RV Gurus - need help

Well, technically the thing has two separate modes to cool. AC side uses compressor and propane side a chemical reaction. The fact neither works makes me believe it may be operator error. I'm at a loss

There is no compressor in a RV absorption fridge.

They are ammonia absorption fridges.

Make sure the propane tank is turned on and the lines are purged. You can do that by turning on the stove and making sure it will light. The fridge will try to light itself several times then go into a safety mode. If the lines were empty due to the tank being off, you might have to cycle it a few times to get it to light. Also on the outside check the "chimney" to make sure that no dirt daubers have built nests in there. Without the proper flow the sensors will not let it light on propane because they will never see the heat.

If on 110 you feel it getting hot on the outside, that is what it is supposed to do. These fridges boil ammonia and by evaporation cause them to cool.

As was stated above, don't expect it to get cold as quick as a house fridge. It will take a while. You should feel the fins starting to cool down, and the first place you should feel it getting cold is on the back wall of the freezer.

The other thing is with it being as hot as it has been, your time to cool down will be longer than when it is cooler outside.

Last thing I would check is to make sure that there is nothing blocking the exhaust vent at the top. If there is no air flowing over the coils it will not cool well if at all.

The only things that can go wrong to prevent cooling on these are: No air circulation behind unit, no flame from Propane burner, no heat from electric element, bad logic board, or the dreaded rusting/corrosion of the tubing and the loss of the ammonia.

Also make sure the unit is level, running this type of fridge to far off level will destroy it.

Also check the internet to make sure yours was not part of the massive recall. If it was, they will fix it to prevent you from burning down your rv!

That is ammonia. Don't use it. Toss it out and get a household unit.
FYI, they had recalls on the recall kits!

Yes, if it smells like ammonia it is toast. When the ammonia boils it produces a fairly flammable gas, so if it is leaking running it would be no Bueno.

Here is a good site LINK / You can find all the info you could ever want on what causes it, etc.

Some on there have bought a cooling unit made by the Amish that is supposed to be 1000 times better than the Norcold one. As said above the recall kits suck, they are pretty much just a little extra safety temperature probe that shuts the unit off before it can burn a hold in the tubing.

You will also find a lot of talk about what residential fridges fit in the space for that fridge and will be able to see some of the mods people did to make them fit.

One thing I would say, is if you do go with a res fridge is to remember it will only work on gen power or plugged in unless you get an inverter. Also many have had to remove a side window or the front windshield to get the old unit out and/or the new unit in. Some were able to squeeze it thru the door by removing the doors from the fridge. Just be ready to do some work, this is not going to be a buy a new fridge and swap it out without some work project. 99% of these fridges were dropped in before the roof or walls were put on the rig.

I want to do the res fridge upgrade, but our 99 Holiday Rambler fridge just will not die! Damn thing has been the best and coldest one we have ever had in an RV!

Those RV units generally don't get cold at all FYI, I mean like they get 'cool' but not cold and take forever to cool down. If you don't really need to have it on while driving, I'd definitely do as said above and just get a regular 110v to plug in at camp. Would be much better for multiple reasons.

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Those RV units generally don't get cold at all

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Mine got cold enough to freeze a 1/2 gallon of whole milk solid.

When it developed a pinhole in the ammonia line..that was the worst thing EVER. I liken it to being in a gas chamber without a mask. I couldn't get the door open fast enough.

ETA: I took mine out and put in a medium dorm style frig. I knew I wouldn't be staying at that worksite long and I really didn't need the freezer portion that much.

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I really didn't need the freezer portion that much.

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clutch for 10lb bag of ice to use for mixed drinks during camping trips.