How to Troubleshoot Norcold Cooling Units

RV refrigerators are a vital piece of equipment for any camper or full timer. They need to be able to stand up to the elements and work well even when there isn’t a power source nearby. They also need to be able to take a beating from bumps in the road and vibrations from driving. Despite the challenges, most RV fridges will last years and decades with little or no problems. However, they do occasionally break down or have issues that need to be resolved. For this reason, it’s important to know the basics of norcold cooling units to be able to troubleshoot a problem when it occurs.

When the fridge isn’t working, one of the first things to look for is a green light that’s blinking. This indicates that the fridge is trying to start up but it’s having a hard time doing so because of a voltage or current issue. This is usually caused by a bad connection or wire in the control panel. The good news is that if you are able to find the correct replacement fuse for your Norcold fridge, this problem can be easily fixed.

In order to fix this, you’ll need to remove the control panel and locate the fuses. You’ll usually find them in a small black box located in the lower left corner of the control panel. To open the box, you’ll need to unscrew the cover with a screwdriver. Once you have access to the fuses, you’ll need to identify which ones are blown so that you can replace them with new ones.

It’s also a good idea to use thermal mastic to reseal the fridge to the frame. This is especially important if you have had water leaks from the evaporator in the past. Water leaking from the evaporator causes insulation to become saturated and will eventually rot the tubing. This can lead to a vapor lock which can cause the refrigerator to stop functioning and may even fire up.

You’ll also want to make sure that the LP gas igniter is reinstalled properly on the new fridge. If this isn’t done, you could end up with a refrigerator that won’t run on LP gas. Lastly, check the back side of the evaporator for air infiltration. Air infiltration can bring moisture to the evaporator which will cause the refrigerator to drip. This will rot the insulation and if it reaches the LP gas igniter, it will cause a fire.

If you have a Norcold 1200 Series or N8 Series gas absorption refrigerator, you might be eligible for a class action settlement. You’ll need to submit a claim form by Aug. 26, 2016. For more information, visit here.