Kenmore Freezer Quit

[mscher]

The freezer on our 7 year old Kenmore side-by-side fridge/freezer, up and quits. The fridge seems to stay about 41 degrees.

There is cool air blowing out of the front bottom vent right below the freezer. Shouldn't this air be warm?

Just starting troubleshooting, so any input appreciated.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Kenmore Freezer Quit

Is the compressor running?

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Kenmore Freezer Quit

I suspect the defrost timer. If the fridge is only running on the warm side at 41* and the freezer is not as cold as it should be, your evaporator coil inside could be one big chunk of ice. This will cause the compressor NOT to blow out warm air out of the condenser coil.

One of the main problems with side byes are objects put into a position to block the airflow coming out of the evap coil. If it is not blocked, pull the cover to the evap fan and coil. If the coil is clogged with frost/ice, most likely it is the defrost timer. Some timers you can advance with a small screwdriver to physically put it into defrost but you then have to advance it again once the defrost is done. Most timers are about $50 +/- $20. As for the location, many manufactures find their own hiding places . Just got to look for it. Usually they are about 3" square and an inch thick with about 4 or 5 wires going to them.

If every thing looks fine inside the box, check your condenser coil. If it is blocked with ghost turds (dust/dirt/pet hair) , this can cause the compressor to lock out on its internal thermal protection. Clean coils by blowing out with an air hose. Be prepared for dirt to fly everywhere when you do this.

Good Luck,,,,Keep us posted.............SS

 

[mscher]

Re: Kenmore Freezer Quit

It's not looking good.

There is a ceramic connector located on the side of the compressor.

It got so hot that a plastic tywrap melted, as well as some of the insulation on the wires. One wire is burnt through.

Is the compressor kaput and if so, is it worthwhile to repair? Not too excited about spending $900+ on a new unit, that will probably last less than the current one.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Kenmore Freezer Quit

The compressor overloads can be replaced as a kit, they are prone to failure on certain models and the new kit is an upgrade.
On the other hand you could have a bad compressor, an undercharge of refrigerant can lead to compressor overheat as refrigerant is what cools the comp. If you have a meter that can test resistance, with the unit unplugged, test each of the three compressor poles to a good ground, this will determine if the windings are shorted out, if you have no resistance thats good. Now test each pole to each other in any combination this will determine if a winding is open, have resitance, thats good, now you can use ohms law to determine if the resistance is within spec, you already know the voltage and the FLA should be on the data plate. I don't think you'll have to go that far though. I'm guessing you just need an overload kit, the compessor may have been running hot due to a dirty condenser, have you cleaned it at all in seven years most people don't including me.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Kenmore Freezer Quit

I would strip back the burnt wire and put a new terminal on it and try it.

Is that condenser coil dirty? Is there a condenser fan? Is it working? Reason I ask is that when the fan quits or the coil is clogged, the freon cannot be cooled down into a liquid. This causes more amps to be pulled as the pressure in much higher in the coil. (known in the field as high head pressure) Could be why the wire got hot and burned. Its very rare to see this happen on a clean unit with a good fan, but common on units with dirty coils or the fan not operating.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Kenmore Freezer Quit

e70e,,,you got a PM Thanks

 

[mscher]

Re: Kenmore Freezer Quit

My bad. The ceramic is actually plastic. It did unplug and I will test the 3 prongs on the compressor, for resistance and shorts.

Is the condensor overload in this plastic unit?

Is this what is called the "start device"?

 

[lowkee]

Re: Kenmore Freezer Quit

I had a similar roblem with my side by side. I thought it may be the compressor as well, as it was heating up REALLY hot, but it ended up just being a defrost thermostat which cost $25 shipped. In defrost mode, there is a heater coil which thaws all of the ice around the freezer grid, which allows heat transfer to happen again. The dead thermostat was not telling the control unit it was up to temp, so the defrost mode never stopped and the heater coil kept going forever. Long story short, that $25 saved me $400 for a new (used) fridge.

