My Dometic fridge (not sure of the model but large side by side) suddenly is not cooling well. Freezer at 25, fridge at 40 after 4 days.Last time we used it the freezer was at 0 and the fridge at 30 with the setting on 3. This was a couple of months ago but now that we're getting ready to take off for the summer it has decided to become temperamental.I was told the cooling unit was replaced by the PO about 4 years ago.My first thought would be the thermistor but I'm not sure how to test it. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

How hot is it outside...these frigs struggle when the outside temps get over 90 degrees.Adding a fan outside to move air over the coils helps a lot. Also a fan inside the box can help some.Many of us have added computer "muffin" type fans both inside and outside.

Manually force it to gas mode and check again. Also go outside, open the covers and look for teltail yellow signs. If you see any, the cooling unit has failed. Smell ammonia, cooling unit has failed.

Your type of lack of cooling will not be the Thermister. At this point if you have no yellow leakage at the burner area, you hot wire BOTH 120 heat elements for 24 hours. That will operate the unit at full cooling. IF after 24 hours the water in the refer is not below 36 degrees the cooling unit is bad. The side by side Dometics require the rear coil 12 volt fans to operate. But, fans not operating will not cause your high temps in the refer. Really need you to post model number of refer and do you get any error codes. Doug

Thanks for the replies.I have run it on both electric and gas. Both hold the same temps and changing the temp selection has no affect. The same temp on 3 as on 5.What strikes me as odd is that the problem was sudden, not a gradual change like one would expect from a cooling unit failing.

put a bungee cord across the door to pull seal tight. I had frig problems one time and all it was is a bad seal on the door, my frig will now freeze everything if I want it to. only takes a couple hours to check.you,ll see the temp droping.

Dometic Fridge not cooling well | Good Sam Community

dougrainer
Nomad
May 23, 2015
bluwtr49 wrote:
YC 1 wrote:
bluwtr49 wrote:
UPDATE:::

After running for several days with no change in temp, yesterday morning the freezer was at 0 and the fridge at 30. No idea what changed. I wonder if there was a "bubble" in the coolant that suddenly cleared.

Whatever it was all is well now and that's what counts.

Could easily be an intermittent fan.
I will ask again. Does your refer have a top vent or two side vents? One normal one at the base and one at the upper edge of the refer.

The Dometic does't seem to have fans and it's a top vented model...not in a slide. Right now it's sitting in the barn with a temp of 91 degrees. Ambient temp has not change significantly over the past few days.

Cooling units do not get a "bubble". I asked for the model number. Why is it so hard for people on these forums to NOT answer a simple request and they ask for help?????????? Most Dometic side by sides DO HAVE cooling fans. THAT is why the model number request was made. Doug
Tinstar
Explorer
May 23, 2015
Sounds like it's simmering in the barn. No air flow to maintain low temp.
bluwtr49
Explorer II
May 22, 2015
YC 1 wrote:
bluwtr49 wrote:
UPDATE:::

After running for several days with no change in temp, yesterday morning the freezer was at 0 and the fridge at 30. No idea what changed. I wonder if there was a "bubble" in the coolant that suddenly cleared.

Whatever it was all is well now and that's what counts.

Could easily be an intermittent fan.
I will ask again. Does your refer have a top vent or two side vents? One normal one at the base and one at the upper edge of the refer.

The Dometic does't seem to have fans and it's a top vented model...not in a slide. Right now it's sitting in the barn with a temp of 91 degrees. Ambient temp has not change significantly over the past few days.
jwmII
Explorer
May 22, 2015
I see you are in Green Valley. It is a lot warmer there now than 2 months ago and that has a huge effect on the performance of vapor absorption refrigerators. Try not to be parked with the fridge on the sunny side. Reading others responses to your problem I see you are getting good information. All good.
YC_1
Nomad
May 22, 2015
bluwtr49 wrote:
UPDATE:::

After running for several days with no change in temp, yesterday morning the freezer was at 0 and the fridge at 30. No idea what changed. I wonder if there was a "bubble" in the coolant that suddenly cleared.

Whatever it was all is well now and that's what counts.

Could easily be an intermittent fan.
I will ask again. Does your refer have a top vent or two side vents? One normal one at the base and one at the upper edge of the refer.
bluwtr49
Explorer II
May 22, 2015
UPDATE:::

After running for several days with no change in temp, yesterday morning the freezer was at 0 and the fridge at 30. No idea what changed. I wonder if there was a "bubble" in the coolant that suddenly cleared.

Whatever it was all is well now and that's what counts.
YC_1
Nomad
May 21, 2015
Is this in a slide out? I am wondering if you have the side vented setup. If so, listen for the fan or fans that should be running when it getting hot in that area. I had to look downward inside the top/side opening that is and found my fans were not running.

The other issue could be a cracked drip tube. What is your drip tube setup?
midnightsadie
Explorer II
May 21, 2015
put a bungee cord across the door to pull seal tight. I had frig problems one time and all it was is a bad seal on the door, my frig will now freeze everything if I want it to. only takes a couple hours to check.you,ll see the temp droping.
bluwtr49
Explorer II
May 21, 2015
Thanks for the replies.

I have run it on both electric and gas. Both hold the same temps and changing the temp selection has no affect. The same temp on 3 as on 5.

What strikes me as odd is that the problem was sudden, not a gradual change like one would expect from a cooling unit failing.
dougrainer
Nomad
May 21, 2015
Your type of lack of cooling will not be the Thermister. At this point if you have no yellow leakage at the burner area, you hot wire BOTH 120 heat elements for 24 hours. That will operate the unit at full cooling. IF after 24 hours the water in the refer is not below 36 degrees the cooling unit is bad. The side by side Dometics require the rear coil 12 volt fans to operate. But, fans not operating will not cause your high temps in the refer. Really need you to post model number of refer and do you get any error codes. Doug