Fridge seems to have packed up, any suggestions before I buy a new one😳

[BreweryDave]

Dometic 3 way fridge freezer unit. It’s in our now static caravan, about 10 years old, and seems to have given up!

weve had it on electric permanently for the past 18 months, only changing to gas occasionaly when we go away and leave it, which we did last week, but having put it back on leccy it defrosted and now won’t cool, either on gas or electric! ( it was very iced up when we got back too!)

The pipes at the back are ‘warmish’ bit not hot, the electrics are ok as the light still works as does the frame heater, but it just won’t get cool.

Unfortunately my regular mobile maintenance bloke has gone back to the uk, and to get someone out is likely to cost more than I can get a new ‘domestic’ one for to fit in the gap, which isnt an issue as the van is permanently hooked up.

So, before I go buy a new one, any ideas? ( I think I know the answer, it’s buggered, but worth an ask)

 

[BreweryDave]

BTW, I do have another domestic one in the awning so no worries about my beer being warm

 

[Sundowners]

Are you able to take it out and turn it upside down and leave for 24 hours, then leave for another few hours before switching on after righting it. We have done that at times and it has worked, sometimes you get an airlock in the ammonia, a good shake up seems to work. Worth a try.

 

[Armytwowheels]

Colin says - what model is it. Have you tried 12v. Don't turn the temperature knob on to full, have it about half way.

Let me know the model as it might be temp sensor at the back that might have gone.

 

[makems]

We had similar problems and symptoms.
iIn our case it was due to a piece of debris that got stuck somewhere in the narrow pipes stopping the coolant from circulating. Removing and TurninG upside down Has been known to work by moving the blockage. You may be lucky and never have the problem again. However you may find that The problem recurs as the debris just finds somewhere else to lodge.
we ended up having to replace the cooling unit at a cost of about £1100 inc vat and labour.

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[Richard n Ann]

At least a new domestic fridge will lower your electric bill a bit, they are a lot more efficient

 

[BreweryDave]

Colin says - what model is it. Have you tried 12v. Don't turn the temperature knob on to full, have it about half way.

Let me know the model as it might be temp sensor at the back that might have gone.

Don’t have 12 v as a a separate circuit as no battery in the caravan.
and have tried all the knobs all ways

 

[Speve]

There’s a thread on here about replacing some sort of transfer grease at the back of the fins that may help. I’ll see if I can find it!

 

[BreweryDave]

Are you able to take it out and turn it upside down and leave for 24 hours, then leave for another few hours before switching on after righting it. We have done that at times and it has worked, sometimes you get an airlock in the ammonia, a good shake up seems to work. Worth a try.

We had similar problems and symptoms.
iIn our case it was due to a piece of debris that got stuck somewhere in the narrow pipes stopping the coolant from circulating. Removing and TurninG upside down Has been known to work by moving the blockage. You may be lucky and never have the problem again. However you may find that The problem recurs as the debris just finds somewhere else to lodge.
we ended up having to replace the cooling unit at a cost of about £1100 inc vat and labour.

Ok, so if I take it out, there must be some gas pipes to disconnect? I can see the screws holding the unit in place inside the fridge, but surely it must be hard wired at the back for gas?

At least a new domestic fridge will lower your electric bill a bit, they are a lot more efficient

fortunatley I am on unmetered 16a

 

[Speve]

Here you go :

3way fridge thermal gel replacement ?

As previously discussed have received the tube of thermal gel and dismantled the fridge cooling fins which shows no sign of the old gel.Where does the gel (copper paste ) go.. between the screws or where it goes around the black tubes? Also does it go on tubes before the freezer plate slides...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

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[Sundowners]

Ok, so if I take it out, there must be some gas pipes to disconnect? I can see the screws holding the unit in place inside the fridge, but surely it must be hard wired at the back for gas?


Unfortunately you will, if you do not feel confident, leave it to someone else.

 

[makems]

Yes. Turn gas off first!
you will also have to disconnect the electric supply.

