I have a 16 year old side by side unit that I suspect has a faulty thermostat. I am only a novice and home owner. The unit does not come on and shut off like it should, but I noticed that if I tap on the panel where the temp. controls are located, the unit does come on and runs fine, but it may run for several hours before it shuts off. The next day, I have to again tap on this panel to make the unit run. Once I force it on, it cools fine, makes ice, etc. but there is definitely some problem. Before I have a service man come out, I would like to able to explain to them the problem. Does this make any sense? Any suggestions?
Drop the control panel and tap on the cold control and defrost timer, one of them might be intermittent, probably the cold control. If the control is bad, order a new one on this site.
Perhaps try gently turning the control up/down a bit (not to off).
If it fires up then the control thermostat is the more likely cause.
There are two temperature controls next to each other, one for the freezer and one for the refigerator temps. I am guessing that I should turn the control for the refrierator?
I am somewhat mechanical, but is replacing this cold control something that I can do, or does it require a serviceman?
You should be able to replace it.
I tried turning the refrigerator temp. control knob to "coldest" and then back to #2, back and forth about 5 times but the unit did not start. I then tapped the panel and the unit did start, and ran for about three hours. I noticed that later in the day, the unit was running without having to tap the panel, or force it on.
I would spray the cold control and any connector while moving the control back and forth and unplugging the connector, one of them is intermitent.
Yes it could be a bad connection.
Or since the temperature control did not start the unit up, it could be a bad defrost timer.
Richappy, you suggested to spray the cold control while turning it. What should I spray it with?
The BEST stuff I ever found was at Walmart non-residue contact cleaner by CRC $4.95, so "liquid" it will penetrate any small opening and displace oil and contaminents.
I ended up changing the cold control but I have noticed that the refrigerator has run for about 6 hours straight. It was a pretty easy install, is it possible that I did something wrong or is this normal? Maybe it could be the defrost timer???
As lons as you routed the sensing tubing from the control exactly were the old one was, you should be ok. If the fridg was warm, it takes up to 12 hrs to reach temperature.
The system is cycling on and off now but the refrigerator seems a lot colder than before. Previously to changing the cold control, I had the temperature setting at "3" out of a possible 1 to 5, I now have it set below "1" and the refrigerator still seems colder than it should be. It just seems to be running more than is needed.
The fridg temperature should ba around 41 degrees.
Check the freezer temperature, should be lower than 5 degrees if running a lot.
I still need to get a refrigerator thermometer. Thanks!