Norcold 2117 Suddenly Not Cooling

[mschaffer66]

Thank you. A couple thermistor just showed up. Will update...

[mschaffer66]

Big thank you for suggesting the thermistor.

I was getting swings of 7 to 29 degrees in the freezer. This afternoon I replaced the thermistor and on 5 it has sat at 10 degrees. Fridge has been 39 to 40. No more swings and much better Temps.

I'm going to give it a little but, maybe go to 6.

My troubleshooting didn't lead to thermistor so thank you again.

I'll try to update with some pictures of my fans and if anything else changes.

But I think the problem was two fold. I think both external fans failed as well as the external thermistor. Fix, tentatively, has been to abandon the old fans in place, add 3 new high flow fans wired to the wires coming out of the board(through a speed controller) for the original fans, replace the external fan thermistor, and add a vent fan for good measure.

External fan replacement:
Coolerguys 120mm (120X120X38) High Airflow Waterproof IP67 12v Fan https://a.co/d/3xiixRE

Vent fan:
Titan- 12V/ 24V DC 140mm Multi-Function Rack Mounted Double Refrigerator Side Vent Fan with Speed Controller for RV, Motorhome, Caravan -TTC-SC09TZ(C) https://a.co/d/4EEMD52

External fins thermistor:
Norcold 638391 Thermistor Assembly - Fits Polar N7/N8/N10 Models https://a.co/d/aMoICRe

[Old-Biscuit]

Proper draft/airflow and an absorption fridge can cool AND Maintain it.

[mschaffer66]

Well, I thought I had this one fixed. Maybe not.

Over night at some point it got up to 28 degrees in the the freezer, but when I checked on it this morning it was at 11 degrees. Could there be some sort of defrost thing its doing when it doesn't need to?

[Old-Biscuit]

Originally Posted by mschaffer66

Well, I thought I had this one fixed. Maybe not.

Over night at some point it got up to 28 degrees in the the freezer, but when I checked on it this morning it was at 11 degrees. Could there be some sort of defrost thing its doing when it doesn't need to?

PG 51 in the Service Manual I previously linked

Lots of good information about your fridge

[mschaffer66]

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

PG 51 in the Service Manual I previously linked

Lots of good information about your fridge

I'd read the page a few times and I guess maybe I don't fully understand the defrost cycle.

Is it correct understanding that every 13 hours or so the temp inside the freezer rising to nearly above freezing is normal operation? That just seems kinda crazy, but I guess if that's what it is suppose to do...then its working right.

[Old-Biscuit]

Originally Posted by mschaffer66

I'd read the page a few times and I guess maybe I don't fully understand the defrost cycle.

Is it correct understanding that every 13 hours or so the temp inside the freezer rising to nearly above freezing is normal operation? That just seems kinda crazy, but I guess if that's what it is suppose to do...then its working right.

Pg 53
96 hr defrost bypass mode

[mschaffer66]

It appears to be coming down out of its defrost cycle at the moment.

Interesting thing though, upon replacing the external fin thermistor, the diagnostics screen for the external fin temp is showing 03 and the little 1. The temp outside right now is 77 and the fridge side of the bus is facing the sun.