Dometic NDA 1402 Freezer Door Switch Problem

[CA Traveler]

The 1402 works as it should except that the freezer temperature varies between 6 and 20 degrees for no reason.

What I know: I have never heard the freezer fan run in normal mode. In service mode it runs OK. All other service modes are OK except the freezer door is always open. When closing the freezer door I can hear a relay click in the back. The same click occurs when the refrigerator is running in normal mode and the freezer door is closed.

It certainly appears that the fan is not running as it should to keep the freezer temperature low. Any suggestions on what is causing the problem?

[CFXCH]

Ca Traveler
I also have a NDA 1402 Dometic 2 door side by side frig-freezer. I think the issue is with that weak little computer fan in the upper right corner. When the fan runs the temperature indicates 6 to 10 F and when the fan becomes obstructed with frost it stops and the temp will not go below 18 F. I'm tired of defrosting after every 5 days.

I would be glad to hear from someone with a solution or a stronger fan that will keep going through a frost scinario.

regards.....CFXCH

[CA Traveler]

CFXCH, I believe my freezer fan is about mid height, on the right side and circulates the air between the upper and lower sections of the freezer. My problem was that the fan was not running period and the service mode so indicated.

After removing the control board cover and checking the wiring connections the fan is now running as expected. So apparently there was a loose connection which is a potential future problem.

So now with limited usage there are no problems.

The icemaker defrost fan is missing. So I called Dometic and they won't send/sell me the kit. What They said it has to be a warranty item done by a dealer!!! I'm still trying to get the fan kit.

[CA Traveler]

Correction: The freezer fan would run in service mode. The freezer door open mode was always open in service mode even though the door switch worked OK - could hear relay in the back.

The fan would not run in normal mode when the freezer door was closed. It now works as expected and both the refer and freezer fans start when the refer is first turned on. I only have 3 days usage in this mode so I'm not sure when the fans turn off.

For clarity: The icemaker defrost fan is missing, probably never installed and Dometic won't sell me a replacement kit.

[CFXCH]

We can't be talking about the same Dometic model because I don't have any mid level fans in the freezer. the only fan I have is on the right in the bottom of the ice maker. It circulates air out of the ice maker part down into the rest of the freezer. This is the little sucker that keeps freezing up on me.
I've removed the ice tray bucket and put the lever in the off position because non of that ever worked very well and went back to ice trays. With the tray removed the fan seems to run longer.
I have contacted Dometic but as you say their answer is go see a $150/hr dealer.

[CA Traveler]

I have a Dometic NDA1402 Product No: 921 14 84-13. The fan that I'm missing is the icemaker defrost fan. You can see the details in the Dometic Defrost Kit manual. To be clear this fan is attached to the icemaker. You can see and feel this fan if you know the location.

I was lead to believe that this is to defrost the icemaker. This could be a play on words since the icemaker restircts vertical air flow and hence may become a place for frost.

When I turn on the freezer fan in service mode I can clearly hear that fan noise on the right side of the freezer about mid height and behind some plastic so that it's not visible. I could also feel the air flowing out of the holes in the lower section of the plastic. It seemed logical to conclude that this fan is designed to circulate air in the freezer. Now that this fan is now running my freezer temp has minimum fluctuation.

It's certainly possible that your refer is different which is why I posted my Product No.

Dometic is being a PITA about selling me missing Defrost Kit with it's fan.

[CA Traveler]

Update: Removed PCB covers and all wires, etc seemed OK. Also discovered a freezer light that wasn't working. And now the main freezer fan is working as expected. We don't have enought run time to determine if maybe the missing defrost fan is needed or not. Why Dometic won't sell me the defrost kit is a mystery.

[CA Traveler]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CFXCH We can't be talking about the same Dometic model because I don't have any mid level fans in the freezer. the only fan I have is on the right in the bottom of the ice maker. It circulates air out of the ice maker part down into the rest of the freezer. This is the little sucker that keeps freezing up on me. I've removed the ice tray bucket and put the lever in the off position because non of that ever worked very well and went back to ice trays. With the tray removed the fan seems to run longer. I have contacted Dometic but as you say their answer is go see a $150/hr dealer.

Today I was thinking about your post and had a thought. Since my refer is a 2009 perhaps they added the freezer fan that I have and eliminated the defrost kit fan. Apparently the product number spells out differences between the same model. This could explain why they won't sell me the defrost kit. Just a thought.

[CA Traveler]

CFXCH,

FYI I removed 2 screws and got a visual on my refer fan just under the ice maker.

[CFXCH]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CA Traveler CFXCH, FYI I removed 2 screws and got a visual on my refer fan just under the ice maker.

CATRAVELER

I do have this fan now that you showed me where it is. But I also have that little circulating fan above which still keeps frosting up.

CFXCH

[CHCam42]

CA Travler
If you go to Dometic web site you can download the parts book for your model. It will give you a parts breakdown that you will find helpful. My unit ( not sur if ours are the same) has an electric defrost strip in the freezer that is set to defrost at 2 am. Set the clock. Are you getting a code 13, this indicates a defrost heater problem. Mine went out and I replaced it, parts will have to come from a dealer they do not sell direct.
Clark

[CA Traveler]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHCam42 CA Travler If you go to Dometic web site you can download the parts book for your model. It will give you a parts breakdown that you will find helpful. My unit ( not sur if ours are the same) has an electric defrost strip in the freezer that is set to defrost at 2 am. Set the clock. Are you getting a code 13, this indicates a defrost heater problem. Mine went out and I replaced it, parts will have to come from a dealer they do not sell direct. Clark

No codes and no main freezer defrost problems. We did have some frost around the icemaker and the fan pictured below was not operating correctly which was also causing temp problems, now resolved.

I also found that there is a Defrosting Kit for this refer. The main part is a small fan that fits in the hole on the back right bottom side of the ice maker. This is the one that is frosting up for CFXCH and Dometic will not sell me one. Maybe now that the main freezer fan is operational I don't need this kit but I'll know in June.

[CA Traveler]

CFXCH,

Does your main freezer fan work both in diagnostic mode and normal mode?

[CFXCH]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CA Traveler CFXCH, Does your main freezer fan work both in diagnostic mode and normal mode?

CA Traveler

I don't know what you mean by Diagnostic or normal mode.
I have on/off, gas or electric, and manual defrost.

How do you go to diagnostic mode.

Should tell you my freezer has run at 10 degrees F for the past week with that little circulating fan plugged with frost. So I wonder if it is an essential part.

CFXCH