Thetford fridge not cooling properly in Spain (1 Viewer)

[annenpaul]

hi all.

Our theford n145ad r fridge freezer has got a problem. The freezer is fine but the fridge won't go below 20c. It is 30c outside. Does anybody know what the problem can be, or where we can get it looked at. We are in Mataro outside of Barcelona.

Thanks Paul and Anne

 

[denisejoe]

probably need fridge fans

joe

 

[2657]

A fridge fan would no doubt help but in the absence of one try taking the vent covers off to increase ventilation and try to keep the fridge side of the van in the shade. Setting the the fridge temp to the middle setting also helps.

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[Zigisla]

There are a few threads on here about fitting cooling fans to the top vent cover. As the outside air temp rises to that sort of level, the air behind the fridge heats up too much and cannot cool the fridge enough. Freezer tends to be better as it is opened less. Quick fix is to shade the fridge side of the MH and remove vent covers to allow more of an air flow.

 

[Lenny HB]

He says it is only getting down to 20, don't think fans will help sounds like a fault.

Is it the same on 230v as well as gas?
If just on gas, burner, jet & chimney probably need cleaning. If on both the absorbtion unit may have had it.

 

[annenpaul]

Hi all

We have the fridge shaded with the awning and we have already taken the vents off the top and the bottom?

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[Zigisla]

Hi all

We have the fridge shaded with the awning and we have already taken the vents off the top and the bottom?

Deffo go with @Lenny HB suggestion above. Sounds like a fault now. Serves me right for not readin' propa.

 

[DangerMousy]

You don't say whether you're on gas or EHU.....but if you're on gas then I reckon @Lenny HB has it.

Our fridge was working fine on mains, but on gas just wasn't getting all that cold. I think the freezer gets first dibs on the coolant which is why the freezer appears to work(ish) but the fridge doesn't. Had our fridge serviced and now its working perfectly - loads of black soot came out of the burner assembly.

Also on gas it appears to work best when the temperature control is around 2/3 on....have no idea why, but its true. Doesn't make any sense to me but if its turned up to full then it actually stops cooling

 

[annenpaul]

The problem is on gas and hookup

Thanks Paul

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[Lenny HB]

The problem is on gas and hookup

Thanks Paul

Not good, if lucky could be just the temperature sensor, or possibly the electronics controling it, worst case the absorption unit.

 

[2657]

Failing any other easy solutions try turning it off overnight or maybe 24 hrs, it has worked for us in the past.

 

[Nirvanauk]

What I did last year in the south of France was to visit their B&Q and pick up a small toilet extractor fan, four metres of cable, a plug and a sucker. Placed sucker above top vent , wired the cable and plugged in on extract and you could immediately feel that hot air being sucked out. Not the prettiest solution but it helps.

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[Xabia]

I fitted twin fans in the upper grill, 35C in Spain in May, fridge keeping wife's insulin at a constant 4-5C, had problems getting to the correct temperature levels before the fans were fitted.

 

[JackieP]

I fitted fans last year too and they've been amazing but even my super duper 30 year old fridge struggled when it got over 30 degrees. Some days it barely made 15, so there may not actually be anything wrong with your fridge AN. I thought there was something wrong with mine but once I got somewhere slightly cooler it did start working properly again. Keep in the shade if you can and make sure your fridge vent is kept out of the sun and if you can't help being in the sun then use your awning if you can.

 

[Lenny HB]

Please guys read the OP, fans ain't going to help, the fridge has got a fault it won't get down below 20 deg.

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[annenpaul]

Thanks everyone for your answers. Well I got a Motorhome and caravan guy out to the campsite I am on in Spain. Recommended by the site. He said there is nothing wrong with it because the freezer is working. I have since put a van in the bottom vent and switched it fro hook up to gas and I have managed to get it to 15c it is 30+c in Spain at the minute and a few people are having problems

 

[Mike800966]

Most of the respondents seem to have covered all the main points but I would just ask if you are level enough?
Have you moved pitch? if it worked fine before and you havent shifted the van then I can only concur with previous posters.
Might be worth resting it, even overnight , perhaps the gas has got stuck in the wrong spot, sounds daft but I have heard of fridges being inverted and shaken to put it right. (Dont Try this at Home!_)
Mike

 

[treetops1]

I would suggest you check the flame on your gas .A single flame not much bigger than a pilot light only has to be retarded slightly to affect the working of your fridge. It may only need a clean to the flue , or as in my case after standing through winter a valve had stuck and a funsters came up had a look and he said his valve had stuck tapping mine with a spanner ,in an instant the flame doubled in size problem solved.

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[sallylillian]

Thanks everyone for your answers. Well I got a Motorhome and caravan guy out to the campsite I am on in Spain. Recommended by the site. He said there is nothing wrong with it because the freezer is working. I have since put a van in the bottom vent and switched it fro hook up to gas and I have managed to get it to 15c it is 30+c in Spain at the minute and a few people are having problems

I have to agree with @Lenny HB that there is a problem that fans will not resolve. One has to ask, how full is the fridge, where are you measuring this temperature, are you leaving it a couple of hours between reading if you have to open the door?

 

[WillH]

Fridges are fickle things, try setting the temperature selector to 3 or 4 bars.