 

[emjaiuk]

+1 for turning the whole thing upside down, struggled to do it inside a RV but worked for us

 

[berni109]

Disconnecting gas supply. I remember removing a fridge from a caravan years ago and I think the supply pipe was at the top so you just need to ease it forward a little to expose the connection. But on the last van the gas connection was at the back behind the external vents once you took them out.

 

[Manic]

Is only not working on electric, if so it could be the element which is easy to change.

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[Armytwowheels]

Is only not working on electric, if so it could be the element which is easy to change.

Not working on gas either in original post.

 

[Manic]

Not working on gas either in original post.

Missed that bit

 

[Armytwowheels]

BreweryDave Colin asks has the fridge been rewired in some way, as the internal light and frame heater all run on 12v but you say there is no 12v supply? He also said check the 12v fuse and the 230v fuse? Also on gas does the ingniter work, can you hear it clicking when you press it?

 

[BreweryDave]

BreweryDave Colin asks has the fridge been rewired in some way, as the internal light and frame heater all run on 12v but you say there is no 12v supply? He also said check the 12v fuse and the 230v fuse? Also on gas does the ingniter work, can you hear it clicking when you press it?

There obviously is a 12v supply, via a transformer, but there’s no battery in the van, only mains. The igniter doesn’t work, never replaced it, just use a long lighter
Gonna try to remove it and turn it upside down next week, when I can be arsed, just to see if that works! Have isolated the gas, and seems to be just one threaded connector to the supply. Hopefully, with that diconnected, and the wires disconnected, it will just slide out.........yeah right

 

[Armytwowheels]

May just check the fuses just in case, could be an easy fix, save you all that sweat.

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[BreweryDave]

May just check the fuses just in case, could be an easy fix, save you all that sweat.

I did, but as it’s actually ‘working’ ( the lights on, and the pipes getting warm) I know it’s getting power. Anyway, I’m sweating already, 27 in the awning

 

[xsparks]

Don't ease forward until the gas pipe is disconnected. You should be able to do that from behind by removing the external vent. Probably the top one . You will need two spanners, one to hold still whilst turning the other. 13 mm from memory. The mains lead will have enough slack to alow movement. Good luck.

 

[rod_vw]

Are you able to take it out and turn it upside down and leave for 24 hours, then leave for another few hours before switching on after righting it. We have done that at times and it has worked, sometimes you get an airlock in the ammonia, a good shake up seems to work. Worth a try.

Some years ago a friend of mine asked a refrigeration specialist company to look at his gas fridge from a VW Westfalia camper that had stopped cooling. The company asked if he could bring it to them which he duly did in a small trailer. On arrival at the workshop they simply said take it back and reinstall it, it will be OK now after a good shaking up.
This he duly did and the fridge worked perfectly for years afterwards!

 

[Armytwowheels]

I did, but as it’s actually ‘working’ ( the lights on, and the pipes getting warm) I know it’s getting power. Anyway, I’m sweating already, 27 in the awning

Beer time then!

 

[BreweryDave]

Beer time then!

3 rugby internationals..........what do you think.......drbmidrbmmmmmmm

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[Mikey RV]

Take the vents off outside and tap the cooling pipes with a small hammer or screwdriver handle. Ours used to stop cooling every now and then and this sorted it. It’s where the cooling pipes rust inside and all the little bits of rust get stuck and stop the cooling working. Outs eventually give up the ghost this year with a strong smell of ammonia.

 

[emjaiuk]

Some years ago a friend of mine asked a refrigeration specialist company to look at his gas fridge from a VW Westfalia camper that had stopped cooling. The company asked if he could bring it to them which he duly did in a small trailer. On arrival at the workshop they simply said take it back and reinstall it, it will be OK now after a good shaking up.
This he duly did and the fridge worked perfectly for years afterwards!

That's a thought. Rather than turning it upside down straight away, you could try loosening the fixings, and giving it a good shaking almost in situ. Must be worth a try.

 

[lenma]

Before doing anything drastic try this. In the back there is an sealed electronics block for controlling spark,disconnect the plug, cut all the wires and solder direct onto the module pins wires are all same colour so do not mix them up cut one at a time!
I have the same unit which was very intermittent and after doing that (3yrs ago) it has worked perfectly. Even cleaning the plug and pins might get it going but solder is the best.