Dometic RM2652 Fridge/Freezer"query"

[ruffingitsmoothly]

Hi Brian

Sorry to hear of your fridge problems it would appear from this article that absorption fridges do not have a very long life span see here:

http://home.iprimus.com.au/rfh/refrig.html

Ten years being considered a good expectancy!!It is also intimated that this is deliberately planned obsolescence as if they were made with non corrosive metals this failing would not occur!

I have had problems with several RV fridges and was lucky in that I managed to cure the problem by removing and turning the unit upside down,I also tapped the coils on the back of the fridge as I was told that there could be an internal blockage caused by rust within the cooling system it self.

Regards Pat

[Richardn]

I had a RM2604 in mine and it smelt of ammonia

Replaced it with a new on from

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270513635532&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:VRI

not advertising at present, but may be worth a ring of the number on the listing to see if he has one left

[harley mike]

Hi regarding the fridge thats lost its cool, my last rv had a norcold fridge and had the same problem the instructions told me to remove the unit from its housing and lay it on its left hand side for at least one hour to remix the refrigerant, i had to do this twice a year for the last three years that i owned the rv
good luck
Harley mike

[Devils_Advocate]

Ah, I thought I'd forgotten how to post.....

Contacted Dometic (UK) who kindly gave me e-mail contact for Dometic(France). They replied with contact details of nearest service agent (only 60 or so KM away). I phoned them (actually, Bob (Parc Verger) phoned on my behalf and after initially saying that June 10th was good for a visit, a second guy said that they wouldn't travel to me, I would have to travel to them. As this would have been slightly problematic, I decided to leave it and contact Dometic UK again nearer the time we're due to come back to the UK.

Just over a week ago I phoned the UK and they got their nearest agent to phone me.

Now, thankfully, a visit to us has been arranged for 2 days after we return to the UK to investigate the problem.

So, to summarize, It's still knackered, but we've survived by getting hold of a 2nd-hand domestic unit which has taken the place of our dinette for the last few months, but there is a definite appointment for investigations in mid-August.

Huzzah!

[Devils_Advocate]

An update with hopeful outcome....

A chance remark by a guy who left Parc Verger yesterday made me look at the Fridge situation again. He said he had experienced a similar problem when a rodent climbed up his breather pipe for the unit & died, so I took the end filter off the pipe and threw a bottle cleaning brush up the pipe to see if all was clear. Some dried c**p did come back, so I gave it a bit more welly and then switched the unit back on. 2 hours later, there is a definite temperature drop in the unit, so I'm gonna leave it for 24 hours to see if it's still cooling!

Will update tomorrow.

[Mrtibbs]

Sounds very positive, if it starts to cool, then chances are that it will continue to cool.....
Fingers crossed Brian.

Keith

[Devils_Advocate]

Keith, uncross your fingers - it's still working!

So, as a tip for anyone who has the same symptoms, CHECK YOUR BREATHER PIPE is clear - may just save you cash and aggravation.

Thanks to everyone who contributed, and to John, the "unknown hero".

[Polly]

Rodents? My speciality, I should have read this thread earlier, I would have sniffed out a potential rodent in a heart beat ...

[Mrtibbs]

Thanks Brian, I was starting to get pins and needles in my fingers
Congratulations to you and if "John" is watching, well done matey.....

Keith