Freezer won't open

[Folkranger]

Seems to be a problem with dometic freezers as this has happened more than once before on different vans.

Usually a lot of wiggling, lifting and pulling does the trick, not this time.

So pressed the two buttons really hard and heard a crack. Now it's open but the retaining hook is not working. Must be that wire hook thingy inside come loose.

Just need to find a way into it to see what needs doing.

 

[tonka]

Had a similar thing with the Dometic fridge door. Once the door was open, the catch was easy to remove. Replacement available on line but at usual silly prices.
Stripped mine down and bought a box of assorted springs off eBay for less than a fiver.

 

[ctc]

When you reassemble the catch pack it with vaseline or similar. Stops water freezing in the works.

 

[GeoffnDee]

Some Dometic fridge/freezers have a frame heater (12v) between the doors to stop the freezer door frosting up and sticking shut , it may be worth checking if you have one fitted and that it is working ok. (RMD8xx1 and RMD8xx5 should have this frame heater)

 

[Folkranger]

Had a similar thing with the Dometic fridge door. Once the door was open, the catch was easy to remove. Replacement available on line but at usual silly prices.
Stripped mine down and bought a box of assorted springs off eBay for less than a fiver.

The fridge door is easy as it's like yours screwed on the side. The freezer is flat on the door face with no visible screws.

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[Folkranger]

When you reassemble the catch pack it with vaseline or similar. Stops water freezing in the works.

You remind me that I knew that from previous vans but forgot. Thanks.

 

[Folkranger]

Some Dometic fridge/freezers have a frame heater (12v) between the doors to stop the freezer door frosting up and sticking shut , it may be worth checking if you have one fitted and that it is working ok. (RMD8xx1 and RMD8xx5 should have this frame heater)

Not sure of the model. Will check when home.

 

[Folkranger]

Model is RMD 8505. I still haven't found a way into the freezer latch. I found two screws that hold the door together? That did nothing. I've taken off the decor panel and there a strip of Gummy tape ovber the slot where the latch mechanism lies. The taape won't come off without destroying it and I don't yet know if that's where I need to go to fix this. I can't see how to get the front (inside the door) plastic frame off the latch as its fixed with barbed catches. Hey, Ho!

 

[tonka]

When you do get it open you may find the spring has gone inside the latch.. new latch available at silly money but you can open it and replace spring. I have pics of mine if it helps once you get it open

 

[Lenny HB]

When it does freeze shut you need to run the frame heater for an hour or two before it will open.
I never use the latch on mine, I just rely on the magnetic seal to hold it closed.

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[Folkranger]

Lenny HB I now have it dismantled. The latch is bug***ed. Th

e flimsy plastic lever that is pushed up by the flimsy plastic push rod has snapped. It's only 2.5mm x 5mm.
Do you still travel without the freezer door latched and does it stay shut?

 

[Steve and Denise]

I had exactly the same problem on exactly the same fridge in fact I even have a spare latch somewhere as I got Richard and Ann to kindly print a new stronger one for me.
Also when I reassembled the catch I insulated any gap around it with foam draft excluder the thin type you can use on windows and doors never had the issue again.

 

[Steve and Denise]

This is the culprit not cheap neither

 

[mitzimad]

amazes me we've been lathing and locking doors for several thousand years and dometic have cornered the market in bad designs

 

[Lenny HB]

Lenny HB I now have it dismantled. The latch is bug***ed. ThView attachment 656170e flimsy plastic lever that is pushed up by the flimsy plastic push rod has snapped. It's only 2.5mm x 5mm.
Do you still travel without the freezer door latched and does it stay shut?

It's

Yep always travel without the latch only flown open once on a particualy rough road.

Got caught out on the last van arrived in the evening couldn't get at our dinner for over an hour, had to put frame heater on and the heating on full blast.

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[Lenny HB]

amazes me we've been lathing and locking doors for several thousand years and dometic have cornered the market in bad designs

Yet to find a product they make that is fit for purpose.

 

[Speve]

Seems to be a problem with dometic freezers as this has happened more than once before on different vans.

Usually a lot of wiggling, lifting and pulling does the trick, not this time.

So pressed the two buttons really hard and heard a crack. Now it's open but the retaining hook is not working. Must be that wire hook thingy inside come loose.

Just need to find a way into it to see what needs doing.

I had exactly the same problem and in the end forced it open I then made an alloy lever and alloy piece of rod to push it as the original plastic is absolute rubbish isn’t it?not had any problems since., other than the fridge door seems twisted and occasionally opens just enough to set the alarm going so I’m going to have a look at that when I have time

 

[Folkranger]

I had exactly the same problem and in the end forced it open I then made an alloy lever and alloy piece of rod to push it as the original plastic is absolute rubbish isn’t it?not had any problems since., other than the fridge door seems twisted and occasionally opens just enough to set the alarm going so I’m going to have a look at that when I have time

Thing is, they put a dirty great over-engineered steel hook on the latch and then attach it to a flimsy plastic lever that has to do the real work.

 

[Speve]

Thing is, they put a dirty great over-engineered steel hook on the latch and then attach it to a flimsy plastic lever that has to do the real work.

Mine had plastic hook so crappy

 

[Folkranger]

Mine had plastic hook so crappy

This is it. I'm not paying over £50 for a replacement and I'm disinclined to spend time making the lever so I'll just use Lenny HB method. After all we only ever have a couple of loaves and a pizza in the freezer.

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[Lenny HB]

PaulandChrissy may be able to make you the part for a reasonable price.

 

[PaulandChrissy]

View attachment 656220View attachment 656220
This is it. I'm not paying over £50 for a replacement and I'm disinclined to spend time making the lever so I'll just use Lenny HB method. After all we only ever have a couple of loaves and a pizza in the freezer.

I make a replacement finger for that. Send me a PM

 

[Steve and Denise]

Sorry I put the wrong name down it’s the same as the one you did for me Paul

 

[PaulandChrissy]

How s your one doing. Hopefully still in one piece

 

[PaulandChrissy]

View attachment 656220View attachment 656220
This is it. I'm not paying over £50 for a replacement and I'm disinclined to spend time making the lever so I'll just use Lenny HB method. After all we only ever have a couple of loaves and a pizza in the freezer.

New finger in the post to you. Let us all know how you get on fitting it. It’s a little fiddly with the spring trying to pop out, but not too difficult.

PaulandChrissy

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[Steve and Denise]

How s your one doing. Hopefully still in one piece

Had no problems since thanks Paul but I did mod the foam insulation in and around the plastic mechanism easy job with some sticky window foam draft excluder

 

[Folkranger]

New finger in the post to you. Let us all know how you get on fitting it. It’s a little fiddly with the spring trying to pop out, but not too difficult.

PaulandChrissy

Thanks.
All fitted and working fine. The one you made is so much stronger than the original, not to mention, a quarter of the price. Are you listening Dometic?

 

[PaulandChrissy]

Thanks.
All fitted and working fine. The one you made is so much stronger than the original, not to mention, a quarter of the price. Are you listening Dometic?

Excellent. Glad you like it.