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Old 05-17-2015, 05:12 PM   #1
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Refrigerator Working Halfway

Hello all. I am new with a newbie question. I acquired a 2010 Wildwood 26 TBSS. It has a Dometic DM2652RBX. When I traded for it, the previous owner knew the refrigerator had a problem. He replaced the heat sensor in the chimney, but it didn't fix the problem. I noticed the freezer worked while it was plugged up to AC this winter, but it didn't seem to be very cold. The refrigerator didn't work at all. I replaced the control board. Refrigerator still doesn't work at all. The freezer will cool, but not to the point that it should be. I switched over to LP gas, and the freezer works much better. Refrigerator still nothing. Where do I go from here?
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Old 05-17-2015, 05:29 PM   #2
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Put a thermometer in the freezer/fridge to find out how cold you are actually getting.
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Old 05-17-2015, 05:34 PM   #3
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Will do, but I can definitely tell you that the freezer just barely stayed cool on AC. It got very cold and froze my stuff with the LP. The refrigerator obviously is not working at all on either AC or LP.
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Old 05-17-2015, 05:37 PM   #4
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Where is this located in the fridge?
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Old 05-17-2015, 05:39 PM   #5
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Where is this located in the fridge?
It was located at the maximum cool level. A guy at the dealership suggested that I drop it slightly because they sometimes are too high. I tried it at multiple levels, and I got nothing.
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Old 05-17-2015, 07:19 PM   #6
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The freezer dropped down to about 34 degrees within 30 minutes of running it on LP gas. The fridge did nothing. Basically room temperature. The freezer will only drop to about 55-58 degrees or so with AC power, and, again, the fridge does nothing.
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Old 05-18-2015, 11:11 AM   #7
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The Fridge takes alot longer to cool down because it gets the cold from freezer.
If your freezer is working your fridge has no reason to not work.
It'll take the better part of 12 hours to cool fridge down.

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Old 05-18-2015, 11:18 AM   #8
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Old 05-18-2015, 12:07 PM   #9
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The Fridge takes alot longer to cool down because it gets the cold from freezer.
If your freezer is working your fridge has no reason to not work.
It'll take the better part of 12 hours to cool fridge down.

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Originally Posted by rattleNsmoke View Post
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I realize that, but here's the problem, I left it plugged up for months over the winter. And for several days this past week with the new control board. The fridge doesn't even try to get cold.
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Old 05-18-2015, 12:14 PM   #10
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I understand what your saying however, there is no seperate system for the fridge and the freezer.
If your freezer cools down even remotely close to freezing then the fridge has no choice but to eventually cool down .
The thermistor must be up as high as possible on the fins.
These fridges are notorious for being finicky and run on the warm side.
We've installed cooling fans in the outside compartment as well as one in the fridge for better circulation.
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Old 05-18-2015, 01:38 PM   #11
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Thanks. I will try again. And, yes, he had that at the top of those fins. I hope the fridge will respond with the LP gas eventually. But it surely looks like there is absolutely no function on AC power. The unit is just completely silent and lifeless on AC power. I checked all the fuses, tested the AC outlet inside the compartment. The light inside the fridge functions well (if that matters).
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Old 05-18-2015, 02:12 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by Haybaler View Post
Thanks. I will try again. And, yes, he had that at the top of those fins. I hope the fridge will respond with the LP gas eventually. But it surely looks like there is absolutely no function on AC power. The unit is just completely silent and lifeless on AC power. I checked all the fuses, tested the AC outlet inside the compartment. The light inside the fridge functions well (if that matters).
You won't hear a thing when on a/c power.
It's not a normal residential fridge with a compressor.
When using shore power it an electrical heating element.

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Old 05-18-2015, 02:17 PM   #13
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Here is a few things.
Watch "How Absorption Refrigeration Works" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/hUNmDQu_fvY

Watch "Insufficient RV Refrigerator Cooling Troubleshoot…" on YouTube
Insufficient RV Refrigerator Cooling Troubleshoot…: https://youtu.be/w2yF66M1wDg



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Old 05-19-2015, 12:24 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by TURBS View Post
Here is a few things.
Watch "How Absorption Refrigeration Works" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/hUNmDQu_fvY

Watch "Insufficient RV Refrigerator Cooling Troubleshoot…" on YouTube
Insufficient RV Refrigerator Cooling Troubleshoot…: https://youtu.be/w2yF66M1wDg



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08 duramax tuned n modded, 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "6 nights"
Thanks so much. I will check them out.
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Old 05-20-2015, 08:07 AM   #15
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I watched both videos and checked everything out. I gave it another try with the AC power for over 24 hours. The Freezer just barely got cool enough to make a small amount of condensation on the back wall. Temp was in the high 50's. The fridge was room temp or hotter. Nothing.

I don't know of anything else to do. I guess I'm heading for a new cooling unit unless somebody has a miracle cure. The previous owner left it plugged up for several months with no refrigerator function.
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Old 05-20-2015, 08:23 AM   #16
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It is quite possible the absorption unit is bad .
I believe "and I'll look" there's a replacement absorption unit without replacement of the whole unit.

Read this:http://www.rvdoctor.com/2001/02/rv-a...oling.html?m=1

http://www.rvrefrigerator.net/
http://www.rvcool.com/



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Old 07-07-2015, 01:10 PM   #17
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I had a similar problem, profoundly inadequate cooling, on either AC or gas. Removed the top grate on the outside to allow more heat dissipation and it works fine.

Recently added a pair of fans on thermostats, but found with the grate in place that it still doesn't get adequate air flow over the condenser. The grate has to come off for the reefer to work well. When the condenser has enough air flow to dump the heat outside, the counter top above the reefer does not get hot.

Trailer is a 2014 WW 195BH Anyone else have this problem?
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