frig problem with Southwind 36D

[lp5151]

anyone with a southwind 36D? attached are a couple of pics of a current frig problem I am dealing with at this time with Fleetwood. they will fix the problem but was wondering if anyone else is experiencing the same? there is a burn mark forming (size of silver dollar) in the upper part of the frig compartment, you have to access the upper vent section to see if what's happening to me is also happening to anyone else. the hot air gas vent/exhaust is "shooting" hot gas against the inside of the frig compartment, which also is causing our pantry to heat up...of course the current problem is the possiblity of a fire if not corrected.

if anyone has a 36D, and no apparent problem, would you please send a photo of what the install looks like? may shed some light on why yours is not a problem and what will need to be done to fix my problem. thank you in advance.

[Clifftall]

There is an article in the Oct. FMCA mag. on page 18 that deals with a recall on 04 & 05 35e bounders, with the problem you are having.

If you don't get the mag. ,I can scan it and email it to you.

Hope this helps

Cliff

PS- The new Fleetwood is not honoring recalls on models over one year old.

[lp5151]

Quote:

Originally Posted by clifftall There is an article in the Oct. FMCA mag. on page 18 that deals with a recall on 04 & 05 35e bounders, with the problem you are having. If you don't get the mag. ,I can scan it and email it to you. Hope this helps Cliff PS- The new Fleetwood is not honoring recalls on models over one year old.

Cliff, I have that mag, thank you. can you send me a pic of the upper part of your frig compartment? I would like to see how the install is on a similar unit. I think the problem is with my specific M/H. I can't believe Fleetwood repeated a problem to possibaly cause another recall for the same issue in another model. Fleetwood has turned over the problem to their engineers to come up with a "fix". I take the M/H to the shop this coming Wednesday for that fix. I'm not sure what it will be at this time. as my pics show, there is no extra room for proper venting for the hot exhaust. I hope it will be more than a heat shield. It appears that the current frig is to tall for the compartment that it was installed in.

[Clifftall]

i have a 4 door norcold . it is in the l/ r slide. i can't see behind it . sorry.

cliff

[Clifftall]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lp5151 Cliff, I have that mag, thank you. can you send me a pic of the upper part of your frig compartment? I would like to see how the install is on a similar unit. I think the problem is with my specific M/H. I can't believe Fleetwood repeated a problem to possibaly cause another recall for the same issue in another model. Fleetwood has turned over the problem to their engineers to come up with a "fix". I take the M/H to the shop this coming Wednesday for that fix. I'm not sure what it will be at this time. as my pics show, there is no extra room for proper venting for the hot exhaust. I hope it will be more than a heat shield. It appears that the current frig is to tall for the compartment that it was installed in.

go to page #9 of the feetwood forum. there is thread discussing the same issue. hope this helps.

cliff

[lp5151]

Quote:

Originally Posted by clifftall i have a 4 door norcold . it is in the l/ r slide. i can't see behind it . sorry. cliff

OK..a friend of mine got back into town today, he has a 35H...I was able to get a look at his....

[Clifftall]

and what did you see?

[lp5151]

Quote:

Originally Posted by clifftall and what did you see?

i saw the way his frig was installed (no exposed wood). when mine was installed; Fleetwood did not install the insulation, heat shielding material, etc. that should surround the frig and deflect the heat that comes from the exhaust tube. (they left the bare wood exposed to heat from the exhaust tube thus creating a possible fire danger)

I am a bit surprised that you could not see how yours was installed, there should have been a vented cover that you can remove for inspection and/or service. if the frig is in a slide, there is generally a lower and upper vent behind the frig.

[Clifftall]

Sorry , I didn't know exactly how to check out that area. Today, I pulled off the top vent and saw that mine is completely insulated.

Good luck with yours and I guess the good news is that you caught it in time.

Cliff

[lp5151]

Quote:

Originally Posted by clifftall Sorry , I didn't know exactly how to check out that area. Today, I pulled off the top vent and saw that mine is completely insulated. Good luck with yours and I guess the good news is that you caught it in time. Cliff

M/H is in the shop today for a fix to the frig problem. Fleetwood has voiced to me that the problem will be taken care of....not sure that they will authorize the frig to be pulled out so the comparment gets a thorough inspection. not sure how much of the frig compartment is supposed to be insulated, I assume all of it. hopefully they won't just go for a patch to the burnt spot. I've inspected one other 2007 Bounder that has the same frig as my Southwind; and it also had the entire compartment insulated and protected with metal sheeting and insulated heat shielding material.