R-pod 179 newbies. Need help
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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9042
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Topic: R-pod 179 newbies. Need help
Posted By: Carolavan
Subject: R-pod 179 newbies. Need help
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2016 at 9:37am
| We are finally getting our 179 ready for our first trip later this month. Had to do some unexpected repairs because a large pine branch fell on the pod while we were away, so our pristine trailer is no longer so. May have a little bit of water damage, but nothing serious - fingers crossed. After plugging in the power and starting the fridge on 120v according to the manual, we have no coldness after 24 hours. All the lights are on but nothing is happening. Any suggestions - am I missing something? Just switched to gas and I am waiting to see if that works. I hope it is something simple and someone out there can set me straight. Thanks in advance. |
Replies:
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2016 at 9:50am
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First, you say lights are on. What setting do you have for the temperature (the bars on the right side)? What is the ambient temperature? Do you have a thermometer inside the refrigerator that is verifying that it is not cooling? Have you removed the outside covers to make sure it is plugged in? If so, can you remove the plug and verify that the outlet has power (plug in a lamp or use a meter if you have one)? Is the ground fault outlet tripped? Is the circuit breaker in the power panel tripped? Hopefully, you will figure it out. If none of the above suggestions work, and if it also does not cool with propane, then you would do well to get it to your dealer's service department. ------------- 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: Carolavan
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2016 at 10:08am
| Thanks for the quick response Stephen. I have it set at max. It is plugged in and power is definitely available. I'll leave it running on gas for a while and see what happens. It is about 50 degrees outside - and inside. |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 19 Nov 2016 at 9:10pm
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If it cools on gas that excludes the ammonia system, then you are down to the checks Stephen mentioned. Plug a night light into the outlet behind the fridge for starters. Worst case you can run it on 12 volt mode which will draw power through the converter and ultimately the 120 volt system. Just don't use the 12 volt mode when towing. It uses little propane so it would just be easier to stay on propane all the time if you can't get 120 volt mode working before you leave. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: Carolavan
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2016 at 11:28am
| Thanks for the input. It has been running on gas since yesterday afternoon - about 18 hrs now and has not cooled at all, so no luck there. In fact it would have been cooler inside if I had left the door open - it was frosty here last night. The gas is burning but no cooling inside. looks like it will be off to the dealers tomorrow. I don't think I can do anymore. This thing is only a year or so old and the previous owner assures me that the fridge worked last time he used it? Are these really so fragile that they break down just sitting around? How critical is leveling? It currently is very slightly - maybe and inch - lower on one side in my driveway. Could that be a factor. If it is how do they work when you are on the road? |
Posted By: ParPod
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2016 at 12:13pm
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Carolina Yes.. over time an un levelled trailer will/could affect the operation of the fridge but it appears that there is something far more sinister afoot here. I would agree with StephenH and suggest that a trip to the service dept of a Dealer should be your next call. ------------- Bob&Margaret 2017 179 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2 sets of Golf Clubs |
Posted By: ParPod
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2016 at 12:16pm
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Whoops....I see the computer changed your name and I didn't notice....apologies. ------------- Bob&Margaret 2017 179 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2 sets of Golf Clubs |
Posted By: Carolavan
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2016 at 12:37pm
| Thanks - how's things in Manitoba? It did sit for a couple of months with the back end somewhat lower - 20-30 cms maybe? Could that be the cause? I wasn't aware that leveling was such an issue. This thing is already costing me money and I haven't even slept in it yet. A bit frustrating, but hopefully it will all be worth it. We hope to use it quite a bit to see the USA (and Canada) over the next 2 or 3 years while we are still young and fit enough. |
Posted By: ParPod
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2016 at 2:45pm
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Well....thus far we are without snow although it is all around us....even South Dakota got a blizzard. Just sitting without the fridge operating won't be the cause. We've always been told that operating the fridge when the units aren't level will eventually cause them to stop working. We've always been pretty diligent about leveling our Pod. Is this the cause....I don't know but if you've done the tests that StephenH suggested then the next stop is the service bay. I'll bet its frustrating but once you get going you'll love the Pod! Best Wishes! ------------- Bob&Margaret 2017 179 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2 sets of Golf Clubs |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2016 at 4:08pm
