Domestic RM 6361, Freezer working. Fridge not very cool... was working fine a week ago.

[GoCoeGo]

I'm a little bit stumped. It was fine last weekend. Now it's just not very cool. Only about 10c at max chat.... whereas before, around about 3 o'clock position was enough to make the butter so tough I gave up trying to spread it on me toast!

The Freezer is nice and cold, and the vents outside are clear, I can feel the heat from the outside vent also. The seals seem okay. The fins at the back are not obstructed. The only thing in there, is a bottle of water and a thermometer.

It's running on Gas as I had turned it on about 24 hours before setting off.
I know it's a proper oldie, but as the freezer is working. It's not an issue with the cooling parts of it anyway....

I can see the thermostat, presuming it's the wire above the red line in the picture. That's never been touched from when I bought it. It comes along and down. Sort of tucking between the foils.

i searched this site with the model number, but it didnt show amything up.

 

[GeoffnDee]

It may be a faulty thermo element , it can seen on the parts diagrams for the Dometic RM6361 that can be found at www.leisureshopdirect.com , its ref. No is 246840 (item 428 on the parts diagram)

 

[GoCoeGo]

Hi GeoffnDee

Thanks for that. That's useful.
I take it these things can just 'go' without warning then?

Reading the manual that I downloaded it didn't have a spare parts, or exploded diagram of the parts apart from the electrical side of it.

I saw a video of a different model which shows removing the lower panel from outside and threading it back through that way. I'm hoping mine is similar. Although it appears to dissappear into the freezer.

The other problem I have is goggling with the word domestic... you literally get mostly household appliances!

I shall look into the thermo element though. I'm away again soon, so will try it out after seeing what the 230v yields and if it works then.

 

[GoCoeGo]

The plot thickens.... on EHU. No issues with cooling.

So I would start to think it's a gas problem... but as the freezer was cooling down on the gas fine at home. The gas theory would not support this.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

It's a  dometic fridge. Don't google domestic

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[PeterCarole29]

Can the temperature on 240v still be controlled. I dont myself know but was thinking on gas its controlled by how strong the flame is the higher the setting the more gas it burns stronger the flame

 

[tonka]

Search on here ref " thermal paste".. it's a cheap option to try as it dries out over time, the fact your freezer section is working ok seems to prove the cooling system is working.
I do mine every few years and does seem to help.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Search on here ref " thermal paste".. it's a cheap option to try as it dries out over time, the fact your freezer section is working ok seems to prove the cooling system is working.
I do mine every few years and does seem to help.

It works ok on 240v apparantly

 

[GoCoeGo]

It's a  dometic fridge. Don't google domestic

What a turnip I am! I am so glad you pointed that out.... I think it can just about get away with it as I'm new to this. But if you didn't... it could of been years of not noticing the spelling.

 

[GoCoeGo]

Can the temperature on 240v still be controlled. I dont myself know but was thinking on gas its controlled by how strong the flame is the higher the setting the more gas it burns stronger the flame

So yes. The temprature can definitely be controlled. Moving the thermostat, I could hear it clicking also.. i didn't hear that when on gas the last time, and can't picture it when previously on gas. (When i didn't have issues)
But I would expect the same with the higher setting, the more gas it burns. And this seemed to be the case with the freezer as it was definitely cold.

I have a thermal gun, which when on the gas, it showed no cooling on the fins in the fridge. Pointing it again at the fins, on EHU, the fins were cooling fine.

I am yet to try it again on gas. I'm hoping it was a rogue incident. But that's me being optimistic.

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[GoCoeGo]

Search on here ref " thermal paste".. it's a cheap option to try as it dries out over time, the fact your freezer section is working ok seems to prove the cooling system is working.
I do mine every few years and does seem to help.

I will have a look into that. Thank you. I understand it's use (thermal paste) on a computer. Just not a fridge.

 

[GoCoeGo]

It works ok on 240v apparantly

Yes, definitely working fine on 240v. Pointing a thermal gun showed the fins nice and cold. And the thermostat control clicking.

 

[Figaro]

I will have a look into that. Thank you. I understand it's use (thermal paste) on a computer. Just not a fridge.

It's the same stuff that is used in PC's Instead of bedding the processor in it to disperse heat away, it's used between the aluminium fin plate in your photo and the cooling tubes that run behind to transfer cold into the fridge.
It dries out over time and becomes ineffective, I suspect this is your problem.
If you use the search function on here lots of info will help you, it's an easy job and will make a big difference to the fridge performance

 

[StillGoing]

If it’s working on 230V then the cooling system is probably ok. If it’s not cooling properly on gas, is the flame getting hot enough or is it big enough? Does the gas burner need a clean?

 

[Lenny HB]

If its OK on mains, when was the last time you cheaned the chimney?
Clean the chimney and burner also worth replacing the gas jet.

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[GoCoeGo]

If it’s working on 230V then the cooling system is probably ok. If it’s not cooling properly on gas, is the flame getting hot enough or is it big enough? Does the gas burner need a clean?

If its OK on mains, when was the last time you cheaned the chimney?
Clean the chimney and burner also worth replacing the gas jet.

Thanks all for the replies. I can't confirm when it was last swept, or the burner cleaned from when I purchased it this year. But based on your thoughts, I have asked the MCEA engineer who was booked to clean and service my s3002, to add the fridge gas components to the list. I have no experience of gas fridges, so it may not be the best to start tinkering around myself.

The next appointment is not till June unfortunately. But as I am away now for work for a month, I will post an update post works carried out, for anyone in the future.

I can't get my head around the fact the freezer was working fine on the gas, but the fridge not. And both working fine on EHU. So it's time to ask someone GasSafe.

Appreciate all your replies though. A little bit more the wiser still.

 

[Lenny HB]

I can't get my head around the fact the freezer was working fine on the gas, but the fridge not. And both working fine on EHU.

Normally when the freezer is working and the fridge not that well it is due to the Thermal past needs replacing.
It is a single cooling circuit the freezer works by being only 20% of the area of the fridge using the same size cooling element, if you check the freezer temperature you may find It's not as cold as you think.

It's worth replacing the paste first its easy and only take ½ hour to do.

I'm sure there is a thread on here where someone had a similar problem I can't member exactly but on gas the refrigerant wasn't circulating properly and the only cure was a new fridge.