NSRV
Well-known member
Hello everyone, I've a 2018 Jayco Redhawk 22J, equipped with a Norcold N811 (fanless model). Going to try to be as descriptive and informational as possible for you all here. I've searched and searched, tested and diagnosed, but before I start throwing parts, I need other RV tech opinions!
The fridge won't stay cold. It started losing temperature the other day in freezer and fridge, switched it from electric to LP gas, let it sit on for about 4 hours with thermometer inside the fridge, didn't seem to get cold. Outside ambient temperature has been from the low 60s (at night) to the uppers 80s during the day. Humidity is high, being West Virginia, no other issued with the fridge before this.
Verified RV is level (Re-leveled yesterday to be sure, 0.0 degrees front to rear, +0.3 degrees side to side, acceptable), fridge is confirmed level. Climbed up on the roof, pulled the vent bezel and inspected top side ventilation, no ventilation blockages found. Down below behind the access panel I did not find any yellow residue or ammonia smells to indicate a leak. The canister feels hot to the touch, and the electric heating element OHMs out good and gets hot. When on LP gas I can hear the igniter click and the LP burning, heater pipe gets really hot, which according to my research shows that is normal operation at that point.
I completely shut off the fridge and let it sit for about 4-5 hours until the canister on the back was no longer hot to the touch (to let it settle or burp, as I've read). I removed the circuit panel cover and performed the "board reset" that I found on google (grounding out 2nd pin on the right, top connector). Turned the fridge back on and let it sit over night. The next morning freezer was about 20F and lower fridge was about 38F. Worked great for most of the day but last night it started to get warm again.
Anything I can do to prolong the life of this fridge? It's not very old (Not sure if it has warranty still, or not, being a 2018 RV). I feel like maybe part of my issue is due to the fact that this model is not equipped with ventilation fans, and there is a fan kit available on Amazon. I don't appear to have a leak, perhaps cooling unit has a internal clog?
From the looks of it, based on my diagnostics and research, I may need a cooling unit. What are other people's thoughts on this? Also I've read that the pulling the fridge out and laying it on its side will unclog it, if it is clogged...
The fridge won't stay cold. It started losing temperature the other day in freezer and fridge, switched it from electric to LP gas, let it sit on for about 4 hours with thermometer inside the fridge, didn't seem to get cold. Outside ambient temperature has been from the low 60s (at night) to the uppers 80s during the day. Humidity is high, being West Virginia, no other issued with the fridge before this.
Verified RV is level (Re-leveled yesterday to be sure, 0.0 degrees front to rear, +0.3 degrees side to side, acceptable), fridge is confirmed level. Climbed up on the roof, pulled the vent bezel and inspected top side ventilation, no ventilation blockages found. Down below behind the access panel I did not find any yellow residue or ammonia smells to indicate a leak. The canister feels hot to the touch, and the electric heating element OHMs out good and gets hot. When on LP gas I can hear the igniter click and the LP burning, heater pipe gets really hot, which according to my research shows that is normal operation at that point.
I completely shut off the fridge and let it sit for about 4-5 hours until the canister on the back was no longer hot to the touch (to let it settle or burp, as I've read). I removed the circuit panel cover and performed the "board reset" that I found on google (grounding out 2nd pin on the right, top connector). Turned the fridge back on and let it sit over night. The next morning freezer was about 20F and lower fridge was about 38F. Worked great for most of the day but last night it started to get warm again.
Anything I can do to prolong the life of this fridge? It's not very old (Not sure if it has warranty still, or not, being a 2018 RV). I feel like maybe part of my issue is due to the fact that this model is not equipped with ventilation fans, and there is a fan kit available on Amazon. I don't appear to have a leak, perhaps cooling unit has a internal clog?
From the looks of it, based on my diagnostics and research, I may need a cooling unit. What are other people's thoughts on this? Also I've read that the pulling the fridge out and laying it on its side will unclog it, if it is clogged...
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