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I had hoped it was something simple. It apparently isn't. The dealer is your best bet. The refrigerator must be near level ( 3 degrees side-to-side and 6 degrees front-to-back) to operate properly. Operating while not level can damage it. See this video for more information: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiUaNXEAaSQ - Level your RV for proper operation of your refrigerator. ------------- 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: sailor323
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2016 at 8:26pm
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Try putting the fridge on propane and drive around a bit. Climb hills, drive on curvy roads, drive on bumpy roads. Do this for several hours. You could have a situation where the ammonia coolant is locked. Years ago, I had a kerosene fridge that would quit cooling. I laid it on its side for a few hours and that solved the problem. The thing is, the coolant has to be able to drain back down to the "boiler." If it develops a gas lock that prevents this from happening, the fridge will cease to function. This is not a problem with compressor driven refrigeration systems, but can happen with absorption systems (which is what the Dometic is). On the other hand, you could have a problem with the electronics which would require replacement of the control board. |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2016 at 10:27pm
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Hopefully the dealer will be able to quickly find and repair the problem. We have been blessed with our Dometic, now over 5.5 years old, only 1 problem ever. We had a problem when it was 95 degrees outside and the muffin fans on the back of the absorption unit failed to come on. I ended up pulling the upper and lower panels off to create a better draft. This helped some, but still was a battle as it was in direct afternoon sunlight. Ended up turning the pod 180 degrees to put fridge side in the shade which helped. Also when I got home did some checks on the muffin fans (2), had a short between the connector and the wire. Repaired that, everything works well now. ------------- 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: Carolavan
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2016 at 6:47am
| Thanks. Hopefully it is something simple. Pardon my ignorance, but what is a muffin fan? |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2016 at 8:15am
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A muffin fan is a flat fan in a square frame. It is the same type seen in things like computers. Some run on 12V and some on 120V. The ones used for the refrigerator run on 12V. It is the fan you see when you take off the covers outside and look on the back of the refrigerator. It is mounted horizontally and blows air upward so that it will flow over the coil above it.
------------- 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: Carolavan
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2016 at 8:16am
| Thanks. I wondered what that thing was. |
Posted By: Jasp
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2016 at 1:24pm
| Does a bad level effect the refrigerator if it's not running ?? My winter storage is not even close to level. |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2016 at 2:57pm
Short answer is NO. Long answer is the same. Camp on!  ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: Jasp
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2016 at 3:46pm
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Thank you very much Charlie!!!
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Posted By: Happy Tripping
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2016 at 4:45pm
I believe that there is a bit of a controversy about this? I was told earlier on this forum that current reefers aren't as sensitive to level positions as earlier ones? (I'd start another thread on this but I don't know how. This is an important question)
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Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2016 at 7:00pm
You are correct in that rumor has it the newer ones are less sensitive. However, I've never seen any new numbers published. Now the books say "if you're comfortable, your fridge is too." Not much for us tech types so I'll stick with the 3 and 6 degree numbers. That said, 3 degrees is quite noticeable if you're in the camper. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2016 at 7:30pm
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I knew I was going to be "uncomfortable" when my dad gave me the 1st degree when I did something wrong. So 3 degrees would be extremely uncomfortable!
------------- 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: 21 Nov 2016 at 9:43pm
 I've heard the guidance that if I am comfortable, my refrigerator will be also. I prefer to use a level and get it as close as I can. I also noticed that the floor of the R-Pod, the kitchen countertop, and the refrigerator are not at the same angles. Using the refrigerator to level means the kitchen counter is not level. If I use the floor, the refrigerator is not level. I don't even think about using the countertop. The floor is at least close enough that the refrigerator has been operating without problems. ------------- 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 |