Maintenance & Restoration

Jude · 07-26-2018, 04:04 PM

Casita is in driveway as we are preparing to leave tomorrow. We wanted to start frig early so turned on tank gas, powered on frig, hit gas button on frig. , heard clicking. Then nothing.
Refrigerator will not power on. Plugged into our house . Lights on panel go on for a second and then nothing. Thoughts? Thank you!

Quote Edit

Jude · 07-26-2018, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude

Casita is in driveway as we are preparing to leave tomorrow. We wanted to start frig early so turned on tank gas, powered on frig, hit gas button on frig. , heard clicking. Then nothing.
Refrigerator will not power on. Plugged into our house . Lights on panel go on for a second and then nothing. Thoughts? Thank you!

Quote Edit

Would also add that shortly after we initially tried powering on the frig and it wouldn’t come on ( all we heard was clicking), we realized that the unit was unplugged ( perhaps from traveling?).
Plugged in unit, but no go- just those darn quick blinks.
Also does not run on household power.
Uh oh - what did we do?

BradBev · 07-27-2018, 09:39 AM

It almost sounds like your battery is dead. Confirm you have 12 volt DC to the refrig. To operate on gas you need 12 VDC and gas. To work on AC you have to have 120 VAC and 12 VDC.

Stephen_Albers · 07-27-2018, 09:46 AM

Here is the situation:

Dometic refrigerators are very well designed and work well in normal service. They make ice in six hours or less when operating properly.

First, realize that, like most campers built to a price, the standard Casita fridge installation is defective. Without a vertical vent, the side vent does not circulate enough cooling air to avoid overheating, even in cool temperatures.

Second, if you are typical, you have not had FACTORY service within the recommended one-year time-frame which will replace normally worn and recalled parts and optimize adjustments.

Here's what you should do.

Schedule FACTORY service by checking technician credentials on the manufacturer service phone number (Remember, there is a fair amount of fraud in RV service). When the tech removes the side vents you'll likely notice the woodwork has burned just short of causing a fire - it has gotten that hot. Repair the burned woodwork by cleaning it up and glassing it over. Then have the tech install a 12-volt vent fan on a thermostat - a fairly simple job once the tech has parts which you will probably have to wait for. The fan will automatically provide additional ventilation when needed. Then have the tech do annual service and you'll be back in business.

And remember, if you value your time, have annual service done religiously in the future to avoid spoiling your holiday plans in the future like they are right now.

Morgan A · 07-27-2018, 09:57 AM

May I just point out that: 1. the trailer in question was built this year, so wouldn't have hit its one year mark yet; and 2. it's a Casita, so there's no wood.

That said, I (who am not the original poster) appreciate the maintenance tips.

Jon in AZ · 07-27-2018, 10:10 AM

If by "factory" you mean the OP should take it back to Rice, TX, there is no earthly reason to do that.

You may have received a manual for the fridge with your purchase papers. If so, I would start with the trouble-shooting steps in it. If not, you can probably find something on-line using the model number, or there might be a PDF in the Document Center on this site.

If that fails to get it going, your next step is to contact the fridge manufacturer, Dometic. Casita can probably provide the contact information if needed, but any problem with the fridge is covered by Dometic, not Casita. Dometic will set you up with an authorized service facility in your area for any needed repairs.

Yes, there are modifications you can make to improve the fridge's performance and venting, but that is a separate issue.

I agree it's always a good idea to test out trailer systems a week or more before a major trip to avoid last minute surprises, especially after it's been sitting a while.

Stephen_Albers · 07-27-2018, 10:12 AM

Wrong on both counts.

First, the defective Casita fridge installation will overheat to the point of significant damage within a couple of weeks of normal use.

Second, there is a good deal of reinforcing wood stringers throughout a Casita because the molding is too thin for adequate strength without them. You'll see an example of this when the tech gets the vent louvers off.

You could make a warranty claim. But that would not fix the design defect. A certified tech can modify and fix it all permanently.

Stephen_Albers · 07-27-2018, 10:18 AM

Sorry for the confusion. I was referring to DOMETIC service which can be had in almost
any major city. Consult https:www.dometic.com for a nearby dealer. It's easy.

Jude · 07-27-2018, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen_Albers

Sorry for the confusion. I was referring to DOMETIC service which can be had in almost
any major city. Consult https:www.dometic.com for a nearby dealer. It's easy.

Thank you, everyone, for the maintenance tips. As the Casita is just 3months old, we didn’t anticipate that we would have a problem with it every time we get ready to roll. We are disappointed, but you all have helped immensely with issues.
We have a call in to Casita service and will get the Dometic number from them.
And Yes- my husband and son meticulously went through all of the troubleshooting steps.
Will keep you posted. In the meantime , we are on the road with our old cooler and bags of ice.

