GE A/C Failed Twice 2022 Minnie Winnie Class C

[budget]

New minni winni class C 2022 came from factory with GE a/c. 1st one failed 2mons beyond warranty of 2 yrs, 2nd failed 18 mons after installation. Called GE NO HELP. Called help number at factory, they said it was during COVID could not get Colman which is the regular a/c and therefor replaced it with the GE. They said I may GET LUCKY with a 3rd try at GE! Found out no one seems to be able to replace the gas! So I sure dont feel lucky with a GE unit which GE had sold to the Chinese [removed content]. Problem is if I go to a different a/c will need to get in the wall to replace the thermostat, maybe different wiring? Anyone solved this problem?

[Morich]

I've not run into the problem on that unit but I do have some ideas that you might want to think about?
Background info?
I have family who did heat and air work and one of the things they often mention is why nobody wants to work on RV air units! It is their firm opinion that any unit that had gas put in when new should also be expected to hold gas if it is replaced in the older!
So they tell me the process involves getting on the roof and they feel that is where RV repair often stops!
But they also tell me that a valve can be added to the gas line as what we might call a "port"? If a guy is willing to get on the roof, add a port and put gas in that port, it seems to work for them! Maybe the difference is that he owned the damn trailer and didn't want to replace the whole air cond. ?

Now, I have to state that I have no idea if it works but that is the story I get!
Have you tried going to small heat and air operators or only RV repair?

What I have found in RV repair at different times is that it is not the best place to get some things done! There seems to be a lack of will to do things they don't know about, so it is easy to just pass on the work at times?

Maybe it would be worth the time to try a few different places that DO KNOW the work and figure getting on an RV roof no different than climbing to the roof of a commercial building?

It really seems hard at times to find folks who like to work!

[budget]

Yes, getting anyone to work if any difficulty is involved is tough and then having it done right! I would remove the unit and take it to some one if I could find a repair guy that could test it after the fix. There are some remote controlled units available where the existing thermostat would be bypassed but the furnace then becomes useless. Someone at Winnebago has had to have addressed this problem but they seem to be had to find. Appreciate your time and insight. Terry

[creativepart]

GE or Coleman or Dometic, virtually no one will modify them to add refrigerant. Or to fix a leak in a refrigerant line or to replace a compressor. We have heard that small mom and pop A/C shops will sometimes take a chance on doing repairs.

And GE or not, my experience with Coleman-Mach is identical to yours. The 2nd was replaced under warranty at least. And, it's been working for nearly 3-years now.

[budget]

That gives me some hope. Thanks for sharing your experiences. Terry

[Bobn1957]

Originally Posted by budget

New minni winni class C 2022 came from factory with GE a/c. 1st one failed 2mons beyond warranty of 2 yrs, 2nd failed 18 mons after installation. Called GE NO HELP. Called help number at factory, they said it was during COVID could not get Colman which is the regular a/c and therefor replaced it with the GE. They said I may GET LUCKY with a 3rd try at GE! Found out no one seems to be able to replace the gas! So I sure dont feel lucky with a GE unit which GE had sold to the Chinese [removed content]. Problem is if I go to a different a/c will need to get in the wall to replace the thermostat, maybe different wiring? Anyone solved this problem?

I would suggest you install a soft start capacitor, it reduces the stress of starting the compressor! The voltage dip caused by the compressor might be the issue, soft start capacitors are cheap insurance!

[bigb]

What was the actual failure, did the compressors fail or did they develop refrigerant leaks?

[budget]

Both lost their gas. Compressors seemed to run fine both before and after the cooling loss.

[Morich]

There really seems to be no good way to go on these problems if one is not Into DIY air repair.
Winnebago certainly is not going into work on things they buy from other builders. Much like a home builder will not fix the air conditioner or furnace in most cases. They may call in some other company to do the repair but it isn't often that the builder has any real knowledge of air work.

If we find most air folks will not touch it as there is no built in ports, etc. for adding gas or even to check pressure, our options would seem to be finding somebody willing to do the work or going with the "standard" option of replacement!
The first we might save money but in the second we may save a lot of time and stress finding that "special" guy to do the work?

[wahoonc]

It is a crap shoot. I have added ports to an RV air conditioning unit before, it held for about a season then the piping cracked in the condenser unit and that is not replaceable, or at least I could not find a suitable replacement.

Therein lies the problem, the RV AC units are built fairly cheaply and are not intended for repair so there is a lack of parts.

FWIW my 1975 Airstream had an Armstrong Bay Breeze AC unit. It was built like a freaking tank and was readily repairable, all the parts in it were straight out of a commercial AC unit catalog. I am sure you could build one like it today, but at what cost? If I get bored when I retire I might see what it would cost to build up a unit.

Aaron

[budget]

Being new to the RV neighborhood I cant help but wonder how in this world, in this year air conditioning could be so antiquated. Looks like a quick study for an Elon type. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Terry