Community Forums

BradandJanee · 09-13-2007, 11:17 AM

I'm having trouble getting my 2 year old Norcold 2-door refrigerator (model N842IM) to cool properly. Even though the temperature setting is set to 9 (coldest), the refrigerator will get no colder than 48 degrees. The freezer gets no colder than 20 degrees. It used to work well and I have made no modifications. So this is a new problem.

I feel that the refrigerator is working properly. I have no error codes, the a/c heating element is hot, as are the rectifier, condenser, and absorber coils. Even the leveling chamber is hot. This would indicate that there is no blockage. I believe that the cooling unit is working properly. The unit is level and the voltages are good. It just doesn't get very cold.

Thinking it may be the door gasket, I checked it with the dollar bill test. There was a section on the hinged side of the door where the dollar would slide freely, indicating a not-so-good seal. Is there some way to lubricate or refresh this rubber to get a better seal? Has anyone else had this problem? Any ideas on solutions? Thank you. Brad

BradandJanee · 09-13-2007, 11:17 AM

I'm having trouble getting my 2 year old Norcold 2-door refrigerator (model N842IM) to cool properly. Even though the temperature setting is set to 9 (coldest), the refrigerator will get no colder than 48 degrees. The freezer gets no colder than 20 degrees. It used to work well and I have made no modifications. So this is a new problem.

I feel that the refrigerator is working properly. I have no error codes, the a/c heating element is hot, as are the rectifier, condenser, and absorber coils. Even the leveling chamber is hot. This would indicate that there is no blockage. I believe that the cooling unit is working properly. The unit is level and the voltages are good. It just doesn't get very cold.

Thinking it may be the door gasket, I checked it with the dollar bill test. There was a section on the hinged side of the door where the dollar would slide freely, indicating a not-so-good seal. Is there some way to lubricate or refresh this rubber to get a better seal? Has anyone else had this problem? Any ideas on solutions? Thank you. Brad

John_Canfield · 09-13-2007, 03:46 PM

How is the seal on the freezer unit(s)? What is the temperature of the freezer?

KIX · 09-13-2007, 03:52 PM

www.BryantRV.com has some good in fo regarding ntroubleshooting RV refers.

mis3s · 09-13-2007, 03:53 PM

It could be an old wife's tale, I've heard that petroleum jelly applied on the rubber seals might help.

Relax, drive safely, and enjoy God's creations.

BradandJanee · 09-14-2007, 12:22 AM

John: The freezer gets no colder than 20 degrees. I will check the freezer door gasket seal today and gete back to you.

Petroleum jelly is a good idea. I'm going to try 303 on the rubber gaskets.

Thanks for your help.

BradandJanee · 09-14-2007, 12:23 AM

get

John_Canfield · 09-14-2007, 04:03 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by BradandJaneen:
John: The freezer gets no colder than 20 degrees. I will check the freezer door gasket seal today and gete back to you.

Petroleum jelly is a good idea. I'm going to try 303 on the rubber gaskets.

Thanks for your help. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Freezer should be around zero degrees. Read the recent thread on this forum about Norcold problems and pay particular attention to the location of the clip-on thermistor on the cooling fins.

"007" · 09-14-2007, 12:32 PM

There have been alot of problems with the Norcold 4 door refers the past summer because of poor tems in box of refer 40-50 instead of 35-39. Some of them have not had cooling fans working because of faulty themisters to turn on cooling fans at the top of refer to draw out all the heat of coils. The Dometics have had similar problems because they never installed the fans.
The following pic and links will give you some help to draw down the heat to the coils for both refers.
refer cooling
You could just temperary place a fan in lower vent opening to see if a fan will correct the temp in your refer.

Thudman · 09-14-2007, 03:59 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Petroleum jelly is a good idea. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

As I recall, Petroleum jelly & rubber do not go together. Having said that, the seals may be Neoprene, or some non-rubber material. 303 seems a good bet.

Thudman

RV Wizard · 09-15-2007, 01:41 AM

I recommend you follow "007"'s advice on putting a stand alone fan at the lower vent and if the temps come down you are on the right track. If not let us know, But I think you will find it will.

BradandJanee · 09-15-2007, 02:08 AM

Today the refrigerator is 28 degrees and the freezer is -2. This is such a frustrating problem because it is intermittent. Sometimes it cools properly and sometimes it doesn't. I don't think an auxillary fan in the back is the solution because sometimes the refrigerator works fine; even on 90+ days. The door gaskets are not as tight in places as I would like but if this were the problem it would be warm all the time, not intermittently. I'm still searching for possible solutions and will try switching to LP the next time it fails to cool on AC. Is there any way to 'tighten up' the door gaskets?

"007" · 09-15-2007, 02:49 AM

You have not said what refer you have. If you are having problems only on AC the AC heater element maybe defective or you could have a loose wire connection to it, wouldn't be the first time. The link someone gave to you will show you where the element is in the chimmny. I would check wiring with refer unplugged and off for safety. Vibrations can cause a connection to open or close and dirty up connection also causeing a high resistance connection.

Door gaskets would not effect the other compartments, you have a temperture thermister on a fin in box on one of last two fins to right that should be clipped on fin about 1 1/4" from top of fin. Your fins will collect frost and defrost to clear and drain if you have a Norcold. If you have a Norcold you will hear the fan cycle off and on during a hot day that you have in FL.

John_Canfield · 09-15-2007, 03:41 AM

Ah - now we have more info. Forget the door seals since it works sometimes.

I think 007 is on to something anout an intermittant AC problem. Try running it in the LP mode for a few days and see what happens.