How to Troubleshoot Your Dometic RV Fridge (With a Mobile RV Tech)
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- čas přidán 15. 07. 2024
- Here's a step-by-step walkthrough of how to troubleshoot a Dometic RV fridge.
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Time Stamps
0:00 Intro
1:17 Prep
1:45 Ground
2:21 Terminal Block
3:31 Thermal Disk
5:48 Thermal Fuse
7:43 Fuse
8:32 Orange Wire
11:05 Gas
11:59 Gas Valve
12:55 Ignitor
14:21 Propane
16:20 Electric
16:37 Black Wire
17:16 Outlet
18:21 AC IN
19:31 Fuse
20:29 Heater Pin
21:59 Heating Element
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RV, Camper, Fifth-Wheel, Motorhome, Fleetwood Flair, RV Maintenance 101, Mobile RV Tech, Las Vegas, Henderson, Summerlin, Nevada, RV Repair Technician, Save money, Save time, Certified RV Repair Tech, RV Tips and Tricks, NRVTA, National RV Training Academy, Water Heater, Dometic, Atwood, RV Inspector, RV Inspection, Suburban, Dometic, Fridge, absorption style fridge, thermal disk, thermal fuse, circuit board, eyebrow board
LOVING that people are finding this video helpful. If you would like some RV maintenance hacks that could save you some major moolah then check out my Ultimate RV Maintenance Guide Here:
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YOU GOT THIS!
Thank you! Your video helped my solve my issue with no spark. As a note, on a lot of models the "re-igniter board" is separate and replaceable. Original part number: 2931132019 Now made by third parties as 2931132019MC or 2931132019-A. The board in the video though has this combined onto the main control board and is not replaceable.
What a breath of fresh air this woman is. So knowledgable and puts a lot of so-called RV experts to shame.
Well you just made my day! Thank you for the kind words!
@@rvrepairwoman I have one situation that is not in the video. When trying to run on gas, I don't hear the "click" from the valve and also don't hear the "tic tic tic" from the igniter. Valve and igniter are new. 12v and 220v work perfectly. Is my electric cardboard gone?
Emily, Your explanation is amazing. I have worked in electronics for over 55 years. I have never heard such a cogent and clear walk through a troubleshooting process as yours. ( your analogy of a switch being like a drawbridge is brilliant ). Tomorrow I will follow your logic and troubleshoot my Dometic refrigerator that won't cool on shore power. Thank you!
Spot on!
Emily, I was able to follow your logic to a blown fuse and then an open circuit in the electric heating element. I used a simple meter and an amp meter. I replaced the element for $20.00 and the fridge works and is still cold after 3 days. Thank you.
I fixed my dometic fridge after not working for 4 years and 6000 dollars I tore the SOB out and replaced it with a 12 volt furrion. It works and freezes ice cream
One of the best play by play for a Dometic fridge. Thanks Don
My god, I have a 30 year old ford transit where the fridge works on gas and mains but not on 12v and thanks to our algorithm overlords, It brought me to this video and it only dropped 5 hours ago.
Instant Sub!
Thanks for all the tips
I''m so glad this video found the right person!
Your troubleshooting process is fantastic! I followed your process to determine where the problem might be on my Dometic RV refrigerator and your step-by-step system saved me $50! It ended up being the thermal fuse so I ordered the replacement and will install it tomorrow. Thanks so much for what you do!
We bought a 2014 coachman clipper in the fall from a friend who stated “everything works”, we got it home winterized it and patiently waited for spring to enjoy some camping trip. I pulled it from storage yesterday, dewinterized it and discovered I cannot get the fridge or hot water tank to work. Spent the night disappointed and aggravated then I discovered this channel and now I’m confident I can make the repairs with your guidance. Thank you so much!!
