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Dead refrigerator

Woke up this morning to a dead fridge. We're plugged in to a 30 amp pedestal in Puerto Penasco. Everything works except the fridge. Tried disconnecting shore power and going to gas; nothing happens. It's dometic classic.

Thoughts?

Roger
1993 U225 36'
Build #4295
1979 Int'l Scout II
2005 BMW R1200RT

Re: Dead refrigerator

Reply #1 –
Ther is a very faint odor of ammonia is the fridge access compartment.
1993 U225 36'
Build #4295
1979 Int'l Scout II
2005 BMW R1200RT

Re: Dead refrigerator

Reply #2 –
Quote from: rworley –
Ther is a very faint odor of ammonia is the fridge access compartment.

That's a sign of a cooling unit failure/leak.  Also a fire hazard.

Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Dead refrigerator

Reply #4 –
Yep. She's unplugged.
1993 U225 36'
Build #4295
1979 Int'l Scout II
2005 BMW R1200RT

Re: Dead refrigerator

Reply #5 –
Yup, do NOT run it on either heat source.  Remove 12 VDC from it as well as the 120 VAC cord from the outlet.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Dead refrigerator

Reply #6 –
I've unplugged the a/c cord and the 12vdc power from the mother board.
1993 U225 36'
Build #4295
1979 Int'l Scout II
2005 BMW R1200RT

Re: Dead refrigerator

Reply #7 –
Oh, and be sure to drink all the cold beer before it gets hot!
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Dead refrigerator

Reply #8 –
Is your coach level? Regardless, if you weren't imagining the ammonia smell it's time for a new fridge or a cooling unit.
1993 U225 Build #: 4285
500 Watts Solar
Honda CRV AWD
Former 1981 Foretravel Travco
Retired, Full Time Off Grid Snowbird

Re: Dead refrigerator

Reply #9 –
Whatever you replace it with it won't be a 30 plus year decision. Now for the discussion on replacement options. 
Dennis Haynes
Bohemia NY
2008 Nimbus 342 SE Carlyle
Build #6475
Motorcade #19148

Re: Dead refrigerator

Reply #10 –
Sorry for the dead fridge. Always sad. Good luck in fridge repair or replacement. For what it's worth, I opted to replace our 32 year old dometic with a new 12 volt Norecold compressor fridge. Our dry camping is light and I was glad to get  away from an absorption fridge. Also I didn't want the power loss of a 110 fridge.

Good luck. Good news is there are lots of options out there. Sad news is, few of them are inexpensive.

Michael
Michael & Ginny
Frankfort, KY
1992 U240 GV Build #4116
2007 Mini Cooper

Re: Dead refrigerator

Reply #11 –
Fridge is out and gone. Now begins the search for a new one. I like the idea of a 12 vdc compresser model. No propane, no ammonia. We don't do a lot of dry camping; maybe add a little solar to keep.the batteries charged.

Suggestions welcome.
1993 U225 36'
Build #4295
1979 Int'l Scout II
2005 BMW R1200RT

Re: Dead refrigerator

Reply #12 –
That is certainly one option.

The other is to buy a (less $$) residential refrigerator based on current or easily modified space.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Dead refrigerator

Reply #13 –
Roger, I don't know what the original fridge was in my 1993 U225. When I bought it in 2016, it came with a brand new Norcold N811 which I really like. I'll be interested to see what you come up with in case I ever need to repair or replace my Norcold. I see cooling units for it for as little as $475.
1993 U225 Build #: 4285
500 Watts Solar
Honda CRV AWD
Former 1981 Foretravel Travco
Retired, Full Time Off Grid Snowbird

Re: Dead refrigerator

Reply #14 –
From the records I have on our U225, it looks like the original fridge was a dometic with an ice maker. It had a newer dometic when we bought the coach 13 years ago.
1993 U225 36'
Build #4295
1979 Int'l Scout II
2005 BMW R1200RT

Re: Dead refrigerator

Reply #15 –
Roger we replaced our original Domectic with a Norcold and the DW absolutely hates it. It's about 2" shallower so she calls it her condiment fridge. The thing was purchased during Covid and there were very few options cause we wanted one with an ice maker. At least more options now.

  I guess to do it over I would have replaced the cooling unit. Point is, little things can make big difference to the DW. Choose carefully 🙂
Robert and Susan
 1995 36' 280 WTBI 8.3 3060r
 1200 watts on the roof, 720 Ah of lithium's
 Build # 4637. Motorcade # 17599
        FMCA  # 451505
        18  Wrangler JLUR
 

Re: Dead refrigerator

Reply #16 –
Anyone familiar with the Contour 12vdc fridge offered by Camping World?
1993 U225 36'
Build #4295
1979 Int'l Scout II
2005 BMW R1200RT