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texnet · 04-07-2015, 07:25 PM

Our coach came with 3 Dometic 630515 Heat Pump AC units. When we purchased the coach in 2011 I replaced the fans in all three units due to the fan motors being noise and running rough. The units have performed great since then. We use the coach a lot so the ACs have also been used a lot.

A few weeks ago the front unit would no longer cool, then a week or so after that the middle unit quit cooling. Yesterday I got on the roof and removed both covers to find the EXACT same problem on both, a broken line going to the compressor... The line was broken in the same place on both units. see photo below

A friend of mine is an AC Repair person so I called him to see what he could do. Here is $5.00 worth of parts, $100 worth of R22 Freon, and a couple of hours total repair. MUCH CHEAPER than 2 brand new units!!!

Papa_Jim · 04-07-2015, 09:01 PM

Amazing!

I had always understood that these units were not repairable!

Good work!

Jim

texnet · 04-07-2015, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Papa_Jim

Amazing!

I had always understood that these units were not repairable!

Good work!

Jim

You just have to find someone who knows air conditioning that is willing to work on an RV unit that is 12 foot up in the air. My friend is 81 years young and has no problem working on them!

jacwjames · 04-08-2015, 06:49 AM

Any ideas on what could cause the exact same failure in both units. The tubing broke at an elbow, any chance that the rubber mounts for the compressor ware wore out putting too much stress on this joint.

Thanks for the post, I now know I have options if mine fails like this.

I changed out the blower motor on my front AC last year. They were running loud and it started to kick out the breaker. I had changed the hard start capacitor the year before which helped but I started to have more problems and decided to investigate. I found the front motor bearings almost seized, although I could turn the shaft it was difficult. I also found that the squirrel cage fan was actually hitting the shroud, caused by the rubber mounts on the motor failing. After fix it runs great.

texnet · 04-08-2015, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacwjames

Any ideas on what could cause the exact same failure in both units. The tubing broke at an elbow, any chance that the rubber mounts for the compressor ware wore out putting too much stress on this joint.

That was our initial thought, that the mounts were wore out, but after checking them they were fine. The lines actually broke at a bend, not an elbow. We put the elbow in as it was an easier repair and we used the elbow to add a place to fill the Freon. Both the lines broke at the same exact location of the bend, so my thought is the original bending of the tubing weakened the tubing.

MSHappyCampers · 04-08-2015, 05:25 PM

I would see this as a defect in material, especially since both broke in the same place. Probably unusual stress at that point and the vibration did it's thing after that long a time. I would send the pics to Dometic and get their reaction to it!

JhonsonSmith · 05-04-2015, 12:42 AM

I purchased a new central Air Conditioning unit and heating just over two years ago for $5,220.00, and it's not working. It will cost a lot of money for labor, though parts are covered. I have had nothing but problems since the purchase, and I still owe over $3,000.00 on the unit. This equipment should have lasted years without trouble, and no one wants to help me. I am being told that I have to pay to have the coil replaced on the unit and it will be expensive.It is over eighty degrees in my home, and I am extremely depressed over the whole issue.

Tomjhall · 05-04-2015, 07:38 AM

Great fix! When I purchased my coach nearly two years ago the rear AC wasn't working and the PO thought it had or so he said. I got up on the roof and discovered the same thing but this one had been broke for who knows how long. My friend and I blew the unit out with nitrogen and installed filter dryers and compressor oil and some other magic brew. When we soldered it up and charged it with nitrogen it held tight so we charged it with freon. The compressor wouldn't start, it would trip the breaker and the cost of a new one was nearly as much as a new unit. So we had one more trick, we installed a "Hard Start" kit which is just a big capacitor to help get the compressor going, not harmful at all. It still tripped the breaker. So we went to the last trick, I was on the roof with a Dead Blow plastic hammer and my wife was at the breaker panel. When she closed the breaker I smacked the compressor and on the second try it started and has been working perfectly ever since. It works so well that in the summer at the race track in 106 degree heat my wife and daughter will cover themselves with blankets!

98Dynasty · 05-04-2015, 09:26 AM

That is a great fix. How much R22 did each unit take?

Tomjhall · 05-04-2015, 11:02 AM

98Dynasty,

I don't remember off the op of my head but there is a data plate in the unit. I also added a few Dometic AC files to this website. Go up to files/HVAC and you should find Duotherm air conditioner service manual. I feel these units are very serviceable but probably not economical if you must pay someone to do the work. We have all of the tools and it's just too simple not to fix. My units are Heat strips and honestly here in CA I only use the furnace and then not too often.

Tomjhall · 05-04-2015, 11:11 AM

98Dynasty,

I don't remember off the op of my head but there is a data plate in the unit. I also added a few Dometic AC files to this website. Go up to files/HVAC and you should find Duotherm air conditioner service manual. I feel these units are very serviceable but probably not economical if you must pay someone to do the work. We have all of the tools and it's just too simple not to fix. My units are Heat strips and honestly here in CA I only use the furnace and then not too often.

texnet · 05-04-2015, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 98Dynasty

That is a great fix. How much R22 did each unit take?

Specs are 15 oz each, so about 2 lbs. My friend charged me $100.00 for the R22.

texnet · 05-04-2015, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomjhall

I was on the roof with a Dead Blow plastic hammer and my wife was at the breaker panel. When she closed the breaker I smacked the compressor and on the second try it started and has been working perfectly ever since.

Love it when old-school technology repairs work!! I have fixed lots of things over the years by smacking it with a hammer!

rv9apilot · 05-04-2015, 07:18 PM

I am in the air conditioning and I would guess that the breaks were caused by stress when bending the CU at the a/c factory. I guarantee I'd try fixing before buying new. Buying new would be a last resort for me.