Norcold Refrigerator Not Working on Gas

[Matt42]

On my recent trip to MO, our model 6162 Norcold trailer refrigerator quit working on gas. The piezo spark lighter works fine, but no gas comes out of the burner for it to light.



I am going to tear into it soon. Any suggestions?



Matt

 

[FDziurda]

Refer on Gas

Matt,

I had a problem with mine, when I brought my new RV home from the dealer. It worked fine on electric but barely worked on gas. I disassembled the burner assy and blew everything out with compressed air and that corrected the problem. Some dirt had managed to get into the orfice, which is not an uncommon problem.



Good Luck.



Frank

 

[hmickelson]

norcold refer

I know it's a foolish question but, is you gas turned? Other that that follow your owner's manual it will usually suggest cleaning the orifice. They are really simple. Go to it.

 

[Matt42]

Re: norcold refer

Originally posted by hmickelson

I know it's a foolish question but, is you gas turned? Other that that follow your owner's manual it will usually suggest cleaning the orifice. They are really simple. Go to it.

Not a foolish question at all. I have been known to forget to plug electric things in, for example. In this case, the propane is on and the other gas appliances are working fine. I'll dig into the fridge gas system in about a week, when I get home again. (I had to come home early because my annual leave got cancelled. )

 

[CFarlow]

Matt, I'm with Frank on this one. It doesn't take but a small speck of "dirt" or a spider web to put these things out of comission. Usually a little cleaning will get ya going again. Good luck. Chuck

 

[Bill Stockard]

Matt,



You might check out this web site:



http://www.rvmobile.com/



They have a very good trouble shooting section. Also there is a Forum for Q&A and the questions are usually answered within 24 hours.

Good luck!

Bill

 

['956Wheel]

We have that fridge in our TT. It was doing the same thing, I disconnected the gas line where it enters the "firebox" theres a orofice that looks like a tiny top hat, pay attention how it goes in. The hole is tiny... I used contact cleaner and compressed air to clean it out. Also use a shop vac with a 3/8" plastic tube taped to it to clear any debris. LEAK TEST with "409" or the like... "Snoop" if you have some. Check ALL electical connections and try again. Mine needs to be set midway on the temp to avoid freezing stuff on the lower shelf! CHECK GROUND! They ground some of these appliances with sheet metal self tappers... . not so good.



Mike

 

[Matt42]

Thanks, Mike. I will do just that, when I return from the #@&$ project that caused my vacation to be cancelled.

 

['956Wheel]

Matt, DO NOT poke anything in the orofice! It is a precisely calibrated hole..... TINY



Mike

 

[Matt42]

Yup. I learned THAT lesson with a 000 Airco welding tip many years ago. Air and solvent!

 

[Royal]

Matt: I have a Norcold in my 99 MY 5er. I had a warrenty recall last year . They replaced the electric heater unit. In May this year they recalled it again. They replaced the entire cooling unit . I don't remember my model number and my unit is in storage,but you might want to check with Norcold. It's a safety recall, even if you are not the original owner.

 

[Ron Bissett]

not working on gas?

Last trailer I had when new (Dutchmen 92) the gas would not flow to the orfice took it back to dealer , the dealer mech took off the valve and burner tube , it was full of water dumped it out and it worked fine after that . I think water from rain , or washing the side of trailer with hi pressure hose could of done it . Now I check the present trailer refrig valve and pipe often , I have replaced the Board in the refrig with a Dinorsoris and it works fine was having on and off again gas problem , make is Dominetric or some thing like that . Keep reading the posts some one will have the answer for your fridge. Ron in LOUISVILLE KY LOL.

 

[Jack in Alaska]

The debris that gets in the orfice is small rust particles that fall down the flue. I have a small long handle brush that I run up & down to clean the flue walls after covering the orfice up . That helps prevent the plugging problem.



Another "home remedy" is to unplug and replug in the electrical spade connections and clean them up with contact cleaner.

That has also worked on a fussy hot water heater. The contacts seem to build up corrosion which will cause them not to pass electricity or at least make a high resistance.



Hope it helps and happy camping.

 

[HavinFun]

Had the same problem on my brothers camper. The lighter would work, fridge would come on for a few minutes, then go out. Replaced the black box, worked fine for a while, then it too crapped out. Turned out that the probe that goes into the pilot flame wasn't close enough to the flame. Bent it closer and all has been good for 2 years.

 

[FDNYMOPARGUY]

I know this may sound too easy, but is the system bled of all the air? Try turning the range burners on first (lit of course), and let them burn for a minute or two, then try turning on the fridge.

 

[Deezul1]

I have had problems with spiders making webs in the water heater and frig burners and plugging them up, they seem to love the propane places as I have friends with the same trouble.

Good Luck

John

 

[Matt42]

That was one of the first things we tried. The fridge quit working in Lamar, Colorado, when we stopped for fuel. We turned off the burner to prevent a fune fire, and couldn't get it to work again.

 

[Matt42]

It turned out to be a clogged orifice. IOt took about 40 minutes to remove, clean with alcohol and compressed air, and replace.