RV Repair: Dometic RM2611, rv refrigerators, sorry bill

Question
Hi Bill,
There has always been a problem with our Dometic RM2611. It sometimes works, in warm weather, never...when the nights are cool, it will work till the heat of the day. We have tried it on electric and propane...nothing. Our check light does NOT come on, so we know it's lit...we just had it serviced and it was pressure checked and we tried it again....worked worse? The repair man said that we had the correct circuit board, but now I'm not so sure after reading up on these models....what do you suggest we try? We have a vacation coming up and we are running out of options? Any thing would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Hi Cori:
These refrigerators, as are most RV refrigerators, have an amonia system and run on heat. The cooling units are pretty well not serviceable in the field. I hear there are some folks in the lower 48 that are now actually working on the cooling coils and recharging amonia. I have not heard how successful they are. What I tell my customers is that if the refrigerator has a good heat source and does not work it needs a new coil. Since the coil costs about 85% or so of a new refrigerator you are better off with a new frig. I understand that is a major expense but that is just the way it is. If your heat source is good and the heating tube, big metal covered insulated tube on the right of the unit outside under the cover, gets hot then the thing is not repairable. Sorry.
Bill