Fridge keeps shutting down

karrun · 08-23-2018, 01:06 PM

Hey, our Dometic fridge keeps shutting down when I try to start it. It is plugged into shore power and I do have 120V power. I switch it to AU (auto) and I hear the LP ignitor click several times with the LP tank closed, then it shuts off without starting. If I try to start it again, the lights come on, blink a few times, then all goes dark. Any ideas?

retiredcamper47 · 08-23-2018, 02:26 PM

The fridge will run on electric when plugged in to electrical outlet. The propane only operates when fridge is not using electric. By using the auto feature, the propane will kick on when the electrical source is lost. When electric is restored the propane kicks out and electric is the prime source. Leave the propane tank on and purge the gas line by lighting the burners on the stove top, then try starting the fridge on propane with the electrical unplugged. Hope I made this clearer than mud.

Bob

karrun · 08-23-2018, 04:21 PM

Same problem on LP. Purged lines out, tried with it set yo LP and the lights come on momentarily, cold level indicator lights blink three times, then it shuts down.

Scrapper · 08-23-2018, 05:05 PM

What is the model number of your fridge?

When you have shore power and the fridge set to Auto it will default to AC power. Some fridges you can force to use LP by turning Auto off or turning on the LP switch if yours have one. Some you have to do both.

You can find the owners and service manuals for many Dometic refrigerators in the Library section on this forum. Forest River Forums - Downloads - Appliances

rbq · 08-23-2018, 05:47 PM

Don't know about the newer Dometic fridges, but on mine if you have it on and set to LP only the lights on the control panel do not come on. The lights are only on if it is set to auto. I usually leave it on auto even when not on 120 volt so it will automatically change over to LP. If there is trouble on auto the check light will come on. Not sure about gas only. Last trip the check light came on and when I checked the inside of the fridge the thermistor had been knocked out of the temperature slider. Put it back where it belonged & check light went out & fridge was working properly again.

rbq · 08-23-2018, 05:51 PM

Propane not lighting could be that spiders have webbed up the ignition area. Check that or for other obstructions. The propane flame is very small compared to the top of the stove.

Scrapper · 08-23-2018, 07:26 PM

Propane not lighting could be a faulty control board, spider web at the burner or just a dirty orifice. Post the model number of the fridge or google it. The service manual tells how to test the control board, the owners manual does not.

To tell you the truth, I probably have the owners manual and the service manuals. These same manuals have been uploaded to the Library.

karrun · 08-23-2018, 08:40 PM

Thanks, but the fact that it shuts down without starting on LP or 120V seems to indicate that there is some control board issue . I think I'll need to look at service. I'll check the model number i the morning.

Scrapper · 08-23-2018, 09:35 PM

If you need a new board try https://www.dinosaurelectronics.com/. They make replacement boards for fridges, furnaces and water heaters. A lot of forum members swear by them.

karrun · 08-24-2018, 12:54 PM

BTW the model number is Dometic DMR702, if someone has a service manual I'd be grateful for any assistance.

karrun · 08-24-2018, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbq

Don't know about the newer Dometic fridges, but on mine if you have it on and set to LP only the lights on the control panel do not come on. The lights are only on if it is set to auto. I usually leave it on auto even when not on 120 volt so it will automatically change over to LP. If there is trouble on auto the check light will come on. Not sure about gas only. Last trip the check light came on and when I checked the inside of the fridge the thermistor had been knocked out of the temperature slider. Put it back where it belonged & check light went out & fridge was working properly again.

I took a careful look inside my fridge and I didn't see anything that looked like a thermistor, not that I exactly know what one looks like. The only thing I see inside mine other than shelves are the metal fins ner the top of the fridge.

ProfChuck · 08-24-2018, 01:48 PM

You may also want to check to see if the "gas" button is pushed down to make the fridge run on gas only. On ours, Dometic didn't put a light on that button to show it is on and if it is in a dark spot you may not easily tell the button is on or off. If it is off, then auto should switch to electric and only go to gas if the electric is off. Pushing the gas button makes it go to gas only and not electric.

rbq · 08-24-2018, 01:48 PM

It will be a plastic sleeve attached to the fin on the right side of the fridge. The thermistor is in that plastic sleeve. See the attached pic.

