Norcold 2118SST 4 door refrigerator cooling issue solved

[BandBmalin]

My 2018 3820FK has a Norcold 2118SST 4-door refrigertor that has never really done all that well keeping things cold. While camping over the last few weeks, it seemed like it was getting worse with meat going bad and other items spoiling with just a 3-day camping trip. I finally put a thermometer in the refrigerator section and the temp never dropped below 52 degrees!! I watched Youtube videos galore and researched high and low as to what it could be and I tested and tried so many things - thermistor, adding fans inside, opening outside and adding fans, checking to see if existing external fans were working, setting the temp setting at 5 (some said at 9, it doesn't work as well)... - and finally I found the problem: The "flap" on the left side door is supposed to flip out so it is PARALLEL with the refrigerator in order for the right side door to seal. Mine was only flipping out about 45 degrees and not making it all the way to where it would seal.

The "flap" rubs on the bottom of the refrigerator inside preventing it from flipping all of the way to the proper position. I took the door off and added 2 washers underneath and put the door back on. Now it flips forward most of the time so I will continue to mess with it and try to figure out the optimal adjustment (maybe needs only 1 washer?) so that the "flap" always goes to the right position when the left door is closed.

In case you're curious - just closing the flap manually, the refrigerator temp dropped to 41 degrees on setting #5 with the AC inside the FW set at 85 and the outside Florida temp being around 90 (and of course REALLY humid). I set the temp to setting #6 and my battery fan inside also started working again and the temp was 38 this morning! (I have 2 refrigerator thermometers arriving today that also record high and low temps in addition to current temp so I can continue to learn more about the best way to fine tune this appliance.)

Such a simple solution and since the "flap" was closing part way, I never even thought to verify it would go further. Even putting my hand around the outside edges of the refrigerator, I never felt cold air escaping.

VERY GLAD we don't have to replace a 2 year old refrigerator now!!!!! Phew!!!!

[Montana Man]

Good job figuring that out! You can add to its efficiency by adding fans outside to move more air for cooling. Another trick is to put bright lights inside the fridge, close the doors, and look for light escaping through the door seals. We have the same unit and had to go through what you did. Once dialed in they work great.

[BandBmalin]

Montana Man, have you been able to get "hard" ice cream in your freezer once you dialed it in? That is the one thing I would REALLY like to be able to have - in addition to my food not spoiling in the refrigerator.

[Montana Man]

We rarely have ice cream but I know that is goal for an rv freezer. We usually run about 10-13 degrees. If we set it colder the fridge becomes a freezer.

[TWC84]

I think that this issue has been discussed before here on the forum. You might search the forum to get additional details on what's been done to fix the sticking flap. I believe the washer fix was the answer then too.

[Dtingle]

I was having the same issue with the left hand door flap not closing properly. After adding a single washer to the left hand bottom door post both the door and flap with now close properly. Hopefully you will get yours dialed in without anymore problems.

[BandBmalin]

Dtingle, you called it! 1 washer and the flap closes EVERY time! Soooo relieved!