Got to camp fridge want working , panic set in found your video . Went and got a tester and bought a backup mini fridge at same time. I came back started testing found a blown fuse on circuit board. Another trip to find a agx 3 fuse put it in and fridge worked . Took back the mini fridge and had a cold beer for you . Thanks for your video
I’m to make sure there is more cold beer in the world!
Outstanding Video. i am an Instrumentstion Engineering tech and this covers everything clear and concise. Well done! Gloves was a great tip, No fingers touching metal parts when measuring AC, lot of people rest thier hands on the metal when poking around, or put thier index finger on the netal shaft of thier screwdriver.
It seems I've gone thru scores of RV refrigerator videos. This is by far the best.
Agreed!! This is definitely the best!!
I bought a 1994 flair last year ,and I love it
Great video!
I had already gone through the testing via a different video. The testing revealed that the circuit board could be bad. I needed confirmation, so I went through all of the tests again using this video. Same results but in this video, you mentioned tapping the relay. When I did that, I had 120v on the heater pin and it worked. However, it was a one time fix and didn't work again. It gave me 100% confirmation the circuit board was faulty. (Thank you)
Emily, you're so good. After I watched the entire tutorial, I towed my coach to the nearest walmart. When I went to check / troubleshoot my fridge, it was already working! Damn....
Well done! Clear, concise explanations of all the logical steps. If only all how to videos were as good 👍
You're an angel. Thank you for your explanation!
This video was fantastic; THANK YOU! Was able to diagnose my issue thanks to you great step-by step checkpoints!
What a great video. So much information laid out so clearly! Thanks for posting. You've made the world better 😊
That’s what I’m aiming for! 😊
Thank you, superb explanation.
Great job great explanation. You’re a wonderful teacher. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much you made it so easy to follow an saved me time and money an I figured it the problem thank you again
Great video and love your art direction 😎. I have been doing battle with my fridge for 20 years. I always get it up and running, but you got me there faster with my new problem. 👍
best path explanation i have seen yet. thanks
Great video. Took a trip in 5th wheel a few weeks ago and fridge did not work on gas, but worked on electric. Love trying to fix things myself and this video helped me know where to start. As of now before digging into, I am getting the tic tic tic, but no whoom! 😂 Will go through these steps and am confident that I will be able to troubleshoot and fix before a big 6 week trip I am getting ready to take to the upper west in August. Thanks
As being daimbranaged on a horse fall, I'm rewatching this video over n over... and walla'
I fixed it with your help of coarse. Wonderful,informative
Video.
YAS! Glad your fridge is working again!
Excellent and entertaining. Many thanks!
You rock! I love the way you teach, thanks a lot for sharing 😍
Everyone is right by the way most clear concise job of getting through it all. Keep up the good work you viewership will increase
This woman is great. My fridge didn't work and I followed her method and determined my circuit board was bad. My Power Probe read 3.7v at the orange wire but 13v going into the board. This indicates the board is bad. I was using a power probe to test the board which can apply power, so I pushed 12v to the orange wire and the fridge came to life. I then disconnected and reconnected 12v to the fridge and it works normally in all modes. Maybe this trick will help somebody get a few more days out of a bad board. Good luck
Purchased a new circuit board from Amazon based upon all the test demonstrated in this video. Fridge is up and running again. Thanks!
YAS! Love to see it.
I watch a lot of CZcams videos and yours was one of the best. Thanks!
Wow, thanks!
This is an epic master class. Thank you!
Thank you for a very informative video, I was able to diagnose my problem on my fridge!
This video was AMAZING! ❤
Wow, you’re really good. Thank you for posting this. I a fellow woman am trying to fix my fridge again on my RV.
You got this!
Friggin best video EVER, hands down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
❤️thank you!! Glad people are finding this helpful.
Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you. Was on battery and solar all day and went to change over to gas , no clicking. Followed your video and was the board. We are one our way to Alaska with a full fridge What a disaster if it wasn't for you. Flashlight and cell in hand and you fixed it and, I learned something. Again thanks.
