Thetford N80 Fridge - not cooling?

[kwism]

My fridge is not cooling. I can hear the gas clicking to ignite, the dial moves up to green, and with the temp dial on highest, it just doesn't cool. I've tried the mains and battery settings, even overnight, but still nothing. Any ideas?

 

[jockaneezer]

Can you see if the burner is actually igniting ? If you can't see it, you can usually hear a little "roar" from it when it's burning. Another idea that sometimes works is to turn the temperature dial down to about 2/3rds as sometimes they aren't so good running flat out.

 

[Stealaway]

Take off the bottom vent cover and see if it has lit.

 

[Eggs]

The fridge isn't cooling using any power source, not just gas.

 

[Clivefog]

The tried and tested fix is to remove the fridge turn it upside down over night. Try it on mains if working ok refit. No cost apart from time and effort. If it does not work on mains it is already out for further investigation

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[rb62]

Check the state of the thermal paste on the back of the fins,it'll operate on the same principles as Thetford.

Electrolux 212 fitting new thermal paste ?

As previously discussed on here have received the tube of thermal gel and dismantled the fridge.Where does the paste go..... between the two cooling fins where they meet the black tubes or between the two clamping plates....and is it worth putting some on the freezer tubes before sliding the...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Spriddler]

I guess from your Profile that the m/h is new to you, so has the fridge ever worked for you?

 

[kwism]

I guess from your Profile that the m/h is new to you, so has the fridge ever worked for you?

Hi Spriddler - Yes, I bought it from motorhomedepot.com just recent (Auto-Sleeper Windrush) - I do have an incline on my driveway which is greater than 3 degrees, but I parked it flat over Easter but still not cooling!

 

[SandraL]

The fridge works by creating heat to drive the refridgerant around, the heat can be created by gas flame or an electric element either 240v or 12v.
At the top rear of the fridge you will be able to feel the warmth from this heat.
Remove the top rear vent cover and you will see a series of fins around a horizontal pipe. Are they warm or hot.

If on 240v the element could be faulty.
If on gas the jet could be blocked or the flue sooted up.
I would try on mains first. If you can feel heat the element will be ok. It will take a while to produce heat on those fins.
If the fins are hot and the internal freezer plate fins do not get cold then its an issue with the refridgerant or possibly the paste on rear of the freezer fins has dried out.
If fridge works on any heat source the refridgerant circuit is ok.
Hope this might help.

 

[Spriddler]

Hi Spriddler - Yes, I bought it from motorhomedepot.com just recent (Auto-Sleeper Windrush) - I do have an incline on my driveway which is greater than 3 degrees, but I parked it flat over Easter but still not cooling!

O.K. but the point of my post was querying whether it has ever worked for you.

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[kwism]

The fridge works by creating heat to drive the refridgerant around, the heat can be created by gas flame or an electric element either 240v or 12v.
At the top rear of the fridge you will be able to feel the warmth from this heat.
Remove the top rear vent cover and you will see a series of fins around a horizontal pipe. Are they warm or hot.

If on 240v the element could be faulty.
If on gas the jet could be blocked or the flue sooted up.
I would try on mains first. If you can feel heat the element will be ok. It will take a while to produce heat on those fins.
If the fins are hot and the internal freezer plate fins do not get cold then its an issue with the refridgerant or possibly the paste on rear of the freezer fins has dried out.
If fridge works on any heat source the refridgerant circuit is ok.
Hope this might help.

Many thanks indeed, very helpful - I'll give all that a go

 

[kwism]

O.K. but the point of my post was querying whether it has ever worked for you.

that'll be never then.. since I got it a few weeks ago

 

[TerryL]

that'll be never then.. since I got it a few weeks ago

A quick word, then, with Motorhome Depot seems to be in order - though as they only act as agents for the sellers I don't think you'll get very far.
At the very least you may be able to get some clarification from the previous owner.

Otherwise all of the above applies.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

How old is the fridge, or least ways the van it's in?
Mike

 

[kwism]

How old is the fridge, or least ways the van it's in?
Mike

Hi Mike, it most probably was installed when the van was put together by AutoSleeper in 2012

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[BouncyBoatFolk]

Not new then, so could be just past it's use by date. If it's not working under any power supply condition the refrigerant side sounds the most likely candidate.
Mike.