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08-23-2005, 05:52 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Sammamish, WA
Posts: 8
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Well, now that the 3 year warranty expired 3 weeks ago, my Fridge died. The Cooling unit is leaking. Yellow liquid, ammonia smell. When on Electric, you can hear the liquid sizzling where the heating element tube is welded to the perk tube. Very frustrating since I have been carefull to keep the trailer level.
So here is the question. Can I get a new cooling unit and if so, how hard is it to replace? Would it be better to just get a new Fridge and if so, what's the best to put in.
The one that just died is a Dometic Americana RM2652.
I appreciate the help.
Mark
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08-23-2005, 05:52 AM
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#2
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Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Sammamish, WA
Posts: 8
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Well, now that the 3 year warranty expired 3 weeks ago, my Fridge died. The Cooling unit is leaking. Yellow liquid, ammonia smell. When on Electric, you can hear the liquid sizzling where the heating element tube is welded to the perk tube. Very frustrating since I have been carefull to keep the trailer level.
So here is the question. Can I get a new cooling unit and if so, how hard is it to replace? Would it be better to just get a new Fridge and if so, what's the best to put in.
The one that just died is a Dometic Americana RM2652.
I appreciate the help.
Mark
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08-23-2005, 06:01 AM
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#3
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Member
Texas Boomers Club
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Waco Texas
Posts: 46
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I would contact the MFG of the fridge and see if they are feeling friendly towards their customers, sometimes when its that close and that type of problem they will help out
__________________
97 Dodge 2500 CC,5spd, Cummins, minor eng mods. AKA Deezul 1
2006 Montana 3400RL Quad Slide full timing July 06 <a href="https://www.wunderground.com/US/TX/Waco.html">
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08-23-2005, 07:49 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Carlos, Texas
Posts: 1,746
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Did you do your maintenace at 2 years? If I recall, the warranty for Dometic is 2 years, but extended IF you had a authorized dealer do some sort of maintenance and submit paperwork from that visit.
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08-23-2005, 08:12 AM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Sammamish, WA
Posts: 8
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I did all the maintenance my self. And of course for the warranty to be valid, I have to have an authorized dealer doing the maintenance and have a receipt to prove it.
I was looking at Campingworld.com and they sell the RM2652 but there are 3 reviews on it and all are horrible. So I'm not getting warm fuzzies on just fixing it. It sounds like it's just not a good, quality product.
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08-23-2005, 11:49 PM
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
Country Coach Owners Club Appalachian Campers Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Chattanooga, Tn.
Posts: 12,060
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scubamoto, To replace the cooling unit is a lot of work and if you decide to do so, make sure it is a new unit, not remanufactured. Again, I would contact the mfg. you have nothing to loose. If they do not help you out, replace it with a Norcold brand and let them know you will be doing so. Good luck and let us know the outcome.
__________________
Mike, RVIA & RVSA Certified Master RV Technician
Amy, Dr. Assistant - Roxie & Mei Ling, four legs each
2000 Gulf Stream Scenic Cruiser 450 hp & 1330# torque
06 Saturn Vue, 06 Chevy Z71 4x4 & 2014 Corvette Z51 M7
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08-24-2005, 09:00 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Outdoors RV Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Hillsboro, OR, USA
Posts: 1,293
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In two of three TTs I have had Dometic refers, the first one went 10yrs with no problems and the second went 5 with no problems. The second one was the Americana series - I was not as impressed with it as I was the first one. All of the main features the first one had were add on accs on the Americana. Magic Fingers, light etc. My brand new TT has a Norcold - too new to tell. So far it has worked great. Lots of storage - it is the first fridge that can take the cold pack of pop in the bottom with ease - no more alum rings. It also has a light. This is also the first refer for me that has a seperate freezer door - not incorporated into the main unit. Wife just loves it. Norcold also put in some plastic slides that keep the doors from closing tightly so you can let fresh air in without having to leave the door wide open.
__________________
2017 Chevy 2500HD LTZ DuraMax Diesel Silver Ice Metallic
2017 Outdoors RV Timber Ridge 25RDS Mountain Series 4X Off Road Suspension Pkg
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08-25-2005, 03:32 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Texas Boomers Club
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Cypress, Texas USA
Posts: 8,854
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Not to be a naysayer, but Norcold has their problems, too. We lost one of the bad batch of cooling units on our previous 5th wheel after 3 months service.
Rusty
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08-25-2005, 09:32 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Texas Boomers Club
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Gilmer, TX -- USA
Posts: 126
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We have two RV's -- both have 'fridges from Lowe's/Home Depot. I power the one in the bus conversion via my diesel gen while on the road (also running air conditioning and hot water heater as well); the Airstream 'fridge is powered via inverter in the truck. Both units work great. Cost under $250.00 for each one plus $130.00 for an inverter.
We don't boondock except a Wal*Mart etc while on the road -- this method would not work well if you did extended boondocking.
I also noted in the latest Family Motor Coach mag a product review of a motorhome that has a 120 volt compressor operated fridge.
Just another way of doing things.
Oh .. .. 'fridge has 5 yr warranty, too.
don
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08-25-2005, 10:31 AM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Sammamish, WA
Posts: 8
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Well, I've talked to RVMobile which is about 45 minutes from me up in Everett, WA. Had a pretty good discussion with them about the cooling unit, Demetic in general and Norcold. I'm hauling the fridge up to them after work today and should have it back in a week. I'll post again when up and running and let everyone know how it went.
Mark
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08-27-2005, 02:08 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Aguanga, CA, USA
Posts: 239
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I've often wondered why NovaKool 12 compressor fridges never seem to be used in RVs (apparently they're quite popular in boats). They are much more efficient than absorbtion types, and I believe more reliable.
I've never known anyone with any experience with them, but I did have a Sunfrost unit (which uses the same 12 volt Danfoss compressor) in a solar powered application and it was great - 16 cu.ft. would run with 300 watts of solar panels (4 75 watt panels) and 2 golf cart batteries.
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08-28-2005, 03:24 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii (last fixed residence before becoming fulltimers)
Posts: 47
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Here is an alternative to Norcold/Dometic in RVs: Tundra Refrigerators & Freezers. I picked up their brochure and talked briefly with them at an FMCA rally in Oregon. This is a compressor type refer used in the boating industry and also in trucks and RVs. They quoted me a price of $995 to replace my 8.5 CuFt Norcold with their unit which is AC/DC (not including labor). Not sure if these numbers are still good: 804-633-9454 http://www.aap.com for their dealer.
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