I need help with my Norcold 412.3 refrigerator please.

[Copycat Carlton]

My Oliver is a 2019 Elite ll. I have tried to get my fridge repaired at the Oliver service center in Hohenwald. They said that they couldn’t get parts for it and quoted me 4800.00 dollars to replace it with a 12 volt compressor model. I thought that was a very high price so I am reaching out to you good people on the forum. Have any of you had this issue? Thank you.

Edited July 15 by Copycat Carlton

[John Dorrer]

Admin. can you move this post to General Discussion.

 

[Steph and Dud B]

What's wrong with the Norcold?

[Copycat Carlton]

It will not work in any mode. I have changed the main board and the optical control board. I have found it difficult to find much information on this particular model. 

[Galway Girl]

Here’s the service manual.

 

626800B_SM_N41,N500,N51.indd.pdf626800B_SM_N41,N500,N51.indd.pdf

[theOrca]

Did they tell you the brand and model number of the replacement?  My Norcold is now at an RV dealer to see if the fridge can be repaired. I know that there is a good Nova Kool compressor fridge that will fit, but would like to know of any other options. Absorption fridges are the gerbils of the RV equipment world...

[Copycat Carlton]

On 7/14/2025 at 10:55 PM, Galway Girl said:

Here’s the service manual.

 

626800B_SM_N41,N500,N51.indd.pdf626800B_SM_N41,N500,N51.indd.pdf 2.78 MB · 2 downloads

Thank you for the information I actually have a copy of this but I wasn’t able to pin down my problem by using it. 

Edited July 16 by Copycat Carlton

[Copycat Carlton]

1 hour ago, theOrca said:

Did they tell you the brand and model number of the replacement?  My Norcold is now at an RV dealer to see if the fridge can be repaired. I know that there is a good Nova Kool compressor fridge that will fit, but would like to know of any other options. Absorption fridges are the gerbils of the RV equipment world...

 

1 hour ago, theOrca said:

Did they tell you the brand and model number of the replacement?  My Norcold is now at an RV dealer to see if the fridge can be repaired. I know that there is a good Nova Kool compressor fridge that will fit, but would like to know of any other options. Absorption fridges are the gerbils of the RV equipment world...

They did not tell me the model number just that it was a Dometic brand 12 volt compressor unit that is currently being installed in the 2025 models. I think he said that Oliver had changed to the Dometic because of a large jump in the price of the previous brand that they had been installing in the 2025 models. I think he said that they had installed the Dometic in about 5 or 6 2025 models. I have been looking at the Isotherm 130. It is made in a stainless and a black door version.

 

 

[Snackchaser]

19 hours ago, Copycat Carlton said:

I thought that was a very high price so I am reaching out to you good people on the forum. Have any of you had this issue? Thank you.

You didn’t provide much detail on the symptoms or what all has been checked, but I looked at the manual that @Galway Girl  provided and there are very thorough trouble shooting guides, test procedures, fault codes, and schematics.  Even three internal fuses.

I think the big RV outfits are more likely to recommend replacement than repair.   So, not knowing what your comfort level is for electrical troubleshooting, I think you could find some old school appliance repair guy in your area that could probably figure out what’s wrong and fix it.  You already replaced the boards, so it's likely some other electrical component.   

Although parts are scarce in the US, they seem to be more abundant in Australia.  Also, besides the boards that you already replaced, many electrical parts are off-the-shelf and can be substituted.  For $4800, I’d be using the manual and a multimeter to run all the tests, or at least paying someone else to do it.

Wish you luck!  Geoff

Edited July 15 by Snackchaser
clairification

[Copycat Carlton]

6 hours ago, Snackchaser said:

You didn’t provide much detail on the symptoms or what all has been checked, but I looked at the manual that @Galway Girl  provided and there are very thorough trouble shooting guides, test procedures, fault codes, and schematics.  Even three internal fuses.

I think the big RV outfits are more likely to recommend replacement than repair.   So, not knowing what your comfort level is for electrical troubleshooting, I think you could find some old school appliance repair guy in your area that could probably figure out what’s wrong and fix it.  You already replaced the boards, so it's likely some other electrical component.   

Although parts are scarce in the US, they seem to be more abundant in Australia.  Also, besides the boards that you already replaced, many electrical parts are off-the-shelf and can be substituted.  For $4800, I’d be using the manual and a multimeter to run all the tests, or at least paying someone else to do it.

Wish you luck!  Geoff

Thank you for your input. 

[Copycat Carlton]

On 7/14/2025 at 10:55 PM, Galway Girl said:

Here’s the service manual.

 

626800B_SM_N41,N500,N51.indd.pdf626800B_SM_N41,N500,N51.indd.pdf 2.78 MB · 4 downloads

 

[SeaDawg]

Norcold was bought out by Dometic a number of years ago, so parts may indeed be an issue.

What problem do you have with the current norcold? 

We swapped our original 2008 norcold for a dometic. Then, we swapped the dometic for a 13v danfoss/secop TF130, truckfridge, years ago, when the dometic failed. The truckfridge was half the price of the marine brands, because it doesn't require coast guard certs. So, galvanized instead of stainless, in some spots. Black front only. No swapping swing on the door. Otherwise, exactly the same as the much higher priced marine cert model, and hey, the land yacht doesn't (actually) float.

It has worked great for us.

Compressor Refrigerators in 2016 Oliver LEII - Ollie Modifications - Oliver Owner Forums https://share.google/jDmOB9WE4rTDU9GFp

 

Edited July 16 by SeaDawg
Add link

[Copycat Carlton]

After trying to get our Norcold 3 way refrigerator repaired and having Oliver service center look at it twice. The service center quoted us a price of $4800.00 to replace the Norcold with a Dometic 12 volt compressor unit. I decided to try to repair it myself. The power board is easy to change it is the one accessible from the out side lower panel. That didn’t fix it. So I changed the optical display board next part number 628663. This board is located behind the front panel of the refrigerator. This board didn’t fix it either. Next I replaced the front button control panel part number 630619. The fridge is working properly now. I purchased these items on eBay. The removal of the front panel was the most difficult of this process. Message me if you would like an explanation of how to remove the front panel.

[Snackchaser]

Good on you for your perseverance and skill at  getting the Norcold fixed!  Thanks for providing part numbers and giving hope that problems with these, now obsolete, refrigerators can still be repaired.  

I think it would be great if you explained how to remove the front panel right here on the forum.  I'm sure others would benefit . .  if not now, then later.

Congrats!  Geoff