refrigerator won't cool - New '24 Rockwood Roo

[LIW]

We have a 1 month old Roo183 with the Magic Chef refrigerator (model #mcdcr10dsg) and while it looks nice, it won't go below @48 degrees - Freezer works fine. This is the unit that the doors open on both sides. Have only had this unit for 1 month.

Also, i want to make sure i have it set properly? Dealer says on the 1-5 settings, 5 will be coldest. But the Magic Chef Users Manuel seems to indicate 2 would be the coolest (2 for summer - 3 for Spring). Any thoughts on that?

Appreciate any insights, particularly from new Rockwood owners.....

[bikendan]

The freezer will always cool faster the the fridge section because it's smaller.
How long have you let it run?
I assume that this is a 12v only fridge.

[LIW]

Hooked up for 5 days.

Any insight into the warranty process with new RVs? Or a fix with the new refrigerators? It sounds like this has been an ongoing issue with Rockwood & Magic Chef based on similar threads.

[Aussieguy]

How do you measure it
Is it accurate measuring tool?

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by LIW

Hooked up for 5 days.

Any insight into the warranty process with new RVs? Or a fix with the new refrigerators? It sounds like this has been an ongoing issue with Rockwood & Magic Chef based on similar threads.

The fridge would be covered by FR's one year factory warranty.
The fridge also has its own separate warranty.
You should be able to use an independent RV shop or mobile RV technician. You just have to get pre-approval from either and be willing to be reimbursed.

[G37x]

I would believe the manual before the dealer set it to 2 and see if it helps

[Cabinfever97]

I'm going to assume it has the thermistor thermostat? If it does, try moving it one fin left or right and see if you get a change. Tou can move it as far left or right that it will.go. I have read moving left or right may dial in a frig that freezes or one that does not get cold enough. I'm going to try this on our frig this weekend. Ours freezes things in the frig, even with a fan moving air.

[LIW]

We have 2 temperature guages we’re using which are within 1 degree of each other.

[Rhumblefish]

Originally Posted by LIW

We have 2 temperature guages we’re using which are within 1 degree of each other.

Sorry you're running into this issue, Liw.

Generally speaking, there's only one compressor in 12v fridges, focussed on "powering" one "cold" zone (think freezer) with a physical connection btw the freezer and fridge (despite how it looks/seems) to "share" the cold btw the two areas. See also, the dial (typically in the freezer) for setting the temperature in the freezer. Pragmatically speaking, opening this physical dial up all the way (for a cold freezer) reduces the amount of cold accessible to the fridge, closing it (for a warmer freezer) increases the amount of cold accessible to the fridge.

When one area (freezer) is working and another (fridge) is not, it's almost always a block in the connection between the two areas, likely frost buildup.

Suggest you power down and do a **complete** defrost (put down towels to soak up any melt, watch for water on the floor), give it a couple of days to dry out, then restart and see if it doesn't perform any better.

Our 12v (Magichef-branded pre-acquistion Way Interglobal 10.7 cu foot 12v fridge with top freezer) has been flawless, but does have a tendency to freeze stuff stored in the back if we turn it up past 3, so we are usually at 2 or 2.5, and always lay stuff in pre-chilled.

Barring the above, a potential leak in the fridge seal (test by putting a flashlight in the fridge and closing the door - see if you can see any light escaping).

Lastly, potential lack of air circulation room for cooling, Not sure if this is the case for you or not, but - depending on the above - you might consider this while waiting for word back from the dealer re: warranty work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPrt...nnel=RVTechman

Just my .02. Hope this helps.

[Tlmgcamp]

I had to replace my Dometic thermistor after 1 1/2 years. I had the opposite problem where the fridge wouldn't go above 30 degrees. The second thermistor kept it at 32 degrees regardless of where it was sent. Thermistor #3 going in this week

[dseepersad]

Check out this post, it helped solve the issue I was having a couple of weeks ago.

https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...ht-254495.html

[MGD1961]

Originally Posted by Rhumblefish

Sorry you're running into this issue, Liw.

Generally speaking, there's only one compressor in 12v fridges, focussed on "powering" one "cold" zone (think freezer) with a physical connection btw the freezer and fridge (despite how it looks/seems) to "share" the cold btw the two areas. See also, the dial (typically in the freezer) for setting the temperature in the freezer. Pragmatically speaking, opening this physical dial up all the way (for a cold freezer) reduces the amount of cold accessible to the fridge, closing it (for a warmer freezer) increases the amount of cold accessible to the fridge.

When one area (freezer) is working and another (fridge) is not, it's almost always a block in the connection between the two areas, likely frost buildup.

Suggest you power down and do a **complete** defrost (put down towels to soak up any melt, watch for water on the floor), give it a couple of days to dry out, then restart and see if it doesn't perform any better.

Our 12v (Magichef-branded pre-acquistion Way Interglobal 10.7 cu foot 12v fridge with top freezer) has been flawless, but does have a tendency to freeze stuff stored in the back if we turn it up past 3, so we are usually at 2 or 2.5, and always lay stuff in pre-chilled.

Barring the above, a potential leak in the fridge seal (test by putting a flashlight in the fridge and closing the door - see if you can see any light escaping).

Lastly, potential lack of air circulation room for cooling, Not sure if this is the case for you or not, but - depending on the above - you might consider this while waiting for word back from the dealer re: warranty work.

Just my .02. Hope this helps.

I did a similar fix but just with vent holes at the top and bottom of the fridge with no fans.

I did this not for lack of performance but because I noticed the wall in the adjacent cabinet was 120 degrees. When I did it the added benefit was the fridge run time decreased by 40%

The installation instructions say you must have ventilation in the fridge enclosure but the builder just ignored that.

[Mitchell 2020]

We have a mini lite. Maybe same problem

We had to move the thermostat down from near the elements.

[LIW]

UPDATE:

Camper is still at the dealer but now we're being told this is a manufacturer issue and there are supposed to be 2 holes at the bottom of the back wall that are not there and thus the refrigerator won't get to temps below 46 degrees. Their fix is to drill 2 holes toward the bottom of the back wall thus allowing more cool air to enter the refrigerator. Now i'm told the refrigerator is down to 38 degrees...Was even told they are doing this on the production line now. I haven't gotten the camper back yet so i can't verify it is working, but will make sure to do that before i pull out of the dealer lot. FR customer service has been extremely helpful in working with the dealer, identifying the problem, and being in touch with the dealer to put the fix in place....more info to come when i get the camper back....

[Tlmgcamp]

I would make sure that the dealer's fix didn't void your manufacturer's warranty on the fridge. I am no fridge expert, but the fix sounds suspect to me.

This is a question to the fridge manufacturer, not the dealer or FR.

[LIW]

That's a good point Tlmgcamp - the fix came from FR tech support who called the dealer and directed them to do that, but i'm going to ask that be identified in the repair notes and receipt when i pick up the camper.