I have a 2002 Lance 1161 Truck camper with a Norcold N641 refrigerator that's not getting cold. Not cooling at all. The freezer is cooling great. It's always worked well until this weekend.
I plugged it in on Thursday and when I went to load it, it had the 'no co' error on it. I followed instructions found on rv.net and grounded the pin to reset it. That appeared to work, and it turns on just fine. I put a remote BBQ thermometer with two probes in the refrigerator and in the freezer. They started @ 109 degrees (Phoenix, AZ), and the freezer hit 40 in an hour, but the refrigerator was 101. The issue is the same for both A/C and propane. The propane lights automatically and maintains a good flame. The camper is level. I have a helper fan that blows air over the coils up towards the roof and it's functioning well. I checked from the top and there aren't any obstruction in the 'chimney' area to the roof below the cover.
I pulled the cover on the back that protects the board and checked the 3 fuses and all are ok. I pulled the cover around the propane and all looked good. I vacuumed the propane burner area out, but there was very little dirt, dust, or other contamination.
I used a rubber mallet and tapped on the tubes in the back to try to loosen any foreign material.
I got all my information of things to try from this forum. I appreciate the resource. It's sounding to me like it's a bad cooling unit. I don't see any leakage though, and I don't smell ammonia. Could it be a bad board? How about the front board under the information panel cover?
If it is a bad refrigerator, it's wider than the door on my Lance. I don't know about the depth though. How do they get them in? Before the slide is installed? It sounds like conventional wisdom if it's the cooling unit is to purchase a new refrigerator since the cooling unit is over half of the cost of a new one. If it does end up needed a new refrigerator, is there a preferred brand such as Dometic, or is the current Norcold 6 cubic foot refrigerator a good choice?
I'd appreciate your ideas and response to any of my new refrigerator questions. Thanks in advance.
Gale Hawkins wrote: What is the temps of each box after running on high for 24 hours and no doors open when empty?
Yup! I don't even look at the temp until after at least 4 hours and then it may come down 10 degrees in the fridge. You need 12 or 24 hours to really test it.
Gene and DW Ginny 2008 Toyota 4Runner 4.7L V8 w/factory towing option
2002 Sunline Solaris Lite T2363 Reese Dual Cam Straight Line HP Sway Control
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Thanks for the replies. I left it plugged in and went back to storage to look at it this afternoon. I was expecting the fridge to be 100 degrees or so and the freezer to be frozen. It had been plugged in for 20 hours, and the refrigerator temperature was.....44 degrees! It's in covered RV storage, but the temp was still ~ 110. I'm so relieved! We have a 5 day trip scheduled over Labor day and I thought we'd be using coolers. I also thought I'd be replacing the refrigerator to the tune of $1500 or so. Whew!
P.S. As far as the 'no co' issue. Last week, in preparation for taking the RV out last Friday, I had it plugged into A/C with the Fridge on Auto. The cord was unplugged a few days later when I checked it. I'm guessing someone from the Neighboring RV's unplugged it, tripped on it, or something. It ran out of propane and got the 'no co'. That's my best guess as to why it happened. I've never had the issue before and the unit has always functioned well. Hopefully, it will continue without any ill effects.
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