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Old 05-01-2021, 11:28 PM   #1
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THOR #18162
2020 Thor Norcold N7X Fridge

Hi,
I have a 2020 Thor 29j outlaw motorhome with a Norcold N7X fridge that since new intermittently shuts off with a five blinking trouble code. The code says the burner was on when it was not suppose to be. But after replacing many parts with no luck they recently put a brand new fridge in it to fix it and it’s still doing it.
The last trip out it went out over 20 times in four days.
I just checked it and it doesn’t appear level although I’m not sure if that could be the issue. Either the self leveling is off or the fridge is not level.
The dealer and Thor don’t seem to know what it is and it’s due back to the dealer in a couple days. They are going to look at the propane hoses. It has a good flame and supposedly the gas pressure at the gas valve checked out.
Any ideas would be helpful.
Thanks

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Old 05-01-2021, 11:51 PM   #2
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Level can impact the operation of the fridge. I would put a level in the fridge abd another on the floor and compare them. As long as the level in the fridge is close, it should be ok.

I assume you have no issues with your gas stove or furnace. If not, I would also be looking for a kinked line running to the fridge.
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Old 05-02-2021, 12:11 AM   #3
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What does that flame look like?
Mostly blue? Mostly yellow?
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Old 05-02-2021, 12:41 AM   #4
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This is a complete WAG, but my first thought was a faulty control board sensing flame ....I assume, when propane was not even being used perhaps? They would have thought of that and sounds like they changed other items too. Then when you say they replaced the entire fridge with a new fridge (I assume all components are new also?) and it is still having the same problem......I am thinking its not the fridge itself, but something that could perhaps affect any fridge they install. The only thing I could think of besides power connections would be something common like a blocked chimney vent causing the stove area to overheat on electric and gas possibly. But, I think the flame sensor requires ionized air produced by flame to work, not just hot air......so I am not sure just overheating a flame sensor when on electric would cause this fault code. Since you are under warranty best not to play around until the Dealer investigates further and hopefully solves the issue. A look up the chimney on the outside to make sure it is clear might be worth their while, if no one checked that already. It will be interesting to know what the problem turns out to be.
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Old 05-02-2021, 12:49 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Judge View Post
Level can impact the operation of the fridge. I would put a level in the fridge abd another on the floor and compare them. As long as the level in the fridge is close, it should be ok.

I assume you have no issues with your gas stove or furnace. If not, I would also be looking for a kinked line running to the fridge.
So the fridge is not level and I’m not sure where to check the level of the coach.

I believe they are going to look for a kink. The fridge is in the pop out so the propane hose does move. It is happening with the slide out. I looked at the hose under the fridge and it has a nice wide ark with the pop out extended.

The stove and furnace seem to work fine.
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Old 05-02-2021, 12:52 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by Bob Denman View Post
What does that flame look like?
Mostly blue? Mostly yellow?
The flame is a very nice blue flame. It appears a bit robust for a fridge. But I haven’t compared it to any other.
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Old 05-02-2021, 01:01 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by javelin View Post
This is a complete WAG, but my first thought was a faulty control board sensing flame ....I assume, when propane was not even being used perhaps? They would have thought of that and sounds like they changed other items too. Then when you say they replaced the entire fridge with a new fridge (I assume all components are new also?) and it is still having the same problem......I am thinking its not the fridge itself, but something that could perhaps affect any fridge they install. The only thing I could think of besides power connections would be something common like a blocked chimney vent causing the stove area to overheat on electric and gas possibly. But, I think the flame sensor requires ionized air produced by flame to work, not just hot air......so I am not sure just overheating a flame sensor when on electric would cause this fault code. Since you are under warranty best not to play around until the Dealer investigates further and hopefully solves the issue. A look up the chimney on the outside to make sure it is clear might be worth their while, if no one checked that already. It will be interesting to know what the problem turns out to be.
So the board was replaced then the fridge. I am not sure if the burner and control board come on a new fridge?
It will be interesting when they finally find the problem.
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Old 05-02-2021, 01:08 PM   #8
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So since the fridge is in the pop out wall the propane flue must vent in the upper side wall and not the roof. I imagine many RV’s have this as well with no issues.

Some information that the dealer said was Norcold said as long as you can reset the fridge it’s ok. Does anybody buy that?

If my wife wasn’t in the RV to reset it the food would have been spoiled.
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Old 05-02-2021, 03:08 PM   #9
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You didn’t say whether it works properly on AC, or maybe I missed it. If you got a brand new fridge and it has the same problem as the original you have to think it might not be the fridge itself. Since it’s in a slide the propane line has to flex. Have you checked to make sure it is t kinked? Also check the delivered pressure at the gas valve.
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Old 05-02-2021, 03:17 PM   #10
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As others have said, absorption fridges require being level for proper operation and long life operation. Check your fridge manual for the specs on side to side and front to back level range.