Allen
I love the visual! Glad we saved the fridge together!
Very Good vídeo, One of my new favorite Instructors, Gracias.
Great to hear!
Excellent video - well done. Love the popup captions, love your enthusiasm. Cheers.
Many thanks!!!
You are an amazing educator. Tomorrow I will begin my troubleshooting journey. If you were closer I would offer up my Norcold for a video. Wish me luck!
Thank you! This really helped with my fridge. Also, I'm a woman with Crohns! 🤜
Rock on! Gastro girlies got to stick together.
Great video. Figured out my problem. Thank you.
Great to hear!
Really great video, but I just ripped my pcb cover in half. To remove the cover over the PC board - Once you have the screwdriver in the little slot, don't "wiggle it around," you need to move the screwdriver handle to the left. This forces the bottom of the cover to the right which lifts the front cover over a little tab, located behind and to the right of the cover. So don't twist or jiggle anything, just move the screwdriver handle to the left.
BTW, I really appreciate the content of this video. Thanks for all you do!
I'm very lucky to have found your channel. Vids have outstanding clarity, order, editing, and information. I've been working around RVs for years but I tip my hat to you... I've learned a lot! I see a lot of subs in your near future🤙 BTW.. You'd have unlimited opportunities and also have fun in Colorado. Here near the Front Range the wait is often weeks to get an appointment for an RV tech. Thanks for the vids!
I’m overwhelmed with work in LV as it is! 😂
Enjoy your videos very helpful
A tree about 10’ from out TT was struck by lightning 5 days ago. Came home to fridge, WH, and furnace non operational. The GFI was also blinking red for replacement. We replaced gfi and outlets work again. Thanks to your video I chased down the eyebrow board in refer as being the culprit for no lights and no operation to refer. I found out our furnace and WH boards are also toast and will be replacing them once the new ones come in the mail. Thanks for the videos and tips.
Yay! Sorry to hear about your rig, but I love hearing about people being able to fix their own RVs.
Excellent content. You have earned a new subscriber. 😊
wish i would have seen this before i went to vegas last week could have had ya come diagnose my frig which does not seem to wanna light on propane? home now so am going to order a new control board and hope for the best.... 🤠
Thanks Emily for the great step by step process. I went through it and was still at a loss. My symptoms were a little different. The unit initially would not light. The ground from the igniter unit was not getting good connection, cleaned (your advice). Unit would light but would then shut off after a bit of time. Indicating a thermocouple. Checked voltage when unit was lit, only got .009 to ,011 volts (or 9 millivolts) from the thermocouple. Just for giggles I also let a long Bic lighter under the thermocouple, the voltage went to 25mv. Checked thermocouple mounting, it was loose, apparently allowed the Thermocouple to slide away from the flame. Adjusted and locked down. All is fine.
Great tips! Thank you!
Great info thank you, mine will work fine and then one day it cuts out. And then it will work again. Older fridge it’s heating up but not staying cold, fridge is always on electric plugged in.
I just found your channel. I live in Las Vegas so I will be calling you. My fridge will work when i override the system and plug into an extension cord but is using up propane. Won’t work on electric. Probably something simple since it’s 2 years old
Instant sub. Great break down. Now can you please do a Norcold rv fridge. I'm getting a LO DC error when I try to run off battery. AC and LP work fine. Thanks
Thanks!
Well done
Great video thank you Mamacita
Didn’t hear you mention the reset button on the thermal disc? If the thermal disc fuse keeps popping is it a bad thermal disc that needs to be replaced or something else?
You are AMAZING AMAZING and did I mention AMAZING!!!!!
Well explained awesome anecdotes that put everything into perspective.
Love your channel and five stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from UncleJoeGta
😂glad it was helpful!
very good video, on my circuit board there are a few places where I get the 12 volts as should and where I don't get 12 volts. This means circuit board needs to be replaced?
