13th Oct 2026
Dometic Americana Freezing Food in the Fridge Section: Troubleshooting Flowchart
FRESH FOOD FREEZING
Dometic Americana Freezing Food in the Fridge Section
Milk and produce are freezing in the fresh food section. The fridge is cooling nonstop because something tells it to: the temperature setting, a thermistor that’s unplugged, failed or out of place, or a lower board that won’t shut the heat off.
Dometic Americana & Americana Plus · RM2351 through RM2862
Fits these models
Different model? These steps are for the models above, from Dometic’s service manual for them. For any other Dometic fridge, ask a tech before you test or order parts.
Before you start
- How it controls temperature. A thermistor clipped to the fins inside the fridge tells the lower board the temperature. When it’s cold enough, the board shuts off the AC heater or the burner.
- Limp mode. If the board can’t read the thermistor, it runs the cooling unit nonstop so your food stays cold. That keeps going until the thermistor is fixed, and it can freeze things.
- Two kinds of controls. The RM2351, RM2451, RM2551, RM2652 and RM2852 have a factory-set temperature. The RM2354, RM2454, RM2554, RM2662, RM2663 and RM2862 have a temperature button with lights.
- You’ll need a multimeter set to ohms and AC volts, and a glass of ice water.
PART A · SETTINGS
Make sure it’s not just set too cold.
STEP 1
Check the temperature setting
On models with a temperature selector button, press it until a warmer light is on. Factory-set models have no setting to change, so go to Step 2.
Was it on the coldest setting?
Set it warmer and wait
Pick a middle setting and check the temperature again after 24 hours.
PART B · THERMISTOR
Is the board getting a good temperature reading?
STEP 2
Check the thermistor connection
Make sure the thermistor is plugged into P2 on the lower board, and that it’s clipped onto the fins inside the fridge, not hanging loose. Check the wire for damage, especially where it passes through the cabinet.
Is it unplugged, loose, damaged or off the fins?
Reconnect it
Plug it in firmly and clip it back onto the fins. Turn the fridge off and back on to reset it. An unplugged or broken thermistor puts the board in limp mode, which runs the cooling unit nonstop.
STEP 3
Test the thermistor
Unplug it from P2. Put it in a glass of ice water (more ice than water, about 33–35°F) for 8 to 10 minutes. Measure ohms across the two wires from the wire side.
Is it about 8,000 to 10,000 ohms?
Replace the thermistor
A failed or out-of-range thermistor can keep the fridge running nonstop. Replace it with the Thermistor 3851210025 or the Thermistor Kit 38510590422, which includes the plug and holder.
PART C · LOWER CIRCUIT BOARD
The thermistor is good. Does the board shut the heat off?
STEP 4
Test the board’s shut-off
Plug the thermistor back into P2 and leave its tip in the ice water so the board sees cold. Run the fridge on AC and wait a few minutes, then measure AC volts at J7 and J8, the heater connections.
Is there still 120 volts at J7 and J8?
Replace the lower circuit board
The board is getting a cold reading but won’t shut the heater off. Replace the lower board. Match the part number on your old board’s label.
Dometic Hercules Board 3316348.900 →OEM board with built-in reigniter. Replaces 3850712013. 
Dinosaur 3850712.01 Board →Aftermarket replacement for 3850712-xxx boards. 
Dinosaur 3850415.01 Board →Replaces 3850415 boards only.The controls are working
The board shuts the heat off when the thermistor reads cold. Clip the thermistor back on the fins and make sure food isn’t packed against the fins or the back wall, where it’s coldest. If it still freezes, ask a tech with your model and readings.
Still stuck? ask a tech with your model, product number and the readings you got. We’ll confirm the part before you order.
Covers the Dometic Americana and Americana Plus: RM2351, RM2354, RM2451, RM2454, RM2551, RM2554, RM2652, RM2662, RM2663, RM2852 and RM2862. Based on the Dometic RM2xxx service manual, Diagnostic Flow Chart, Symptom 8: Freezes.