Want to know the quickest way to troubleshoot a fridge? That is - by a hard reset. Discover how to reset Norcold RV refrigerator in 3 easy ways in this article.
Is your Norcold fridge not cooling properly?
You can easily reset a Norcold RV refrigerator either by pressing the power button, powering off the circuit breaker or simply using a magnet.
If you have never performed a reset before, don’t sweat it. We’re going to teach you how to reset Norcold RV refrigerator with step-by-step instructions in this article.
So, if you detect condensation on your food packages or notice moisture dripping from the upper surface, keep scrolling down to learn how to reset correctly before you spend money for repairing by a professional or replacing it with a new one.
Several Reasons Why Your Norcold Fridge Needs Reset
Trust us when we say this – a quick reset can solve most of the minor issues of your refrigerator and it only takes a few minutes. If you can fix the problems by yourself, why spend money on a repair service?
If you want to defrost your fridge and adjust the temp settings from scratch, there’s no better way to do it than a hard reset.
In this subsection of the article, we’re going to discuss a couple of common reasons for why your Norcold RV fridge is malfunctioning or going nuts. Reset your Norcold refrigerator for the following cases:
Propane or Electricity Problem: If the supplied power source is faulty, then your fridge compressor will not receive sufficient electricity to function smoothly and maintain a cold internal temperature.
Fridge Burner Failing Due to Higher Altitude: Higher altitude may cause your appliance burner to malfunction. The solution for this is simple. Just keep at a lower altitude.
Gas Leaking or Freon Leakage: There could be a leakage of freon or other gas inside the fridge. You’ll be able to detect that by sensing a strong pungent smell. You need to ensure proper air flow and ventilation to remove the smell. And the fixing process for this is sealing it. But going for a new cooling unit might be easier for you.
Faulty Compressor or Damaged Thermostat: If your compressor is making loud buzzing noises constantly or running non-stop, resetting might help. Moreover, if the thermostat is damaged, your fridge will have troubles maintaining a steady cold air flow throughout.
Dirty Condenser Coils, Motor Fan and Air Vents: Never tried cleaning the back unit? That’s pretty bad. The condenser coils, evaporator coils, fan blades and everything else could be infested with cockroaches, germs and blocked by dirt and debris. Make sure they are cleaned once every 3 months at least.
How To Reset Norcold RV Refrigerator in Minutes?
If you suspect that your fridge has any of the issues outlined in the list above, don’t hesitate to go for a reset. The easiest and simplest way of performing a soft reset would be to use the Norcold RV Refrigerator Reset Button. Generally, the majority of RV fridge manufacturers do design an exclusive reset button on the fridge with the help of which users can directly reset the fridge by a single press of fingers.
Using a power button like that allows the fridge to shut everything and restart to remove any errors or problems. It should stay off for about 10 to 15 minutes at least in order to make the reset process work.
Now you may ask, where is the reset button on a Norcold RV refrigerator? Honestly there isn’t any reset button in particular. The power button will do the same job instead.
norcold rv refrigerator Reset guide
Before you get to the reset button, there’s other important business that needs to be taken care of:
Empty Fridge
Well done! You’ve successfully reset your Norcold RV fridge.
Find Control Board
After you’ve emptied out your fridge, locate the control panel. On your RV fridge model, it should be somewhere between the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment.
Locate Reset Button
Next, locate the “Power ON/OFF” button on the control panel. You may also take help from the User Manual in this case.
Press Button
Press and hold the power button for about five seconds. You’ll notice the interior lights will go off and your refrigerator will shut down immediately.
Take a Break
Wait for at least 10 to 15 minutes for your fridge to settle down and forget all the saved data, such as the previously-adjusted temp settings.
Power On
Next, press and hold the “Power ON/OFF” button again to turn the refrigerator back on.
Can You Reset Norcold RV Refrigerator Using a Magnet?
Yes, it is possible to reset with a magnet. If your fridge LED display is showing error codes for high temp limit switch, you can opt for this reset method. Or if the power button is damaged and your fridge won’t turn off no matter how hard you press the button, don’t be frustrated and use a magnet instead.
You don’t need any fancy kinds of magnets for this. You will be able to buy one/two magnets for less than $5 in the local shops. Once you’ve arranged a magnet, go ahead and follow these instructions below:
Step 1: Go outside of your RV, and find the refrigerator compartment. No need to turn off the refrigerator in this case.
Step 2: Look for a recall kit box. If you can’t access the kit box properly, gently pull it out.
Step 3: You need to find the red LED light on it. The red light should be lit, if it is blinking or not flashing at all, then this method will not work.
Step 4: See those three clips that are holding the cover of the box in place? Yeah, you need to lift the box cover by removing the clips. Use a flat-blade screwdriver to help you out.
Step 5: Afterwards, look for a reed switch. It’s a tiny rectangular switch in black color. It’s about 1⁄8” wide and ½” long. Its likely location should be on the circuit board. (Just above the LED light)
Step 6: Hold the magnet close to the reed switch for at least 5 seconds or until you hear a clicking sound. Do not keep moving the magnet around – make sure your hands are not shaky. The magnet has to be held still at the correct spot for things to work out.