@rvrepairwoman thank you for your video it was very clear and easy to follow. I have a question please, we tested the ac in between the two wires and we have 120v. But when we test between one of the 120v inlet legs and ground we only get a few volts and the same with the other leg. Our van was imported into Australia from Canada and converted to 240v so perhaps there is a transformer supplying the fridge with 120v and it may not be grounded so we can't get a reference from ground to +. Would this be possible in your professional opinion, thanks.
Could you do this exact video on a Norcold Model N10DCSSL, Please.
SUBSCRIBED Thank you ❤
Thanks a hole lot
Great troubleshooting guidance. I passed all of the tests, but purchased two new control boards thinking the first replacement was bad (which it may be) but still no resolution. My problem is that when running on AC, it pops the RV circuit breaker. Could it be the electric heating element is the problem???
Hey I need a little more of your good help, just watched your video was great, so I am working on my 2008, fridge, same one as in your video. Went through all your steps, twice lol, my heating element is getting hot, on gas and electric, but fridge will still not cool, or freezer, it just runs for half an hour, then pops the heat switch, but I noticed my cooling system is not getting hot, would that mean I need frion added?
Hello Emily I couldn't find the reading you said. you would put out for the reading in the ac heater for refrigerator.
WOW!! Ive looked at several "experts" on youtube and yours is the best approach to diagnosis Ive seen! What model were you testing? I have a RM3762 and it seems it must be laid out a bit different. I dont have the 6 pin your speaking of to test the board and no orange wire. My issue seems to be no clicking or spark after its been stored. All other devices that use gas work...but not until I drive around for awhile does it finally click and fire. So weird. Wish I was in Vegas Id definetly look you up for service.
Well I am having the issue of no power at the fuse on the circuit card. Fuse is good, just nonpwer on either side. Have power everywhere else. I have a card coming as it's the only thing I can think of that would be the issue. Thoughts?
Hello Emily, I am hearing chatter coming from the back of my Atwood water heater GC6AA-10E. Would I be right in suspecting the relay. Thanks.
I have a Nicole de0751bb, it’s gets ice cold but I can’t turn the temp up at all so drinks don’t freeze, is there a way to repair the thermostat or get it to work somehow, part is discontinued. Thanks so much!!!
thank you for all. I have a problem on my mother board 220vac europe version and the motherboard is out production. The fridge work only on 12vcc and gas. The mother board doesn't recognize the 220vac supply. I want to connect the 220 ac resistance directly at 220ac wire with a fuse to protect it and i can start manually the fridge with a manual switch and a thermostat . Thank you and greetings from Italy
Hello again Badass Emily :-) So I was able to get the fridge going. My freezer is working. The fridge is not cooling yet. Does the thermistor only work for the fridge? Is it possible that mine could be bad? Thank you again for your amazing videos and help. I appreciated your text back so very much!!! Thank you so very much!
Great video! I went through the process, and my meter read that my 5A glass fuse on the circuit board didn’t have power on either side of the fuse, but the 3A fuse to the left of it had 12 volts on each side. However, when i took the 5A fuse out to test it, it had continuity and looks totally fine. Any ideas?
My fridge died super recently, right after my batteries died (and i think the batteries went below the discharge limit) It’s a DMR702, and the error code it’s blinking says that DC voltage is out of range, but i’ve replaced the batteries, confirmed that they are working, and reset everything, but still no luck.
Hey there Emily and friends! Quick question, when I do the first step of touching the black to ground and the red the 12-volt, it blows the fuse for my fridge. Any ideas what this could mean? Thank you so much!
Question…what if I get the long “check” beep in both electric (auto) and gas settings? Would it most likely be the circuit board?
Emily, can you point me to how to open the lower power module? Your’s look like mine, and yours is already open when you are talking about DC. Beyond removing the top screw, I can’t figure out how to open the black box to peak inside. Thx much. 🙂
I have a 12v dc 10 cubic ft, The power from the fuse goes to the Main PCBA Cooling unit, however it does not return to the main control board on top of the fridge. It is not a wire issue, the 12 volts does not exit at the tab where the return wire terminates.
