Author Topic: Refrigerator question  (Read 9423 times)

Michael Carlson

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Refrigerator question
« on: June 29, 2012, 05:42:45 PM »
I have a 2005 Beaver Monterey with a four door refrigerator.  We recently had a right side drive tire blow out and it shook the coach something terrible and did alot of damage.  Prior to this incident, I could get the empty refrigerator down to around 33 degrees on propane or electric. Now, after this incident I can only get the electrical down to about 42 degrees and the propane to 50 degrees. Any ideas as to where to start?

I will not visit my local dealer, as I just went thru a terrible deal with the repair of my coach after the blow out, and probably would not recommend them even to replace a blown fuse.

Michael and Susan Carlson
2005' Beaver Monterey
« Last Edit: June 30, 2012, 05:47:59 AM by 14 »

Joel Ashley

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Re: Refrigerator question
« Reply #1 on: June 29, 2012, 06:24:59 PM »
If the problem was actually caused by the tire incident, then it could be coming from any number of refrigerator components that might have been jostled loose.  I set our fridge to cool to about 38 which is adequate and won't freeze veggies in the bottom drawer, but yours should still run to even less like it did before if you want it to.  Take into account the effect of any ambient temperature difference between now and before the incident - is it much warmer outside now than it was, making the refer work harder?

Your gas should cool as least as well as electric, so I'd check that there are no loose leaking nuts in the propane line, including all the way forward to the tank.  But just before I did that, I'd make sure the air tube going to the burner wasn't knocked katty wampus and is still providing the proper blue flame;  and be sure the ignition at the burner is clean, still gapped right, and working consistently.  Did any debris, insulation, or dirt get knocked loose and fall into the burner flue, partially blocking it, or is anything now blocking the venting components, esp. on the roof or sidewall, or around the condensor tubing on the back of the refer?  Since both the electric and gas functions have diminished, checking ventilation would seem a good first move.

That's where I'd start, but after that it begins to get hairy, because any number of electrical components, 12 volt or 120 volt, could have been bumped loose, from a simple screw connector to a circuit board component.  And if the coach was off level for any length of time, say parked beside the road on a grade, after the blowout, you may have gained a bubble in the system that's blocking coolant flow, a serious situation usually resolved only by replacing the cooling unit.  After examining obvious connections, I'd then consider checking reviews of local RV service providers, and having a "pro" look at it.  If you provided us with a location, perhaps a buddy on the Forum could recommend a facility or meet you to have a look himself.

Joel
« Last Edit: June 29, 2012, 06:39:16 PM by 77 »
Joel and Lee Rae Ashley
Clackamas, Oregon
36.9 ft. 2006 Monterey Ventura IV, aka"Monty Rae"
C9 400HP Cat

Michael Carlson

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Re: Refrigerator question
« Reply #2 on: June 29, 2012, 06:38:43 PM »
Thank you for that information. I will check it out this weekend. I live in Great Bend, Ks.

Michael and Susan Carlson
2005 Beaver Monterey

Edward Buker

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Re: Refrigerator question
« Reply #3 on: June 30, 2012, 01:21:18 AM »
As Joel indicated check the flue area and vent. If that seems correctly configured with no blockage and the heating by electric element or gas seems to operate normally then you need to look for other answers. Is the temp sensor in place as it should be and is the system well defrosted.

Keep in mind that the frig temp is also a function of the outside temperature. These systems will vary with the temp rising in the frig as the outside temperature rises. Because both the gas and electric cooling seems to be affected it may just be a rise in the outside temperature between your old measurements and the new ones.

Later Ed

Michael Carlson

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Re: Refrigerator question
« Reply #4 on: July 08, 2012, 05:06:19 PM »
I am a little confused. The propane flame goes into a flue, which then goes into some type of heat exchanger making it cool? Should this flue be open and how far up the pipe. The vent is open on the back of the fridge to the top of the coach. What else should I be looking for. Flame if nice and blue.

Michael Carlson

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Re: Refrigerator question
« Reply #5 on: July 08, 2012, 09:22:54 PM »
Doing the diagnostic my sensor should read 32. it is showing 40 on display. how do i change it to read 32?

Michael Carlson

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Re: Refrigerator question
« Reply #6 on: September 10, 2012, 01:36:50 AM »
Does taking unit out and turning it upside down for 24 hrs and then setting right side up for 24 hrs and then starting it,  ever fix the not cooling problem.
« Last Edit: September 10, 2012, 02:20:55 AM by 6934 »

Joel Ashley

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Re: Refrigerator question
« Reply #7 on: September 10, 2012, 08:20:37 AM »
General consensus is that it does not.  Getting a blockage out of the long convoluted system would be successful almost by pure luck.
Unfortunately your symptoms are best analyzed by an experienced technician, and it might be worth a drive to one, however distant. Check this list for possibilities: http://www.rvservicereviews.com/StateList.asp?state=KS

The flame simply exhausts up the flue, but it heats fluid in a boiler in the process, and that begins the evaporation/condensation process that ultimately removes heat from your refrigerator interior.  

Our '06 Monterey's Dometic has a fan up high in the space behind the refrigerator, which probably serves to accelerate venting air flow, though I've never seen it run.  It may be intermittent and controlled by a thermostat relevant to ambient air.  I'm not sure how critical the fan is to overall operation, but you might check into that if you have such a fan.  Call the manufacturer regarding that.
Joel and Lee Rae Ashley
Clackamas, Oregon
36.9 ft. 2006 Monterey Ventura IV, aka"Monty Rae"
C9 400HP Cat

Bill Sprague

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Re: Refrigerator question
« Reply #8 on: September 11, 2012, 12:28:18 AM »
If the fins in the back are cold, you might have developed a door leak when the tire blew.