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RE: Fire Hazard Appliance Recalls UPDATED NORCOLD INFO 11-20-2010
Sorry, but you are only half right. The sensor was designed to keep the cooling coils from overheating, that's right. If the cooling coils overheat and the red light comes on with the sensor your refrigerator shuts down, it does not cool, and if you bypass it then you are risking the liability occuring that it was design to avoid for Norcold. In other words, if your refrigerator overheats and catches fire you are on your own. If the sensor trips your food will spoil unless you can get to a repair shop and have another sensor installed. That is a fact! Now, my coils blew after they installed the sensor. The red light came on like it was suppose to come on. Did the coils blow before the red light came on or after it came on? Who knows? I fixed it, I put in new coils, my food doesn't spoil.
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MrDoneIt65
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04/02/12 05:35pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Fire Hazard Appliance Recalls UPDATED NORCOLD INFO 11-20-2010
My main issue with the recall, beside the fact that my refrigerator which was working perfect before they started doing recalls on it, was that the recall didn't fix the problem. It just stopped a problem from occurring which could come back to bite Norcold. If you are on a trip, pull into a campground and you notice a little red glow from the access door on the back of the refrigerator, your refrigerator isn't working. You have a refrigerator full of food that is suppose to be there for you to eat. It is now getting warm and will not be fit to eat. The recall did not fix the problem of the refrigerator supposedly overheating and causing a fire. It set you up for a refrigerator full of spoiled food.
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MrDoneIt65
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04/01/12 06:43am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Fire Hazard Appliance Recalls UPDATED NORCOLD INFO 11-20-2010
There are good dealerships out there though. I didn't mean to make it sound like I lumped them all together because of my experience. I called the dealership where I bought my Southwind and the only person I ever talked to was the operator. The salesman got fired the day after I bought my rig. Don't know if that is a good or bad sign.
Glad to hear you are capable and have the experience needed to enjoy the RV. Good Sam has a program where Members can assist others who are in need of the services of a handiman.
I hope you don't have any problems with your fridge. Good Luck and Happy Camping.
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MrDoneIt65
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03/30/12 03:26pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Fire Hazard Appliance Recalls UPDATED NORCOLD INFO 11-20-2010
It says you are a new member. I am going to make an assumption. If this is your first RV then you must know that you will have to be a handy man.
On the refrigerator recall. If the refrigerator quits working, do not throw it away and buy a new one. There is a company in Indiana that makes coils for your refrigerator. They are not cheap, cost me $1,075.00 for mine, but that is a heck of a lot cheaper than a new refrigerator. They come with complete instructions to change them. No recall necessary after their changed.
See if there is a manufacturers service manual available for your rig. It cost me $90.00 for the Workhorse Manual for my Southwind. But I had a serpinetime belt that shredded because a mechanic left a wiring harness bracket off the mounting bolt and it came in contact with the belt. The mechanic didn't have a diagram on how to replace the belt. He about fell out when I pulled out the service manual which showed the belt. Better safe than sorry.
Good Luck, enjoy the lifestyle, especially the people you will meet. And enjoy the things you will learn about fixing an RV. (I even had to put my mufflers back on after the trip home from the dealer and repair a gasoline leak because they missed the hose when putting on the clamp). Go figure!
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MrDoneIt65
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03/28/12 10:07am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Fire Hazard Appliance Recalls UPDATED NORCOLD INFO 11-20-2010
Bigblockronni, contact the manufacturer online. They usually have a list of repair shops they recommend. Then make sure you join Good Sam, they are a lifesaver in many instances. Also get the Good Sam Emergency Road Service, they are there when you need them on the road.
My problem with the RV industry is how they seem to avoid problems after the sale. When I bought my new Chevy and the alternator went bad I took it to the Chevy Dealer and they repaired it. They didn't tell me to get in touch with Delco. If you buy an RV and the airconditioner quits working they tell you to get in touch with Dometic or Norcold. I had to take my Workhorse Chassis to a Workhorse Service Center. I think that is the reason the dealer I bought my motorhome from is now out of business.
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MrDoneIt65
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03/28/12 09:53am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Fire Hazard Appliance Recalls UPDATED NORCOLD INFO 11-20-2010
Ray Chez, the chinese sensor with the little red light was suppose to blow if the refrigerator got to hot. I don't know how hot that is. I don't know if it got so hot that the coils blew and then the red light came on or what. I just know that the so called "recall fix" is not a fix, but a removal of liability. If your chinese sensor comes on with a little red light, your refrigerator WILL NOT WORK. No matter where you are in your journey. Why didn't Norcold come up with a Fix that prevented a fire, or prevented the coils from getting so hot that they would cause a fire in your unit? It would be like Toyota, instead of fixing the accelerator problem they had, putting in a sensor that shut off the brakes and shutting down the engine if the car suddenly started to accelerate. Leaving you parked along the side of busy highway at rush hour. I won't buy another rig with a Norcold anything in it.
