Norcold Freezer Works but Refrigerator Won’t Cool

[nmcgarry]

Looking for advice on the operation of Norcold refrigerator/freezer in my 2002 Winnebago Journey DL.

The refrigerator stopped. The fans on the roof were replaced, which helped temporarily. Once the fans were replaced, the refrigerator temp dropped to 38 degrees for about a day but then ceased cooling. The freezer continues to work and maintains freezing temperatures.

Any thoughts on whether this Norcold is worth saving? If not saving, is there a recommendation for a replacement refrigerator/freezer. Thanking you in advance.

 

[Morich]

Not knowing which Norcold model is restricting us on what we can add. But as a first thought, I would say it is most likely a somewhat minor problem that should not require changing the frig.
Most frig do not have a seperate cooling system for freezer and frig, but one that sends it to the freezer and then part of it winds up cooling the frig section. The fans to pass air out at the roof are more to help overall cooling, not the movement from top freezer section to the lower. There may be a problem with a fan that moves air between top and bottom.
But that fan may be running but something blocking the path for the air to go top where it is cold to bottom where it is not cool enough?
But to really do a good job sorting the problem, it will help to tell us what frig brand and model you have. That will let us look for some of the details and potential troubleshooting charts when we find the correct manual.
Since things like frig tend to get swapped over the years, looking for a model number on the frig is often more sure of getting the correct info. Should be a tag or label?
One "quickie" idea might be to open the door and hold the door switch to make it think the door is closed, then listen and feel for the fam moving air from top to bottom! Looks for the vent and make sure it is not blocked by food stored too close as that is one that can change every time we use the frig!

 

[be happy]

I am far from an expert on the workings of the NorCold refrigerators. I am however very good on replacing the cooling units.
Frist off have you tried to replace the thermistor? This is the item thats attached to the finns in the refrigerator part. There are alot of videos on how to test to see if the thermistor is good or bad.

Lets just say the thermistor is good and you still are not getting a good reading in the frig part. As your unit is 2002 and has served very well over the years, it may be time to look at some type of replacement. Thats where I was at 4 years ago. After many different thought process, be to replace the whole box with new either Norcold or residential. I decided to go with just replacing the cooling unit.

I ended up going with a new cooling unit from JC Refrigeration. Home - JC Refrigeration
I had the new unit shipped to me and over the next few days the new cooling unit was up and working. Its a great DIY Project with beyond great customer service from JC

 

[nmcgarry]

Not knowing which Norcold model is restricting us on what we can add. But as a first thought, I would say it is most likely a somewhat minor problem that should not require changing the frig.
Most frig do not have a seperate cooling system for freezer and frig, but one that sends it to the freezer and then part of it winds up cooling the frig section. The fans to pass air out at the roof are more to help overall cooling, not the movement from top freezer section to the lower. There may be a problem with a fan that moves air between top and bottom.
But that fan may be running but something blocking the path for the air to go top where it is cold to bottom where it is not cool enough?
But to really do a good job sorting the problem, it will help to tell us what frig brand and model you have. That will let us look for some of the details and potential troubleshooting charts when we find the correct manual.
Since things like frig tend to get swapped over the years, looking for a model number on the frig is often more sure of getting the correct info. Should be a tag or label?
One "quickie" idea might be to open the door and hold the door switch to make it think the door is closed, then listen and feel for the fam moving air from top to bottom! Looks for the vent and make sure it is not blocked by food stored too close as that is one that can change every time we use the frig!

Thank you for your suggestions and for taking your time to reply. I will try them out and let you know of progress.

 

[nmcgarry]

I am far from an expert on the workings of the NorCold refrigerators. I am however very good on replacing the cooling units.
Frist off have you tried to replace the thermistor? This is the item thats attached to the finns in the refrigerator part. There are alot of videos on how to test to see if the thermistor is good or bad.

Lets just say the thermistor is good and you still are not getting a good reading in the frig part. As your unit is 2002 and has served very well over the years, it may be time to look at some type of replacement. Thats where I was at 4 years ago. After many different thought process, be to replace the whole box with new either Norcold or residential. I decided to go with just replacing the cooling unit.

I ended up going with a new cooling unit from JC Refrigeration. Home - JC Refrigeration
I had the new unit shipped to me and over the next few days the new cooling unit was up and working. Its a great DIY Project with beyond great customer service from JC

Thank you for your replay and taking your time to reply. I had not thought of the thermistor. I will follow your recommendations and let you know of the outcome.

 

[nmcgarry]

Good Morning, All,

We followed the advice to check the fan. Fan didn't turn on when lever was pressed. We replaced the thermistor using model recommended for our Norcold. The refrigerator worked and then stopped. We checked the fans on the roof. They were operating. We finally took the RV to a mechanic. He said the refrigerator is done. We are now looking for a new refrigerator. Estimate for replacement is upwards of $6K.

