2003 Dometic New Dimensions Refrig Quit Today

[Sprig]

Won't get cold on either 110 or propane (and yes the burner is lit I can hear and see it).

I do have enough inverter and battery, but not enough solar (at the moment) for a conventional refrig. At the moment I'm really happy with the ability to run propane; comments to convince me otherwise are welcome.

Just due to wear and tear, there are many little plastic parts of shelves and bins that are damaged/missing on my unit. Also, the ice-maker hose line is literally starting to dissolve. Due to the age and wear it is probably best if I just replace it, instead of fixing it or trying to rebuild it back to like new.

It is a larger sized unit; 2 doors with the left one for the freezer and the right one for the refrig.

I'm not to concerned with color, but oak-woodish or black would match with the factory interior colors.

Really could use some input here people! This is going to SUCK not having a refrig. I probably can NOT afford a new unit until about 3 - 6 weeks from now. Interim advice is welcome (I do have a counter top ice-maker).

Thanks in advance for any helpful comments.

[Sprig]

I have just now CONFIRMED a refrigerant leak.

[Sprig]

Gjac wrote:
Does the freezer section get cold after 24 hrs, and the refer section stay warm? Or do both sections stay warm?... I would try this test first before you replace the unit.

Nothing inside the refrig is getting cold.

I thought I was fairly clear in the OP. I can tell by watching the voltage on my UPS that there is a voltage drop that is timed exactly when I turn the refrig onto 110V. This is also how I determine if I can run the microwave without tripping the breaker.

I highly suspect that there was a refrigerant leak. The unit started to no longer be as cold on the bottom shelf about a week ago. I changed the setting one tick higher; something I seldom have to do when running it on propane. It never got any colder and slowly started getting less cold till it stopped getting cold at all.

I simply do not see the need to do any further testing.

What I need advice on is how one might possibly live out of a camping cooler for a couple of weeks. I also need advice on what types of replacements are available and where I can get them for reasonable cost with delivery.

Thanks in advance.

[Gjac]

Does the freezer section get cold after 24 hrs, and the refer section stay warm? Or do both sections stay warm? You can disconnect the wires for the heating element and plug them directly into 110 v and run it over night and if the element is good it will get hot and if it cools it bypasses the board and other electronics and your problem is somewhere is the board/electronics system. I would try this test first before you replace the unit.

[Sprig]

trop-a-cal wrote:
Give us history of the unit and how it was performing before it shut down. It could just be bad wires, did you check?

It will use current from A/C and burn propane but the inside will not get cold.

I can watch my voltage meter on the circuit for the drop in voltage when I attempt to run the refer on AC. I can SEE the blue light from the burner and HEAR the flames when it is switched to propane.

The coolant system is dead. And! it is a 10+ year old machine with other problems.

I'm looking for suggestions for a replacement unit.

Though, looking at it ... I'm not certain HOW I'd get this one out, or a new one in.

This is a fairly serious issue for me. Any advice is welcome as this was not something I considered to be a problem.

[trop-a-cal]

Give us history of the unit and how it was performing before it shut down. It could just be bad wires, did you check?