Norcold fridge won’t turn on

[dog_and_cat]

Hi - I’ve seen many threads about these DC fridges not cooling but mine won’t even turn on. We returned from a long trip in April with it working fine. Just back to the trailer prepping for another trip and nothing. Everything else in the trailer works fine. Checked the breakers and fuse and all are good.

We’re 15 months into ownership so it’s now out of warranty and I’m really pissed.

Anybody have a similar issue? I’ve tried running on both batteries and shore power and still nothing.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Chris

[TouringDan]

Originally Posted by dog_and_cat

Hi - I’ve seen many threads about these DC fridges not cooling but mine won’t even turn on. We returned from a long trip in April with it working fine. Just back to the trailer prepping for another trip and nothing. Everything else in the trailer works fine. Checked the breakers and fuse and all are good.

We’re 15 months into ownership so it’s now out of warranty and I’m really pissed.

Anybody have a similar issue? I’ve tried running on both batteries and shore power and still nothing.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Chris

Make sure you have 12v going to the fridge. You can use a voltmeter or an automotive test lamp.

Dan

[dog_and_cat]

Just to close this out, it was a lack of power.

I removed the display panel above the freezer and this gives access to the main fuse and critical wiring. It was immediately clear that the 12V wire from the converter was dangling free. Airstream uses those Wago lever nuts to electrically connect wires throughout the trailer but it's a bad choice in this case. Stranded 12 gauge wire barely fits into these lever nuts and it's clear that they just jammed the wire in without ensuing a firm connection. No surprise that it came loose.

Thankfully this was an easy fix.

[BogeyPro]

Dog and Cat! I am having the same issue. All of a sudden, the Norcold Refrigerator wont even power on, and hell yes I am pissed! I have a 2022 Globetrotter, also just out of warranty.

My Norcold is model N8DCSSR (attaching photo). Is that similar to yours? Was it difficult to remove the display panel?

After reading your solution, I am motivated now to drive up to the storage yard and give this a try. Any other details (i.e. tools needed, etc) are most gratefully appreciated.

Hoping upon hope this works. Thanks again, Dog and Cat.

[dog_and_cat]

Hi BogeyPro - looks like the same fridge as mine (N8DC) though I can't confirm what the ****SSR option means. Likely it's an exact match to mine.

Removing the display panel was not difficult. I can't remember exactly how I remove it but I think there were screws on each side that released it. The control wires will still be connected so you have to take some care with it. I was lucky that the wire from the converter was still up on the top of the fridge. Otherwise it would have been a PITA to pull it back up from the backside of the unit.

Good luck with yours. I was ecstatic when that little blue light came on after reconnecting that wire!

Chris

[BogeyPro]

Originally Posted by dog_and_cat

Hi BogeyPro - looks like the same fridge as mine (N8DC) though I can't confirm what the ****SSR option means. Likely it's an exact match to mine.

Removing the display panel was not difficult. I can't remember exactly how I remove it but I think there were screws on each side that released it. The control wires will still be connected so you have to take some care with it. I was lucky that the wire from the converter was still up on the top of the fridge. Otherwise it would have been a PITA to pull it back up from the backside of the unit.

Good luck with yours. I was ecstatic when that little blue light came on after reconnecting that wire!

Chris

Dog and Cat, I unscrewed that display panel. I am attaching some pictures. I could not identify this 12 gauge wire from the converter which you speak of. However, I did see one larger red? wire, that had a white clip on the end that was not connected to anything But this wire did not seem to have anything related to the much smaller control wires running to that power on/off switch.

Does anything on these pictures look familiar to you?

Thanks again.

[dog_and_cat]

That's definitely not how mine looked. My guess is that the red and white 12 gauge wire pair are your power and ground to/from the converter and that the unconnected red wire is your problem. Any chance that white connector plugs into something on the back of the display panel?

Chris