Refrigerator cooling unit replacement

n5yhz-1 · 09-04-2010, 07:14 AM

Hello all. Iam new to Irv2 thanks for allowing me to join. The fridge in my 5th wheel is slowing dying. I have the heating element connected direct and the coldest the fresh food area will get is 40 degrees,48 in the daytime. Has enyone had any experience with a cooling unit rebuilder. Who would you recommend. Who would you stay away from. I have been told that the cooling unit change out is not hard to do so Iam going to give it a go. Thanks for your help this looks like a great site. Charlie...

**Gary RVRoamer** · 09-04-2010, 03:46 PM

Welcome to iRV2, Charlie. Hopefully somebody who has already done this will reply soon.

Meanwhile, here is another thread on this topic.
Norcold 1200 LRIM Cooling Unit Replacement

**RV Wizard** · 09-05-2010, 03:08 AM

You might want to add some air flow up the outside back of the unit before condemning the cooling unit. A small fan placed at the bottom vent should move enough air up the condenser to dissipate the heat the evaporator is absorbing.

**"007"** · 09-05-2010, 05:31 AM

On the subject of better venting take a look at this thread may be cheaper than replacing a cooling unit when all you needed was better venting in the first place.
The new cooling unit may run into same problem.
Welcome to irv2.

n5yhz-1 · 09-05-2010, 06:38 AM

Hi Guys. Thanks for all the suggestions. I have 2 fans on the refrigerator, 1 on the back and 1 inside. It has worked fine in the past but this last trip it never did get real cold. I guess all those years of short term parking unlevel are adding up ie grocery store burger joint ect.

I have ordered a new cooling unit I will keep you posted. Charlie...

uism · 09-05-2010, 02:40 PM

I just completed installation of a cooling unit in a 1994 rm 3807 dometic
and It works great.
Take a lot of photos and document every thing removed because It will have to be replaced.
The replacement unit was new cost $650.00 shipped. IKE

AFChap · 09-05-2010, 02:57 PM

My advice would be DO NOT get a rebuilt cooling unit ...go with a new one. How had it is to replace depends on the refrigerator you have, and also how securely the RV mfg'er installed it. It is a real job to pull the refrigerator out of most modern Winnebago coaches.

n5yhz-1 · 09-06-2010, 04:13 PM

Well. the fridge is out and laying on sawhorses in the garage. Talk about a fight,I would rather wrestle a 6 ft alligator. The fridge was 1/4 inch wider than the door. The replacement part should be here sometime this week. Stay tuned for updates. Charlie...

**"007"** · 09-07-2010, 06:51 PM

I found this thread that maybe of help for you.

cbfromsd · 09-07-2010, 07:35 PM

DO NOT let Holland Motorhomes work on your RV! They worked on my RV fridge. When they were removing the fridge they put holes in the ceiling, which they poorly repaired. They also put a hole in the water line to our ice maker, which we found out about when it flooded our RV during our first desert trip of the season. Holland Motorhomes refused to take responsibility for their workmanship and told us that it wasn't their problem.

Cori

n5yhz-1 · 09-13-2010, 07:31 PM

Well. This is the latest news. The replacement cooling unit arrived Fri. The disection started Sat. morning the hardest part was getting the old unit out. That used up most of my vocabulary,but once it was out it was downhill from there. The installation was straight forward. I had the whole thing back in the rv by Sunday night and powered up for the big test. When I got home from work Monday afternoon the freezer was at 24 and the fresh food was at 77. Needless to say this was worst than the old one. Anyway I am in contact with the person I purchased it from and we will see what happens next. Stay tuned this is going to get better. Charlie...

**"007"** · 09-13-2010, 07:57 PM

77!!!! only thing I can say when they gave you the instructions did they say sealing the unit into box was very important to get all gaps complete full of sealant so no outside air can get into box. Where is your thermistor located in box on fin?
We had someone that would get high box temps when he only was driving his coach.
While camped it was fine. Turned out it was a small hole that wasn't completely sealed.
Were you running it on gas or electric?
If electric try on gas and maybe it will burp when coolant states boiling.

n5yhz-1 · 09-15-2010, 06:21 PM

Ok. After much telephone testing it has been determined the cooling unit has problems. I am in the process of removing the fridge from the trailer again. The second new cooling unit was shipped today ( I hope)

and should be here by next week. The guy Iam working seems great and doing everything he can to make this right. back soon. Charlie...