I'm away from home and my fridge died...

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

I was told that the compressor started running all the time and was making a clicking noise. Now it's not cooling at all.... It's only 4-5 years old.

Out of refrigerant???

Anyone have any insight in to refrigerators, what may be wrong or how much it's going to cost to fix?? I've never had trouble till now. Thanks!

 

[sirenmoses]

ideas: dirty coils, near a heat source, mistreated when installed (ie: tipped wrong direction)

unlike cars, the frigs I'm familiar with use a closed loop refrigerant (which doesn't make that characteristic leak behind PS F tire that most domestic vehicles do)

cost: many hundreds of dollars, get somebody to put yr goods in coolers RIGHT now. and don't open them again until yr gonna use 'em or fridg 'em for ready use)

sorry, hth, cj

 

[AJP]

Had an Amana bottom freezer unit lose its compressor after 4 years ... repairman replaced a small switch associated with the compressor first which did not solve the problem then found it was still under warranty so replaced the compressor - been ok for the last year. But he left with the statement that "the new compressor won't last any longer..." according to him the "all use teflon bushings that have a fixed - and very short - life span".
I periodically research this statement but would really like to know if there are any refrigerators that will stand up like the 38 year old ugly green one in the basement where the overflow food and beer is stored.

Time to bite the bullet - if you're not under warranty - it may be as cheap to order a new fridge


btw - one of the symptoms of my failing compressor was a clicking noise ... but having said that ... the switch (much cheaper) could also be the culprit - good luck

 

[cruiser88]

You better have a tech look at it. I am trained in small app. repair and hvac if I can help give me a shout............my line is always open

I was told that the compressor started running all the time and was making a clicking noise. Now it's not cooling at all.... It's only 4-5 years old.

Out of refrigerant???

Anyone have any insight in to refrigerators, what may be wrong or how much it's going to cost to fix?? I've never had trouble till now. Thanks!

 

[cruiser88]

Reason why the older units like the r-12 or whatever is that the oil /gas blend was awesome. The new crap is horrible because the oil likes to break down far faster than any other gas that was ever used. When the new oil starts to break down it looks green, it also clogs uop the dryer/accum then everything else goes south.


I can go on and on.

I have not torn down a Hermetic compressor but I bet he is spot on. The average life span of a new unit is around 5 years .

Had an Amana bottom freezer unit lose its compressor after 4 years ... repairman replaced a small switch associated with the compressor first which did not solve the problem then found it was still under warranty so replaced the compressor - been ok for the last year. But he left with the statement that "the new compressor won't last any longer..." according to him the "all use teflon bushings that have a fixed - and very short - life span".
I periodically research this statement but would really like to know if there are any refrigerators that will stand up like the 38 year old ugly green one in the basement where the overflow food and beer is stored.

Time to bite the bullet - if you're not under warranty - it may be as cheap to order a new fridge


btw - one of the symptoms of my failing compressor was a clicking noise ... but having said that ... the switch (much cheaper) could also be the culprit - good luck

 

[DSRTRDR]

if the fan doesn't work, the compressor will run all the time - BTDT

no idea what the clicking is

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Thank you gents! Just got home last night, going to look at it now and see about calling someone... Good times!

 

[AJP]

no idea what the clicking is

I "think" (and here I am about to tell you more than I actually know!) the clicking comes from a "starter relay switch" as I understand my refrigerator components and the failure I had. My repairman's approach was to first replace the relay with a spare he brought to see if this worked as it would have been the much cheaper fix. When the relay didn't solve the problem - he pronounced the compressor dead

Still would like to know who makes a "fridge" with an old fashioned 30yr compressor....