refrigerator won't start up

George/Kristine · 07-03-2019, 01:14 AM

We have a one-year-old Synergy. Our Norcold refrigerator worked perfectly on our last trip in March. Just got it out of storage and it will not start up. We have our unit plugged into shore power. We have set the mode to electric and the indicator light is solid green. Although our driveway may not be perfectly level, the refrigerator has worked with the unit parked as it is in the past. Also tried on propane and that won]'t work either. Any suggestion will be much appreciated.

javelin · 07-03-2019, 02:28 AM

Welcome to the forum. Usually if you leave the fridge control on “auto” it will automatically use 120VAC shore power when it is connected; and then when shore is disconnected, it will auto switch to propane as long as the gas valve is turned on. You said the control panel green light is on so probably means your use/store switch is also on (important for fridge operation even on gas). It is possible that the 120VAC heating element burned out ...... so lets check on the propane part. Switch to auto mode on the fridge control panel and disconnect shore; or you can just switch force it to gas. Make sure gas is turned on. Do you hear the burner running when you listen outside next to the fridge vent? If it does not start right away you may have to reset by switching the fridge off and then turn it back to auto or gas and it should try to start again. Typical propane fridges take several hours to get down to those cold temps (you probably already know that).

Beau388 · 07-03-2019, 02:30 AM

If the green light is constant, your circuit board is good. After the frig is on for a couple hours (constant green light), take the outside cover off the fridge and carefully touch the chimney. If it is warm to hot the heating coil is working. I find it takes about 12 hours on electric before the fridge is noticeable cool. A lot of times critters build nests in the fridge chimney, so you might check for obstructions.

LandKO · 07-03-2019, 03:15 AM

Do you have anything inside the refrigerator?
I’ve found that an empty refrigerator takes forever to cool. Items inside the refrigerator helps the fridge cool faster and retain the cold.
Regarding the propane. You may need to get air out of the lines. After sitting in storage, the lines leak down.
I run the propane stove burners and the furnace about 5 minutes. Even then, it sometimes takes several tries to get the fridge to fire off.

halfprice · 07-03-2019, 04:47 AM

I put a frozen gallon of water in the fridge and one in the freezer. Its gets cold in 30 minutes or so

I always light the stove to make sure all air is out of the line then switch fridge to gas. Once its lit back to electric

Jerry

George/Kristine · 07-03-2019, 10:26 AM

Thanks for all your replies. Really great troubleshooting tips. As it turns out, I think I really just jumped the gun. We are leaving on a trip out to Glacier next week and I sort of panicked and forgot something I had learned on this forum, that the refrigerator is essentially cooled by the freezer. After about a half an hour I went out and checked the unit again and found a cool freezer. This morning, the fridge is cold.
We have taken several long trips and have had such a great time, but also worked through a very long list of defects, great and small. I have to stop expecting the worst every time we gear up and just learn to enjoy the journey. Thanks again.

altakrieger · 06-27-2023, 08:49 PM

Refrigerator quit running. Wind sport 34j 2018. Breakers under bed on though there is not one labeled for fridge. Is it located somewhere else? Worked 4 hours ago.

**16ACE27** · 06-27-2023, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by altakrieger

Refrigerator quit running. Wind sport 34j 2018. Breakers under bed on though there is not one labeled for fridge. Is it located somewhere else? Worked 4 hours ago.

What type of fridge?
Status of house batteries?
Anything else not working?

Good job on the RV info though.

altakrieger · 06-27-2023, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

What type of fridge?
Status of house batteries?
Anything else not working?

Good job on the RV info though.

Whirlpool
Plugged into shore power
Batteries are the original
Everything else seems to be working

**EA37TS** · 06-27-2023, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by altakrieger

Whirlpool
Plugged into shore power
Batteries are the original
Everything else seems to be working

Did someone hit the power off feature accidentally?

Shore power you should be on 120v. Batteries will need the inverter for power.

Fridge should be on one of the breakers labeled as inverter.

Do the lights inside come on?

The Gritz Carlton · 06-27-2023, 09:11 PM

Ha came back in post #6 proclaiming a brain fart. All is good now...beer is cold.

altakrieger · 06-27-2023, 09:15 PM

No lights on. Don’t know where off switch is. Turned the temp dial to off and back up to high. Never came on. My brother will have to look at it tonight and maybe message you back.
Thank You

**EA37TS** · 06-27-2023, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

Ha came back in post #6 proclaiming a brain fart. All is good now...beer is cold.

Post 7 new issue today.

**EA37TS** · 06-27-2023, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by altakrieger

No lights on. Don’t know where off switch is. Turned the temp dial to off and back up to high. Never came on. My brother will have to look at it tonight and maybe message you back.
Thank You

Your Whirlpool is different than mine. I have no dial and everything is done from the control panel on the freezer door.

Also, for giggles, check all your GFCI outlets.

The Gritz Carlton · 06-27-2023, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EA37TS

Post 7 new issue today.

Just saw that...my brain fart.

**16ACE27** · 06-27-2023, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by altakrieger

Whirlpool
Plugged into shore power
Batteries are the original
Everything else seems to be working

Whirlpool equals residential fridge: 120 VAC only - powered by the Inverter or SP through and integrated Automatic Transfer Switch in the Inverter.

Batteries are 5+ years old: May not be the cause of your problem right now but probably at EOL.

You need to find the outlet the fridge is plugged into and see if it has 120 VAC. If not back up to the inverter output to see if it has 120 VAC and its output breaker is not tripped.. SP should be supplying the 120 VAC but just for troubleshooting maybe unplug from SP and make sure the inverter is on to see if that makes a difference.

**EA37TS** · 06-27-2023, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by altakrieger

No lights on. Don’t know where off switch is. Turned the temp dial to off and back up to high. Never came on. My brother will have to look at it tonight and maybe message you back.
Thank You

Not sure about your rig but in mine the fridge is plugged into a single receptacle outlet tied into the inverter circuit breaker labeled “television”.

altakrieger · 06-27-2023, 11:24 PM

Ok. Thank You everyone!! I had just put over $200 of food in the fridge when it quit. Kinda panicked ��. All fixed. I guess opening and closing it so many times knocked the plug loose. Of course as soon as my brother looked at it he saw that! Happy July 4th ��

**16ACE27** · 06-27-2023, 11:32 PM

Jeesh!

**EA37TS** · 06-28-2023, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by altakrieger

Ok. Thank You everyone!! I had just put over $200 of food in the fridge when it quit. Kinda panicked ��. All fixed. I guess opening and closing it so many times knocked the plug loose. Of course as soon as my brother looked at it he saw that! Happy July 4th ��

We’ve all had

moments. At least it was a simple fix.

Happy travels.

You may also like: