Country Coach Owners Forum

Country Coach Restoration, Repair & Parts Forums => Country Coach Archive => Topic started by: Jose on April 06, 2011, 08:42:49 am

Title: Refrigerator, some information
Post by: Jose on April 06, 2011, 08:42:49 am
Yahoo Message Number: 69904 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/69904)
Still deciding on "Cooling unit" replacement vs Refrigerator replacement, have another problem to resolve first. Lost the 12 Volts to the control board. The schematic show 2 thermal fuses between the 12V source and the control module. There is a resettable one on the outside of the vent tube (it's OK) and one that the wires seem to go under the vent tube close to the refrigerator, that's where I'm losing the 12 volts. How do I get to that part and "what" is it.

Joe

98 Intrigue 10578
Title: Re: Refrigerator, some information
Post by: Kevin Waite on April 06, 2011, 09:18:50 am
Yahoo Message Number: 69905 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/69905)
Jose:

Have you checked the fuse/fuses on the control board its self?

Kevin Waite (Former Country Coach Service Tech.) K&M Mobile R.V. Repair LLC
95430 Noraton Rd.

Junction CIty, OR. 97448
541-998-8132 (Home/Office)
541-953-6162 (Cell)

kvn.wt.7629@... (kvn.wt.7629@...)

Title: Re: Refrigerator, some information
Post by: Jose on April 06, 2011, 12:45:17 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 69916 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/69916)
Figured out the problem, it's a 152 deg thermal switch held to the bottom of the flue assembly with a clamp. It was part of the "recall fix" done several years ago. Got the part number, probably get it at an electronics store. Still evaluating Fridge replacement or "fixit" myself. Wife favors new Fridge, this one is 13 years old.

Joe

98 Intrigue
Title: Re: Refrigerator, some information
Post by: Jose on April 11, 2011, 12:38:10 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 70093 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/70093)
Still need to make a decision on the Dometic 1062. Called RV Cooling Unit Warehouse, David Force sent me the instructions for installing a new cooling unit. Decided to remove the old one to see the difficulty. Since this was a first time for me it took awhile to get it off and I did all of the work with no assistance (much easier with 2 people). I didn't lay the refrigerator down which in the end made it more difficult. Had I removed the legs (strips across the bottom) the electronics could have been removed much easier. Only cut 2 wires getting the unit off the back. I didn't exactly know how to remove the burner assembly, downloaded the parts list and diagram from Dometic and then it was easy.
Have a few questions on the reinstall instructions (will call David) and a few on the condition of the existing box and how much time I have to do the install. Wanted to go this far just for the experience. Will decide in a few days on replace cooling unit or replace refrigerator.
I'm mechanical and electrical experienced and it took me about 2 hours to remove the fridge by myself (just never worked on the fridge). Had a few problems on removal, heads of the phillips screws were stripped and had a problem capping the propane (couldn't get a wrench on the pipe).
Hard to break the fridge loose from the coach, RTV under front and back. Put 2 4x4's on a rug and pulled the fridge out. Turned the fridge 90 degrees and slid in to the kitchen, did not lay down (should have).
Had to drill out 2 of the phillips screw in the refrigerator cold fins, stripped heads.
Didn't really understand how the electronics assemblies came off, took off more connections and marked them, did some unnecessary stuff. Actually did not need to remove the controller. Only thing required was cutting 2 wires from the upper part of the refrigerator, grounds and +12V.
Had a problem getting the burner assembly disconnected form the baffle. Once I understood that, the back came off fairly easy.
The website said 3 hours for the whole job, It took me about 2 hours to get the refrigerator out, and about 4 hours to get the cooling unit off. Would have gone faster with 2 people and faster if I had laid the refrigerator down and remove the feet. Could have cut about 2 hours off.
The instructions were reasonably good and there is technical help available (did it on Saturday and Sunday so didn't use the help). I could probably insert an instruction here and there to make it easier (for our refrigerator). Don't know the differences in the same model that would make it more difficult.
I will need some technical information on the install, his pictures do not really look like my refrigerator in several areas.
From the folks I talked to, 13 years is a good life for one of these refrigerators.

Anyway just an input.

Judy n Joe

98 Intrigue 10578
Title: Added Input-Re: Refrigerator, some (More) information
Post by: Jose on April 20, 2011, 01:50:57 pm
Yahoo Message Number: 70395 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/70395)
Decided to purchase a new Dometic 1062, bunch of reasons, old one was 13 years old, busy didn't have time to mess with the repair and my wife wanted a new one. If it was a side by side $4K new) or less than around 7 years old, I WOULD repair with a new cooling unit from the RV..... warehouse. I did the hardest part (removing the old cooling unit) prior to deciding, just for the experience. Some info that may help you.
I removed the refrigerator through the front door by removing the inside door strips (both sides, not the top) and then opening the front door almost 180 degrees. Had to unbolt the awning arm and lift over the door. also removed the front seat (from the pedestal) to make it easier and not damage the seat upholstery. Old fridge was removed with the door facing upward (I think the widest dimension). Had about 3/4" to spare!
I needed the front wood panels from the fridge. Removed both top and bottom bars, they use some RTV on the back of the panels to keep them fro being loose(I surmise), they weren't readily removable. I used a wide blade scraper (kinda like a putty knife but has a sharper edge), pressed it between the panel and the door slightly tilted (sharp end) towards the door panel, by prying I was able to break the pane loose from the door. Be more careful on the freezer door, you can damage the vacuum seal. When I install on the new refrigerator, I'll use (sparse) RTV along the top (and bottom) to make it easier to break loose. They made a big "S" over the whole inside panel.
While the fridge is out, I'll mount a fan towards the top of the vent to assist in cooling (Radio Shack 3" DC), also will have one at the bottom, don't use a thermostat, just a switch. (Bunch cheaper than Camping World kits)
Haven't got the new one in yet, on order from Camping World, hopefully I've made their task easy enough the WON'T screw it up!!
This should be my last input unless "tragedy" strikes during installation.

Judy n Joe

98 Intrigue 10578