Help..!!! My fridge is not cooling.. urgent….

Just smiffy

Just smiffy

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My fridge freezer is not cooling, I’ve had it on most of the afternoon and I’ve got a temperature gauge in the freezer compartment and it’s not cooling at all.
It runs on gas fine and the flame is roaring away as in the picture no error codes except when I put it onto 12v (code 7) it also doesn’t switch over to 12v when I start the engine. I haven’t tried it on EHU as I won’t be using it. I not bothered about the 12v much either I just need it working on gas…

I leaving home on Sunday for the ferry (France) on the 3rd and will be away for 10 weeks…
The burner looks recently new and it fires up ok flue seems to be ok..

Any ideas please..?

Thetford N3000 series model C1

IMG_4679.jpeg


IMG_4678.jpeg
 
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As has been suggested , are you certain that the heat diffuser is ok and in place within the flue ?
To be able to help with a part ,Do you know the actual model number of the fridge (N3xxx ) , it may be on a label in the fridge , as it is important , if you are going to replace the burner/jet with the correct part.
Chichester Caravans have a place in Uckfield but I do not know what they stock.
 
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GeoffnDee said:
As has been suggested , are you certain that the heat diffuser is ok and in place within the flue ?
To be able to help with a part ,Do you know the actual model number of the fridge (N3xxx ) , it may be on a label in the fridge , as it is important , if you are going to replace the burner/jet with the correct part.
Chichester Caravans have a place in Uckfield but I do not know what they stock.
Click to expand...

It a N3000 series C1, this is the burner..😎

www.jacksonsleisure.com

Thetford SR Fridge Burner and Jet, 5 Slot - Caravan and Motorhome Spare

Thetford fridge SR gas burner and jet complete kit. Fits Premium, Deluxe, and N3000 series Thetford fridges
www.jacksonsleisure.com www.jacksonsleisure.com
 
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GeoffnDee said:
As has been suggested , are you certain that the heat diffuser is ok and in place within the flue ?
To be able to help with a part ,Do you know the actual model number of the fridge (N3xxx ) , it may be on a label in the fridge , as it is important , if you are going to replace the burner/jet with the correct part.
Chichester Caravans have a place in Uckfield but I do not know what they stock.
Click to expand...

As for the flue I can get up from the burner for about 14” and nothing came out, the top of the flue I can’t really see from the top vent and I would have to take the fridge out to inspect and to clean it fully, if a new burner doesn’t fix it then I’ll get on a site for a few days and pull it out and look at it….😎
 
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Looks like you’ve exhausted all avenues I suggest you eat what you can bin the rest and go to the nearest bar for your cold beer😂😂😂😂

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The only thing I can add Just smiffy is how far up the flue did you get the plastic tube...
If all the way then your baffle is missing ( as already pointed out) and if only a short distance then you have hit the baffle and therefore not cleaned out top of flue where the worst of the soot will be..
No help now I know.... but for the ease of replacement I carry a spare burner assembly alongside a spare water pump and various "must have spares".
 
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poppycamper said:
The only thing I can add Just smiffy is how far up the flue did you get the plastic tube...
If all the way then your baffle is missing ( as already pointed out) and if only a short distance then you have hit the baffle and therefore not cleaned out top of flue where the worst of the soot will be..
No help now I know.... but for the ease of replacement I carry a spare burner assembly alongside a spare water pump and various "must have spares".
Click to expand...
See post #63
 
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Similar to this 1?.
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jollyrodger said:
Similar to this 1?.
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DOMETIC FRIDGE GAS BURNER 289063496 | eBay

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Yeovil
Click to expand...

No ,there are two possible types of burner for the Thetford 3000 series fridge , Thetford part No 623058 = 5 x slot and 623019 = 4 x slot and it depends on which N3xxx serial number is on/in the fridge to be able to find the correct item .
 
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GeoffnDee said:
Thetford also do a similar 4 x slot burner , be sure that yours has the correct one fitted , or is fitted when you replace it.
Click to expand...

Yes it’s the 5 slot, for the larger fridge… why it has such a big fridge in the van I don’t know but it is slim….

IMG_4679.jpeg
 
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If someone has cleaned the flue and not put that twisted bit if stainless back into the fluepipe it wont cool on gas. That makes the gasses swirl and depart the heat into the surrounding metalwork.
Or has someone poked a pointed object into the gas jet thus making the hole bigger? They very quickly soot up if you do this. But as it works on ECU the basic part of the fridge is working.
 
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Northernraider said:
It is amazing how much difference it makes having the flue cleaned out. The fridge on my frankia was near useless before it was cleaned out then it was great. But it did need doing a few times over the year I had it. Not sure why
Click to expand...
Normally down to high oilly residues in the gas that why if possible I try to avoid filling up in France as their LPG is known for it.
Our first van I cleaned the flue after 4 years no soot at all it was perfectly clean. Current one 6 years old spent over 90% of its life running on gas never touched it, just had to turn it down, beer was too cold. :giggle:
 
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Too late now Garry but when you get back well worth replacing the thermal paste behind the fins. The crap that Thetford & Dometic use dries out after 3 or 4 years. A quick easy job & makes a hell of a difference to the cooling.

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A trick I use if I can't get the fridge out, is take a photo down the flue with my phone. Gives a good insight into whether the flue is dirty and if the baffle is present.

