My frig has been making the occaisional snapping noise, coming from near the compressor somewhere. It seems to be doing it more often. It started a few months ago. It sometimes will snap on and off 4 or 5 times before "catching" and then I can hear the compressor start running. (The fan will be on and running during this time). Is this a relay going bad? Or a start capacitor?
Thanks for any help!!!
I can’t afford a new frig right now!
Hi Joe. What should I do, if anything? Can the contacts be cleaned? Should I wait for it to fail? Are you pretty sure a new relay would do the trick? How long will it take to fail? It doesn’t do it alll the time. Frig is otherwise working…
(sorry for all the questions)
-m
— Begin quote from Joe / APP Team;251834
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It would be your relay clicking/snapping, trying to start the compressor.
Capacitors normally don’t make noise,until they blow up(not a common occurrence).
Make sure you clean everything inside the compressor compartment while you’re there. 
— End quote
— Begin quote from farty;251835
Hi Joe. What should I do, if anything? Can the contacts be cleaned? Should I wait for it to fail? Are you pretty sure a new relay would do the trick? How long will it take to fail? It doesn’t do it alll the time. Frig is otherwise working…
(sorry for all the questions)
-m
— End quote
I have no problem with questions,
Let me answer your questions, as best I can.
You may want to wait, until it fails.
There’s no telling when, but, when it does you’ll be out of a refrigerator, until it is repaired.
No there’s no way to clean the contacts, the relay is a sealed unit part.
Yes, I’m sure the relay is the cause of the noise,based on the information you gave us.
I’ve attached the part number and diagram for you, just in case you change your mind.
[part]AP3363281[/part]
I hope this helps, I don’t think you have anything to worry about, for a while.
Assuming the compressor has been off for a while and pressures equalized, you have a hard starting compressor with a damaged start winding. Sometimes burnt wires will cause this also. Only way to check everything is with a meter to check current draw and voltage to the compressor.
You might want to see if this only occurs during peak hours when the line voltage is lower than usual.