Fridge not cooling

[MaryR]

We’ve just bought a second hand IH Fiat Ducato, the fridge Dometic RM8401 is not cooling or freezing at all. Fridge light on and panel lights seem to work with no warning flash’s. Lady owners so totally lost where to start! Would really appreciate your thoughts on this please.
tried on Gas and this seems to cool slightly but nowhere near cold enough to make ice.

 

[Stealaway]

We’ve just bought a second hand IH Fiat Ducato, the fridge Dometic RM8401 is not cooling or freezing at all. Fridge light on and panel lights seem to work with no warning flash’s. Lady owners so totally lost where to start! Would really appreciate your thoughts on this please.
tried on Gas and this seems to cool slightly but nowhere near cold enough to make ice.

There's a gas jet at the bottom of the fridge at y back. It's easily blocked..Take of the bottom cover and you should see the gas flame

 

[MaryR]

Thanks will check this, is this the panel on the outside of the van behind fridge?
This wouldn’t solve it not working on Electric would it?

 

[GeoffnDee]

Are you aware that the fridge will only work on 12volt setting when the engine is running also have you set the temp level display to a high setting for it to work as it should on gas or 230 volt.

 

[Eggs]

Are you aware that the fridge will only work on 12volt setting when the engine is running also have you set the temp level display to high for it to work as it should on gas or 230 volt.

I don't understand the last part of this statement, can you explain it please.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Richard n Ann]

Is there heat coming up out of the top vent outside? If you take the top louvres off the fins should be hot on the right and cooler on the left.

Another check you can do is remove the aluminium fins inside the fridge and freezer, (they are just held on with screws) and see if the pipes behind will frost up, or how much they frost up.

 

[John H.]

tried on Gas and this seems to cool slightly but nowhere near cold enough to make ice.

I would not expect the 'freezer' in a motorhome to make ice quickly, especially if your temperatures today are hot like ours.

It will probably work best on 240 volt if you plug in the hook up lead in the house. (You will need an adapter)

If not, set it to gas.

Either way, make sure that the side of the van with the fridge is not in sunshine. And put ice in and check if it melts.

 

[GeoffnDee]

I don't understand the last part of this statement, can you explain it please.

The temp level display, on the front of the fridge , which is altered with the temp selection button being pressed sets the cooling level from not very cold to very cold, like turning a thermostat up or down (Dometic RM8401)

 

[Eggs]

The temp level display, on the front of the fridge , which is altered with the temp selection button being pressed sets the cooling level from not very cold to very cold, like turning a thermostat up or down (Dometic RM8401)

I understand that, but why does it need to be set to high for it to work properly on gas or 230v.

 

[Reusables]

It will need to be either plugged in to main hook up overnight for it to get nice and cold or a good few hours to use it .

On gas it should start clicking once selected and you can hear this outside near the white vent ..after clicking the gas should spark up and you can possibly hear the flame roaring .
.like ours..

Gas mode will take a few hours to be useable also .

Ice is possible if you've had it on for long time..we plug our fridge in 240 mains at least 48hrs before take off ...

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Vikdikdok]

Make sure the van (therefore the fridge) is level, these fridges are notorious for not working properly if more than 4 or 5degrees from level

 

[GeoffnDee]

If set at low the fridge will not get very cold at all and may appear to be not working (perhaps I should have said efficiently or sufficiently not properly)

I understand that, but why does it need to be set to high for it to work properly on gas or 230v.