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Scottiemom

Florida

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Joined: 09/09/2003

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Posted: 05/20/23 06:19am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

joelc wrote:

No matter what you decide on be sure you can get replacement parts. I had to replace my Norcold and did so with a Dometic 12V unit. The fridge works, but it does not respond for temperature adjustments the way I feel it should. I found out to get a replacement thermostat it would take 6 months. No parts, not good. The temps in the fridge are keeping it cold on max. setting, but if I slightly change it then the temps are too warm. Be cautious. It is a shame that manufactures want to sell you a product, but don't want to back it up with parts in the event things go wrong.


Their are two refrigerators that fit in the same space. I checked with Dometic when I called them to see if those were still manufactured and parts available.

Dale


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Scottiemom

Florida

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Posted: 05/20/23 06:23am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

K_and_I wrote:

Scottiemom wrote:



I'm thinking I may just wait till I get to Elkhart and check the surplus places, although there are fewer ones than in years past. I feel like my chances of finding something there might be better. I'm also going to check with the Amish at National Refrigeration who used to do all our repair on our Norcold and replaced the last one.
Dale

Why not call the surplus places now to see if they have your part. If they don't, you can move to Plan B now instead of later.

RV Surplus


I know where all the surplus places are since those were haunts my DH loved. Goshen is my hometown. Yesterday I called the Amish in Shipshewana.. . they said they have the boards, plus they knew exactly the fridge I have and they have the Norcold that fits perfectly in the opening. If they sell and install your unit, I know they used to warranty it for 3 years.

Dale

Scottiemom

Florida

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Posted: 05/20/23 06:27am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

JimK-NY wrote:

At what point do you give up and buy a replacement? I have had similar issues with my appliances at home. Once an appliance stops working the cost of repairs, the nuisance of doing without and the wait times are often just not worth it. At a minimum a simple appliance repair means a $150 initial visit, parts perhaps only another $100 and then the cost of a second visit and the actual repair, another $200. So a 5-10 year old washing machine, dryer, dishwasher or refrigerator can easily cost $450 to repair. Getting the repair completed can easily take several weeks.


Very true. I likely have no choice, since the unit is no longer built. Even if I could find one like it, I've been reading a lot and it has a terrible track record. It's been discontinued and Dometic says parts are not available.. . at least not easily. Dino does not make a replacement board.

So I have a ways to go with it.

Dale

StirCrazy

Kamloops, BC, Canada

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Posted: 05/20/23 09:09am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Scottiemom wrote:



Their are two refrigerators that fit in the same space. I checked with Dometic when I called them to see if those were still manufactured and parts available.

Dale


I would see if you can find an almost new one that will fit. if not a direct fit, then one with slight modifications of the cabinet. then you know you have one that will be supported for a while. my RM2510 still has most parts available for it and it is 30ish years old.


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Scottiemom

Florida

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Posted: 05/21/23 10:34am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

StirCrazy wrote:

Scottiemom wrote:



Their are two refrigerators that fit in the same space. I checked with Dometic when I called them to see if those were still manufactured and parts available.

Dale


I would see if you can find an almost new one that will fit. if not a direct fit, then one with slight modifications of the cabinet. then you know you have one that will be supported for a while. my RM2510 still has most parts available for it and it is 30ish years old.


I don't want any mods done. . .In fact, I don't think any can be done to make the opening larger. It's in a B+, CoachHouse, and every inch of space is in use. So the two that are direct fits are what I am looking for. Both are still manufactured. One is Dometic, one is Norcold. BTW I just sold my 2004 B+ which had an 18-year old Dometic in it that had always worked perfectly. LOL The Amish deal with scratch and dent, overruns, excess inventory, take outs, etc. They last put in a new 4-door Norcold in our Phaeton 3 years ago. They normally give a 3 year warranty on their installs. And if they know you're coming, you are in/out in a few hours.