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MrDoneIt65
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02/29/12 01:42pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Fire Hazard Appliance Recalls UPDATED NORCOLD INFO 11-20-2010
Oh, and the coils blew in the flu area, exactly where the recall sensor had been installed. I removed the entire contraption and sent it back to Norcold at my expense. A lady called me from Norcold and said they were looking into some type of compensation for what happened. I thanked her for her concern and that was the last I heard from Norcold. My refrigerator is fixed, no thanks to Norcold.
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MrDoneIt65
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02/28/12 04:33pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Fire Hazard Appliance Recalls UPDATED NORCOLD INFO 11-20-2010
Let me repeat this again. My refrigerator was working just fine before they started the recalls. The first one lasted about a week and the reset button wouldn't work. So then they did the second recall which didn't last 4 hours and the red light came on. No reset. When they came to check it out, my coils were blown. FACT! So the recall didn't FIX the problem, it removed them from any liability by shutting down the refrigerator when it overheated. I don't know if the refrigerator overheated, the coils blew out, and then the red light came on or not. I wasn't watching it when the coils blew, and neither were you. But it removed Norcold of any liability on a refrigerator that was working just fine before they came up with thier jerry rigging "fix" that didn't fix anything. Enough said! And I have repaired this motorhome from the rear bumper to the front so I know how to work on the thing.
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MrDoneIt65
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02/28/12 04:28pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Fire Hazard Appliance Recalls UPDATED NORCOLD INFO 11-20-2010
My refrigerator was working fine. No problems for years. Then they decided that a recall was necessary. The first recall lasted a week and the button wouldn't reset. The second recall lasted 4 hours and when the technician checked it the coils were blown. Thanks to RV Net I found out about the Amish coils. When I put the new coils in the refrigerator the cooling fans did not come on. So I, having worked on this rig from front to back, got out the wiring diagram. Surprise, surprise, the black wire and the white wire had been switched on the control box. Wonder how that happened. If I hadn't read those instructions and found that switching of the wires then my new Amish coils would have blown out too. Where did I get this idea? I got it from doing the work myself to replace the coils. Fact! The original coils on a refrigerator that was working just fine before the recalls were blown. You doctor it, I don't.
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MrDoneIt65
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02/15/12 08:59am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Fire Hazard Appliance Recalls UPDATED NORCOLD INFO 11-20-2010
Personally, I wouldn't mess with the stupid recall. I went through the procedure and they blew the coils out of my unit. I took the recall package off my refrigerator and sent it back to Norcold. A lady called me and said they were going to look into some compensation for what happened. That was the last I heard from them.
Thanks to RV.net and these postings, I found out about the Amish replacement coils. Cost me $1,075.00 for the coils, used a motorcycle jack to get the refrigerator out, 4 bolts, some wiring, and unit works perfectly even though I have to set it at a lower number. But that was better than buying a new refrigerator. And it ain't gonna burn my motorhome while I am in it.
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MrDoneIt65
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02/07/12 08:00pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Fire Hazard Appliance Recalls UPDATED NORCOLD INFO 11-20-2010
trickyvic3...your refrigerator isn't working. The Chinese sensor is bad, the refrigerator is shut down. It can't be reset, it needs to be replaced. Pray it isn't the coils blown. Mine were. If your refrigerator is out of warranty Norcold has no liability. If the coils are bad don't throw the refrigerator away and buy a new one, buy new coils. The Amish coils are heavier and no recall needed. Mine work better than new.
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MrDoneIt65
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09/14/11 06:20pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Fire Hazard Appliance Recalls UPDATED NORCOLD INFO 11-20-2010
Ain't an upgrade. It is a recall to stop the refrigerator from getting so hot it catches on fire. The so called upgrade blew out my coils. Can't call it an upgrade, it is a measure to prevent fires. Period.
Of course, since the refrigerator doesn't get so hot, maybe it ain't cooling as good.
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MrDoneIt65
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09/11/11 01:27pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Fire Hazard Appliance Recalls UPDATED NORCOLD INFO 11-20-2010
rwenner...that is what recalls do. They absolve the corporation of any liability issues. The problem was identified, a solution found, the recall was done, they did what they had to do to correct the problem. My fridge worked for 7 years with no problem. Then we found a broken heater tube when the freezer would work and the fridge wouldn't. The dealer told us we would have to buy a new unit. The heater tube cost $49.00 and I replaced it myself.
Then Norcold sent us the recall notice with the sensor that had to be reset constantly until it wouldn't reset anymore. The technician said our refrigerator was fixed, but it didn't work like it had before. So then we got the second recall and they put a Chinese made black box on the coils with wires running to the exhaust pipe. The red light came on within 4 hours. We contacted Norcold and they sent a technician to check it out. Surprise, surprise, the coils were blown. Norcold informed us the refrigerator was out of warranty, (duh?) and they had no liability for the coils blowing.
