Alarms and fault codes
An alarm on the controller tells you something has gone wrong, but not always what. I read the alarms and fault history, test the unit and find the actual cause before replacing anything.
Refrigerated shipping containersARC AU 30896
Reefer container repairs in Melbourne
I repair and service refrigerated (reefer) containers on site, at container yards, depots, farms and food businesses across Melbourne and Victoria. All major brands, 24/7, backed by 10 years working on reefers.
Reefer containers
I come to the container
A reefer that stops holding temperature puts everything inside it at risk, whether it’s stock in a yard waiting to move, produce on a farm or a container used as extra cold storage behind a warehouse. I come to wherever the container is and repair it on site.
I’ve been working on reefers for 10 years, on Carrier Transicold, Thermo King, Daikin and Star Cool units and all the major controllers. Most calls are alarms and faults, refrigerant leaks, compressor and fan problems, and electrical faults in the unit, the power plug or the cable.
Ring me first. Tell me the brand, the set point, the temperature it’s reading and any alarm code on the controller, and I’ll tell you when I can be there.
Brands and equipment
What I work on
01Carrier Transicold
02Thermo King
03Daikin
04Star Cool
05All major reefer controllers
06Compressors & fans
07Power plugs & cables
08Truck & trailer fridge units
Reefer repairs
What I fix
The faults I’m called out for most often.
Controller faults
Blank or frozen displays, wrong readings, sensor faults and settings that won’t hold. I work on the controllers fitted to all the major reefer brands.
Refrigerant leaks
A unit that runs but can’t pull down is often low on refrigerant. I find the leak and repair it properly, rather than just topping it up.
Why reefers lose temperatureCompressor faults
Compressors that won’t start, keep tripping, run noisy or run without cooling. I find out whether it’s the compressor itself or something feeding it.
Fan faults
Failed evaporator or condenser fan motors and blades. Without airflow the unit can’t hold temperature, even when everything else is working.
Electrical, plug and cable repairs
Damaged power plugs and cables, a tripping supply, contactors, wiring and other electrical faults in the unit.
On site
Reefers I’ve worked on
Photos from site visits. Container numbers, owners’ details and customers’ signs are blurred.
Gauges, a recovery machine and a cylinder set up beside a reefer behind a food business.
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Gauges on and the cylinder on a scale, so the unit gets the right charge after a repair.
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Digital gauges on the service valves of a Carrier Thinline unit.
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Reading the return air temperature on a Daikin unit.
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The evaporator inside the container, with its two fan motors. Fan and coil faults show up as weak airflow and warm spots.
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A row of reefers holding stock inside a food business’s warehouse.
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A 40-foot reefer plugged in outside a warehouse.
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Gauges and hoses set up beside a Carrier unit inside a warehouse.
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Reefers stored indoors still need clear air around the condenser to hold temperature.
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Servicing and maintenance
Regular servicing catches problems before a container fails with stock inside it. I clean the condenser coil, check the fans, the electrics, the power plug and cable, look for refrigerant leaks and make sure the unit holds temperature.
If you look after several containers, I can service them on a regular schedule. Ring me to talk about what you need.
How a job goes
From your call to the fix
- 01Tell me the brand, set point, temperature and any alarm code
- 02I come to the container on site
- 03I find the fault and tell you the cost
- 04I repair it and check it holds temperature
01Do you come to the container?+
Yes. I repair reefers on site, at container yards, depots, farms and food businesses. Tell me where the container is and how to get to it, and I’ll tell you when I can be there.
02Which reefer brands do you work on?+
Carrier Transicold, Thermo King, Daikin and Star Cool, and the controllers fitted to all the major brands.
03Can you come out at night or on the weekend?+
Yes. Reefer callouts are 24/7, the same as the rest of my work. Ring me and I’ll give you an honest time.
04What should I do while I wait?+
Keep the doors shut, note the set point, the temperature and any alarm code, and follow your own procedures for the stock. Check the container is plugged in and the power is on, but don’t open the control box or touch a damaged plug or cable.
05Do you also fix refrigerated trucks and trailers?+
Yes. I repair truck and trailer fridge units too, including Thermo King and Carrier Transicold.
Call James
Something stopped cooling?
Day or night, 7 days a week, anywhere in Victoria.
Call now0413 750 483 Available 24 hours · 7 days a weekWritten by James, refrigeration technician · Updated 2026-11-04