Step 7: Wait for about 15 to 20 minutes to ensure that the refrigerator will continue to work properly. During this time, do not make any adjustments to the fridge or touch anywhere on the circuit board.
Step 8: Once you are positive that the refrigerator is working properly, go outside the RV, put the cover of the box back and screw it in place with the clips. Put everything back to their original places.
Now, observe your fridge for the next 24-48 hours – is it finally cooling properly? No moisture seen? Error Codes stopped coming? If none of the problems have resolved, perhaps you should go for a hard reset – which is, by resetting the circuit board.
How to Reset Circuit Board of Norcold RV Fridge?
Good question. You will know the right time to reset the circuit board of a Norcold refrigerator is when it suddenly starts to display error codes such as “no co”. This “no co” error message will pop up when and if your appliance hasn’t been able to produce any refrigerant for the past 2 hours or more.
Why is your appliance failing to produce refrigerant, you ask? Perhaps, your fridge’s boiler is overheating or your fridge compressor has been running nonstop without taking breaks.
Mind you, it will cause serious damage to your fridge and as such should be handled right away without further delay. The first measure you can take is to simply reset the refrigerator. If the error codes keep on coming then you should attempt resetting the circuit board. Want to get rid of the annoying error codes that won’t just leave you alone? Simply follow these instructions:
Step 1: Press and hold the Power ON/OFF button from the control panel board to switch off your refrigerator. Also, don’t forget to unplug the power cord from its electric outlet.
Step 2: Gently pull out the fridge so you can have easy and secured access to its back unit.
Step 3: You will notice that there are lots of wires connected to the power board such as the 12vdc negative and positive wires, gas valve solenoid wires, AC power cords and spark electrode wires. You need to disconnect them all one after another.
(P.S – You need to be extremely careful when disconnecting these wires. Don’t you pull the wire rather hold the plug firmly and then pull the wire out.)
Step 4: Now, use a sharp Phillip head screwdriver to unwind the screws from all the four corners of the power board
Step 5: Once done, it will be time to connect the refrigerator back to its designated power source and switch it back on by pressing the power button.
Step 6: Now, look for an empty socket labeled “PIN 15” at the back of the power board. It will be right next to PIN 14. Could also be located right next to the white or purple wire.
Step 7: Make sure your electrical jumper wire has a 1/8 inch exposed core.
Step 8: Connect one edge of the jumper wire to PIN 15 and the other edge of the wire to a bolt on the power board.
Step 9: Hold it that way for about 10 seconds or until you hear a clicking sound – then you can take out the jumper wire.
Step 10: Now, unplug the wires at the back of the power board again in the same order as you initially did.
Step 11: Reconnect the wires back to the power board in reverse order and then screw the cover of the power board back on.
Step 12: We have reached the final step at last. All you need to do is connect the appliance back to its power source and then turn it on.
Congratulations! For making it through all the tedious steps and successfully resetting your refrigerator!
Things To Bear In Mind After Resetting Your Norcold Fridge
Your fridge should not be laid down on its side before or after a reset.
Don’t forget to adjust the temperature. Choose the default setting which is 4. Or set the temperature manually – 4°C for your fridge compartments and 0°C for the freezer.
Wait for at least 24 hours after making changes to the temperature settings so that your fridge can get to the optimum cold temperature before you can put your foods back in. Your fridge should not have anything inside during this stage.
After resetting, when your fridge is taking a power nap, do a quick clean up of the air vents and all over the back unit area. You may use a vacuum cleaner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is There a Reset Button on My Norcold RV refrigerator?
If you need to reset a Norcold refrigerator, simply flick off the power button and pull out the power cord. The power button can be considered as the reset button since there isn’t an additional one.
Why is My Norcold RV Refrigerator Not Getting Cold?
Make sure the fridge thermostat is turned on and the temperature settings are correct (for fridge section it should be over 40 degrees Fahrenheit and for the freezer section, the temperature should be 0 degree Celsius or lower.) Clean the condenser coils and the air vents in case if they are dirty. You can also press and hold the reset button on your Norcold for a soft reset.
What Are The Signs That My Norcold Refrigerator Needs a Reset?
Open the fridge door and feel the internal temperature – is it warmer than usual? You may also notice excess moisture inside your fridge and a high build up of ice in the freezer section. You could also hear buzzing/humming noises coming from the fridge compressor. Your foods may start getting moldy or expired way earlier than expected and also if your fridge smells like dead animal all the time.
Final Thoughts
Resetting a Norcold RV fridge has never been so easy without our step-by-step guide! If your fridge continues to display error codes and refuses to cool properly even after a successful reset, you should not wait around for any miracles but rather hire a professional repairman to perform an extensive diagnosis and then troubleshoot accordingly.
Author
Grace R. Rose
Meet Grace, our Refrigerator expert. Her industry knowledge and passion make her a reliable source for refrigerator advice. She stays informed on current trends and shares her expertise through articles and product reviews. Grace focuses on helping people find their ideal refrigerator, no matter their living situation. She prides herself on providing honest, unbiased reviews to guide consumer purchases.
