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larandjane's avatar
larandjane
Explorer
Jun 17, 2021

Norcold refrigerator trouble

I have a norcold 611 refrigerator in my 2005 HR Savoy. It quit working on AC and now has quit on gas also I replaced the thermistor since it was cheap and easy but it didn’t fix it. The lines are getting hot and you can hear the burner.. Any ideas?
  • Is the display working on the front of the fridge? Take the outside access panel off and clean the burner
  • Make sure your coils didn't go belly up. Check to see if you have yellow egg yoke looking stuff running down the coils and a terrible ammonia smell.
  • Yes the display on front works the light flashes a code which according to my manual means the refrigerator isn’t working. I had figured that out ??
  • Does the freezer even get cold at all? If not and the gas is staying ON, your Cooling Unit is bad. Even a bad cooling unit(not a leaker) will get the freezer a little cold. Doug
  • There is a little yellow residue around the the bottom of a cylinder that has insulation and tubing inside. Also the freezer doesn’t get cold at all and the front display works and is flashing a code that according to my manual means the unit has failed not owner serviceable. I’m not getting a good feeling about this
  • Yellow residue means the unit has sprung a leak. You need to replace the cooling unit.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Yup That is exactly what happened to me
    Two choices Replace cooling unit (less parts cost more labor cost)
    Replace Fridge (More part cost lower labor)
  • larandjane wrote:
    There is a little yellow residue around the the bottom of a cylinder that has insulation and tubing inside. Also the freezer doesn’t get cold at all and the front display works and is flashing a code that according to my manual means the unit has failed not owner serviceable. I’m not getting a good feeling about this


    That is dried up sodium chromate (rust inhibitor in the coolant)
    It is toxic.....work it wet
    No blowing with compressed air, vacuuming, brushing etc that can cause 'dust'
    Face mask, gloves....spray bottle......work it wet to clean up before you remove/work on cooling unit
  • From what is posted it looks like your frig is dead. If so at this point you have some decisions to make. Replace with new Norcold, replace with residential frig., or just replace the cooling unit.

    My thoughts as I went through the same process. We ended up going with replacing the cooling unit. Reason, easier cheaper DW and I could do it.

    I went to JC Refrigeration and with their help got the correct cooling unit. I went with the 120v only as we are always plugged in and never boondock. That made more sense to us. It really is a take out the old and put in the new. Check them out as part of your decision process.
    https://jc-refrigeration.com/

    Good Luck safe travels

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