We hace a F & P upside down unit model n500b approx 10yrs old. The fridge section works fine but the freezer takes a long time to freeze (1 to 2 days), any ideas as to a simple fix or would a replacement be a better option?

Gas problem not worth reparing if this is the case.

It sounds like one or more of your cooling tubes is blocked. Either you have a ice or frost buildup on your freezer side or something else is blocking it.

I would suggest you take a look behind the panel in your freezer and use a hair dryer or heat gun to blow warm air down the cooling tubes.

Can anyone tell me what year N500B was made?
Nick

Hi

Check the back wall or floor of the freezer section for frost. Check the freezer or evaporator fan to see if it is running. Check the condenser coils under the unit for blockage from dust. Check the condenser fan to see if it is running.
If you have frost in the freezer there is a problem with the defrost system and the freezer will start to warm eventually as well as the fresh food section. If that is the problem you can check the defrost terminator, defrost heater/s, and the defrost timer or adaptive defrost control If used on your unit or the main control board if so equipped. These things usually require dismantling the freezer and other areas of the refrigerator to be checked.
You could defrost the freezer by disconnecting the power to the refrigerator and letting it sit for at least 24 hours with the doors open to allow the frost to melt completely but it will build up again in 1-2 weeks and start the warming up again.

Also check the bellow link:-

http://www.repairclinic.com/Refrigerator-Troubleshooting?red=Refrigerator-Repair-Help#itsnotcool

Please get back to us if you have further query else please accept the suggestion.

Thank you for contacting fixya.com

the freezer takes first priority for cooling,then the fridge,the unit will take about 24 hours to reach optimum cooling even with the fast freeze button on.we used to have unit in garage with power on to unit permanently.using a power breaker in case of shorts etc......(f/f are supposed to be on permanently)

Either the freezer continues to freeze up (most likely due to low refrigerant, due to a leak), or there is an obstruction between the freezer and the refrigerator (refrigerators get their cooling from the freezer).

Given that it works after you defrost it, I'm going with low gas. Call a professional to see if the leak can be fixed. If the unit is more than 10 years old, just get a new one.

I'll assume you don't have much food/items in the freezer section. Because you have the fridge set on the max cooling setting and the freezer set higher than the mid setting, it could be that you have frozen the cold air passage from the freezer to the fridge.

If you can, 1) remove all contents that would spoil; 2) turn off the fridge 3) open both doors and allow the fridge to manually thaw out completely (this will speed up the opening of the cold air exchange passage between the freezer and fridge, which is likely blocked and frozen solid. Have plenty of towels handy to soak up the water from the defrosting process,

After a FULL day of being left off and doors open to thaw out, check for any further thawing and dripping water inside, if present wait another 8 hours (you really want to get it thawed out the first time!) When that's done, reset BOTH temperature controls to the factory mid-point setting (5?) as marked on your control knobs.

The key to having a refridgerator run properly is to allow for it to run at the factory settings for at least 24 hours BEFORE you adjust the controls higher and/or lower for each section. Adjust it up or down in ONLY 1 setting increments so as to not cause ice build-up and freezing of the internal air exchange passages.

Also, as you've relegated this fridge as a garage "beer & backup" unit, make sure to keep the freezer as full as possible to make it run as efficiently as possible. You can freeze jugs of water and pack it with cheap thrift store bread to help it run correctly. An empty freezer has to work harder to keep just air at freezing temps. As such, it will pass much colder air into the fridge, and cause these types of freeze ups. By the way, turning up the temp controls only makes it worse and just results in a total "freeze up" inside the cabinet panels that you can't easily see or get at to rectify, hence the reason to shut it off and let it fully defrost.

When you're done, you should have your fridge back in action working like it should, but remember, don't rush temperature adjustments, even thou we all want those frosty beverages, it'll take a couple of days to achieve the desired "chill" you're likely used to getting when it was your primary fridge.

Hope this helps and Best Regards! Semper Fi!

Dont tip it upside down. if the freezer is working good then that says the cooling unit is working.if you look inside the lower section(the fridge) at the back wall inside. you should see a white wire clipped into the silver fins. move that white wire down about 3 or 4 fins to the left.this should help.

cooling unit is bad my friend there is a temporary fix but in my opinion not worth your time take the unit out and flip the refer upside down this sometimes dislodges the blockage in the cooling unit all a rv fridge is is amonia and salt if not used all the time the salt crystalizes in the orfice and blocks the unit a rebult cooling unit 550 about and labor 4 hours at your dealers rate a new fridge about 1500 installed
my shop 360 for labor 550 about for unit 910
I ALLWAYS RECOMEND REPLACING THE FRIDE COMPLETLTY
you get all new electronics and a new box