May need new cooling unit for Dometic RM 1350 fridge - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Cindy T · RV-Dreams Family Member

May need new cooling unit for Dometic RM 1350 fridge

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

cindi.....there are rebuilders that remanufacture the cooling unit....lots of them in fla. it will depend on where your at.....

Cindy T · RV-Dreams Family Member

We're in the Denver area. I've only checked with 1 RV place so far & got the $993 price. I'm going to check around more here locally.

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Cindi check here....
www.rvrefrigeratorrepair.com/index.htm

Cindy T · RV-Dreams Family Member

Mike, thanks for that link. If you see my update to the original post, I thought shipping might be really expensive. But on the site you shared, shipping's not too bad.

01zeosix · RV-Dreams Family Member

Cindy T wrote:
We're in the Denver area. I've only checked with 1 RV place so far & got the $993 price. I'm going to check around more here locally.

Hi Cindy-

You might want to consider a re-built unit or an aftermarket. Many folks go to rvcoolingunit dot com for parts and the "Amish" cooling unit. They also have replacement Dinosaur boards, fans, and other parts of interest.

After you determine the problem might be worth a look-see, as another alternative to what has been already offered up.

Another very viable option might be considering replacing the unit with a residential fridge. Many are doing that, too. Lots of posts here and on other forums about that, too.

Hope this helps.

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Highly recommended:

www.fixyourfridge.com

Leon is the guy who repaired Howard and Linda’s unit. We’ve been to his shop when H & L had theirs’ repaired and spoken with him at length. If ours were broke, we’d work with him. He will give you options and as much information as you can take in.

Bill

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

If you have an amonia type smell the cooling unit has gone bad. If no smell and the refrig and freezer are not cold you may just have a bad control card. I had a problem not to long ago and in torubleshooting fixed the problem. It turned out the connections on the control card must have been dirty.

In testing I had taken each connection loose and then connected the wires back onto the card. The refrig and freezer started working.

The control cards can be tested by the RV dealer. It's an easy DIY replacement. Dinosaur Electronics makes a good replacement card.

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

With both of your recent problems there could be a common cause. Would make sure to use a surge protector at the power connection and check all power to control boards.

Also when checking board area look for yellowish powder, another indication that it is the cooling unit. If not then check control board.

Jesse

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

About $1000 sounds very reasonable to me, the replacement cooling unit on our Norcold 1200 was $1300. Remember a new 1350 is over $3000, my mother-in-law just bought one when her Norcold died and she did not have the space for a residential due to being in a narrow hallway.

Cindy T · RV-Dreams Family Member

We don't have the ammonia smell, or any powdery substance, so perhaps it is the control board.

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

do you have any lights showing on the control panel?

do you have an interior thermostat dial inside the fridge?

does it work on Gas?

If you are on shore power did you open the outside compartment and check (physically Reset) the GFI and check the outlet for power?

do you feel any warmth on the chimney?

these are some of the questions that need answers online to walk you thru the repair and lower the confusion level of guessing

hereis a link to the manual to your unit........page 16 is for troubleshooting

http://www.dometic.com/9a72fc6e-2c8f-4fbd-ab52-db0472a72b9e.fodoc

-- Edited by Lucky Mike on Wednesday 11th of December 2013 12:40:12 PM

Edit by moderator: Activated link. Terry

01zeosix · RV-Dreams Family Member

Cindy T wrote:
We don't have the ammonia smell, or any powdery substance, so perhaps it is the control board.

Check on the board itself for a blown 2 amp fuse. There are two of them. Might have blown when you had trouble with your "other" board. BTW: You can get both types of replacement Dinosaur boards at the link in my previous post. The site also has a list of items to check before you order. They will also help you out if you give them a call.

Hope this helps some. If not, do what my DW does..... Ignore me and move along to something else.

Cindy T · RV-Dreams Family Member

I can't tell you how much I appreciate everyone's help. I'd love to toss this fridge & get a residential but that's just not in the budget right now. My husband is quite handy, & right now he's going thru the fridge manual plus reading Trailer Life's RV Repair manual, checking things one by one. We do have power to the unit, the display is on, fridge won't work on gas or elec. Seems like it's a process of elimination to discover where the problem really lies.

Cindy T · RV-Dreams Family Member

After about 2 weeks without a fridge, we have determined that the cooling unit has failed & has to be replaced. It's the expensive repair I didn't want to do, but we have no choice but to get it done.