Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks: Dometic Fridge

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Dometic Fridge

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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14786
Printed Date: 13 Aug 2025 at 12:50am
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Topic: Dometic Fridge

Posted By: IdahoBoy
Subject: Dometic Fridge
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2021 at 9:20am

I am having fridge issues and I hope someone will have some insight into it. Twice in the past week my fridge has shut down on me. I can hear the igniter firing, and the fridge lights then goes off immediately several times before firing up for a few seconds then shuts down completely and I get the red alert flashing light. When I hit the alert button to reset it the fridge fires up and works fine. If I'm at the pod when that happens it's no problem but I'm worried it will happen when I'm out, which is most of the time, and I'll lose all my food. The problem is not consistent so I have no way of knowing when it will recur. Has anyone else had this problem and any ideas what may be causing it?

Replies:

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2021 at 9:49am

That usually indicates a gas line that is not purged. Is this only after the refrigerator has not been used for a while? If so, then I don't think it is unusual. Once the gas line is purged, you should not see this. However, if the refrigerator has been running for a while and is cold and this is happening, then it might indicate a problem. Have you cleaned the orifice lately? Are the igniter and thermocouple in the proper locations? (likely yes since you say it does ignite and stay lit after the reset).

You also could have a gas line that has a build-up of oily liquid. That can be purged by removing the connections (after turning the gas off) at the refrigerator end and the regulator end and then using air pressure to blow out the liquid (from the refrigerator end). Make sure you have a container below the regulator end to catch the liquid. Then reconnect the lines, pressurize them, and test for leaks with bubble solution (dish soap in water). The line will need to be purged again, but that may help. Also, there is a filter behind the square block where the gas line attaches to the refrigerator. Make sure that is clean also. I'm not sure how you would replace it if it isn't.

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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2021 at 9:58am

+1 If you find the oily substance in the gas line you may wish to go all the way back to the pressure regulator. I had to replace mine last year (it was over 9 years old) as it was plugged to the point of I being unable to clean it out to my satisfaction, even after using an air gun.

Also, have you installed screens on your two air vents located on the rear side of your fridge? By doing so you eliminate the potential of bees, wasps, spiders from building nests in the combustion as well as the chimney/heat stack areas which will also cause issues like the ones you describe.

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God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2021 at 10:53am

or an issue like the flame shooting out toward the regulator side instead of going up the flue. That happened to us when our RPod was brand new. It had been on the dealer lot for a while and I suspect that the nest was from that time. We only had it a week before leaving on a long trip and we cooled it on 110V then switched to 12V until we got to a friend's house in Charlotte. When I attempted to change over to gas, that is when we discovered the flame going the wrong direction. We had to detour back to the dealer to diagnose the problem. We had had more than one hard freeze before we picked it up so I am 99.99999% sure that the nest could not have been built in the week that we had the trailer. The dealer ended up replacing the wiring for the igniter and thermocouple which got scorched by the errant flame, but that was after our trip was done.

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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Posted By: IdahoBoy
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2021 at 11:21am

This is all great information. The issue is happening while the fridge is cold and I have had it running for quite a while. I'll try purging the line and the other suggestions. I don't have a screen so I'll check for insect nests. I hope it's a simple fix of course. I have been very satisfied with the reliability of the Rpod after five years of pretty heavy use so I can't complain if I have to spend a little on it.

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 08 Jul 2021 at 1:44pm

Does the fridge only have problems on propane operation?

It could be that the igniter/flame sensor or the control board thinks the flame went out which will cause it to shut off the gas and try restarting. There is an error code for that.

Here's the service manual.

http://bryantrv.com/docs2/docs/Service%20Manual,%20RM8xxx.pdf - manual

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Posted By: Mikefedoruk
Date Posted: 22 Dec 2021 at 1:30pm

Very helpful, thank you. This is making the most sense so far.