Dale

StirCrazy

Kamloops, BC, Canada

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Posted: 05/21/23 06:16pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Scottiemom wrote:

StirCrazy wrote:

Scottiemom wrote:



Their are two refrigerators that fit in the same space. I checked with Dometic when I called them to see if those were still manufactured and parts available.

Dale


I would see if you can find an almost new one that will fit. if not a direct fit, then one with slight modifications of the cabinet. then you know you have one that will be supported for a while. my RM2510 still has most parts available for it and it is 30ish years old.


I don't want any mods done. . .In fact, I don't think any can be done to make the opening larger. It's in a B+, CoachHouse, and every inch of space is in use. So the two that are direct fits are what I am looking for. Both are still manufactured. One is Dometic, one is Norcold. BTW I just sold my 2004 B+ which had an 18-year old Dometic in it that had always worked perfectly. LOL The Amish deal with scratch and dent, overruns, excess inventory, take outs, etc. They last put in a new 4-door Norcold in our Phaeton 3 years ago. They normally give a 3 year warranty on their installs. And if they know you're coming, you are in/out in a few hours.

Dale


by mods I meant if you find one that is an inch shorter or narrower, you can just do a filler strip to make it look right. but if those two are current and exact fits your golden

Scottiemom

Florida

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Posted: 05/21/23 07:34pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

StirCrazy wrote:

Scottiemom wrote:

StirCrazy wrote:

Scottiemom wrote:



Their are two refrigerators that fit in the same space. I checked with Dometic when I called them to see if those were still manufactured and parts available.

Dale


I would see if you can find an almost new one that will fit. if not a direct fit, then one with slight modifications of the cabinet. then you know you have one that will be supported for a while. my RM2510 still has most parts available for it and it is 30ish years old.


I don't want any mods done. . .In fact, I don't think any can be done to make the opening larger. It's in a B+, CoachHouse, and every inch of space is in use. So the two that are direct fits are what I am looking for. Both are still manufactured. One is Dometic, one is Norcold. BTW I just sold my 2004 B+ which had an 18-year old Dometic in it that had always worked perfectly. LOL The Amish deal with scratch and dent, overruns, excess inventory, take outs, etc. They last put in a new 4-door Norcold in our Phaeton 3 years ago. They normally give a 3 year warranty on their installs. And if they know you're coming, you are in/out in a few hours.

Dale


by mods I meant if you find one that is an inch shorter or narrower, you can just do a filler strip to make it look right. but if those two are current and exact fits your golden


Thanks, Stircrazy. I wouldn't mind filling in a bit, but I don't want to do any cutting. The Dometic one is a direct replacement, or so they say and Vernon told me the Norcold slides right into the same space. Hoping I get lucky with one or the other.

Dale

Turtle n Peeps

California

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Posted: 05/22/23 10:50pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Had a fridge go out early on a 3 week vacation. Dry ice was our best friend. Wrap it in a towel or two and you're good to go for several days.


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joelc

Cedar Point, NC

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Posted: 05/27/23 09:15am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Scotiemom:
Responding to your blog. My unit is brand new, with no parts available, so why would I get another Dometic or other fridge and throw $1500 out the window. It is running on MAX but on any other setting forget it.

Gjac

Milford, CT

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Posted: 05/29/23 08:33am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

The refer and MH is only 2 years old, seems strange to me. When you say the refer is dead do you mean not lighting on propane and not working on electric? Maybe the techs did all this already, but I would hook the electric element directly to 120v and see if it cools. If so, you refer is still good and your board or the circuitry to the board is bad. Is your board a potted board, (electrical components incase in plastic) or a open board where you can see all the components soldered to the main board? If the latter I would call a company called Parts for Tech, they service and rebuild boards. They have helped me several times with boards that have gone bad and were obsolete. My MH is 27 years old and when the board went on my steps, repairs shops wanted $1200 to replace the whole step unit because Kwikee no longer sold just the board. They told me over the phone what to check for and I replaced a burnt-out resister for $3 with their help and all was good again. Most shops and RV techs are in the business of just replacing bad control boards not repairing them.

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