Dometic NDA1402 Refrigerator Fix

[CSX4350]

Many will remember the problems that I and others have had with the Dometic NDA1402 reefers in the two side vent applications. After Dometic sent two techs to S. Texas in September last year we had hoped that they had finally found and fixed the problem.

No such luck, it was not fixed and was actually worse when the coach was parked. I took the coach to Newmar last month and left it there until July 8th, when I'll pass through and pick it up.

Nevin Miller called today and they have finally figured out how to fix the refrigerator! They are replacing it with the Norcold 2117 4 door, it supposedly requires no modifications to the opening in any way to fit. It makes me wonder why it took so long to do this? It's only the 4th time the coach has been worked on for the refrigerator. It's just so nice to know that it should (hopefully) finally work properly!

[EngineerMike]

We've had 2 1402's (in 2 different coaches). First one frosted up in the freezer till there was a frozen waterfall inside. Mfgr hadn't plugged air holes in the back when installing. I could never figure out why the h-e-double-toothpicks you put holes in the back of a fridge for moist air to penetrate, which holes have to be plugged when installing, but what do I know? Once they were plugged, and the heater strip in the freeaer overflow changed (the first one was defective) the fridge was the best RV fridge we've ever had (out of 5).
Now we have the 1402 model w/ice & water thru the freezer door. What a stupid idea, and what a lousy adaptation. Extra ice invariably gets caught in the chute to melt & make a mess down the door, cabinet & on the tile. And it can't seem to shift reliably between cube & crushed, and won't switch back w/out an overhaul. Other than that, it is a perfect install & otherwise works perfectly.