Fridge not working

[Tricky Dicky]

Hi funsters nice to be back, I'm having trouble with fridge, freezer box ok, fridge not. Any help would be appreciated

 

[62272]

Is that on 240/12v gas? Make of fridge, is it a three way?

Judging by others on here with similar problems, there are lots of experts on here that can give you good advice. But they will need a lot more info first, to help diagnose the potential issues.

 

[Two on Tour]

In these hot conditions fans in the top vent pulling cooling air over the condenser fins are invaluable, but if you don't have fans, then remove the top and bottom vent covers to get more air flow up the back of your fridge.
Turning up the setting is not always going to get a cooler fridge on some fridges, try turning it down a notch or two as it may be overheating the refrigerant in the system.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Is that on 240/12v gas? Make of fridge, is it a three way?

Judging by others on here with similar problems, there are lots of experts on here that can give you good advice. But they will need a lot more info first, to help diagnose the potential issues.

Hi yes 3 way DOMETIC 72 70 has been working on gas for days ok freezer box working great fridge not just seems strange.

 

[62272]

It could be due to the hot weather and the heat in the rear fins not dissipating the heat. In warmer climes I shade the vents with the awning and remove the top and bottom plastic outside vent covers, and place my cooling 240 v fan on a camping table outside directed at the lower vent hole. The condenser will probably be hand-hot to touch. After about 15-20 mins of the fan blowing it is warm to touch and makes a big difference to the fridge temperature.

I have also fitted (zip tied) two mini LCD readout digital thermometers from eBay £5.99 each (one on a shelf in the fridge, the other the freezer) and this gives a good indication of its working efficiency or plain not working. In the 30’s degrees I achieve about -8-10C in freezer and 4>10C in the fridge dependant on the fans at the back and the packing/over packing of the fridge.

Hope this helps, it seems suspect that your freezer works but not fridge, it could be the the piping is nearer the top vent, which would make me think it is a heat on cooling fin issue rather than something given up.

PS I also only keep the settings to the halfway/middle point as this os recommended by the manufacturer in warmer weather.

Just another thought… have you hoovered out behind the vents? Mine had a load of dust and cobwebs.

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

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Is that on 240/12v gas? Make of fridge, is it a three way?

Judging by others on here with similar problems, there are lots of experts on here that can give you good advice. But they will need a lot more info first, to help diagnose the potential issues.

Is that on 240/12v gas? Make of fridge, is it a three way?

Judging by others on here with similar problems, there are lots of experts on here that can give you good advice. But they will need a lot more info first, to help diagnose the potential issues.

It could be due to the hot weather and the heat in the rear fins not dissipating the heat. In warmer climes I shade the vents with the awning and remove the top and bottom plastic outside vent covers, and place my cooling 240 v fan on a camping table outside directed at the lower vent hole. The condenser will probably be hand-hot to touch. After about 15-20 mins of the fan blowing it is warm to touch and makes a big difference to the fridge temperature.

I have also fitted (zip tied) two mini LCD readout digital thermometers from eBay £5.99 each (one on a shelf in the fridge, the other the freezer) and this gives a good indication of its working efficiency or plain not working. In the 30’s degrees I achieve about -8-10C in freezer and 4>10C in the fridge dependant on the fans at the back and the packing/over packing of the fridge.

Hope this helps, it seems suspect that your freezer works but not fridge, it could be the the piping is nearer the top vent, which would make me think it is a heat on cooling fin issue rather than something given up.

PS I also only keep the settings to the halfway/middle point as this os recommended by the manufacturer in warmer weather.

Just another thought… have you hoovered out behind the vents? Mine had a load of dust and cobwebs.

Thanks Chazzer. I've done most of the above, just hooked up electric to see if it works. I have fans, it's been working great through last week's weather, will let you know how it goes.

 

[Richard n Ann]

This was our similar problem..

Our 3 way fridge saga

My story just might help someone with 3 way fridge trouble so here goes; We've had our motorhome 3 years now and the fridge was always ok even in Spain's high ambient temperatures, until suddenly about a year ago we were in Spain, temperatures were the usual high twenties and I noticed the...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[ManTheVan]

I have a feeling that it may be something to do with the conductive paste on the back of the fins in the fridge section. There is a conductive paste that bridges the gap between the black evaporator tubes and the cooling fins inside the fridge. The fins absorb heat and conduct it to the evaporator tubes. The paste greatly improves this ability. Over time, the paste can harden and become brittle, resulting in less effective thermal bridging.

You can renew the paste very easily and cheaply. It takes about 20 mins. You undo the torx bolts holding the cooling fins to the back of the fridge and remove the fins. Scrape off the old paste, apply the new then replace the fins. You can order the paste from places like Amazon. I recently renewed ours and it took about 60g of paste. Look for one with a higher conductive ratio.

Richard n Ann posted a v helpful guide on how to do this here.

Hope this helps. Let us know how you get on.

 

[ManTheVan]

Ha! Richard n Ann beat me to it!

 

[Portland]

Are you parked with the sun on the fridge side? If so do what others say with vents off and shade

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

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Thanks for all the information will take fins off tomorrow and have a look fingers crossed that's what it is.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

I have a feeling that it may be something to do with the conductive paste on the back of the fins in the fridge section. There is a conductive paste that bridges the gap between the black evaporator tubes and the cooling fins inside the fridge. The fins absorb heat and conduct it to the evaporator tubes. The paste greatly improves this ability. Over time, the paste can harden and become brittle, resulting in less effective thermal bridging.

You can renew the paste very easily and cheaply. It takes about 20 mins. You undo the torx bolts holding the cooling fins to the back of the fridge and remove the fins. Scrape off the old paste, apply the new then replace the fins. You can order the paste from places like Amazon. I recently renewed ours and it took about 60g of paste. Look for one with a higher conductive ratio.

Richard n Ann posted a v helpful guide on how to do this here.

Hope this helps. Let us know how you get on.

Hi all ,got round to sorting out fridge, replaced putty on fins, cleaned burner and flue - all working great. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Reallyretired]

Yes definitely if freezer works and fridge doesn't it will be the thermal paste, or rather the lack of it.
Still waiting for mine to come on the slow boat from China very good price but ages to wait for it.