My fridge a domestic works but not getting colder than 45F…thermistor? Great video!😊
A hot tip she didn't mention was checking the test buttons on the bathroom outlet. Apparently it disconnects multiple outlets and kids like pushing them. At least I'll be ready when it really does break.
Yes! Great tip! If you aren’t getting power to the outlet that the fridge is plugged in to then that GFCI (the button in the bathroom) is the first thing I would check.
hey according to my parts list the electrical heating element is 295watts would a 325watt work it's all I can find?
This is why we(RV Techs) get paid so much because this is not easy.
Hi I have a 2005 rv w dometic refrigerator and I have a problem when I try text the ac power from the circuit board using the common ground I only 70 volt a/c
Hi! Thanks for all the helpful videos! I have a question for you. My thermal disk keeps popping out every 10-20 min and I have to hit the reset button each time to make the unit work again. Bad thermal disk or something else? My fridge DM2672
Off the top of my head I think the temperature for that disk to pop is around 300 degrees. So throw a thermometer on your tube and see if you’re close. If not, change out the disk. It’s not uncommon for them to go bad and they are super cheap.
I have a Dometic RM2611. The freezer is 8 degrees but I can't get the fridge below 41degrees.. I've been switching back and forth between the original and a Chinese thermistor with no real difference. I have lower and upper fans in the outside compartment that worked awesome last year. I only use propane. What am I missing?
I was watching this to see what the "DC element" was. I'm replacing the board with a Dinosar P-711 and it is so confusing because the schematics in the cubby hole is different that the board that has nothing labeled with the tan resin all over the board which is different than the P-711 so as I find things out I lable everything and drew up my own schematics of the non labeled board so when I figure it out I can replace it correctly the first time. Oh and I had to make my own ground wire so had to get all the fun equipment for that and "flag" connector stuff. A month later I'm here. Almost ready but not sure what the DC element is or how to find the positive end with the board bad.
So if the big metal pipe on right is getting hot, the fridge should work? What if it is hot but the fridge is not cooling?
Emily, Help me!! 😅
My fridge is working fine with gas but, when I try to use it with electricity, my gfi outlit trip. i tried different outlit and it does the same.
Same with the fridge connect with an extension cord directly to the house.
I'm kind of clueless. Everything was working fine last fall.
So what if we hear the tick, tick, tick but no sounds of the propane lighting? And then sometimes get a big "woosh" sound? My fridge keeps doing this on auto and on gas. It's a Dometic DM2852.
Ok. First, that was a well explained video. I followed along and I have two glass fuses and one of them was 120 V but the other was reading around 28 or 30 v. also The refrigerator outlet is getting 120 V. I put a small fan blowing upward into the unit from the outside and it seems to bring down the temperature of the inside of the refrigerator. The freezer seems fine. Any advice on that? I’m at a campground, possibly the pedestal on 30 amp not wired correctly? I was also wondering if maybe if there is a fan on these Dometic units.
Test for DC volts across that glass fuse just to make sure it isn’t a DC fuse.
@@rvrepairwomanthe fuse in question says (on the circuit board) 3A/125 VAC
I am getting the pilot to light right away, but the igniter keeps clicking. it keeps clicking through its cycle then shuts of, which shuts off the gas.
What would cause the igniter to keep click, even if the pilot is lit??
Hi any instructions to do this on a dometic fridge freezer model 7271 , desprate owner here 😢 , thanks.
I keep blowing the 5 amp fuse I checked it it's saying like 50v ac btw this happened after the lights went out during the hurricane I'm using the electric non gas atm btw the fuses that blew were when i had it pluged into the outlet behind the fridge havent tryed to put a fuse in while actually connected to the outside outlet
Emily, love your video on diagnosing an RV Dometic fridge, well explained through all the steps. I’ve checked everything in the video and everything tested good but still fridge does not work. Does this mean I need to replace the entire fridge?
