Chescold explorer 3 way fridge

Submitted: Tuesday, Jan 22, 2019 at 21:08

ThreadID: 137703 Views:5810 Replies:7 FollowUps:6

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Scott B17

My dad has a chescold explorer 3 way fridge (green one) it has worked very well on gas and 240v (dont use 12v at all) but now its only getting cool not fully cold? The is only a slight build up of ice on one corner of the element, before the whole element pretty much had a built up of ice.. we have turned it upside down cleaned out the flue and the gas burner and it is completely level. Not sure if its the thermostat or what? Its not leaking any refrigerant and the flame is ok. Any ideas? Also have a old chescold mark 2 ( brown one ) that will not stay lit on gas. The flame works only when you hold down the "purge button" but as soon as you let it go the flame goes out, even after holding it for more than 2 minutes. Any ideas? Thanks

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Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Wednesday, Jan 23, 2019 at 06:35

Reply By: RMD - Wednesday, Jan 23, 2019 at 08:28

Reply By: Erad - Wednesday, Jan 23, 2019 at 08:36

Wednesday, Jan 23, 2019 at 08:36

Sounds to me as if the refrigerant unit needs regassing. You probably have a slight leak. It is now decision time - do I re-gas or replace it?

AnswerID: 623351

Follow Up By: RMD - Wednesday, Jan 23, 2019 at 11:38

Wednesday, Jan 23, 2019 at 11:38

The Chescold and many other similar types have Ammonia liquid inside them. If it leaks you will smell it soon enough. The heaters system separates the liquid into gas and liquid and it has to recombine through the fine screens which come loose. Nof fix, just replace.
Maybe you can fix them but it requires specialist equipment to hande the ammonia factor.
No re gassing is possible. They don't use that concept.

FollowupID: 896542

Follow Up By: Scott B17 - Wednesday, Jan 23, 2019 at 12:44

Wednesday, Jan 23, 2019 at 12:44

Thanks Erad, im not so sure it is because we can't smell anything or see any areas of white residue, also we can still hear it bubbling around when we flip it over..

FollowupID: 896546

Follow Up By: Erad - Wednesday, Jan 23, 2019 at 21:56

Wednesday, Jan 23, 2019 at 21:56

I had a 3 way Dometic fridge in my caravan and it stopped working on 240 V (that was all we were using at the time). I took the fridge out, turned it upside down, sideways - you name it we did it, but still no go. I checked the eater element resistance and tat was all good. So I decided it was time for regas (ammonia). I was told that they could do it, but there was no guarantee that it would work, and it was going to cost me $700 to do it. I spent $1175 and got a new fridge - same model so that it fitted in tho hole. Well, the new fridge worked (and still does) far better than the old one which was the original fridge as fitted by Jayco.

There was no evidence of leaking at all, until I removed the insulation from around the heat pipe, and then I saw some yellow cake. That confirmed my guess that the gas had leaked out. Naturally no smell either or if there was, we were not there at the time. These fridges are damned expensive and are not really that good - their main plus is that they can run on gas or 12 V if required, as well as 240 V.