Refrigerator driving me nuts

[piper guy]

Ok - need some ideas from my learned and experienced colleagues!

Refrigerator is the Norcold double door 1200 series RV. has worked fine for 2 years. Lately, it is taking longer than usual to cool from a start-up. It will get down to 33-34 in the frig and frozen is fine. If we then go on the road and switch to Propane (which should be More efficient), after a 6-7 hour day the temp is up over 47-48 degrees inside the box. Fridge has not been opened during that time and each time I stop I verify that the burner is still going. No error codes in display.

I've cleaned and checked the burner orifice and color of fame and all looks good.
I also have the FridgeFix interior fan system.

Any suggestions or ideas where I should look before I rip it out, sell it on eBay and put in a Samsung and an inverter ?

As always, all the help is appreciated.

[piper guy]

Forgot to mention - it did display the code Li op at one point but went away after I shut it off and restarted and seemed to be fine for awhile.

[S&K]

Originally Posted by piper guy

Ok - need some ideas from my learned and experienced colleagues!

Refrigerator is the Norcold double door 1200 series RV. has worked fine for 2 years. Lately, it is taking longer than usual to cool from a start-up. It will get down to 33-34 in the frig and frozen is fine. If we then go on the road and switch to Propane (which should be More efficient), after a 6-7 hour day the temp is up over 47-48 degrees inside the box. Fridge has not been opened during that time and each time I stop I verify that the burner is still going. No error codes in display.

I've cleaned and checked the burner orifice and color of fame and all looks good.
I also have the FridgeFix interior fan system.

Any suggestions or ideas where I should look before I rip it out, sell it on eBay and put in a Samsung and an inverter ?

As always, all the help is appreciated.

What is your temp setting? We had ours at 6, but when the temperature outside made it into the low 90's, we had to crank it up to 9 to hold the temp at 40 inside the fridge.

We're thinking of getting the interior fan system too.

[Dave&Ginny]

Vaughan, try disconnecting the wire that comes out of light and goes to the clip on the fins. When I was having trouble with my fridge just before I traded my unit, the service guy said by disconnecting this wire the frudge will go full blast.

If this indeed works, then the problem is in that sensor which is at most RV dealers for under $20.

If this helps.........I take my jack on the rocks

[ksaltman]

This morning I waked up my 38FL with the Norcold 1200. Forced to LP mode with a good charge on the house batteries and a full LP tank in the mix.

After 12 hours the freezer chilled to 20F and the fridge to 40F. The outside temp was +90F and the inside registered at 98F so I'm sure that this is an near edge case.

Really need to figure out how to dissipate the heat coming back into the coach from the top of the fridge in this case, but alas it was able to cope so far.

We transfer our supplies tomorrow AM. I think since everything is either pre-chilled or pre-frozen we are in good shape, but still I'm so glad we have the temp-monitors!

[piper guy]

Dave, many thanks! Any idea what that particular sensor is called and where it is ? Coach is set up in Ocean City right now and the kids are using it for a few days. Tracy and I are going down on Wednesday for a couple days and I will disconnect the wire for the trip home (about 4 hours). Right now fridge is holding the normal 33-34 in the box and a hard freeze in the freezer.

[Dave&Ginny]

Vaughn,

It was explained to me that the clip attached to the fins in your refrigerator is a temperature censor. If the refrigerator is acting erratic I was told that this would probably be the culprit that many times is over looked. He had me disconnect that wire at the light and once I got the "vapor lock" issue resolved, everything was fine just in time to trade the unit off.

This censor wasn't expensive although I don't remember the cost and this shop had several different ones hanging buy where they had displayed other refrigerator items.

I hope this helps

[Dave&Ginny]

One more thing to consider........

Although my refrigerator wasn't listed on any of the recalls I could find.....when I took it in the first time to be looked at, they said that it was indeed going to be fixed for free. Apparently there's a high temp thermostat attached to the burn tube that could cause an issue. If you're running on gas while traveling and this high temperature stat is telling the system to cool down....this could also be a cause. ANY rv dealer that is authorized to work on Norcold can do the work. I took mine to a local Jayco dealer. This way you don't have to worry about the song and dance from Redwood.

[Lloyd]

I believe what you need is called a thermister.
It consists of the little board with wires and clip on it that slides up and down on the fins of the fridge for fine tuning.
Costs about $25--$30

[travelin' texans]

If memory serves me you can also adjust the frig temp by moving that same sensor right/left on the fins, but now don't remember which way is which.

[Lloyd]

It's not moving it right or left----it's moving it up or down that does the job.

[travelin' texans]

Ok! I knew you could move it some way. Damn CRS disease#!!