Is the tube on the side getting hot? If it is but the fridge isn’t getting cold then you need a new cooling unit. If it isn’t getting hot then you have an electrical issue somewhere
Thanks for the reply, tube is definitely hot (burnt my finger lol😂) all electrical checks out, so I will look into a cooling unit
Great informative video. Did all the tests on our Dometic fridge.....TWICE! All readings are as they should be. Our fridge and freezer are not getting cold or frozen enough. Freezer food is soft. Liquids in fridge are warm. Lights are lit up on the EyeBrow board. We're stumped. 🤬
I’ll make a video on this soon. (I think I have it on the schedule for this month) but real quick. If a fridge is working electrically (passing all the tests) and is LEVEL but not cooling it can be 1 of 3 tings.
1. Insulation. Make sure there is proper insulation around all the sides of the fridge AND the top. The insulation is just like the fluffy fiberglass stuff in the walls of your house and it can work its way down when driving a lot. Some manufacturers also forget to put a piece of insulation on the top of the fridge and this really cuts down on the fridges cooling power.
2. Ventilation. If you open up the upper access panel for the fridge you’ll see some fins on the back of the fridge. Air HAS to go through these fins in order to cool the fridge. Make sure nothing is blocking the air from being able to come in the bottom access panel, up the back of the fridge, and out the top panel. Sometime we need to create baffles to direct the air across the fins.
3. If your insulation and ventilation are fine you may have a bad cooling unit. You can test for this with the hand test. Look for the flue on the back of the fridge and see if it’s getting hot. Then check if the black coils in the back of the fridge are hot as well. They should be within 10 degrees of each other. If the coils are WILDLY hotter than the flue than you most likely have a blockage in your cooling unit. If the coils are drastically colder than the flue then you most likely have a leak in your cooling unit. Both mean bad cooling unit and it needs to be replaced.
Hope that was helpful/ understandable without visuals. Video is in the work! You go this!
You have made great suggestions. We'll do more testing today. We will update you. Thank you kindly. @@rvrepairwoman
If I you don’t mind me asking? I’ve put three new boards in my fridge everything checks out great until I get to the six pin wire I can’t 12 volt coming out to go up to the top board ? Can you help me ?
I can send money on the thanks
The day I find this great video and my brother breaks my volt meter.. yup I’m not working on it today. It I’ll be back for sure.
Love the video it's so complete! The only thing I don't see is what's happening to mine. When I get to the point in the video where I'm checking to see if my gas valve is getting 12v at the board, mine isn't. Does that mean the board is bad? No power seems to be going to the valve and I never get a click click click igniter sound. I have manually fed the gas valve 12v and it makes a loud click and gas flows, I tested that.
Bad board?
Follow back the wires from the gas valves to the board and see if the board is sending out 12V to them. (I think you e already done this) if you’re getting the signal from the eyebrow board to go for gas, but the board isn’t send out power to the gas valves then you’re board is most likely the problem. Also double check that fuse just to be sure
@@rvrepairwoman thanks!
Any way to check the eyebrow board is sending the signal? It seems to be working. When I switch to gas it turns off the lights on the eyebrow. After a short while the "check" light comes on. Again thank you 🙏 @@rvrepairwoman
My heating element gets very hot and the safety keeps popping out. How do I know if the safety is bad or if the element is getting to hot?
What about if everything works except for the inside light. Bulb looks good
What if ur eye bral flashing red 3 time owner book says tem limit switch is bad but it didn't get cold before but light was green unhook shore power then hulk back then 3 blank red !!!!!!
I'm just wondering why editing Emily didn't remind anyone that in the center of that thermal disc the little black button is a reset button if you're not getting continuity between the two push it in to reset if it does allow you to push it in you'll hear a click but if you have to keep resetting it you obviously have another issue.