Thanks to this forum I found out about the Amish replacement coils and did a google to get further information. I ordered the new coils and installed them according to the instructions. The refrigerator works fine with no Chinese recall black box. The tubing is heavier, they have double coils instead of single, and go on the refrigerator just like the OEM. I turned it on and everything worked. I checked the coils and they were really hot which worried me. I checked the cooling fans and found the wires had been switched on the control box. Because of the fan design if the black and white wires are switched, even though it is DC current, the fans do not kick on. I put the wires on correctly and the refrigerator works perfectly. Don't know how the wires got switched but I can almost guarantee that if they were switched before the recall Chinese box was put on the old coils then the heat would have caused the coils to blow. I have no proof nor evidence to point the finger at any of the techs that worked on the refrigerator. I just know I didn't switch them, I just know I fixed them. Good Luck and Happy Camping.
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MrDoneIt65
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08/09/11 06:34am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Fire Hazard Appliance Recalls UPDATED NORCOLD INFO 11-20-2010
Ray Chez. It was someone named rwenner.
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MrDoneIt65
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08/04/11 06:41am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Fire Hazard Appliance Recalls UPDATED NORCOLD INFO 11-20-2010
Sounds like he has a propane igniter problem. When he disconnects from the land line then it should switch to propane. If he has the mode switch on the refrigerator set to AC then it won't switch to propane automatically. He has to set the mode switch to AU. Or he could have a problem with the 12 volt feed which would cause the ignition not to work.
Guess we just have to hope he reads all the post. The problem discribed sounded similiar to the one I had with the broken heating tube.
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MrDoneIt65
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08/04/11 06:38am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: GM 8.1 Exhaust Manifold gasket blown
It isn't the donut on the down exhaust pipe. I can put my hand in front of the exhaust manifold on the right side of the engine and feel the exhaust. There is a hole in the manifold but I am not sure it is a bolt hole. It appears to be an easy area to access but I will have to take off the front tire. Fleetwood also put some thin corrugated steel in the area between the frame and the coach support. I will cut that out with a Dremel and then replace it when I get the manifold off. You would be amazed at what I have had to do to keep this thing on the road for 30k miles. The mufflers fell off the first day I pulled it out of the dealer. And then I could never talk to anyone but the operator at the dealership after that.
I love camping!!!
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MrDoneIt65
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08/03/11 04:09pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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GM 8.1 Exhaust Manifold gasket blown
I own a 2002 Southwind motorhome on a Workhorse Chassis. It now has approximately 30,000 mile on it. It has set mostly because of the Norcold and Workhorse Brake recalls over the last 4 years. I "roughed" it when I tent camped. I had No intentions of "roughing it" when I bought this motorhome.
Now the exhaust manifold has blown on the right side. I was wondering if anyone else experienced the same problem. I know the old 454 Chevy's use to do that but I would have thought GM would correct that problem in a new engine. Guess it will sit until I can find someone to fix it.
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MrDoneIt65
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08/03/11 08:28am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Fire Hazard Appliance Recalls UPDATED NORCOLD INFO 11-20-2010
Ray Chez...there was a post with your name on it about the freezer working but the refridge not. I went back and there is someone elses name in the link where you must have responded to him. Guess that is where the confusion came in. Hope he read all the post. Sorry.
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MrDoneIt65
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08/03/11 08:20am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Fire Hazard Appliance Recalls UPDATED NORCOLD INFO 11-20-2010
Ray Chez, check the heater tubes and make sure they didn't bust one while doing the recall. They tried to sell me a new refrigerator for the same reason, freezer worked/fridge didn't, a few years back and I found the busted heater by accident.
Also check the wiring on the cooling fans. Because of the type of fan if they are wired backwards they won't run. Check to the control box to make sure the black is on the right connector and the white is on it's right connector. I found this by accident too after the recall blew my coils. Norcold denied any responsibility. I installed the Amish coils, no recall necessary.
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MrDoneIt65
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07/03/11 09:58pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Fire Hazard Appliance Recalls UPDATED NORCOLD INFO 11-20-2010
Just make sure you download the installation instructions. I would also recommend you use the caulking they provide for the cooling fins on the bottom of the foam insert. They tell you to use the foam provided but once you bolt the new coils to the back of the fridge you can't get the tube for the foam in to fill any spaces. If you put the caulking in the lower area, which is what Norcold originally did, then you will have a better seal. And make sure you use the aluminum tape to seal the unit. Just roll it out to the desired length, loosen one end so you can stick it down and then peel the paper off as you place it over the foam and the back of the fridge. It works really well. In order to get the fridge out of the opening I used a motorcycle jack. Wrapped the steel wheels with tape so it wouldn't hurt my flooring and then pulled the fridge into the center of the kitchen covered the top with an old rug and jacked it up agains the ceiling to hold it secure while I removed the blow Norcold coils and replaced them with the Amish unit. One man, done in about 2 hours.
And check the wiring in the control box. Mine had been switched and the cooling fans didn't work. Also, do not disconnect the cooling fans from the wiring harness. You disconnect the wires at the top of the coils and leave the fans connected in the center of the black wire.
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MrDoneIt65
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07/03/11 01:14pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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