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GpnAZ's avatar
GpnAZ
Explorer
May 30, 2014

Norcold 3 way frig not cooling

Getting ready to go camping this weekend and found out my frig is not cooling at all. I turned it on 110v last night, heard it running, checked it this morning, not cool at all. Turned it to propane, lit just fine, back is getting warm, but not cooling at all after 4 hours. Any suggestions on what to check? I googled it and one article I read said it is probably the cooling unit has to be replaced. This is a Norcold 3 way, 1 door with freezer inside the frig compartment, small but much needed for our camping enjoyment. Thanks in advance!
  • IF you heard 'gurgling' type noise...cooling unit has blockage

    They is no 'band-aid' fix.......letting ammonia settle---it was already settled before you turned it on.
    Taking fridge out, turning it up side down, rolling it up/down the street..won't do anything for a blockage in cooling unit.
    The blockage is hard as a rock, stuck to the inside of tubing (think plaque of the arteries) and is PERMANENT.

    The ONLY fix for blockage in cooling unit is replacement of cooling unit or new fridge

    Is this fridge in your 2013 Lance?----1 year warranty :M
  • Got it working, after blowing it out, I remembered I had just had the camper washed 2 days ago and maybe some water got into the coils or electrical components or maybe that wasn't it at all. It's working and I'm not positive why but it's time to go camping so I am checking out right now. Thanks for your replies.
  • What did you hear "running". Absorption fridges have no moving parts and generally do not make any sound at all.
  • Thanks Sleepy, it is parked on a level slab in my rv garage and the next thing I'm doing after I blow the back out with a little compressed air is to drive it around a little bit.
  • Has it been parked level

    If not you probably have a vapor lock

    DO NOT GO TO A SERVICE CENTER YET

    Turn off your fridge for 2 days

    Drive around which will allow the ammonia to settle

    There are no short cuts... 2 days! drive around

    After 48 hours and several differnt trips around the area in your camper... make sure it is level and then turn the fridge back on



    Now, you can go to a dealer...who might tell you that they have to do a $1200 fix then the dealer parks it out back, level and off... then drives it around a bit to shake it up!

    Good luck

    If it doesn't work... you can still change out the board.

    sleepy