Norcold Refrigerator not cooling

[Brewurown]

Refrigerator stopped cooling. Checked the outside (back of unit) and the heating element is working. I noticed that the cooling fan in the rear is not running. My question is if the outside fan don't work will that prevent it from cooling?

[Edd505]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
'lap527' & 'Edd505'

THANKS!

End of 2019 and 1st two months of 2020 were NOT pleasant to say the least.
Emergency bowel surgery....twice. 25 days in hospital being fed intravenously NOT recommended.

Finally got good enough to come home so doing MUCH better.
Still have 6 more weeks of 'healing' then get to go back to have 'innards' reconnected.

I don't post much any more but am still around.

OP....
Via upper side wall you should be able to access that fan t-stat.
Jumper it out and check if fan runs.

Glad you are doing better. It may not be obvious to some but I know your an expert in this field. Stay health we need people with good advice, too many "experts" don't have a clue.

[jleamont]

I assume the fans you are talking about are at the top back (outside access area). If so, check with your coach maker-- they may be on a switch or they may be on a thermostat.

You might also use a flashlight and mirror and look up in the refrigerator outside access area to see where the wires go from the fans.

[Brewurown]

I have done the forced cooling method now, will see what it looks like tomorrow morning. Trying to burp this thing sounds like a monster job, if I go to the trouble to remove it I'm not going to re install it to see if it works.

[lap527]

old-biscuit, not to hijack OP but guess I am, how in the world do you know all this rv "stuff"?

[laknox]

One "dirty" method to try is "burping" the fridge. Pull it out, turn it upside down (empty, of course) for 24 hours, reinstall, and give it a try. It's been known to work. Biscuit is right in that, sometimes, a bit of crud can plug things up, and this seems to help dislodge them. Beyond that, you =can= repair a fridge with one of the "Amish built" cooling units. Not sure what they run now, but last I knew, they were about 1/2 or 2/3 of the cost of a new fridge.

Lyle

[Old-Biscuit]

There are NO slow leaks on cooling unit.....coolant solution (ammonia,Hydrogen, water, sodium chromate)is pressurized at 300#.
A leak.....and ammonia/hydrogen escapees RAPIDLY.
If leak is in lower sections of cooling unit where the solution is in liquid form (absorber tank or burner area) then you would see 'yellowish' powder like residue (sodium chromate leaked out and dried)

Sounds like an obstruction is blocking the flow of ammonia......therefore lack of cooling (ammonia has to be boiled into vapor which has to be condensed into a liquid that then flashes into cold vapor which absorbs heat from freezer section THEN from food section.----no flow/no cooling)

Try the 'force cooling test (element run directly for 12 hrs) to test cooling unit

[Brewurown]

The condenser has heat however not getting hot enough to activate the thermo disk for the fan to run. Everything else appears to working as normal. My guess is that the ammonia may have a slow leak. What are my options, replace or repair. The refer is 11 years old. And thanks Old-Biscuit you been a big help.

[Old-Biscuit]

Does cooling unit/condenser fins get hot?

You can 'force' cool to test if cooling unit will function'
Unplug electric heat element leads from circuit board and wire them directly into 120VAC Outlet....this will energize the element continuously force cooling of fridge
Freezer should get down to 10*F (lower) and food compartment 38*F (lower) IF cooling unit can flow ammonia (vapor to liquid to supercold vapor to warm ammonia and repeat cycle)

Let it operated 12HRS at least before checking temps.

[Brewurown]

Update: Tested the fan, tested ok, also tested the thermo disc and it check out ok, still not cooling, any suggestions what to look for.

[ScottG]

Good to hear you're doing better.
As always. I'm going to take your recommendation and try to avoid that scenario. 😉

S

[Old-Biscuit]

'lap527' & 'Edd505'

THANKS!

End of 2019 and 1st two months of 2020 were NOT pleasant to say the least.
Emergency bowel surgery....twice. 25 days in hospital being fed intravenously NOT recommended.

Finally got good enough to come home so doing MUCH better.
Still have 6 more weeks of 'healing' then get to go back to have 'innards' reconnected.

I don't post much any more but am still around.

OP....
Via upper side wall you should be able to access that fan t-stat.
Jumper it out and check if fan runs.

[Edd505]

Old-Biscuit is an expert in this field! I wondered what Norcold, I had issues with the 18 CUFT he helped me with. I also found a repair on the doors that did not close as it was supposed to.

[lap527]

old biscuit, glad you are still around! So many, the old timers like us either not here anymore or not here on earth. Glad to see you are still around.

[Brewurown]

Thanks, the fridge is in a slide out, will work on getting the fan to work.