And as a follow up to the previous issue- Casita DID follow through and send us the new door mechanism.

Stephen_Albers · 07-27-2018, 02:45 PM

New Casita owner reality check:

A varnished kitchen cuttingboard, which means every time you prepare a meal on it, you are scrapeing toxic petrochemicals into your food.

An out-of-sight locker-mounted fire extinguisher which violates fire codes and common sense because it cannot be quickly accessed in an emergency.

Long-standing obvious manufacturing travesties like these gives pause to what other fiascos await discovery?

Glenn Baglo · 07-27-2018, 03:03 PM

Fire extinguisher in Escape is located near the floor at the entry to the trailer so that you can access it from outside.
I saw one moved next to the stove, where you would have to reach over a potential fire to grab it. I hope that person moved it back to where it belongs.

dmad1 · 07-27-2018, 04:09 PM

My 2015 Casita 17' came with a small fan mounted about 10" below the refrigerator vents and also has a fan switch just inside the entrance door. It is controlled by a temp sensor mounted on the refrigerator coils When they reach a temp of over 100 degrees (I think it is 100) the fan will come on and circulate the hot air coming off of the coils. But you have to have the switch in the on position. I think it is switchable so that in colder weather, you do not need to move the air as much. Mine quit and I found a replacement computer fan at an electronic store for around $12. It is mounted in a metal bracket and has two screws holding it to the bracket and two screws that attach the bracket to the outside shell just under the vents. You do not have to remove these two outside screws to remove the fan from the bracket. You may not find a fan with the exact plug but it is easy to wire your old one to the new fan wiring. It is an easy change out. Not saying this is your problem but worth taking a look at. I am guessing it may be the battery also.

Jack L · 07-27-2018, 04:30 PM

The clicking sound you are hearing is the ignitor trying to light the burner. After a few attempts the ignitor will stop trying. This would lead me to believe you have an adequate 12 volt source and that you have a problem with the propane. Could be a lack of fuel or a dirty burner. It could be something as simple as a spider web over the burner jet.

Jude · 07-29-2018, 12:33 PM

Thank you, Jack L. We checked that and all is well with the propane. The frig does not work on DC or AC, as well. We spoke to Dometic and have an appointment with an authorized service center in our area when we return. Will update the post when we get the diagnosis. In the meantime, the old Coleman cooler works well.

Fred762 · 08-05-2018, 11:24 PM

WE just got back from ~2 weeks touring & camping in the "Florida
Mosquitoe Coast"... around Apalachicola and Cape San Blas in our 17' 2018 Independence w a Dometic 3 way frig..ran it all the time on either the TV's DC power or shore power.
The thing gets so cold even in 95+* outside temps, that we had to turn it down to #4 setting..and even then it was easily keeping alot of stuff hard frozen in the freezer and re-freezing the "freezer bricks" we put into our beach bags' cooler sections daily. WE did and usually do try to put the awning ovwer the frig area in day time..if possible, but about 1/2 the time it just worked "in the sun" as it were. maybe we are just lucky, but that Dometic was packed full when we left home and it soldiered on the whole trip.

We DO run it empty on house power for 16- 24 hours b4 loading food in for a trip, as recomended by alot of folks.

Jude · 08-08-2018, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred762

WE just got back from ~2 weeks touring & camping in the "Florida

Mosquitoe Coast"... around Apalachicola and Cape San Blas in our 17' 2018 Independence w a Dometic 3 way frig..ran it all the time on either the TV's DC power or shore power.

The thing gets so cold even in 95+* outside temps, that we had to turn it down to #4 setting..and even then it was easily keeping alot of stuff hard frozen in the freezer and re-freezing the "freezer bricks" we put into our beach bags' cooler sections daily. WE did and usually do try to put the awning ovwer the frig area in day time..if possible, but about 1/2 the time it just worked "in the sun" as it were. maybe we are just lucky, but that Dometic was packed full when we left home and it soldiered on the whole trip.

We DO run it empty on house power for 16- 24 hours b4 loading food in for a trip, as recomended by alot of folks.

Thank you! Glad to hear yours is running so well. We hope to be the same when we get it back from the Dometic Authorized service RV dealer .

Jude · 08-08-2018, 05:45 PM

Thank you to all of the helpful posts. We took our Casita to an authorized Dometic service RV place and they did the diagnosis on the refrigerator. It needs a new control panel- just waiting for Dometic to send them the new part.