Quote:
Originally Posted by steveinfla
Is there an issue with new*(2021-2022) Dometic refrigerators developing cooling system blockages? A mobile tech told me today that recent Dometic fridges have some cooling system blockage issues from the factory. Does that sound right? I'm a little skeptical...
The background...
We have a Dometic fridge (DM2872) in our rig (a 2022 Open Road Allegro) that is not cooling enough. Rig is only 8 months old (purchased new in January). Temps are about 33 in the freezer and 50 in the fridge. In the morning the temps are slightly lower but during the day they rise back up. Everything was working great until about a week ago when we noticed the temps starting to creep up.
We called a local mobile repair service but they were too busy to come out to look at it. But they did tell us that they have been seeing a lot of new dometic fridges from the factory with cooling system blockages (like you can get from running the fridge when you're not level - we always make sure we're level). The mobile tech thinks it's an issue with the fridges from the factory and says I should call Dometic (which I will do but haven't yet). Does this sound right? I haven't heard of any recent issues like this with dometic fridges from the factory. Has anyone heard of recent issues like this?
And if you're interested, here is the troubleshooting I've done so far (and I'm still working on it):
I verified the position of the thermistor in the fridge and also tested the thermistor and it seems to be working (9.3K ohms in 33 degree water). Rig is only 8 months old (purchased new in January). Cooling issues happen on gas and AC. I disconnected the thermistor so the fridge will run in "bypass" mode (continuous cooling). After 6 hours in bypass mode the temps are now down to 10 in the freezer and 36 in the fridge (it's 8 PM now). I'm going to let it run overnight in bypass and see what the temps are in the morning, but it seems like the cooling system is working. Ambient air temps are low 80s in the day and low 60s at night. Maybe I have an air flow issue over the back of the fridge but it was previously working great in hot temps (a month in Cincy when it was 90+ everyday and humid). Temps seem to drop a few degrees if I remove the outside vent and put a little table top fan in there blowing up. There is a fan in there already (I can hear it kick on and off) but I may add a couple more fans and maybe a baffle to help the air flow. If the cooling unit works and the thermistor is good I figure it must be an airflow problem... I'll keep trying.
Thanks,
Steve
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Although you Tested the thermistor (placing them in cold water can actually cause them to fail due to water getting inside them)
Unplugging it allowed the fridge to fully cool freezer (10*F) and food compartment (36*F) so cooling unit is NOT obstructed/blockage
Thermistor is BAD....either the thermistor or the connection at circuit board.
I'd replace the thermistor and check operation.
Check out the Snip-The-Tip Rheostat replacement.
*DM2872 uses Auto Temp Control (no temp settings)....moving thermistor UP/Down on FIN will affect overall temp by 6*/8*F
UP----Cooler
Down.....Less cooler
Fans help especially if in a slideout due to upper side wall vent vs roof vent which allows for natural draft.
DM2872 does have OPTIONAL Fan ....3A in-line fuse powers it
https://www.snip-the-tip.com/cgi-bin/articca.cgi
Dometic has a 2 yr warranty on the fridge
Linear Mode
