refridgerator broke, need fast help

[fishman]

Well, my folks are in town and the fridge broke. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif It's a Whirlpool side-by-side, four years old, and not cooling apparantly and the freezer section has thawed.

After I took off the bottom grill, I found out why. It was packed with lint, crumbs, dog hair, etc. I just finished cleaning it out and also checked the compressor in the back. The cooling fan is running but the compressor is not and is fairly hot to the touch.

So, what next? Is it possible that a relay has tripped when the compressor overheated? Will it just start cooling again? Any help would be much appreciated. I'm going to hang on here to see if someone can give me some good advice.

Since I'm out in the sticks, the soonest the "authorized" repair center can get to me is next thursday! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif Got to go through them because the compressor is still under warranty.

HELP! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[fishman]

Update,

I unplugged it and soon heard a "click". Then I plugged it back in after a minute and the compressor was humming a little. I felt vibrations through the case, and it was pretty hot. Then it clicked and the humming ceased. I now have the fridge unplugged and a fan blowing directly on the compressor.

Come on guys, I may fix this before you can help me. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif After bragging up the collective TBN brain trust to my Dad, don't leave me hanging. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Chuck52]

If you're lucky, there's an over-heat bimetal thingie that will reset when it cools off. I had one of those fail on an old refrigerator, and replacing it gave me a few more years out of that old beast. The part was cheap, and it wasn't too hard to get to on that unit. Was set against the body of the compressor, as I recall. If the one on your's has opened and won't reset, you may be able to jump around it while you go for a new part. There's a web site about fixing appliances that has helped me several times....I'll see if I can look it up.

Chuck

 

[Chuck52]

Look here:

http://www.repairclinic.com/0088_4_1.asp

This is not the site I remember from a few years back, but I think the "overload relay" may be what I referred to. On the otherhand, it seems to me that the thing I replaced really was a simple bimetal heat sensitive switch.

Chuck

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I now have the fridge unplugged and a fan blowing directly on the compressor. )</font>

That would be the only thing I'd know to do; wait until the compressor cools down before plugging it back in.

 

[fishman]

Thanks Chuck. Had to go to the main site and work to the link because it wasn't functional, but found it. Unfortunately, their site only lists a "compressor start relay" or something like that. Heck, the compressor starts after I plug it in, but clicks off after about 6-8 seconds. I'm going to head for coolers and ice as a temporary solution and in the meantime go with what Bird has suggested and let it cool some more. Then I'm coming back to see what might be the problem.

Anyone else?

Again, thanks Chuck, Bird, and Junkman (via PM) . . . wasn't he "outta here" earlier this week. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[PineRidge]

When the condenser gets plugged with junk the head pressures go sky high, the compressor starts drawing too many amps, overheats and kicks off on internal overload. If you are lucky no damage has been done. Make sure the condenser is as clean as you can get it and let the compressor cool before a restart. It should be fine after it cools off.

 

[cowboydoc]

We had this happen this winter. I tryed to get it going but no luck. It would do the same thing as yours. Luckily one of my patients was a repairman. He came out and said the compressor had to be replaced. He robbed one off of another refrigerator and got us going.

 

[slowrev]

Sorry to say it but if after everything cools off and you plug it in and it clicks soon and the compressor quits running then it may very well be the compressor locked up. Does the little fan in the bottom work ok ( the one underneath blowing on the coils) ? If not it will build high headpressure on the compressor pretty fast and trip out the compressor. Tiem for this would be maybe 15 - 30 minutes if everything is cool when it is plugged in.

Does the little fan in the top of the fridge run ok ? Some only run when the door is closed so you will have to climb in there to check it out /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif just kidding.

Good luck, sounds like you might have to make an ICE run /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[thcri]

If the compressor is humming when you plug it in it tells me your internal protection is working and then clicking out. More than likely it is your start relay that is not working. If the internal protection was so hot that it opened up you would not hear any noise. I would be willing to bet on the start or potential realy.

murph