Also, absorption fridges located in slides have external venting air flow passing out the upper wall instead of a roof vent which is typically less efficient, but still should work fine. It is even more important then to ensure that nothing is blocking or restricting that outside air flow across the fridge coils, from lower to upper exterior vents. If the Dealer has replaced the entire fridge, I am just assuming they would have also changed any suspect external components first (control board, ignitor/flame sensor etc.). This code is not normal operation and you should not accept it as such, for the reason you have already stated. I hope you find the issue or someone who has seen this before can advise on the specific repair.
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Old 05-02-2021, 04:19 PM   #11
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Fridge vent cooling fan...
I don’t have one of these but others on the Forum have installed similar
Also, some use the small box, battery powered, cooling fan to circulate the absorption fridge internal air.
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Old 05-02-2021, 11:15 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by Pete'sMH View Post
You didn’t say whether it works properly on AC, or maybe I missed it. If you got a brand new fridge and it has the same problem as the original you have to think it might not be the fridge itself. Since it’s in a slide the propane line has to flex. Have you checked to make sure it is t kinked? Also check the delivered pressure at the gas valve.
It works fine on AC. It’s only when it’s on propane there is the problem. There is no kink when the slide is out that I can see. They supposedly did check the pressure at the gas valve.
I’m hoping they might take the problem seriously and go over it properly to find out the problem. In the past they tried to say if we work on it we don’t get paid to fix things that aren’t wrong.
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Old 05-02-2021, 11:19 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by taylorbob1 View Post
Fridge vent cooling fan...
I don’t have one of these but others on the Forum have installed similar
Also, some use the small box, battery powered, cooling fan to circulate the absorption fridge internal air.
It cools fine when it works. From what I can see no one else is having this problem so it must be something that they can fix?
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Old 05-02-2021, 11:45 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by Snks View Post
It works fine on AC. It’s only when it’s on propane there is the problem. There is no kink when the slide is out that I can see. They supposedly did check the pressure at the gas valve.

I’m hoping they might take the problem seriously and go over it properly to find out the problem. In the past they tried to say if we work on it we don’t get paid to fix things that aren’t wrong.


Well then I’d be focused on the propane system like a laser. Maybe you’ve got a load of bad propane, a defective regulator or crap in the line somewhere. Clearly (it seems to me) the problem is not the fridge itself. The chances of two new fridges having the exact same problem and only on propane are pretty microscopic. And if everything else that runs on propane is working perfectly then I’d focus on the flex line. Maybe try disconnecting the line at the fridge and at a junction upstream somewhere and blowing it out with air. Good luck .
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Old 05-03-2021, 12:13 AM   #15
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Do you have a propane stove. Does it work
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Old 05-03-2021, 01:32 AM   #16
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Well then I’d be focused on the propane system like a laser. Maybe you’ve got a load of bad propane, a defective regulator or crap in the line somewhere. Clearly (it seems to me) the problem is not the fridge itself. The chances of two new fridges having the exact same problem and only on propane are pretty microscopic. And if everything else that runs on propane is working perfectly then I’d focus on the flex line. Maybe try disconnecting the line at the fridge and at a junction upstream somewhere and blowing it out with air. Good luck .
So one thing I know that’s sure. It happened since brand new so it’s been the factory or dealers propane as well as other local sources. So I’m sure it can’t be the propane. So maybe they should replace any flex lines and blow out the metal lines.

It must be venting or propane lines or maybe the regulator if they can be bad?
I can’t imagine Thor not paying the dealer. I wonder why the dealer didn’t call Thor and tell them what they need to do to fix this. This has been going on for more than a year back and forth trying to get it fixed.
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Old 05-03-2021, 02:11 AM   #17
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Do you have a propane stove. Does it work
Yes both the stove and the heater work.
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Old 05-03-2021, 03:57 PM   #18
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Thinking about it more....all of the other propane appliances demand a higher flow of propane than the refrigerator. Perhaps the regulator or line somewhere has enough restriction that only a really low flow is impaired. It doesn’t really make much sense though and since your fridge does work some of the time on propane a simple blocked line seems unlikely. If it’s not the flex line in the slide I think I’d look more closely at the regulator. Maybe it’s defective or has water in it or something.
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Old 05-03-2021, 06:46 PM   #19
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Thank you all much. Let’s see what the dealer does tomorrow.
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Old 05-03-2021, 07:06 PM   #20
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Good luck!
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