How To Repair Dometic Waeco 12V RV Fridge By Replacing Failed Broken Fan On Condenser

My 12V Dometic (Waeco) compressor fridge has been running almost continuously for 17 years. That's impressive considering the chest style 12V compressor fridges only seem to last about 5 years before the compressor dies. I try to keep the condenser coils clean from dust, but it's difficult to access more than the front of the fins. We leave it on all the time and use it as our second fridge when parked at home.

The 12V computer style fan that pulls are through the condenser has been making noise for a while now, probably due to a bad bearing. It's also not turning as fast as it should.

The original fan is a 100mm fan attached to a shroud that connects to the condenser frame. The mounting holes on the condenser frame match the 105mm spacing of the mounting holes for 120mm fans. When researching Dometic 12V fridges, most appear to use 120mm fans screwed straight to the condenser frame.

I wanted some fans that are quieter than the original. Noctua fans are known to be very quiet. I bought a push pull fan pair, the idea being that air can be forced through the condenser fins at slow speeds and will therefore be quite.

This is what the rear of the fridge looks like in the area where the control, compressor, and condenser is located. See the 100mm fan with adapter shroud.

Close-up of condenser and 12V fan with adapter shroud. The fan blades are quite dirty, and so is the backside and interior of condenser fins. The intake surface of the condenser coils are clean because I previously vacuumed them. Using compressed air to blow out the remaining dust after vacuuming is a good idea.