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Refrigerator Diagnostic Guide

Refrigerator Diagnostic Guide

Use the diagnostic chart to find out what is causing the problem with your refrigerator. Look up the symptom, and then review some of the possible causes. Follow the links from the possible causes to facilitate to the tutorials on how to repair problems..

Symptom

 Click on underlined items for further course information

Refrigerator does not run, and the light does not work     

Electric Shock can cause injury or death

warning-img.pngNever assume the electricity is off. Before servicing an electrical device, disconnect it from its electrical source either by unplugging the appliance, or turning off the power at the breaker fuse box. Mark the service panel with a note so that no one will restore power while you are working. After turning off the power to the circuit, test the circuit to be certain that there is no power before attempting service.


Refrigerator does not run but the light works

  General tips: 

Check the temperature setting-controls should be set in the middle range and left alone. Ensure that there is enough room for air flow in the refrigerator or freezer. Check for air flow restrictions in vents, such as frost build up on the evaporator. Advance training needed to remove frost-advance training needed. Test the temperature control-advance training needed. See simple test on Cold-control. Clean the condenser coils-Do every 3'rd month, this saves the compressor run time, and lots of money. Check the door seals. Simple test: Close the door against a dollar bill, try to pull out, if a slight tug is necessary, the door seal is ok. Test the level-although not that important.

SEE: Refrigeration Tutorials

  • Check the temperature setting, controls should be set in the middle range and left alone.

  • Make certain there is a three inch space outside of the refrigerator between the walls and the back and sides, and at least a one inch gap above, to allow for air flow. If the condenser coils are on the bottom, it's not that important.

  • Clean the condenser coils. Before cleaning the condenser coils, unplug the refrigerator to avoid a shock hazard.

  • Unplug the refrigerator, wait two hours and plug it in. If you hear it running, a problem is causing the compressor to overheat. Failed compressor-advance training

  • Test the cold control(see temp setting). A Simple test is to rap on the on and off temp control, if the refrigerator goes off with a rap, replace the cold control-advance training needed

  • Test the evaporator fan blade(fan inside of freezer). If stopped on it's own, flip the blade, and if the blade starts turning, if so replace-advance training needed.

  • Test the defrost timer-advance training needed.

  • Test the compressor relay-advance training needed

  • Test the overload protector-advance training needed.

  • Test the compressor motor-advance training needed 

Refrigerator light does not work

Refrigerator or freezer is not cold enough

General tips: 

The ideal freezer temperature is about 0 to 5 degrees (F), and is about 38 degrees (F) for the fridge.

SIMPLE TEST: Check orange juice, if warm, turn Cold control up one notch. If OJ remains warm, call a serviceman. 

Check Ice cream. if soft, call a serviceman.

SEE: Refrigeration Tutorials

  • Check the temperature setting-controls should be set in the middle range and left alone.

  • Ensure that there is enough room for air flow in the refrigerator or freezer.

  • Check for air flow restrictions in vents, such as frost build up on the evaporator. Advance training needed to remove frost-advance training needed.

  • Test the temperature control-advance training needed.  See simple test on Cold-control.

  • Clean the condenser coils-Do every 3'rd month, this saves the compressor run time, and lots of money.

  • Check the door seals. Simple test: Close the door against a dollar bill, try to pull out, if a slight tug is necessary, the door seal is ok.

  • Test the level-although not that important.