Thanks to you both for your time in offering a resolution. We will now look into the DIY suggestion.

 

[Morich]

Just a personal type thinking, I am very slow to go with replacing something as expensive as a frig, just based on a shop's answer as they tend to like to go for the biggest bills!
Some background thinking on that?
If the freezer is cold but the frig section not, jumping to it being fatal seems a bit extreme since they DO use the same cooling system?? My method do not fit all people but I would defintiely find the manual and take a look at the troubleshooting section to cross check the repair needs.
One of the problems we have is that we don't know what model of Norcold you have but whn I do a generic search for some models of frig I get this info from Norcold and it makes me very slow to accept the first report I get that says the frig is a total loss!

If Norcold puts this notice in their manuals, what odds do we see that the repair person was correct? Several points that make me lean that way!
Tjhe freezer is cold, so not out of gas! You don't hear the fan running, so why not? Maybe the fan is bad or maybe there is a wire loose!
I would move to Figure 40 for a look before going with the $6000 option!
But first I would want to make sure I had the correct manual for the frig I have!

 

[Waterbug]

I used a laser thermometer to check the temperature of the heat sink on the back wall of my Norcold fridge, as compared to the sidewalls. It was below my desired temperature, but the sidewalls weren't. I added a USB rechargeable mini-fan to circulate air within the frig. Problem solved. My RV is 14 years old, so system efficiency may be the real issue.

 

[RayIN]

what is the model # of your Norcold absorption refrigerator? I doubt very much the unit must be replaced. We know the cooling unit is functioning, because the freezer is cold.
There are several things that can stop the refrigerator portion from cooling sufficiently.
When a RV technician cannot fix a problem, replace is the go-to word.

 

[Morich]

The big problem with forums is how often it works like a slot machine! If we put in the correct amount, we are more likely to get something worthwhile back, but if we turn down that option, we often do not get much back in return!
So after 9 posts, we are still left without the info we need that was asked for in post 2!
The OP is asking for advice about a frig but we don't know what frig, so the answers are not going to be the big payoff from this slot machine! Kind of like putting nickles in a quarter machine!

 

[dickb46]

there is a little sliding attachment fixed to the inside of your refer compartment. Not to hard to find.
Sliding it up or down controls the temperature inside the refer compartment.

 

[Morich]

The idea of the slider may work but there is a question of WHAT refrigerator they have in an RV than is past 25 years old!
Lack of info again stalls any real progress on finding the solution!

 

[dickb46]

That was a 2003 Journey 36 DL with a Norcold that I was referring to, not the Meriden

 

[turnkey2]

Our Norcold has the same problem, very cold freezer but refer box in the 50's

 

[RayIN]

That was a 2003 Journey 36 DL with a Norcold that I was referring to, not the Meriden

As I said, what is the model#? When you know that, the free service manual is easy to locate a download.
Sliding the thermister up/down on the cooling fin makes minute changes, moving the thermister one fin left makes a bigger change. I do not however think that is the problem.
I suspect lack of cooling for the frig part is due to insufficient cooling of the coils on the back (cooling unit). Do you see any yellow powder anywhere on the back of the frig? That is the sign the cooling unit has failed.

 

[Waterbug]

As I said, what is the model#? When you know that, the free service manual is easy to locate a download.
Sliding the thermister up/down on the cooling fin makes minute changes, moving the thermister one fin left makes a bigger change. I do not however think that is the problem.
I suspect lack of cooling for the frig part is due to insufficient cooling of the coils on the back (cooling unit). Do you see any yellow powder anywhere on the back of the frig? That is the sign the cooling unit has failed.

I had problems with my RV fridge cooling, when the sun beat on the outside wall behind the fridge. I added a small muffin fan blowing in, at the bottom of that panel. This more than doubled the air flow over the cooling coils. Normal air flow was normally only achieved thru convection.

 

[RayIN]

I had problems with my RV fridge cooling, when the sun beat on the outside wall behind the fridge. I added a small muffin fan blowing in, at the bottom of that panel. This more than doubled the air flow over the cooling coils. Normal air flow was normally only achieved thru convection.

Yes some models/makes are like that. The Norcold 1200 series has 2 fans near the top from the factory. Bad thing is, the frig must be removed to replace the fans or thermostat that controls them.

 

[Morich]

If the OP has the same model as Turnkey, one rational idea might be to check the seal around the frig door for leaking. When there are different doors and the frig door is leaking air, it can run warmer, simply because too much air is lost!
A bit like when we leave the back door open at the house? That back room may get really warm while the rest of the house may find the air working overtime!