HELP! Excel Camper with non working NORCOLD fridge

[spitzfamily]

My family and I just bought a 33ft 1983 Excel Camper. The refridgerator is a Norcold Model #778 Eg2, Seriel # 19362 and theres another number, 838Eg3. We plugged the camper in, had the fridge set to electric, freezer barely cooled and fridge didnt cool at all. ( We left it plugged in, level in our drive for 36 hours)..so we switched it to propane...did the same thing and still nothing? Is there something we need to clean or try? My husband just wants to take it in and have it repaired, but I'm more of a save some money and do it yourself girl! Any, Any help would be appreciated! And very detailed if you could!! Thanks a bunch! Can't wait to try it out with the kids next weekend!

[Endeavor2BnC]

Being that it's an '83 model, IMHO you be best spending your money on a new one so that you don't have to worry about it going out. The frig won't let forever. You're lucky that it still cools. Good luck.

[rockintom]

If the refer assembly or cooling unit hasn't been replaced........then Tim is right....... ammonia refers have a normal life span of 10-12 years..... some more some less......that's just a fact. Look in the opening into the rear of the refer from outside......do you see any yellow-like substance around the perimeter? That means it's a goner.....sorry. Please let us know what you find.
Here's a little education on RV refers. http://www.gasrefrigeration.net/Why%20they%20fail.htm rockin'

[Workshop]

You mention that the refrig doesn't cool while on electric, "freezer barely cooled and fridge didnt cool at all". Does the same on gas. I would assume that while operating on gas that you has a flame and the 'stack' was hot...so the propane side of the cooling operation was working correctly but not resulting in the cooling of the refrig.

In basic terms, while on 120vac...the refrig uses a heating element to generate heat to make the unit operate, while on gas...the burner flame does. If both heaters are operating correctly, the only thing in common and doesn't appear to be working is the cooling unit on the refrig.

If thats the case, I don't know of anything you can do other than take it in for troubleshooting or repair/replacement.

Good luck,

workhorse