP or electric.

I've done what limited diagnostics I can perform. I've verified that there is a flame. There is power to the unit, at least as far as the LED displays and interior light is concerned. I've not heard the fan come on. I've checked all of the breakers inside and outside of the unit. I haven't noticed any residue in or around the unit. I've powered it off and on. I get no change.

In the interest of full disclosure, we camped on a bit of an incline this weekend on Friday night. We used levelers, but didn't get it quite level. It wasn't drastic, but it was noticeable.

I'd rather not try burping the fridge until I've exhausted all other possible checks. I realize that burping is only a temporary fix, but that's still better than dropping $2K on a new fridge.

Any advice or diagnostics you all can recommend, using small words and pictures if possible, would be greatly appreciated.

6 Replies

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  • C-Leigh_Racing's avatar
    C-Leigh_Racing
    Explorer
    Jun 11, 2013
    wasatchmtnatvr wrote:
    To burp, shut off refer at least 3-4 hours, leave it off, and then tow vehicle on the roughest roads you can find for 30 minutes, and level up coach and turn refer on 8-12 hrs and see what happens. No need to remove refer from cavity and tip it on its side.


    I'm not trying to degrade your reply or anything, is a good recommend, but where you said "roughest road you can find" in your reply, :B that would probably about the time he pulls out of his driveway good.
    The highways today are unbelievable, but the states have not stopped pulling tax money in to repair them.
    Somebody somewheres getting some "FAT Pockets".
    Neil
  • ksg5000's avatar
    ksg5000
    Explorer
    Jun 11, 2013
    Take off the exterior access panel - if the vent tube is hot and the fridge is warm then you have blockage issue and burping may provide temporary help. If vent tube is cold then it's not blockage.

    Have you checked the fuses located on the circuit board - board is located under plastic cover which can be accessed when you remove exterior access panel.
  • wasatchmtnatvr's avatar
    wasatchmtnatvr
    Explorer
    Jun 11, 2013
    Norcold will replace for free if refer built 5/99 - 11/99. Refer serial numbers range 691972 - 771576. Cooling unit serial no. range 1038000 - 1099000. Check it out.
  • wasatchmtnatvr's avatar
    wasatchmtnatvr
    Explorer
    Jun 11, 2013
    To burp, shut off refer at least 3-4 hours, leave it off, and then tow vehicle on the roughest roads you can find for 30 minutes, and level up coach and turn refer on 8-12 hrs and see what happens. No need to remove refer from cavity and tip it on its side.
  • Chris_Bryant's avatar
    Chris_Bryant
    Explorer II
    Jun 11, 2013
    Have you tried it on electric? It doesn't take much at all for the burner to be dirty enough to not cool- most people don't have the burner cleaned every year as listed in the annual maintenance schedule.
  • C-Leigh_Racing's avatar
    C-Leigh_Racing
    Explorer
    Jun 10, 2013
    Did you pull the covers off around the burner & check the cooling tubing ?.
    That burner cover can hide a problem should the cooling tubing have a hole & allowed the coolant to leak out.

    Sounds like the burp deal might be what you need to do.
    You dont have to buy a new complete fridge, you can get a replacement cooling coil on the back & have it installed or do it yourself.
    Not a hard job replacing that coil, more trouble getting the fridge out so you can do the work than the coil replacement.
    Check on one of the Amish replacement cooling coils, they seem to be the best or you can check E bay & get a rebuilt cooling coil.
    Neil

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