So over the past few days the temperature in my refrigerator and freezer have been steadily increasing. At first I wasn't too concerned as I had been adding some warm stuff to the fridge but it's way past that point now, things are going to start thawing in the freezer....The temperature seems to rise during the day and then it still drops a little at night so it must be working (somewhat anyways). I tried unplugging the thermistor as I was told that would cause it to just run continuously however that hasn't seemed to make a difference unfortunately. Could it be the circuit board? I don't smell any ammonia or anything like that. What else can I check?

Open the access panel, take a flash light and look closely at the cooling unit and coils. Any signs of a yellowish stain? Check for loose wires at all connections. I would first suspect the cooling unit is toast.I assume your level and have not knowingly been unlevel when the refer is on?

#1 did you turn the frig on 24hrs before you loaded it? siting level? good 12v battery?

We live on it and it's been running fine for a month since we returned from visiting our family back home. In fact it was too cold just a few days ago(ah, the good old days...) Yes we're level and I always level it each time we park (who want to live at an angle? Lol. The batteries could be replaced but we're parked in Phoenix right now(my wife has a 13 week contract she started two weeks ago or so). So in addition to the 200w solar panels I also have the converter plugged in, so I don't see the batteries as the problem(they still would work for a day or two as we boondocked our way down here just not as long as they used to. No sign of yellowish stain or the smell of ammonia, which my wife would have noticed immediately. I checked the wires and they all seem to be well connected.I've ordered a new control board and payed for next day shipping and so am planning on trying to replace it tomorrow to see if that works. Looking for more ideas before it arrives though, lol. I felt the chimney and cooling fins and it's certainly still very hot and I've got the fan in the rear running constantly(it's installed in a slide so no roof vent).I suppose if the control board or something else doesn't correct it soon, I'll have to find someone to install a new cooling unit.... I really would like to avoid that. Thanks for the help. I'll go ahead and take any recommendations for a mobile tech in Phoenix if anyone has someone they like around here(we're technically in Mesa). Thanks again.

If cooling unit had a leak it would not chase ambient air temps (warm up/cool down as temps change) it would quit coolingUnplugging thermistor SHOULD cause fridge to run continuously and result in freezer temps 0*F or lower and food compartment temps 38*F or colder......unplug at lower board P2 connector (left side) and run fridge overnight measuring temps with bulb thermometer in glass of waterOther test .......unplug heater element leads from lower circuit board and plug them directly into 120V AC outlet...run fridge at least 12 hrs This will bypass all controls and test cooling units ability to cool.Otherwise cooling unit is slowly dying due to obstructions/blockages inside the cooling unit A refer that chases the out-side temperature is improperly vented or has a weak cooling unit

I tried unplugging the thermistor early this morning but only for about maybe two hours and didn't notice any difference so I plugged it back in but I've done that again and will let it go for longer this time.Unplugging the heater element leads sounds like something I would like to try from your description. It sounds like it could eliminate the board being bad. Unfortunately I don't quite understand what you mean. How would I go about plugging them into a 120 volt outlet directly? Could you give me some more detail as that seems like it would be a definitive test if the cooling unit is shot or not. I really don't want to replace the entire cooling unit if I don't have to, the last time I had trouble with the fridge I was told by multiple people that it was the cooling unit and it just ended up being the thermistor. The only thing I can think of is perhaps the board but the test you mentioned would allow me to rule that out. Thanks.

Refrigerator(RM 2652 or 2852) Not Cooling Properly Again

mchero
Explorer
Oct 25, 2018
Good idea replacing the whole fridge. Parts such as seals and hinges are ridiculously expensive!
Can't suggest any models but I bet others can post their experiences.
buylow12
Explorer
Oct 24, 2018
Well from the mobile tech I just met with it seems I'm probably better off just replacing the refrigerator, it is 15 years old anyways.

Is there any reason I should go for something other than what I already have(RM2852)? What's the difference between an RM2852 vs DM2852?
buylow12
Explorer
Oct 24, 2018
I bought some blocks of ice and that seems to be doing a good enough job till its fixed, or just replaced.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Oct 24, 2018
Time to get some blocks of ice I suppose.

If a larger Peltier ice chest is available that could serve as a bandaid until more permanent arrangements can be made. The Peltier system is a waste unless it is plugged into AC power.
ScottG
Nomad
Oct 24, 2018
Another option is an AC or DC COMPRESSOR cooling unit from JC Refridgeration.
My New Norcold is chasing outdoor temps and is close to being outright junk IMO. The cooling unit was marginal for an 8 cu/ft and they used the same POS in my 10 cu/ft.
Some day I will install a DC powered compressor unit to fix it.
buylow12
Explorer
Oct 24, 2018
Thanks for the tips I was looking at the Amish units as for what Dometic charges you might as well just buy a new fridge. The mobile tech was talking about using one of theirs but it just doesn't make sense to me. Honestly I wouldn't mind pay a bit extra and just getting a brand new unit. I'm going to compare the costs (and make sure this guy doesn't mind installing the Amish unit over stock) and then make my decision. Just replacing the cooling unit though still leaves 14 year old control boards along with everything else. Seems like I could be putting more money out sooner than I like if I go that way...
mchero
Explorer
Oct 24, 2018
Our 4 door Norcold had a cooked cooling unit when we purchased the rig 4 years ago. I purchased an amish cooling unit, 1200.00 shipped to my doorstep. Deb, my wife and I pulled the fridge and laid it face down on the kitchen floor. We have a full wall slide so we had plenty of room. Swapped it out w/o issue and its been running strong since.
Did have the rear fans quit anf the fridge warmed up to 45 BUT freezer stayed frozen. Replaced the fans and back to normal.
We are now in New England and the fridge is dropping to 30 deg and lower when we have the temp set to 5!

I noticed the place where we purchased our cooling unit now sells Helium cooling units. Not sure what the advantages of the Helium units are, perhaps someone can jump in with the answer.
Two things to watch out for when installing a cooling unit.
Make absolutely sure the cavity the cooling unit was in is clean and the new cooling unit fits solidly and is air tight.
Also make SURE the installer installs quality/new fan(s) in the rear and the fans blow the air UP.
I pulled a 2 door Norcold that was cooling poorly only to find the fan was installed blowing the air down!
buylow12
Explorer
Oct 23, 2018
Whelp I got the bad news that I'll have to get a new cooling unit. A mobile tech was able to come by today to take a look at it and he didn't notice the ammonia smell or notice any signs of it until he opened the chimney up, then we could both smell it unfortunately. It must have been a really slow leak that we couldn't smell it until the chimney was opened up and we were on a ladder. Oh well, it is what it is I guess and that's too big of a job for me to do myself. All that time spent working on that thing and it's finally fully crapped out on me :( Time to get some blocks of ice I suppose.
buylow12
Explorer
Oct 23, 2018
I've got a wireless thing that tracks the temperature of the freezer and refrigerator so I have a record. It hasn't dropped any but it also isn't getting warmer, not yet anyways. I do imagine it'll be quite slow, especially because I have no choice but to open the fridge to feed my baby. I just want to see it drop a little bit...... it would make me feel better, lol.
enblethen
Nomad
Oct 23, 2018
Give it overnight on propane. Make a note of current temperature, then check in morning.

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