ProfChuck · 08-24-2018, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karrun

I took a careful look inside my fridge and I didn't see anything that looked like a thermistor, not that I exactly know what one looks like. The only thing I see inside mine other than shelves are the metal fins ner the top of the fridge.

the thermistor looks like the end of a wire. this is usually clipped into a little plastic clip that slides on one of the fins. Mine was on the right side. If the wire came out and fell down in the fridge, it can be just put back in the clip. My wire was white, if that helps.

rbq · 08-24-2018, 02:05 PM

Just looking at the owner manual online & the temp is regulated by buttons on the front of the fridge instead of moving thermistor up or down on the fins.
Here is the link to the manual that I found. https://www.manualslib.com/manual/92...page=18#manual

**bikendan** · 08-24-2018, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karrun

BTW the model number is Dometic DMR702, if someone has a service manual I'd be grateful for any assistance.

You can download it from Dometics website.

Scrapper · 08-24-2018, 03:49 PM

The only manual I can find for the Dometic DMR702 refrigerator is the owners manual. Dometic does not have a service manual for this model.

Here are a few threads of other members having problems with the DMR702.
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...s-87867-2.html
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ge-113378.html
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...em-133396.html
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...lem-76417.html

Here is a Google search of FRF about the DMR702. It looks as though Dometic has several problems with the DRM702 refridgerator.
https://www.google.com/search?q=dome...w=1536&bih=700

karrun · 08-24-2018, 03:49 PM

I did find the thermistor, it was below the fins, a thick stubby thing. Looked fine.
I did remove the eyebrow board behind the control buttons and everything looked okay. But when I put it back in and connected it, I got no lights at all. Sigh, I think I'm done. I have a service appointment at the local RV center in a month. Meanwhile, we'll use a cooler I guess.

NSNewbie · 08-27-2018, 07:25 PM

Ours wasn’t running on electric so did a lot of research on here and online. Things to check:
1. Try Forcing it to use propane. Open your propane tank. Fridge power on and gas button on. It will click and ignite. As long as your Check light doesn’t come on, you should be good. Give it time and Wait for cold.
2. We were still getting heat instead of cold. I can’t point to one thing we did however here are things to check. The termister must be mounted. Ours was hanging free. I found the fin clip in the bottom of the fridge. We mounted the thermostat back on the fin and it worked.
3. trailer level. The grudges don’t like being off level.
3. After figuring out the gas issues, we just realized ours wasn’t working on shore power. Make sure your power cord is good. We were using an extension cord and realized this weekend it was gone. I heard it shorting out (small sparking sounds). Replaced the extension cord and all is working great now. Phew.
Keep searching and troubling shooting. We were ready to bring ours to a rv repair shop but didn’t get a good attitude when we called. No glad they were rude as it forced me to research and fix it.

karrun · 08-27-2018, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NSNewbie

Ours wasn’t running on electric so did a lot of research on here and online. Things to check:
1. Try Forcing it to use propane. Open your propane tank. Fridge power on and gas button on. It will click and ignite. As long as your Check light doesn’t come on, you should be good. Give it time and Wait for cold.
2. We were still getting heat instead of cold. I can’t point to one thing we did however here are things to check. The termister must be mounted. Ours was hanging free. I found the fin clip in the bottom of the fridge. We mounted the thermostat back on the fin and it worked.
3. trailer level. The grudges don’t like being off level.
3. After figuring out the gas issues, we just realized ours wasn’t working on shore power. Make sure your power cord is good. We were using an extension cord and realized this weekend it was gone. I heard it shorting out (small sparking sounds). Replaced the extension cord and all is working great now. Phew.
Keep searching and troubling shooting. We were ready to bring ours to a rv repair shop but didn’t get a good attitude when we called. No glad they were rude as it forced me to research and fix it.

Thanks but if you read my post, it won't light on propane or electric. It kept shutting down before it got a chance to light. And now I can't even get it to do anything, totally dead. Everything else in the trailer is fine, so no issues with 120V. I'm at the end of my troubleshooting I'm afraid. We have an appointment in a month to bring it to the local RV dealer.

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