Problem with Dometic AC

[Elizabeth28]

Hi all— I am at an RV park and am having problems with my AC. I am on day 3 of the trip and it worked fine until now. It is 90 degrees, but down to 70’s tonight so I’m fine die now. But tomorrow I’m heading to the dessert for 10 days and no AC would be unfortunate. I’m at a well-maintained, updated RV park, so I don’t think they are the problem. I flipped the circuit breaker on and off, though there did not seem to be a problem there. I checked the outside connection, all seems fine. I shut the thermostat off and restarted several times. Any other ideas?

[McStreamy_]

If you cycle the thermostat to fan or heat pump, do either of those options work?

[Elizabeth28]

Trying to attach some photos.

[wulfraat]

E1 means the thermostat / controller (in your picture) is not communicating with the AC unit up top.

This is typically due to a loose wire. The wire in question look like a good old telephone cable with 4 wires in it and plastic connector on the end.

First step in troubleshooting is to gently unclip / pull the thermostat off the wall (it is just clipped on) and make sure the wires in the back are firmly seated / connected....

[Elizabeth28]

No, I can’t get those to work.

[Foiled Again]

27 ft.
Do you have 1 or 2 air conditioners.?
If 2, try running only 1 at a time - switch zones and test each. Also reset ALL the breakers which requires that you push them completely OFF (down hard) Then back up. Test and reset the GFCI breaker in the bathroom too.

Next, I agree the phone wire is the likiest target. There are 3 places where it can be messed up:
- behind the thermostat
- in the furnace area
- under the Air Conditioner cover

The furnace is easy, just open the outside cover and check by pushing it in and reseating it. Ditto for behind the thermostat. The A/C is less fun. The inside cover is held on by screws, which are up IN the grid of the cover. You may have to pull the filters to find the last ones. There will be 6 or more. I have to stand on a folding stool to get to mine. Once you have the cover off, look for the phone wire. Odds are it has fallen into a drain cup and has gotten the connection wet and shorted out. Get it thoroughly dry, then reconnect and test the A/C. Before you close it back up, keep the phone cord from falling back down by using a couple of small cable ties (or plastic twist ties from a loaf of bread) to tie the cable to the frame of the A/C. It is a good idea to use shrinkable wire connectors over that connection too, if you have any. (This problem has been known for years... why that wire is not tied up at the factory I will never know).

Oh, while you are at it, remove, clean and reinstall the filters frequently. You'll improve the A/C performance a lot. AND make sure the A/C drain is working. (A tube drips water out of the roadside wheel well when it is running, and when it stops, the tube will pee it out for a moment or two. The tube gets dust and mold in it and needs to be cleared. Use a wet dry vacuum to suck out the hose. You can use your fingers around the hose to half way seal the end of the vacuum hose to the drain hose, or block the vacuum hose with a fast food drink cover and use a straw (hold onto it) thru the opening to fit into the drain hose. Using a straw and lid can clean out sliding door tracks, fan lint from slots in the cover or even computer keyboard cheetos, etc. If you are brave and fast you can use just a straw in your mouth to suck the drain hose out... but be quick, yuck [emoji2961] can happen.

[bobmiller1]

Ah.....the old E1 fault code. The dometic help line is of no help.....useless as a matter of fact. If you are connected to shore power, disconnect, then proceed. Make sure you shut all zones off on the thermostat, then shut the thermostat off itself which is the top left button. Re-connect to shore power, then turn the thermostat back on, then select one zone and set to AC, you should see a hour glass, wait a couple of mins, then the AC should come on. If this works remember to shut the thermostat off before you disconnect from shore power or else you will encounter the same problem again. Regards, Bob P.S. let me know if this works for you.

[DaleW2]

My 'E1' ended up being a loose wire up under the shroud. It was evidently a spade connector that the holding screw had loosened up. I had already checked everything inside and in back of the vents and found nothing. The service guy (John's RV in Lexington SC) climbed up his ladder, loosened the 4 retaining screws of the shroud and noticed something sparking! Covered under warranty but I had to fight to get them to look at it during my appointment time.

