Refrigerator/freezer issues

[prstlk]

We have a 2007 Holiday Rambler with a Norcold 4 door fridge, model #1200 LRIMSS.

We had the cooling unit replaced in February of 2015 with a new one (not re-built one).

We have always had to defrost the freezer compartment where the ice maker is located about every 4 to 6 weeks. The other side can usually go about 10 weeks.

About a week ago the ice maker slowed down on making ice. Used to fill the bin in 1 day. Now we might get 3 harvests of ice in a day.
But, everything on this side is rock solid frozen. We have checked the water like and there doesn't seem to be any kind of blockage in it and water is flowing to it just fine.

The other side is not freezing as well as a pack of hot dogs put in it over a week ago I can still squeeze and they give. They should be solidly frozen by now.

Now, the fridge doesn't seem to be cooling. I usually keep it set on the 5 setting and it seemed to always be just fine. Then I noticed things didn't seem to be as cold and it got up to 54 and we lost pretty much everything.

Then I put the setting on 6 and it didn't really change.

We have turned it up to 9 - the highest setting. Still does not cool down below about 47.

All of the above has been while it was on the AC setting.

We have now turned it to LP and it is now down to about 43. This is after running the LP for about 3 hours.

Any suggestions or ideas what might be happening.

Thanks in advance!

[dougrainer]

Slownsy wrote:
I belive 32 farenheite is fresing poin, I don't belive a fridge operates at 30 Fahrenheit, at leas my fridge don't.
Frank

Right now I am testing a 1210 at the shop. Empty on 120 and it stays at average of 28 degrees on temp 9 and has for 10 days at average ambient of 80 degrees. Doug

[Slownsy]

I belive 32 farenheite is fresing poin, I don't belive a fridge operates at 30 Fahrenheit, at leas my fridge don't.
Frank

[mchero]

Slownsy wrote:
Per stil your fridge. Can't posebli be 30 that is below fresing.

Don't understand what your trying to say.

[Slownsy]

Per stil your fridge. Can't posebli be 30 that is below fresing.

[mchero]

We are out here in Quartzsite with temps in the upper 90's. Norcold food compartment in the safe zone! Goon news! Had to turn her down to 6.
Very happy camper! Even ice maker working but i only run it during the day while harvesting solar.
Just the other evening we hear the pump cycleing, turned out to be the ice maker stuck in the fill mode. Glad we where here when it did it. Its ok now but will not leave it on while away or while on inverter at night.

[normared]

Thanks for you post and advice, mchero.
You were right about the placement of the two fans on our unit. When we pulled out our fridge we checked them (I didn't even know they were there!) and they were working fine, but my tech guy also said it wouldn't hurt to put a small fan in the outside compartment door at the bottom of the fridge blowing upwards -- to supplement those small 4" factory fans -- allowing them to pull out even more heat. I'll do that, too.

BTW: our cooling unit fix is now complete and the fridge is working great again. We bought a Norcold factory replacement cooling unit, so it is guaranteed for a year, + labor is included if something happens.

[mchero]

OK, my turn to chime in. When we purchased our Discovery the 4 door Norcold was cooked.
Ordered Amish cooling unit from RV cooling units. I believe it was about 1,200.00 shipped to house. Deb and I pulled Norcold and replaced cooling unit. Been working like a champ since!
Ricently noticed that when traviling the fridge would start to warm up BUT freezer was AOK. I then noticed that the two condencer fans where acting up! I pulled fridge couple days ago and found one of the two fans failed and the other fan had bearing issues but still running.
I picked up a temp. fan at Fry's Electronics.
I contacted RV cooling units and they are shipping new fans!
I did find a source for high speed high cfm fans. Will post source when i get to my paperwork.
Did not want residential fridge because we boondock at Quartzsite LTVA (we just arrived today).
Will be doing both RV and PC work so if anybody needs assistance contact me.
You need good airflow up the backside! I have been VERY happy with both cooling unit AND RV Cooling Unit dot com. Great place to deal with!
This AM i checked Norcold...fin temp is currently running 24 and food compartment 33!

Get your fans from here;
http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l2/g36/c435/list/p1/Fans-12_Volt_Fans_by_CFM.html?id=4ZBPM5CJ

Need 120CFM of larger!
The fans are 4"x4"

"if" the fan has three leads it typically as follows;
Black=Negative
Red=Positive
Blue=Motor speed sense

Typically, these fans plug into the motherboard the blue lead is a speed sense & is NOT used when using on the back of the fridge.

Both fans on the Norcold are positioned above the condenser, unable to see them easily. I used a compact mirror and flashlight to see the fans.

[normared]

My situation as we are in the process of fixing my 7 year-old Norcold which stopped cooling altogether. 120v electric and gas systems are both running to the fridge fine, but it won't cool down on either one.

The problem IS the cooling unit --- found little tiny yellow colored granule-type bits in the bottom of the outside compartment. That means ammonia is leaking out somewhere on the back of the fridge.

This problem is fixable, but the cooling unit replacement part (basically the internal guts of the frig) is right at $1600! Coming from Indiana, wonder it that means it's 'Amish' and will last a long time.

Considered dumping the RV fridge for a residential, but removing the RV one (windshield has to come out!!!), changing the setups for it, then installing a residential unit and trimming it out will actually cost more than fixing this one. The other good part of it is that maybe my ice-maker will finally be working again!

After researching here, I think I'm making the right choice for me.


>>> DOUG: This is a good time to install cooling fans? Could you post something about how we would do that, and where to place them for the best effect? And THANKS for all you do here, I'm learning a lot.

[Cloud_Dancer]

All your determination and hardwork paid off. Going forward, IMO what you've learned will raise your confidence. Congratulations, and thanks again for keeping us informed.
I was not familiar with Double T RV. I appreciate the tip.

[jtel]

It was Double T RV Service.

[Cloud_Dancer]

Thank you very much. We truly welcome this type of reporting, where we actually end up with valuable information.
BTW being familiar with EL PASO myself, I'm curious to know which RV repair shop you used (there's not that many there). Was it Roadrunner? Thanks again.

Roadrunner might've changed to Byrd Travis RV Repair and RV Park.

So, I'm guessing you might've ended up at Camping World, on the west side, in Anthony.

[prstlk]

I am happy to report that I have refrigerator that is at 30 degrees and a freezer that is a 2 degrees and both are working wonderfully.

Of course it has only been about 30 hours since the cooling unit was replaced. I hope it continues to work this well.

I will try and remember to update again once the weather outside starts warming up. That was when I noticed it wasn't working properly in the first place.

[Cloud_Dancer]

The tech forum members try and try to help. They are willing to work with the original poster for weeks, trying to solve the problem.
IMO it would be so fitting if the original poster would come back and "pay it forward",....that is to say will she please post the resulting outcome (from replacing the cooling unit for a second time)? Thank you

[prstlk]

Finally an update on this issue.

We are now in El Paso and as I write this the repair company is here installing a new cooling unit.

Norcold sent a new unit and covered it under the warranty. Our extended warranty company is covering the installation except for our deductible.

This all comes after multitudes of calls to Norcold, finally having gotten to the top of the tech and customer service ladder to get anything done. We had to come to El Paso in December so that service person could be on the phone with the Norcold Tech supervisor, answer tons of questions. After all of that they decided the cooling unit needed replaced.

Hmmm - just what I thought it might have been two months ago.

Hopefully this will be the last time we have to mess with this thing. I do know for sure that if it fails again it's going to the trash heap and a residential unit is going in it's place.

Thanks to all who took the time to answer and send suggestions.