Norcold read before purchasing Norcold refrigerator

[rothenberger]

Purchased & had installed a NA8LXR refrigerator 2/3/2021. Summer 2021 did 3-day trial run.    Went to AZ Nov 2021 to March 2022.   Noticed the temperatures were warmer than was safe.  Purchased a second thermometer to check readings were correct. 

 Readings were the same for both thermometers. Starting March 3 2022, I recorded time & temperatures continuing to record thru 7/6/2022.  I have 4 months of daily + recordings.

 For the first week recording temperatures ranged from 39 to 50 degrees running in mode 9(this is the coolest sitting)  Food was discarded at that point. No appointments were available to have refrig ck out in AZ. Took  RV to Laurelhurst when to returned home.  The problem with gas mode going off after only 1 hr. was fixed.  They ran refrigerator in diagnostic mode for 4-5 hours.   Told us to take it home & run diagnosis mode & see what happens.  Diagnostic mode allows the temperature to be seen with door closed.    

They also said to get a true reading use a thermometer setting in glass of water in refrigerator.

So, we did the following,

            Had 3 thermometers regular, digital allowing you to see temperature without opening

door and one thermometer in water  

July 7 returned to Laurelhurst.  They put the refrigerator on by pass (removed the thermistor) The cooling unit was not working.  So, they put in a request for repair.

Talked to ED a couple weeks later and Norcold still had not responded.

Norcold wanted more information which Luarelhurst said they gave them. Called Laurelhurst Aug 3 Norcold still had not approve the repair.  That was 30 days after the 

problem was diagnosed. Was unable to use refrigerator mid Aug for week outing.

Aug 4 I called Norcold and was on the line for 3+hours finally Norcold said they would ship the part(cooling unit) on Aug 9^th.  Aug 22 we had the part put in.  It seemed to be working.

Aug 23 The refrig was not working on electric, not cooling at all. But was working on gas. Another 2-3 weeks for Laurelhurst trying to Norcold to replace part( cooling unit) because they could not fix it.

Sept 14 Norcold approved another new cooling Unit. Sept 25 we had the new cooling unit installed.

Started refrigerator on gas.  Cooled down nicely.  Put few items into refrigerator after cooled down.  Set temperature on 5. Use RV for about a week temperature stayed in the safe range.  

After having cooling unit replace twice it seems to be working.

Luckily, I purchased an extended warranty from Norcold or we would have had to pay for it out of pocket even thou it was not working correctly from the time we purchased it.  I decide that I wanted to extend the warranty from 2 year to 4 years after all the trouble we had.  Talked to Norcold they no longer offer extended warranty. 

I WOULD NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER REFRIG FROM THEM.  HOPEFULLY THIS UNIT WILL LAST UNTIL WE ARE NO LONGER RVING.

[wildebill308]

Now you have a better understanding why people are installing resadentual type refrigaraters.

Bill

[rayin]

One thing not addressed is operating conditions. Norcold has limits on how level the unit must be to prevent the cooling unit from overheating and self-destroying.

 That limit is 3° side-to side and 6°front to back, as looking at the refrigerator door. Operating outside those limits the boiler temperature can easily exceed 700°F within a matter of minutes.

To read all about how and why this happens, go to https://www.arprv.com/

 

[erniee]

Norcold and out of date tires- just safety hazards 

[wildebill308]

I am happier to have my resadentul type refrigarater.

Bill

Edited April 24, 2023 by wildebill308

[rayin]

I anticipate my Norcold 1200LRIM to fail any day, but it's 24 years old so who knows it may last forever if I continue to follow the operating instructions.