Hello, Welcome to FixYa. I can't seem to access any previous post dialog that may have taken place but I'd like to help if you can fill me in on whats taken place to this point. I'll wait for you reply to see whats been done or suggested and checked to this point. Regards, Macmarkus :)
Hello again,
Thank you for the reply. The place I'd start is to confirm the compressor is A) getting 120vac and B)operating...not just the fan beside it (condensor fan).
If you have a multi-meter try this...Also, I don`t know the age of your fridge, but I should mention...
** Most of the manufacturers of fridges have 5 to 10 years sealed system warranty which would include the compressor but not the electrical starting devices i.e., the overload & relay. Check your owners manual, it is the ultimate authority on warranty no matter what anyone else tells you according to.**
If you have a multi- meter you can check the compressor to see if the windings are ok.
**First, Unplug the fridge**
Remove the panel at the back down at the bottom. This should gain you access to the compressor.
On the side of the compressor will be the start relay/overload assembly such as this image...it may be enclosed in a black plastic cover as well.
Pull off the relay & overload and you'll see 3 pins in the form of a triangle...
With a meter measure between any 2 pins at one time, going between each pin with one remaining on a "common" pin.
You'll want 3 measurement's, similar to this example- 6ohms, 3ohms, and 9ohms.
On some meters you may simply get a reading of "0" ohms, as long as the needle moves off of "infinity" which would indicate an "open" winding=not good !
If following that, the readings are good, purchase a hard start kit. Part # HS410 also known as a 3in1 starter kit.
i.e.
The above package contains info and hardware on how to connect it.
NOTE : the HS410 ( 3 in 1 ) should be considered just a temporary "fix" as opposed to an actual "repair" in should not be relied on for long term reliability or safety, but rather thefactory replacemnet, double check with your model number.
Let me know if the compressor is indeed operating and I'll continue to help in any manner I can. Good luck
Regards,
Macmarkus :)
Hello Dave,
I'll address the first concern off the top. It is normal for the compressor to get quite hot upon start-up, especially on a warm system...the hotter the ambient temperature and the cabinet temp. the hotter the compressor will be since it has to work that much more.
The second issue of the unit no apparently operating as normal, I would certainly keep a close watch on it. The scenario you described initially can be the result of several factors.
1) dirty condensor or stalled fan motor. A good solution to a dirty condensor is blowing compressed air through the coils...although it can be messy unless the unit is wheeled outside, or secondly, vacuuming out the condensor...not as efficient but better than nothing.
2) poor relay connection on the compressor, which gets worse with an increase in operating temp. ( as the compressor works more in hooter climates the relay can overheat and cause the overload to trip...hence the compressor will not cycle porperly )
As I said keep a close eye on it's performance and keep me posted. If it acts up again I'd refer you to check the condensor, fan motor and compressor start device.
Good luck. I'll watch for your future post if necessary.
Regards,
Macmarkus :)
Hello again,
So sorry to not have replied sooner. Honestly I didn't even know you had replied since my last post. To clean the condensor, by blowing it out with compressed air.
You'll need to slide the unit out away from the wall as I alluded to, remove the panel at the bottom in back, as well as the grill in the front bottom, then simply blow air from front to back through the coils and back to front...it's messy, but the best method.
Hope the issue has been truely resolved and things are fine. Let me know either way and good luck.
Regards,
Macmarkus :)
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Thanks for your reply. I have not yet received any advice or comment string on this yet. I am hoping to find out:
1: Whether there is any obvious "simple fix" such as a fuse on the compressor
2: Whether there is some other part (not the compressor) that is likely to blame on this model.
3: If it's got to be the compressor, OK, I'll order it and replace it.
4: The repair procedure for any of the above.
Also, the icemaker is no longer working but I know it has water supply. If there is an obvious fix for this, let me know.
Thanks.
Thanks for your note. Last night I restarted the fridge. I opened the panel and watched what was going on. The compressor seemed to kick on. Bottom line: the fridge is working again without my doing anything to it. Everythign was cold and frozen this morning in the freezer.
Final questions:
1: What do you think caused this? Is something failing? Should I replace something as a preventative measure?
2: During the first 20 minutes of operation, the compressor got super-hot -- too hot to touch. But this morning, it was only warm, not super-hot. Is the fact that it got super-hot a concern, or is this normal when starting a warm fridge?
Thanks
Dave
Macmarkus
OK. The Kitchenaid manual said simply turning the fridge off and on can "reset" everything and solve a problem of loss of cooling. That may be what happened in my case. Having turned off the faulty fridge, I turned it back on last night and -- presto -- it's working.
How do I blow compressed air through the condensor/coils? Where are those? And then I will drop the matter. ..
Thanks again
Dave
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