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Old 06-08-2017, 10:38 PM   #1
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Failed freezer door latch on RMD8555

Tonight I tried to open my freezer door and couldn't. Finally I was able to pry up the door enough to pop it open, and discovered that the latch "hook" doesn't respond to pressing the switch, up in the case of the freezer. I made a temporary fix by putting the latch in the "parked" position, but I don't want to leave it like that when traveling. Has anyone had this experience and found a solution?

Pardon me if this has already been discussed, but there are so many fridge threads that I gave up after a cursory search and decided to start yet another one.
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Old 06-09-2017, 01:50 AM   #2
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We've had the fridge one "stick" once Mike, but I just pushed it up and down a few times and it popped back into normal position. I don't think the latches are of the highest quality, and the 8 series focuses more on minimalist design than robust function. The latches on the Americana fridges they're putting in the 2017 models appear to be more stout.

Other than strapping the door between some small surface mounted buckles, I can't really think of a fix besides repairing the door.

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Old 06-09-2017, 10:30 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rbryan4 View Post
"focuses more on minimalist design than robust function."
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Time to let that subscription to Architectural Digest expire, Robert.

But thanks for the info. I'll strap the door down while traveling until I can get it repaired.
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Old 06-09-2017, 10:49 AM   #4
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Time to let that subscription to Architectural Digest expire, Robert.

But thanks for the info. I'll strap the door down while traveling until I can get it repaired.
[emoji1] [emoji1] [emoji1]

I'm not a subscriber, but thanks for the laugh.

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Old 09-24-2017, 05:35 PM   #5
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Mike, did you get a fix on this?

Mine is starting to act up now too.
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Old 09-24-2017, 07:39 PM   #6
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I experienced the same condition twice over the past summer. The first time, I finally got the door to open and after keeping it open for a while, I noticed a couple drops of water dripping from the bottom of the latch, and the mechanism started to move freely. The second time, I also saw a couple of drops of water after working the plunger a few times. It is my theory that condensation inside the freezer's door froze the rod which actuates the latching mechanism. The next time it happens and the button will not depress adequately to open the door, I am going to heat the outside of the door with a hair dryer to see if it cures the problem. If it does, I think it will validate my theory that the problem is that the internal plunger rod is icing up.
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Old 09-24-2017, 09:01 PM   #7
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I haven't fixed it yet. In fact, since my posting I have broken the entire fridge, so the latch is the least of my worries. I'll have the fridge, including the latch, repaired when I'm home.
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Old 09-24-2017, 09:02 PM   #8
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Thinking you might be on to something there Carl. I put the fridge to two bars (from 4) all afternoon and she (the freezer) is opening easy as can be now.
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Old 09-24-2017, 09:09 PM   #9
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Since my fridge and freezer have been at room temperature for weeks, I just tried the freezer door again. I pushed the latch up manually then shut the door. It is now stuck shut.
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Old 09-03-2018, 08:27 PM   #10
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Here's an update-- Camping World repaired my freezer door last winter when they replaced the bad circuit board in the fridge. But I don't know what they did to fix the door.

This is relevant because it's stuck again. When I arrived at my destination today the door wouldn't open. I'm pretty sure I opened the freezer door without difficulty yesterday. This is the first time in ten days that I've had electrical hookups, so I guess the freezer sensed this and decided that I'm not going to eat any of my frozen stuff after all.

Has anyone had this problem and resolved it? I guess I need to take the door off at the hinge.
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Old 09-03-2018, 10:20 PM   #11
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I would tap it with a rubber hammer first. If that didn't work would then grab a bigger one
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Old 09-06-2018, 09:59 AM   #12
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Success!

I was able to use a thin metal strip, decking fastener I think, obtained from a hardware store to slide up the door gap and pop the freezer door loose. I don't think I actually reached the latch as it is recessed; I think I knocked loose a thin layer of ice that had held the door shut.

The latch mechanism is broken; it doesn't respond to pressing the door "button" upward. But the door will stay shut via its magnetic strip. So I locked the latch into its "up" position and will rely on the magnetic strip to keep the door shut when camping. I'll secure it with a bungee when traveling. What a relief!
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