Dale
2020 28' International Serenity RBT
Dual AC
Dual Solar

[jsaucier]

There have been problems with the sensor getting wet from condensate in the pan. Since it worked for a couple of days, then quit it could be a similar moisture problem as posted by Spartanguy a few months ago. Search "32 degree problem" in Air Forum at the top of your post a little right of center. Even if this is not your current problem, it will contain information that may be valuable to you in the future.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

[AirstreamInc]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth28

Hi all— I am at an RV park and am having problems with my AC. I am on day 3 of the trip and it worked fine until now. It is 90 degrees, but down to 70’s tonight so I’m fine die now. But tomorrow I’m heading to the dessert for 10 days and no AC would be unfortunate. I’m at a well-maintained, updated RV park, so I don’t think they are the problem. I flipped the circuit breaker on and off, though there did not seem to be a problem there. I checked the outside connection, all seems fine. I shut the thermostat off and restarted several times. Any other ideas?

Hi Elizabeth28,*

We're very sorry to learn about the issue you are having. Please send us a direct message with your contact information, email and the last 6 digits of your VIN so we can share it with our Customer Service and Technical Support team. We look forward to helping you get this resolved.

You can also reach Airstream Customer Service and Technical Support at*customersupport@airstream.com

Thank you.*

[bobmiller1]

Oh goodie ! Airstream technical support is here to help……get ready to start pulling your trailer apart to check things out ! Good Luck, Regards, Bob

[banderabob]

I don’t have the manual with me, but have you tried to reset the CCD? I think there are 2 or three of the panel buttons you press at the same time. Worth trying.

[bbdo]

I had this issue too. In my case it was indeed the phone wires - however, the connectors had enough moisture and whatever else, that the wire inside the connector had corroded, and also corroded the phone line connector.

I have the 30' bunkhouse. The corroded phone wires were in the aft AC unit, near our fridge.

My fix was new connectors and newly terminated ends with the 4-wire phone jack (RJ11) and a TON of dielectric grease to make sure it never happens again.

This was an annual thing when we came out to the midwest. I replaced circuit boards on each unit, and the controller on the wall. The moment I took apart the wiring - the first step I SHOULD have done - the problem was obvious and it has been 100% ever since the fix as you would expect.

I hope this helps - check those wires first!

[Elizabeth28]

Thanks everyone. I went through Bob's steps. Error message went away and AC worked for the night. Then it went out this morning while microwave was running. E7 this time, which I know is no 120 power. I disconnected shore power and battery. Checked circuit breakers; AC breaker was tripped. I reconnected. Still no AC . I will check wires now. It's about 120 degrees in there. Dogs are in the truck with AC.

[Bill M.]

Unless you have a 50 amp trailer you cannot run the AC and the microwave at the same time. My microwave actually draws more power than the AC. Do you have a 30 amp or a 50 amp trailer?

[wulfraat]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth28

Thanks everyone. I went through Bob's steps. Error message went away and AC worked for the night. Then it went out this morning while microwave was running. E7 this time, which I know is no 120 power. I disconnected shore power and battery. Checked circuit breakers; AC breaker was tripped. I reconnected. Still no AC . I will check wires now. It's about 120 degrees in there. Dogs are in the truck with AC.

Per the previous post, you cannot operate the AC and Microwave at the same time on a 30A trailer. Go to your electrical panel, and reset the breaker. Reset the breaker outside at the electrical pole as well if needed. You will be back up and running.

Don't run both at the same time you will overload the circuits in the airstream

[CarneyIdaho]

Hopefully you got the wrinkle sorted out by now but I experienced a similar challenge.
Solution:
I disconnected the 50amp power for about five minutes and let everything - rest.

Seemed to have corrected itself.

Good luck!

[robertwarren]

Our, then new, 2018 FC 27’ developed an E-1 notification on the thermostat. After trying to find a loose wire we replaced the breaker ( easy to do after finding a replacement breaker at Camper World) and the problem, at least for us went away. The explanation we were given was that the breaker connection was weak.

[robertwarren]

PS: We also installed easy start systems on both air conditioners. We plan to travel West this year and the addition of the easy starts will lower the start up amps. We are currently in Melbourne, FL and they are working as advertised. I installed them myself using the easy to follow instructions. Safe travels!

[Blazeman1]

Originally Posted by robertwarren

PS: We also installed easy start systems on both air conditioners. We plan to travel West this year and the addition of the easy starts will lower the start up amps. We are currently in Melbourne, FL and they are working as advertised. I installed them myself using the easy to follow instructions. Safe travels!

X2 on easy start