If your replacement burner does not turn up in time, take the old one out and clean with petrol to dissolve the deposits. Air dry thoroughly then reinstall. May get you through a trip away at least
 
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Lenny HB said:
Too late now Garry but when you get back well worth replacing the thermal paste behind the fins. The crap that Thetford & Dometic use dries out after 3 or 4 years. A quick easy job & makes a hell of a difference to the cooling.
Click to expand...
Since renewing the thermal paste on ours, we've never had to adjust the temperature control once, even in hotter climes. (y)

Cheers,

Jock. :)
 
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Lenny HB said:
Too late now Garry but when you get back well worth replacing the thermal paste behind the fins. The crap that Thetford & Dometic use dries out after 3 or 4 years. A quick easy job & makes a hell of a difference to the cooling.
Click to expand...

JockandRita said:
Since renewing the thermal paste on ours, we've never had to adjust the temperature control once, even in hotter climes. (y)

Cheers,

Jock. :)
Click to expand...

Yes I replaced the paste on the hymer I had, I will probably do it on the this one but first need to get it to work properly.

It’s working a treat on EHU had it on 3 and -21 freezer and 2c fridge, turned it down to 2 and now the fridge is 4c

When I’m at my sisters on Tuesday I’ll have a phone around a few shops to see if I can get a new burner, I won’t be able to get to the flue without taking the fridge out…😒
 
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Just smiffy said:
Yes I replaced the paste on the hymer I had, I will probably do it on the this one but first need to get it to work properly.
Click to expand...
Absolutely Garry.
I'm just sorry that I can't be of any help in sourcing the right part for your Thetford fridge, at such short notice for you. :(

Good luck with it all. (y)

Jock. :)
 
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Update….
I got a new burner this morning from the first dealer I came across in France and it hasn’t made the slightest bit of difference, in fact when I turn the fridge on gas the freezer compartment actually get warmer….🤷🏼‍♂️

So to clean the flue I would have to take the fridge out and that would be quite a task and I can’t be bothered, it’ll have to wait until I get back in 10 weeks time…😎

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Wot, no cold beer 🍻 🤬
Can you buy a cool box see you through this crisis ?

Do you not have access to the top vent you could get a bottle brush down to clean the flue ?
 
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Airline up your flue, hoover out the debris?
Jon, blackbelt in fridge bothering, so good I bought a new one!
 
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The top of the flue is halfway down from the top vent and can’t get to the baffles, I haven’t got a ladder with me in France either but I can see me getting bothered by something not working and I’ll have to do something, once I’ve got in the swing of being out in France I’ll no doubt get on a site and get the thing out and get to the flue… just for the sake of having some salad stuff in the fridge…😎
 
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Did you try a bigger burner or just a new one? Mine looked like they had to modify it to fit the new bigger one in.
 
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It was a 5 slot burner for larger fridges, the correct one for the model…😎

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Just smiffy said:
Update….
I got a new burner this morning from the first dealer I came across in France and it hasn’t made the slightest bit of difference, in fact when I turn the fridge on gas the freezer compartment actually get warmer….🤷🏼‍♂️

So to clean the flue I would have to take the fridge out and that would be quite a task and I can’t be bothered, it’ll have to wait until I get back in 10 weeks time…😎
Click to expand...
Have you cleaned or replaced the jet aswell?
 
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Just smiffy said:
It was a 5 slot burner for larger fridges, the correct one for the model…😎
Click to expand...
The photo I posted is the burner now fitted to mine, it’s round, originally it was like yours.

I suspect the manufacturer cocked up and didn’t put a powerful enough burner in, if the flue is clear and the burner is working then there isn’t much else that could be wrong with it. This is particularly so if it’s working on electric.

Mine wouldn’t cool down past 10 degrees and the freezer wouldn’t freeze, it now works perfectly on gas.

Thinking about it, it took me a while to work out there was something wrong as a mixture of EHU driving and gas meant the temperature was okay ish till a long trip in a field. My suspicion is it never worked in gas and nobody ever noticed.
 
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Googlebot said:
The photo I posted is the burner now fitted to mine, it’s round, originally it was like yours.

I suspect the manufacturer cocked up and didn’t put a powerful enough burner in, if the flue is clear and the burner is working then there isn’t much else that could be wrong with it. This is particularly so if it’s working on electric.

Mine wouldn’t cool down past 10 degrees and the freezer wouldn’t freeze, it now works perfectly on gas.

Thinking about it, it took me a while to work out there was something wrong as a mixture of EHU driving and gas meant the temperature was okay ish till a long trip in a field. My suspicion is it never worked in gas and nobody ever noticed.
Click to expand...

There’s not much else I can do now, I will take the fridge out and clean the flue eventually and if that don’t work then I’ll rip it out and put a compressor fridge in… and a smaller one too as I don’t know why there’s such a big fridge freezer in a pvc…🤷🏼‍♂️
 
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Is there any chance of getting an "endoscope" up or down the flue to see if the baffle is missing.
When ours had this issue, we had been away on holiday Belgium for a fortnight, but like Googlebot said, looking back, we couldn't guarantee it ever worked on gas, and it seems it may have worked in cooler external temperatures.
When we got away and noticed it was not working on gas it was still day 5 and had to wait til hot on our next holiday.
If the endoscope shows baffle missing at least you could have it sent to you when fridge was taken out, and if missing that is the issue.

Check this out! Amazon product ASIN B0BWF7QLGP
 
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I had the same issue with this fridge from brand new. It was fine on on EHU and 12v but wouldn't cool on gas even though the gas flame was fine. The dealer spent the best part of a year trying all sorts of things to fix it and couldn't. Eventually Thetford agreed to replace the fridge. No idea what the issue was but the baffle in the flue being missing form manufacturers was a suggestion at the time but Thetford UK said they'd weren't aware of it being an issue. I had it looked at by a technician in Spain whilst on holiday and Thetford Spain said it was a possibility.

We managed for 2 months in Spain using EHU every few days and ice packs in between.
 
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