Panel lights on, no error code showing. Can hear trickling through vents and top element really hot. Will not work on electric, gas or battery. Any help would be appreciated as I have no experience with electrics/refrigeration . Fridge just over 3 year old but has hardly been used.
Thetford fridge N4000 series - not freezing
- Thread starter mordie
- Start date
599
Free Member
that could be the problem not been used for years if you live near Lincoln i know a great fridge technician who fixed our fridge on the last m/h
Check that the thermistor sensor that is inside the rear of the fridge is clipped to the 5th fin from the right on the finned panel that is also inside the rear of the fridge as this could cause this problem if it is not in the correct position or has been dislodged , and this would not show a fault code.
Ok thanks for that, will try tomorrow morning.
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The control side is ok otherwise there would be no heat coming out of the top vent, it's trying to work.
Are the fins very hot all the way across? Usually they are cooler on the left.
Are you in a hot country?
Are the fins very hot all the way across? Usually they are cooler on the left.
Are you in a hot country?
If the sensor (or phial) comes off the fins inside the fridge, it will never cut out and you usually end up with a big ball of ice at the back of the fridge. Mind you that's less likely with an absorption fridge
At the back of the fridge is a set of pipes through which a mixture of gas/liquid circulates. Applying heat to one of the lower corners causes the mixture to circulate and produce a cooling effect. The heat can be a 240V or 12V element, or a small gas flame.
If the fridge doesn't work on any heat source (gas, 12V or 240V) then there is likely to be a problem with the coolant circuit. You can usually access the important bits through the lower external vent, which can be removed. Looking inside, you should be able to spot where the heat is applied. The gas pipe and several electric wires will go there, and there will be an insulating rockwool jacket, enclosed in a can.
First thing to check is whether the pipe above the heat source is getting hot. That will tell you if the control panel is working, and the element/flame is having some effect.
If the fridge doesn't work on any heat source (gas, 12V or 240V) then there is likely to be a problem with the coolant circuit. You can usually access the important bits through the lower external vent, which can be removed. Looking inside, you should be able to spot where the heat is applied. The gas pipe and several electric wires will go there, and there will be an insulating rockwool jacket, enclosed in a can.
First thing to check is whether the pipe above the heat source is getting hot. That will tell you if the control panel is working, and the element/flame is having some effect.
Thanks everyone , we will try all the above in the morning. We are not in a hot country, we are in rainy South Wales U.K.
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Good morning all, I have checked the thermostat and it’s on the 5th fin. Ribs cool but not cold. Outside the pipe on the top part of the fridge is really hot. Only had electric on for 2 hours - do I need to wait longer? Is there anything else I can check? Thanks from a sunny ish Wales.
Unlike compressor fridges, these 3-way fridges need to be reasonably level (less than 5 degrees tilt). Is it reasonably level now? Has it been left not level for a long time with the fridge on?
Here's another possibility. That plate with fins inside the fridge is in contact with the cooling pipe behind it. There is some thermal paste over the contact areas to improve the heat transfer. This paste can dry out, and thermal contact can become poor. Some people have found that renewing the paste makes a big difference. However it's probably not something that comes on suddenly, so it's a bit unlikely in this case.
I had one instance when I parked on a slope, and the fridge stopped working. When I put it on the level again, it still wouldn't work. After a 100-mile drive home with the fridge switched off, it worked fine. The vibration must have sorted out the airlock in the circulation.
A drastic last chance measure is to take the fridge out, invert it for 24 hours, then put it back and try it again.
Sorry I can't think of any more cheerful possibilities.
Here's another possibility. That plate with fins inside the fridge is in contact with the cooling pipe behind it. There is some thermal paste over the contact areas to improve the heat transfer. This paste can dry out, and thermal contact can become poor. Some people have found that renewing the paste makes a big difference. However it's probably not something that comes on suddenly, so it's a bit unlikely in this case.
I had one instance when I parked on a slope, and the fridge stopped working. When I put it on the level again, it still wouldn't work. After a 100-mile drive home with the fridge switched off, it worked fine. The vibration must have sorted out the airlock in the circulation.
A drastic last chance measure is to take the fridge out, invert it for 24 hours, then put it back and try it again.
Sorry I can't think of any more cheerful possibilities.
Take the aluminium fins off inside (it's just a couple of screws between the fins) and see if the black pipe behind will frost. It should frost quickly with no load
I am on my drive now and it is level. I have been away in the van(that is when it stopped working) there was a slight incline but I used chocks. Have not left the fridge on for a long time on a slope. I had thought there might be an air lock as you say. Not knowing anything about these fridges - do I now need to take it out ? or hope that it clears itself. The bit I am concerned about is how hot the fins and pipe gets - it’s too hot to touch .
Is it too hot to touch all the way across?
It's normal to be extremely hot on the right hand side but the left hand side should be much cooler.
If it's very hot on the left there isn't enough ventilation through the fins.
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That's OK then. You say you can hear 'trickling" through the vents so it sounds like there is refrigerant moving through.
Next thing I would do is remove the aluminium fins inside and see if the black evaporator pipe will frost with no load. It should frost up pretty quickly.
Our fridge is dometic but i'm assuming the Thetfords are very similar.
Our fridge suddenly lost performance when the paste dried out, mind you the screws holding the fins on weren't very tight either.
The black evaporator pipe should frost up like this..
I have the fridge on and will leave it for an hour or so - if it does not work I will remove fins. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions. Great having this site to go to. Will let you know how I get on
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taken fins off pipe not frosted. See picture.
Yes you are doing the right thing. It's obviously a refrigerant circulation problem. The refrigerant can sometimes escape, it consists of Amonia, water and hydrogen. Amonia stinks and leaves a brown stain where it's leaked from. Have you noticed anything?Well, I have now taken fridge out and put it upside down(I can hear gurgling noise as I did so) going to leave it now until tomorrow - hope I am doing the right thing!!!! Anyone want to chip in a comment?
No, cannot smell anything or any stains.
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That's a good sign, also the gurgling you can hear is good too, so you haven't lost the coolant gases/liquids. These fridges aren't like compressor types that only contain a single gas and can be re=gassed. 3-way fridges can be re-gassed in theory, but in practice no-one is actually able to.
Well everyone, I have put the fridge back in and connected it up. It’s been running now for 3hrs and the freezer compartment has started to freeze a cup of water and the fridge is cold, so cross fingers it is fixedThanks to everyone for your suggestions and especially Autorouter
for your help.
Thanks to everyone for your suggestions and especially Autorouterfor your help.
If the fridge fins start frosting it's sortedWell everyone, I have put the fridge back in and connected it up. It’s been running now for 3hrs and the freezer compartment has started to freeze a cup of water and the fridge is cold, so cross fingers it is fixed
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