Posted 2017-10-16 6:28 AM (#170746) Subject: Norcold
Regular
Posts: 92 Location: Nebraska
Hi, I have had, my new to me trailer, for a few months now and it seems that no matter the outdoor tremprature the refrigerator can only cool to about 50 degrees. It is a 5.5 Norcold and the trailer is 15 years old. I am assuming the refrigerator is original, is there anything to be done to improve cooling or is it just at the end of it's life span? Thanks Joan
Posted 2017-10-16 3:19 PM (#170748 - in reply to #170746) Subject: RE: Norcold
Elite Veteran
Posts: 656 Location: Rayne, LA
I am not an expert either, but I have had to clean the fins like the attached memo says. What follows is something I got from the internet
Hope this helps-- Good Luck
The first thing to know is that the cooling units on every Norcold gas absorption refrigerator are gravity operated and MUST be level in order to run properly.
The second thing you need to understand is that the refrigerator will not cool properly if it is too hot outside (typically over 90 degrees F ambient). The refrigerator needs good air flow across the "condenser fins" that are located at the top of the cooling unit. If you remove your refrigerator's access panel on the outside of the RV you should be able to look up and see these fins. Make sure that there are no obstructions. If your refrigerator doesn't have good air flow it will not cool properly. Many models do not come with external fans behind the cooling unit. For the RVers that love the heat, we recommend installing some fans in the back to help with the air flow.
The next thing to check is your Thermistor (thermostat/ resistor) located inside the refrigerator. It has a 4-prong connector located at your light fixture at one end and the other end connects inside the refrigerator on one of the back fins. To test this Thermistor you don't need any tools whatsoever. Provided your refrigerator is not showing any fault codes, you can turn the temperature setting as cold as it gets and disconnect this Thermistor. If it cools properly, you have a bad Thermistor. If, however, you do have a multi-meter, here is an article on testing the thermistor for resistance: Norcold Thermistor Test (<-click)
If you checked all of the following and it's still not cooling as well as it should, we highly recommend purchasing a Camco Aerator (<-click) and having it pointed towards the fins inside the refrigerator compartment. This should drop the temperature in the refrigerator section several degrees.
Norcold
