Norcold Replacement Cooling Coil vs. Total Replacement

[Mike R]

All:

Hoping to get some from anyone that has been in my situation. My Norcold Model 1200LRIMD 4 door refrigerator in my 2006 Fleetwood Discovery 29S stopped cooling this past weekend. The unit is 11 years old. I have a yellow/green dust on the exterior drip tray so it sounds like the cooling coil went. My unit had a recall as well for a fire hazard so I have shut the unit down.

I'm not sure what to do at this point. Options I guess are to either purchase a new Norcold refrigerator or get a replacement cooling coil. As for a replacement cooling coil, not sure if I should go with Amish or get the replacement through Norcold.

I really would prefer to stay with the electric/LP modeal as I boondoggle quite a bit as well so a residential refrigerator isn't an option.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike

[Old-Biscuit]

Replacement cooling unit IS CHEAPER then a NEW RV Absorption fridge.
Amish built cooling units are better made then Norcold Units

Residential fridge.........easily used when boondocking
Battery bank, inverter, solar ---good to go

And if you do boondock then you probably have a gen so that is helpful.

1200LR Norcold Brand-New Cooling Unit, built by the Amish. - RV Cooling Unit Warehouse

[F4Gary]

Are you getting the $900 Norcold lawsuit settlement? Will go a long way to replacement.
I'm thinking I'll go the Amish route.

[tmw188]

There are some that have similar performance issues with there Amish units.

[Sandy Swede]

I had the Amish cooling unit (brand name "Dutch Aire") installed in our Norcold 1200LRIM. Very happy with results. $1,600 included helium charged and replacement of two fans. The replacement was done in about 4 hours at their shop in Shipshewana, IN (near Elkhart).

[Mike R]

F4GARY: I heard that the 1st round of Norcold checks were mailed out July 17th. I was included in the class action suit but not sure why I have yet to receive my 1st check? I heard the 1st payment was $220. Is the total 4 year payment $900?

[tmw188]

It was $228.29 if I remember exactly with 3 more over the next three yrs. paid in July again.

[F4Gary]

Originally Posted by tmw188

It was $228.29 if I remember exactly with 3 more over the next three yrs. paid in July again.

This is what I got also.

Around here, they want around $2500 installed, including the cooling unit.

[MSHappyCampers]

Hi Mike! I'll just share my experience. When we bought the MH in 2012 the first thing I wanted to do was get rid of the Norcold fire hazard. The 1200LRIM was working with the recall. I was told at the time that the only way to get a residential fridge in was through the windshield, and I didn't want to risk having leakage problems. I found out later that it could be brought in with a forklift through a side window, or depending on the replacement, maybe even through the front door by removing the co-pilot seat!

I decided to go with the Dutch Aire Amish-built cooling unit which I bought from RV Cooling Unit Warehouse in Memphis (Dave Force). I replaced it myself with the help of a friend. I have had problems getting it to cool properly ever since. I installed additional fans in back which helped tremendously, but I have never been completely satisfied. I am pretty frustrated with it right now!

I really wish I had gone with the residential.

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

[Mike R]

All:

I really appreciate all of your valuable input regarding the cooling coil replacement for my Norcold 1200.

After much research here on IRV2 as well as the internet and speaking to David Force at RV Cooling Unit Warehouse I have chosen to replace my cooling coil with the Amish cooling coil. I purchased it through RV Cooling Unit Warehouse and got the Norcold 1200LR Cooling Unit Package w/2 AC Elements, 2 High Volume Condenser Fans w/fan switch package and also got the replacement heating element that was recommended as my Norcold 1200 unit is now 11 years old.

I spoke to David Force a couple of times last evening before I placed my order. David was extremely helpful in finalizing my decision on my replacement coil as well as assisting me with placing my order on the RV Cooling Unit Warehouse website.

Based on the video and directions David Force provided me I have decided to replace the cooling coil myself. Never done this before however, based on other posts on IRV2 it seems as though the installation is a bit time consuming but not all that difficult.

Assuming I get the replacement cooling coil by Friday my plan is to tackle the replacement on Saturday and knock it out.

If anyone has any installation tips feel worth noting feel free to jump in.

I will update everyone later this weekend once I complete the replacement project.

Regards,

Mike

[Jake21]

I found that making a wood base out of 2x6 was extremely helpful. I was able to push the unit out of the cavity and onto the wood base. i then used straps to secure the fridge to the base. This made it easy to move around and lay down to remove and install the cooling units.

I would suggest installing an ARP Controller with fan control at the same time. Also, make sure your fans are working before you replace the fridge in the cavity.

[Ray,IN]

If/when our Norcold 1200LRIM cooling unit fails, my decision to replace the cooling unit or buy a new Norcold will be based on a few things. Door gaskets is #1, they are not replaceable, new doors must be purchased. So if my gaskets are not sealing well or have bad places in them, a totally new frig is my choice.
Overall frig condition is #2, paint, rust, etc.
And, of course #3 is - what does DW want; after all, it's her kitchen!

P.S. The best buy I made this year is buying and installing an ARP 2.1 frig control w/fan.http://rvcoolingunit.com/ Without changing any settings, my frig now runs about 15*F cooler. FWIW, rvcoolingunit.com sells for less than the ARP website.

[MSHappyCampers]

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

If/when our Norcold 1200LRIM cooling unit fails, my decision to replace the cooling unit or buy a new Norcold will be based on a few things. Door gaskets is #1, they are not replaceable, new doors must be purchased. So if my gaskets are not sealing well or have bad places in them, a totally new frig is my choice.
Overall frig condition is #2, paint, rust, etc.
And, of course #3 is - what does DW want; after all, it's her kitchen!

P.S. The best buy I made this year is buying and installing an ARP 2.1 frig control w/fan.RV Cooling Unit Warehouse Without changing any settings, my frig now runs about 15*F cooler. FWIW, rvcoolingunit.com sells for less than the ARP website.

Ray, I'm a big believer in the ARP to shut down the fridge if the temps in the stack get too high, but don't really see how it can affect the temps inside the fridge, other than setting it to disable to defrost cycle of the fridge. Perhaps you are using it to control the fans and that made the difference. Please explain. Thanks!

[Dutch Star Don]

"Mike R"......Hopefully you'll have better luck with the replacement unit than most have had.

Go to Harbor Freight and buy one of their cheap moving dollies. Build a frame on it to match the height of the Norcold unit. Top the frame with some plywood. This way you slide the Norcold out onto the frame and then you can easily roll or spin it to work on it.

I really looked into replacing the cooling unit on my previous coach with an Amish unit, but eventually decided to go with a residential unit. I read every post I could regarding the Amish unit install. Once the unit is installed, you have to reseal around the unit. I found that the better installs used the sealer liberally to get better insulation around the areas that leak heat.

On my Norcold, removing the front trim revealed several screws holding the unit in place. I also found two large wood screws, screwed through the bottom of the metal frame at the rear of the unit. You could see them when looking through the outside access door.