Norcold Refrigerator 2118X not working

[tomgasta]

Our 2017 Keystone Montana's refrigerator started making beeping alarm and showed a code OP L1. We understand the fridge is under 2 year warranty.

Of course its the weekend so we called the Las Vegas Camping World....we're in Boulder City, NV. Unfortunately Camping World does not provide road side service....you must bring your unit to them.

Has anyone experienced the same problem and if so we're you able to buy a part and fix it yourself or did you contact Norcold and have them contact one of their repair shops to fix it?

Looks like warm beer for the Super Bowl.

[team bradfield]

have you tried shutting it off for while then turn back on? I had a similar problem in our last SOB, sometimes when we went from shore power to propane and back it would give an error code, I would restart it and it always come back.

DIY tip, Ice and a cheap Styrofoam cooler will solve the beer issue

[RoadRunnerTR21]

Great tip team bradfield. I use that technique when I'm "roughing it".

[tomgasta]

Wait til I tell you what worked for the code OP L1. Spoke to a great RV repair shop in Las Vegas. He told me this is a common problem but not to worry that I could fix it myself. He told me to go to the hardware store and buy a 5 to 10 lb (holding power) magnet. He then said to remove the exterior panel to the refrigerator and hold the magnet to the side of the red light. (the fridge power must be on for the red light to be on). See the blue straw in the picture. It is pointing to where I placed the magnet. Immediately the red light went off and the fridge began working and we've had no more problems.

[Mr Pachu]

X2 same thing worked for me.

[Rondo]

We had a seminar at one of the Fall Rallies from Norcold and this seems to be a common problem popping up. We were told the same thing for repairing the error code on the frig. This is why I carry two magnets with me at all times now, just in case this should come up, I'll be prepared. The other problem is cold weather and the frig refuses to cool. If the temp is outside is lower than the temp set for the frig/freezer it will stop cooling. To solve that problem just put a small space heater in the frig compartment from the outside and AIM IT UP so the heat goes over the coils and tubing in the back of the frig and it will work again. DO NOT SET THE TEMP on the heater at high, just a low heat.

[Carl n Susan]

The OP L1 code has been a common problem for some. If you get water in the refer area when washing (or heavy rain) it will cause the problem. I am happy to hear you found the answer from a RV tech but had you done a Search here first you would have found the 10+ topics describing this problem and the cure much quicker.

[speedster100]

There is a small limit switch in behind the plastic cover by the red light that sticks, the magnet is enough to un-stick it and open the circuit again. If you don't have a magnet with you buy one you might need it sometime but in the interim you might be able to get the fridge going again buying pushing on the plastic cover as I did when it happened to me on a long weekend with stores closed where we were camped. Buy a magnet !

[rohrmann]

If you haven’t got the fridge working yet, contact Desert Mobile RV Repair. They are great, trained and certified in all phases of RV repair and will handle any warranty work too. *(702) 379-7966‬

[Dusters]

My 2016 Norcold 2118X would also shut down with a different code (ACrE). Everything would be fine in the morning and in the hot weather we turned on the ceiling Exhaust Vent in our forward kitchen to circulate the air while we were out. When we got back a couple hours later, the display window would be locked up and refer OFF. I disconnected all voltages in the exterior panel to the refer, along with AC/DC to the trailer and got it to come back up and work normally. This happened several times in the next part of the year and we were completely unaware that the Vent Fan was causing the problem. Our dealer redirected the fan voltage through some memo they have on this problem. We have had no such issue since the repair.

[jcurtis934]

Reset will work as long as the fridge is not truly overheating due to fans going bad or blockage in the tube system OR the sensor feeding the safety device opening up. Smelling ammonia, seeing yellow residue, extreme heat in the area of the outside panels says you are a moment away from losing the rv due to a fridge fire.

[Butch & Kathy]

Here are a couple of links, one for the 2118 manual with the error codes and a link to the ARP website. I installed an ARP and fans after hearing some horror stories about these refrigerators overheating.

http://www.thetford.com/wp-content/u..._201408221.pdf

https://www.arprv.com/purchase.php

[Montana Girl]

Originally Posted by Dusters

My 2016 Norcold 2118X would also shut down with a different code (ACrE). Everything would be fine in the morning and in the hot weather we turned on the ceiling Exhaust Vent in our forward kitchen to circulate the air while we were out. When we got back a couple hours later, the display window would be locked up and refer OFF. I disconnected all voltages in the exterior panel to the refer, along with AC/DC to the trailer and got it to come back up and work normally. This happened several times in the next part of the year and we were completely unaware that the Vent Fan was causing the problem. Our dealer redirected the fan voltage through some memo they have on this problem. We have had no such issue since the repair.

This information is very helpful. We are experiencing the same problem, easy to diagnose after reading your post. We haven't even taken our unit out yet, just testing brand new camper in the driveway. Now the problem is finding someone to do the repair. We live in MT and the authorized repair shops (90 miles away) are refusing to touch this issue. I am in contact with the dealer (3 hrs. away) and Keystone. Hoping someone will tackle this for us. Very disconcerting to purchase a brand new unit and have to deal with this. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Where did the "memo" you referred to originate?

[Dusters]

The Service manager stated the Exhaust Fan was incorrectly wired to the Norcold refrigerator and they knew of the problem and solution. Most dealerships/shops have access to internal bulletins, shop manuals and references to research. Sorry, not much more to offer from a year ago.

[Montana Girl]

Thank you so much. We'll share this bit with the service department tomorrow. Happy Camping!

[Butch & Kathy]

I drove through a heavy rainstorm last week. When we arrived at the campground we had the L1 OP error code. The only magnet we could locate was a cabinet door magnet but it worked. You have to hold it over the spot for several seconds for it to clear. Luckily I found this post and knew what to do!

[scottz]

Originally Posted by Butchy

I installed an ARP and fans after hearing some horror stories about these refrigerators overheating

It worries me too. I install an automatic fire extinguisher. Just purchased the ARP kit to install next week.

[DQDick]

We also have a fire extinguisher.

[lelambo1]

Originally Posted by Montana Girl

Thank you so much. We'll share this bit with the service department tomorrow. Happy Camping!

Let me know how they fixed the fan problem, we just figured it out this weekend that the fan was causing the problem.

[buspilot]

Trying to get ready for a trip and the Norcold refrigerator in our Montana started showing this code. However, the red LED is not illuminated on the box indicated. I tried the magnet thing anyway but with no success. I have not seen anything yet about the LED not being on with the code. Unit is less than 9 months old.