16 replies to this topic

[PaulT]

Interesting videos.

For some reason, I’m craving fish & chips with malt vinegar, an ESB, and a desire to sit at the telly watching black knights & attacking rabbits. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Paul

[ski3pin]

Here is a link to lots of information on boating refrigeration systems -

 

Kollmann Marine

[roverjohn]

If your compressor is running (making noise) and your evaporator is not getting cold the list of realistic potential problems is pretty short.

In no particular order:

1. Your condenser fan has died.

2. Your coolant has leaked out.

 

I'm pretty sure that your unit does not have a low pressure shut off so it will run without coolant. All Dometics I've seen are sealed because there is not need for "test and fill ports" as the systems are filled by weight or volume and they either work or don't once filled. They seal the lines as part of the filling process.

There are a jillion other reasons your fridge isn't working but since you have diagnosed the thermostat and you say it's running (making noise from the compressor) the most likely answer is the condenser fan has died or is stuck. Very common problem in all modern fridges.

 

I don't see that you've mentioned having a pet but if you have one it's possible that your condenser is covered with pet hair. Also kind of common and you'd see the same symptoms as a dead or stuck condenser fan.

Edited by roverjohn, 09 April 2019 - 03:54 PM.

[Ted]

Checked the fridge more closely this weekend. As roverjohn said, no check or fill ports on Dometics, so no way to refresh coolant.

 

Only a solid green light, no flashing red error indications. I can see the fan and it is running.

 

Called Virginia as straydog recommended. I said I'm in CA but they still called back at 6am this morning. My phone is still off at that time. Maybe they will try again.

 

It looks like it is new fridge time. Frustrating as this is the second major appliance to fail in our 5 year old FWC, and an expensive one to replace. Sigh.

[PaulT]

—snip—. 
It looks like it is new fridge time. Frustrating as this is the second major appliance to fail in our 5 year old FWC, and an expensive one to replace. Sigh.

On the positive side, no longer will you have a power hungry Dometic fridge to worry about. You could, of course, develop a taste for ambient temperature Pliny the Elder. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Sure hope you’re continuing to mend. Illegitimi non carborundum.
Paul

[roverjohn]

Actually you do not need fill ports, right now, to fill them back up. You just cut off the clamped 'fill port' and replace it with either a little more tubing to be clamped later if you need it or just sweat on a normal fill port which then allows filling. Larger concern is where the coolant is going and so you really need a Freon detector to find the leak. I've worked on dozens of these things and almost can't believe that a 4 year old fridge is 'worn out' or that the coolant has leaked out frankly because any leak would have shown up way faster than this unless the leak is very new. Are you absolutely sure that the

1. compressor is running

2. condenser is free of obstructions?

 

Perhaps the fan noise made you think the compressor was running?

Just asking because the compressors are quieter then the condenser fan but if you put your finger on the compressor when it fires up you'll know if it's running. It's perfectly safe to stop the condenser fan with your finger and then the only noise will be from the compressor.

 

A lot of leaks will result in oil coming out of the system and so far you have not mentioned an oily film anywhere on your unit.

 

One other thing. Just because your fan is running now doesn't mean it was when you had your problems. When you have the chance to look at it again, and if the fan and compressor are both running, let it run for a while to see if it cools.

Edited by roverjohn, 09 April 2019 - 06:16 PM.

[LAWNMOWERMAN]

I had an old Dometic that had a plugged up capillary tube.