Dometic fridge makes squeeking sound!!

[KyDan]

Our dometic refer makes an annoying squeaking or "tiny bird peep"
sound when it's on LP gas cool mode. It only happens when the
burner is lit and the unit is cooling.

If you've ever heard baby chicks or baby birds peeping, it's kinda
like that.

Once a second in short groups.
peep, peep, peep, pause
peep, pause
peep, peep pause......

You get the idea. It's as loud outside as it is inside.
I believe it's actually coming from the sealed system as I cannot
pin point it by listening outside or placing my hand on any pipes that
I can reach.
I don't think it's just thermal expansion or contraction.
It seems to only happen on LP mode but it may do it to a lesser degree
on shore power.

It is DRIVING US CRAZY!!! You can really hear it in the middle of
the night in a quiet camp ground.

I'm going to call Dometic tech line and see if they've ever heard of it.
(Or see if they admit, having heard of it.....)

Has anyone here encountered this on their unit???
(Misery loves company!!)

[Joe Falco]

Is it the internal cooling fan? Perhaps there's a little dirt or dust causing the squeak.

Joe

[08flagvlite]

Or how about the LP gas leak detector, located at the floor level in the hallway? (That's where mine is) It makes a sound something like you're describing when the battery is really really low. I had my camper un plugged from AC power for a couple of weeks, and that sound occurred. Just a possibility!!! Randy

[Patrick45]

I think Randy is leaning the right direction.

[KyDan]

Internal fan??? We have no fan that I know of.
It is NOT the LP detector. I know what that sounds like in normal alarm mode
and low battery warning.
This peep is absolutely coming from inside the back of the refer.

[Joe Falco]

Our fridge has an internal cooling fan. Like a computer cooling fan. I thought they all did.....?

Joe

[KyDan]

I have a dometic 5 cu ft. 2 door model.
If you are talking about a fan in the fresh food area, we don't have one.

I can only guess that the sound is gas bubbles in the sealed system.
I'll give dometic a call one day and see if they've ever heard of it or have any
suggestions for a cure.

[naganthunter]

I would get it in, and get it looked at.

As you are most likely aware, Dometic had a HUGE recall for fridges (over 920,000 units) that caused many fires. In my line of work, I've seen MANY of these, and they burn the coach to the ground.

While yours appears to be newer, and not subject to the recall, given the issues in the past I wouldn't take a chance!

Just my .02!

Additional info here if interested in seeing the recall (note that the recall dates have recently been expanded from 1993 to 2006):

http://www.escapees.com/ClubNewsArch...0Announced.pdf

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/pr...rintVersion=NO

RV refrigerators are different from household refrigerators. They cool by heating a sealed unit attached to the back of the refrigerator with either a flame or an electric heating element. The sealed unit is called the "Cooling Unit"and it contains a mixture of Hydrogen, Ammonia, Water and an anti-corrosive agent "Sodium Chromate". When heated to operating temperature the inside of the cooling unit reaches a pressure of approximately 350psi. The Dometic Recall includes refrigerators that have a factory defect (a bad weld). These refrigerators may develop fatigue cracks on the boiler tube of the cooling unit which will allow Hydrogen and Ammonia to leak out. If this mixture contacts a source of heat such as an open flame, spark, or heating element, a fire will occur !