If your compressor cranks up once you fix the wiring, set the timer to defrost mode (there is a screwdriver slot you can turn until it clicks) and see if the heater coil turns on. If it does (it shouldn't, since the temp is above ~34F), then you need a new defrost thermostat. If it doesn't, well, I'm no fridge repair guy

Good luck! And it'll always be cheaper to fix it unless the compressor is dead (What the local repair guy told me)

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Kenmore Freezer Quit

My bad. The ceramic is actually plastic. It did unplug and I will test the 3 prongs on the compressor, for resistance and shorts.

Is the condensor overload in this plastic unit?

Is this what is called the "start device"?

That sir is your start relay

 

[mscher]

Re: Kenmore Freezer Quit

That sir is your start relay

It does not look as good as it should.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o184/yesmanic/fridge_1.jpg The prongs on the compressor have no shorts to ground and have some resistance, between each other.

The starter looks to have a red wire on the bottom and two white/one blue, wires (all) connected at the top.

Is this device cooked and would it be the likely culprit? I measure an open, between the two connections.

BTW - all of the coils were packed with fuzz - out of sight -out of mind

 

[lowkee]

Re: Kenmore Freezer Quit

Holy moly! Yeah, that is cooked alright. Get a new one, but you may want to begin looking for a shorted wire somewhere. That looks like a short burn, not a random overheat. Count yourself lucky, that could have caused a fire, especially when surrounded with dust balls.

EDIT: After a second look, it looks as though it DID catch on fire! Count yourself VERY lucky.

 

[NO WHINERS]

Re: Kenmore Freezer Quit

You might want to check with sears on this...There was a recall on this just announced this week..1.6 million units need to be reworked on the same problem you have...Fire hazard.....They were made under different names..Mostly Maytag but also sears, Jenn-Air and others...Top freezers and side by side models...Jim.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Kenmore Freezer Quit

Ohhh MY EYES! Yep, that is your starter relay that is now toast. Those little rascals can be a pain to get matched up correctly to the unit. Its also possible that it has taken out the capacitor also. You will need to get the model/serial/manufacture data of the spec tag of the compressor. Also take the info down on the spec tag of the refrigerator too as Sears will need all that info to get the correct relay. Good Luck ,,,,,,you may need it

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Kenmore Freezer Quit

That my friend is toast, write the model number down and give sears home center a call they may have it on the shelf, in fact any appliance store that does service should have one, it doesn't have to be sears kenmore. at this point what do have to loose.

Dang Mayfloat you keep taking the words right out my mouth, I was going to mention the cap but wasn't sure if that relay didn't have it built in.
Sometimes it's just that so many darn things that can happen to diagnose but it's kinda fun.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Kenmore Freezer Quit

mscher,,,,now don't you love working down on the floor all bent over, knees aching along with your back? Now imagine the tech that has to solder in those lines on the compressor under there .......I'm soooo glad I just do commercial equipment

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Kenmore Freezer Quit

Mayfloat I too do it commercially, I work on anything from turbine driven centrifugals to small appliances in kitchens ice makers stuff like that. My favorite though has to be the Liebert DS units in the computer labs. I work at a Large university in Ohio KSU.

 

[mscher]

Re: Kenmore Freezer Quit

Any know where I can get a wiring diagram for model 106.50522100? Apparently it is too much trouble to stick on on the back, like the good old days.

It does not look there there is much in there, but it would be nice to see if some other component may be causing this problem.

We are grinding our teeth, wether to say it's is not worth the hassle to repair and bite that BIG bullet for a new fridge. Mail order parts is about the only option we have around here for parts.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Kenmore Freezer Quit

See if you have appliance repair guys in you area. If anything they can tell you exactly what is wrong. A good service guy will put a Hermetic Checker on it. It can test the windings and for shorts. It can also start the compressor in forward or reverse. It will let the tech know if it is pulling too many amps or has a serious voltage drop. Either way, for him to change that part shouldn't be over $200. A lot better than $900 during these times. Wouldn't hurt to have it checked out. I know how it sucks to be without a fridge. It can make one realize how much of an important part of our lives they are.


BTW, the wiring diagram for the start relay of the compressor should be inside the black cap that was covering the thermal safety and relay. It will show a C for your common, S for the start windings and R for the run windings.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Kenmore Freezer Quit

If there was a recall wouldn't sears have to fix it for free ???

I'm asking that of the pros. Seems to me even when a device is out of warranty and a dangerous condition was found and a recall issued they should fix it for free.