FRIDGE PROBLEM

[sally47]

Any advice please Fridge is not getting cold ,Panel reads it's working (blue light on continuous) and no fault display .
It's been on electric and now changed to GAS still that same ,I've had it on 3 setting but because so hot put on full no 5 changed back no 4 setting still not cooling (freezer not freezing either) thanks

 

[Popty]

Hi Sally, you don't say what type of fridge it is, but if it's the usual 3 way (mains, gas, 12v) as in motorhomes, its probably due to the outside temperature, when we had a moho, the fridge was almost useless in the hot weather, they don't get enough cooling

 

[Mother Ship]

Might not have anything to do with it but have you removed fridge vent cover after winter?

 

[jumar]

Hi Sally, you don't say what type of fridge it is, but if it's the usual 3 way (mains, gas, 12v) as in motorhomes, its probably due to the outside temperature, when we had a moho, the fridge was almost useless in the hot weather, they don't get enough cooling

We have a fridge problem too, not working in gas....getting it sorted today...so we are currently on electric..it's been 30°c during the day and 17°c overnight.....the fridge is working fine....freezer too....put the fridge side of the van into shade...that helps....

 

[MisterB]

When you say it's been on electric, do you mean 12 or 240v?
Depending on the age type of fridge it might need removing and turning upside down, seems to work on some older fridges

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[jumartoo]

Apparently, turning it down to 2 in hot weather is better. Don't ask me why, but I've just read it since we've had a problem

 

[GROMIT69]

left ours on setting 3 on gas , all over the weekend at Peterborough freezebox frozen , if you turn them up they seem to never to freezer , so never alter it

 

[jumar]

When you say it's been on electric, do you mean 12 or 240v?
Depending on the age type of fridge it might need removing and turning upside down, seems to work on some older fridges

I've heard that too....but don't need to do that as we've got a broken cable that supplies the ignitor...the unit needs replacing to maintain a good connection....
We've been on 220v for 4 days until we managed to get a replacement fitted by an approved fitter...

 

[pwilmo]

Yup, gas fridges are really only a glorified cooler box, they do struggle in hot temperatures. Definately they will perform better when settings are turned down to 1 or 2.
If your use is going to be in warmer climates then definately fit fans in the top vent, this really helps the fridge to exchange heat and perform better.
Bear in mind they were designed to work outside temperatures between 8C- 26C , if yours does better then you are lucky. Officially Dometic says operating temp is 10 - 32C, However a Dometic service engineer advised me 10 - 26C.
Good luck, hope this helps.

 

[RM_Marine]

Any advice please Fridge is not getting cold ,Panel reads it's working (blue light on continuous) and no fault display .
It's been on electric and now changed to GAS still that same ,I've had it on 3 setting but because so hot put on full no 5 changed back no 4 setting still not cooling (freezer not freezing either) thanks

Have you taken the vents off and have you thought about applying more thermal paste to the back of the metal cooling plates inside the fridge

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Hope this helps

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[DavidG58]

It would be interesting to know if the turning upside advice really works or is a myth

for the vast majority of us it would be a near impossible thing to achieve , disconnection of gas pipes and mains and DC electrickery then physically move it having found the fixing points and should it be a tech tower that also means the oven vent needs disconnecting

we suffered a total failure of our tech tower due to losing all the refrigerant gas, but with that leak came a very strong ammonia smell, hope you haven’t had such a serious failure

 

[jumar]

It would be interesting to know if the turning upside advice really works or is a myth

for the vast majority of us it would be a near impossible thing to achieve , disconnection of gas pipes and mains and DC electrickery then physically move it having found the fixing points and should it be a tech tower that also means the oven vent needs disconnecting

we suffered a total failure of our tech tower due to losing all the refrigerant gas, but with that leak came a very strong ammonia smell, hope you haven’t had such a serious failure

I imagine our fridge was installed before the van sides were constructed... wouldn't want to try getting it out and then through the door.... I'm told the Portsmouth to Santander winter crossing works wonders..

 

[GeoffnDee]

Do not know make or model of the fridge but if it is a Thetford 3 series their fault chart says - Inadequate performance (no fault code showing) on gas,12volt or 240volt check that the thermistor is fitted to the 5th fin from the right inside the cooling cabinet.

 

[jumar]

I've heard that too....but don't need to do that as we've got a broken cable that supplies the ignitor...the unit needs replacing to maintain a good connection....
We've been on 220v for 4 days until we managed to get a replacement fitted by an approved fitter...

Our fault was repaired in 10 minutes...now working very well indeed.

 

[Odd-no-more]

would be interesting to know if the turning upside advice really works or is a myth

If the fridge has been run off level for some time the liquid can move, so turning it upside down will work. I have done this with large catering units in the old days when we were agents for the manufacturer, it's not a fun job.

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[autorouter]

If it's the same problem on all the power sources, then it's a coolant circuit problem. Obviously remove the winter covers, but also fitting fans to extract the warm air around the coolant pipes may help.

Is the fridge level within 2 or 3 degrees? We parked on a steep drive at a friend's house, and the fridge stopped working. When moved to level again, it still didn't work. However after a 100-mile drive home, parked on a level drive, it started working again and has been fine since then.

The other possibility is, bad heat transfer between the cooling pipes and the fridge cooling plate. Inside the fridge at the top is a finned metal plate. The cooling pipes are clamped to the back of it. Over time the clamps can work loose, and the thermal paste can dry up. Refurbishing that area can sometimes make a big difference.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

left ours on setting 3 on gas , all over the weekend at Peterborough freezebox frozen , if you turn them up they seem to never to freezer , so never alter it

Yep, turned mine down from 4 to 3 led's - even on the sunday I had -13.4º in the freezer, but was running the auxiliary fans at the time

 

[jumar]

Yep, turned mine down from 4 to 3 led's - even on the sunday I had -13.4º in the freezer, but was running the auxiliary fans at the time

My Dometic....is now doing what it should be there for.....it's quite normal for us to be off grid and 30+ degrees outside...never fitted fridge fans....but might do...may help to mask the constant drone of our generator which is charging our eBike batteries after this morning's ride....we must be the most energy efficient Funsters ever... Viva España...

 

[SteveRallye]

Our fridge (Thetford) packed up in red hot weather last year on electric and would only work on gas. as much as we tried we ended up getting the electric part replaced. Been fine since.

 

[sally47]

Thanks for all the replies fridge back working as normal now ,we had our full awning up and were away all day when we got back it was boiling hot
After taking the awning down next (as we wanted it packed away ) day I removed the fridge covers to let air in and the following day it was back to normal
So as a few of you suggested the heat outside is the culprit on this occasion
Thanks all

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[DavidG58]

Great news it is working again , when you say took the covers off, do you mean the louvred / slotted covers fitted or the solid ‘winter’ covers?

if the latter , that was most likely the cause of the problem aggravated by the high temperature