Refrigerator Compressor relay - can it work sometimes and not others?

Refrigerator & Freezer Repair
,
1

Freezer and refrigerator cooling, but not getting cold enough. All coils clean, no frost, fans are running. Sometimes compressor runs immediately after plugging in, sometimes relay clicks and compressor does not come on.

Suspect bad relay. Removed it and it rattles a little. Is it possible that the relay can work just some of the time? Could it be the capacitor? Or even the temperature control?

Thanks!
Charles

3

Yes, the start device could be intermittent, just order a new one AP3891852.
If you have a meter, you could check it to verify.

4

— Begin quote from richappy;754596

Yes, the start device could be intermittent, just order a new one AP3891852.
If you have a meter, you could check it to verify.

— End quote

Thanks for the fast reply RicHappy! I will order a new start device and try that first. Is the start device also sometimes called a relay?

By the way what kind of meter do I need to test the relay? I have an old Micronta multimeter for testing current and resistance, but it’s pretty primitive.

Thanks,
Charles

5

The start device has 3 output pins forming a triangle, check ohms between the bottom two, should be 5 to 10 ohms.

6

— Begin quote from richappy;754711

The start device has 3 output pins forming a triangle, check ohms between the bottom two, should be 5 to 10 ohms.

— End quote

Thanks again. I tested it and got no reading across any of the pins. I suppose it’s bad!

7

Yes, blown open.

8

— Begin quote from richappy;754783

Yes, blown open.

— End quote

Well, I replaced the relay. The compressor still comes on about the same time, and the fridge and freezer are still not getting cold enough. Both stop around 58dF.

Any ideas on the problem?

Thank you,
Charles

9

If you set the controls to the coldest setings and the compressor is vibrating and the condenser coils warm and still poor cooling, you have a bad compressor/refrigerant leak.

10

— Begin quote from richappy;755334

If you set the controls to the coldest setings and the compressor is vibrating and the condenser coils warm and still poor cooling, you have a bad compressor/refrigerant leak.

— End quote

The compressor is vibrating, and gets warm. The condenser coils don’t seem to be very warm at all, however.

These are the condenser coils, right?:
http://www.steecos.com/additional/large/26245_lg.jpg

11

Well, that confirms a bad compressor.

12

— Begin quote from richappy;755544

Well, that confirms a bad compressor.

— End quote

Ok. thank you so much for your advice. Time to buy a new fridge, I suppose!