Norcold fridge finally stopped cooling in my 01 340

Steve500dancer

Steve500dancer

Member
Jul 13, 2009
868
Franklin Tennessee (Nashville area)
Boat Info
1996 500 sundancer
2001 340 sundancer sold
2001 270 Rinker sold
1996 240 sundancer sold
Engines
Twin 6v92 Detroit deisels
Well, big surprise...the Norcold took a crap this weekend. As soon as we finished installing the fans on the arch, another 800 watts of power to a pair of transom mounted speakers, volume control for the transom speakers at the helm, remote control for the stereo just off the swim platform and all custom made LED lights in the cabin and I had to open my big mouth and say we were done. The wife comes up from the cabin and tells me the fridge isn't getting cold at al.

How typical...the norcold de-441 decides it's done. Not like it really has worked great since we got the boat a couple of years back. Oh well I have a marine and RV appliance guy coming out tomorrow. I sure hope that he can fix it. I don't want to have to go through all the he'll of trying to get a new one through the cabin door, like I have read many posts about on here.

Didn't really think about replacing the fridge just yet considering that I had all the stereo stuff, LED lights and fans installed as I mentioned earlier in this post along with a Gel Coat restoration, full cockpit vinyl re dye, stainless all polished, pulleys on the gen replaced and all the other typical service stuff done.

Maybe this is just a fuse or something small....LOL...yea that is possible. I have a bad feeling I will be trying to take the door off cabin to get a new fridge in next weekend. Damn Sea Ray....nice design guys...a fridge that can't fit through the cabin door. Someone should have gotten a beating for that design. Genius...:smt021

Steve
 
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I have a 98 330 Sundancer, it is basically the same boat as yours (same refrigerator and same cabin door opening). I just finished replacing my refrigerator, I replaced the original 3.1 cubic ft Norcold, with a new Nova Cool 5.8 cubic ft. all stainless steel front (trim & door). The reason I went with this particular unit is that the front 2 1/2 inches comes off to get it through the cabin door and then we assembled once inside. The only modification to the cabinet opening is I had to cut 1/2 inch off of the top of the opening (using a jig saw and a fine blade). The cost with shipping was about $1250, this was not a bad project, just allot of measuring!
 
Don't loose heart just yet.

The unit is a dual volatage unit? 120 V with a 12 inverter strapped to the back?

Mine went out last season, same model. I bought a new compressor/condenser sealed unit, about $850, a new unit that will fit the hole was $1400++. It's a two man job and takes about 2.5 hours depending on the tear out and replacement.
 
My refrigerator went out last year. The guys that work on these things have removed them from 340s and would do it again. But they did not want to. You may not find a replacement that fits in the space so new trim would need to be fabricated, etc. We ordered the parts and rebuilt the refrigerator in the boat. It works great and looks great. Not cheap about $800.00 in parts. If you need the parts list I may still have it in the records.
 
My Norcold went out about 2-3 weeks ago. We installed a tap valve and recharged but the valve had a slow leak so I needed to go a different direction. I looked on Craisglist and found a guy that wrks in the marine HVAC field and he had 2 brand new cooling units for my model. I disassembled the fridge(in the cabin) and installed the new cooling unit. It took me about two hours and the best part was I got the unit for $220. We went out yesterday and it's working great. Check around and see what you can find.
 
We lost the cockpit fridge in ours this year. The best price I can find for a Norcold de0051 is around $1,200.00. Anyone know any other compatible manufacturers of dual marine fridges?
 
Bresco said:
We lost the cockpit fridge in ours this year. The best price I can find for a Norcold de0051 is around $1,200.00. Anyone know any other compatible manufacturers of dual marine fridges?
Click to expand...

If you need the cooling unit the guy I bought mine for had two. My Norcold was a DE0051 also. For $220 it was a good fix.
 
When I replace my de-441 Norcold a few years back I read so many bad things about them that I went with a Vitrifrigo 4.2 cu ft unit VIT-C1151AC. Bought the Flange Kit for it and shipping from NY to IL cost was:
Fridge $752.00
Flange $90.00
Shipping $190.00
Total $1032.00

Good fit and easy to install.
Works great, lots of room inside and quiet!
http://www.marinespecialists.com/

Dan
 
Just got the word, compressor is out and everything has to be replaced. Where is the best place to get the kit to rebuild the DE-441 (I think that is the model number) can they get them to a fellow fast? Anything else that I should Know?

Sure appreciate all the help with this.

Thanks
Steve
 
VinceR said:
My refrigerator went out last year. The guys that work on these things have removed them from 340s and would do it again. But they did not want to. You may not find a replacement that fits in the space so new trim would need to be fabricated, etc. We ordered the parts and rebuilt the refrigerator in the boat. It works great and looks great. Not cheap about $800.00 in parts. If you need the parts list I may still have it in the records.
Click to expand...

Parts list would be fantastic please and thank you

Steve
 
These are the part numbers, descriptions and prices from my invoice from Bluewater Marine in Foley, Alabama.
Their Phone Number is 251-943-4179. Talk to Tracy or Chris. I think the parts came from Norcold.

617855 COOLING UNIT SERVICE 1 EAC .00 492.48
160113911 POWER SUPPLY FOR SERVICE 1 EAC .00 275.00
 
Thanks for all your help guys. I found the cooling unit kit at RVcooling. They have a couple in stock. It was 590.00 plus 45.00 for shipping. The great thing is that they are in Memphis and I am in Nashville. I should have it by Wednesday.

The guy that looked at my unit today found me a great deal on one. So he said...1132.00 plus shipping and tax. Then he wanted between 3-4 hours at $80.00 per hour to install it. When I told him I found one for 590.00, he said he would install it this week for $300.00. After talking to the guy at RVcooling, It sounds pretty simple to replace the cooling unit. He says I should pay more the $150.00 to install it. He thinks I should do it myself and save the $150.00. Says it is simple if you have any mechanical skills at all. I think I will offer the repair guy $150.00 to install and if he isn't interested, I will do it myself. My only problem is I am getting my 57 pickup street rod ready for a big show this Friday.

Has anyone installed one of these cooling units before? Any tips or tricks or special tools I should bring with me that I wouldn't normally take with me? Is it really just a couple of hour job or should I plan on screwing with it for the entire day?

Sure appreciate all of the help. Great to know a guy has a support system like Club Sea Ray.

Thanks
Steve
 
I have a de 441 in my 340DA and it is still working just does not get very cold. I get a very small amount of ice build up on the cooling unit (inside ice box) next to where the cooling line is. Anyone have any ideas. Could it be the cooling unit or power supply not supplying enough power? Any insight would be appreciated.
 
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