Refer Freezes Main Not Cooling (newbie problem)

I did a search and found an old thread about the same problem, but the solution is not applicable to my fridge.

The top (freezer) works excellent. Froze a bottle of water solid, over night, at Max setting. However, the main compartment is not cooling. I read on an old post that there is an adjustment to the right of the fins, but there is nothing there. The fins run all the way across. I looked him and low, and couldn't find any type of adjustment.

I tried it on A/C & Propane, and there is no difference. I included some photos of the inside of the fridge.

I forgot to mention that the trailer was leveled.

It's been awhile since I started this post, and I sure hope someone replies. The tube coming into the main IS NOT wires, but some type of thermostat pressure tube. Does anyone have any ideas on how to repair this? The RV repair shops around here charge $75-105 and hour, and a 1 hour charge just look at it.

Papa, you MAY be looking at the wrong "fins". I believe the ones you want to look for the sliding thermostat are the ones in the back of the refrigerator exterior. To get to this area, you have to remove the ventilation panel (the metal one with the horizontal slots that is held on to the outside of the trailer with about 19,000 screws). (I'm exaggerating just a bit, but it will seem like 19,000 before you get them all out).

Under that panel, you'll find the fan that helps to cool the fins and on the fins you should see a plastic holder that you can slide up or down on the fins. As I recall, to make the refrigerator colder, the slide should be at the top of the fins. There's also an inline fuse in that area that would stop the fan from working if it were blown. Make sure it's OK.

Hope I'm making sense here.

- Jack

Jack I removed the outside panel, and didn't see what you're talking about. I attached a photo.

Papa, that's not the panel I'm talking about. That's the lower panel. I was talking about the sheet metal panel that is above it that is held on by a whole bunch of screws. If you don't have that upper panel, then I'm stumped.

However, the area you're showing may be where the inline fuse is, now that my rapidly fading brain cells have been kicked.

- Jack

I checked the in-line fuse, and it was good. I didn't expect that to be a problem since the freezer compartment get very cold (27 degrees on the highest setting).
There is not an upper panel. I'm about to come to the conclusion that I will need to have a repairman work on it. I have called a few, and they did sound that promising. It will take 2 weeks before I can get someone to take a look at it.

Papa & Jack: The sliding switch on the cooling fins in the back of the fridg from the outside is to turn the cooling fan on and off and does not control the temp in the fridg. On my fridg the sliding thermostat sensor is mounted on the last fin to the right inside the fridg. It is mounted with a plastic piece that will slide up or down the fin. In your picture of the fins on the inside of the fridge you can see the sensor lead coming thru the back wall and goes up behind the fins and the sensor bulb just sticking out above the fins. Does't matter if the sensor lead is a wire or brass tube. They come both ways. Do you have the owners manual for the fridg? If not you need to get it. Go online to the website for the manufacture with the model # and down load the manual. It should have a trouble shooting section. That sensor could be mounted in the wrong place or is bad. Should be easy to replace if bad. If it should be mounted on the fin then you may need the plastic mounting clip. Even if it is mounted in the wrong place it still should be turning on the valve that direct the cooling fluid to those fins. If I remember correctly there is a fuse under that black cover on the backside of the fridg and there is the power fuse on the input power line. Since the freezer is working you know that a major part of the fridg is OK and hopefully your problem is minor. The fins that Jack is talking about, you should be able to see by looking straight up above the back of the fridg and you should see the cooling fan also if you have one. Its my understanding that not all HiLos came with one. That switch that controls the fan is a small round or square button that mounts to one of the fins by a clip that can be slid up or down to control when the fan turns on or off. I am going off of memory as my HiLo in under a shed and I can't raise it. Hope this helps. I also sent you a private message.

PapaRoe, if you do a search on the internet, you'll find that your freezer should be 10 degrees or below fahrenheit

Gary, I search the internet, and watch all the YouTube videos that I can find. I have tried one that I believe really made my problem worse, it released some of the cooling gas. Now it's not even cooling the top, and it has been on ALL day. I just checked the temp and it's 95 in the freezer and main area.

Papa, I'm sorry - it appears I was confused about the "sliding thing". Jim has given you the correct story.

However, the small inline fuse in the rear is for the assist fan only. If it were blown, it would only effect the fan, which might raise the refrigerator's temp a bit.

But, if you now have a low ammonia level, you're going to have to get that fixed. (Maybe it was a bit low to begin with and now it's worse?)

Good luck - I hope you get it repaired and that the fix is easy. Again, I'm really sorry if I've confused you.

Jim - thanks for setting me straight. I hate it when I post stupid things!

- Jack

Jack, no worries. I just appreciate all the advice and help. Someday I might have the knowledge and experience to help someone else.
Jack Monroe

Fridg problem

PapaRoe (Jack)
Did you get the fridg fixed and if so what was the problem?

It is a clogged line, and I need to replace the core unit. $$$'s, but not as expensive as the entire unit.