Norcold refrigerator door lock problem I want a better fix

[silvercorvette]

The top freezer door clicks to show it is locked but the bottom does not click and can be pulled open, which means it something inside the fridge bumps into the door wild moving the contents can fall on the floor. I fooled around with the striker plate and tried to adjust the part that clicks into the striker plate without success.

(I think that striker is the correct term for the gray colored piece that fits into the hole of the striker.)

Then I got the idea to pull up on the bottom of the door. Lifting the door up moves the striker enough for the striker to lock into the hole in the striker plate. Pushing up to raise the door and easy but temporary fix, I want to better permeant one. I noticed that there is a screw on the top hinge. i am guessing that turning the screw will raise or lower the door height but haven't had a chance to try it because I planned on being 1/2 way to NY by today, and I will not have the time to adjust the door till I make my first overnight stop at a camp ground. If my theory about turning the screw to adjust the door is wrong then how do I raise the door.

[silvercorvette]

DmaxWW wrote:
Also keep in mind that these lower hinges have a habit of breaking, Norcold makes a kit that you can install to strengthen the lower hinge, might be a good time to do that and then shim if necessary.

Thanks, I don't know when I will get the time to fix it. I planned on leaving Monday 5/13/13 but I am still packing for a month or more away from home. I am out today ready or not, what is slowing me down is my back and knees. I do a little work then lay in bed and rest a post on this forum. Is the kit something I can buy at a camping world, I will be driving past a 1/2 dozen between SC and NY? Maybe I can have a kit fedex to me in NY but by the time I get to NY I will be too busy clearing out the house to spend time fixing the door.

[Vette_Racer]

Also keep in mind that these lower hinges have a habit of breaking, Norcold makes a kit that you can install to strengthen the lower hinge, might be a good time to do that and then shim if necessary.

[edatlanta]

Diplomat Don has the solution. Buy some flat washers and you can add them as needed. Remove the screw on the top hinge and lift the door off of the bottom pin/hinge. Add as many small flat washers as needed to lift the door so the latch clicks. I had to do this 2-3 times early on and finally the door quit sagging as I moved.

I too don't keep much weight in the door while traveling.

A hand full of small flat washers costs pennies.

[silvercorvette]

Diplomat Don wrote:
Some of the Norcold doors use a small plastic washer on the pin that the door hinges on. You lift off the door and drop on a washer that will give you the height you need.

I'll check it out tomorrow, I still have a few hours of packing and want to be on the road by noon.

[DSDP_Don]

Some of the Norcold doors use a small plastic washer on the pin that the door hinges on. You lift off the door and drop on a washer that will give you the height you need.

[belairbrian]

Could this be a worn plastic hinge bushing causing the door to sag down at the outer edge.

[silvercorvette]

rockhillmanor wrote:
When those door hinges start getting tired, if you have too much stuff in the door shelves it sags and opens. Been there done that turned a corner and what a mess!

What year and model is fridge? On mine the screw on top is not for adjusting it just tightens and it's that one and the bottom one the door sits in that wear out. The screw part under the head is only a 16th of an inch if that.

I no longer use the door for storage anymore. Door has not opened since I cleared the food out of the door panel.

The camper is a 2009 Holiday rambler Alumascape, I assume it's fridge is the same fridge built into the camper when it was delivered. It was a short one day trip back home with a few stops for a nap so there wasn't anything in the door and just some cold cuts and mayo with soda and bottled water on the main shelves. If adjusting the bottom hinge screw does not move door up enough the next option (which I do not like will be to enlarge the hole with a Dremel tool

[silvercorvette]

prolandsurveyor wrote:
Sounds like u have the right idea on adjusting the striker...if it were me I would see if I could adjust it so it will lock....just my 2 cents worth..

I tried to adjust / move both the striker and striker plate but there isn't much room for moving or adjusting them. Since the striker mechanism can be adjusted the door seems like the only option. I am wondering if anyone that has had this situation adjusted the hinge to move the door up, I am wondering if turning the screw is the way to do it or maybe there is something else to move the door up.

[rockhillmanor]

When those door hinges start getting tired, if you have too much stuff in the door shelves it sags and opens. Been there done that turned a corner and what a mess!

What year and model is fridge? On mine the screw on top is not for adjusting it just tightens and it's that one and the bottom one the door sits in that wear out. The screw part under the head is only a 16th of an inch if that.

I no longer use the door for storage anymore. Door has not opened since I cleared the food out of the door panel.

[silvercorvette]

I just got it a week ago and it was OK on the 500 mile trip home even though it did not make that clicking sound to indicate it was locked. I was able to pull the door open fairly easily by hand with nothing to lock it in place. Putting bars inside the fridge will keep the contents from moving inside the fridge but I am worried about the door swinging open which will let out the cold air, also there is a chance that a fridge door swinging backing and forth will cause damage. Lifting the door up will secure and lock the door and prevent it from opening, but I would I want a permanent solution that does not require me to lift up the door every time I close it to engage the lock

[prolandsurveyor]

Sounds like u have the right idea on adjusting the striker...if it were me I would see if I could adjust it so it will lock....just my 2 cents worth..

[Jack_Diane_Free]

We just use the plastic spring loaded fridge bars to hold the fridge contents in place during transit.