1962 Frost Guard Refrigerator Needs Repair

[kelly0721]

I just purchased a 1962 GE Frost Guard refrigerator about a month ago. It was working perfectly until we recently were hit with very high temperatures here in Denver. Now, the fan in the back does not work. I hear it try to switch on, but the fan does not start. Does anyone know of an appliance repair shop in the Denver, Colorado area that will repair a vintage refrigerator?

 

[rp2813]

Which fan?  The one underneath that blows out through the bottom front grille or the one inside the freezer (I think your freezer may have one)? 

 

If it's the one underneath, are you sure it's just the fan (easy-ish fix) and not the whole compressor (maybe easy, maybe fatal)?

 

[kelly0721]

Fan

Here is a picture of the fan I am referring to. It is at the very bottom, so it
might be for the freezer. I am not sure if it is the fan or not. It spins if I turn it manually. I do hear a clicking sound when it tries to start, but then nothing happens. [this post was last edited: 6/21/2017-11:28]

 

[turquoisedude]

Interesting!  Seeing three wires to that fan motor reminds me of the unusual wiring of the one in my '56 GE wall-mounted Combination...  Is there anything that looks like a resistor between the relay and the compressor??

 

Come to think of it, is the compressor still running and cooling?  When the resistor on the '56 fried, not only would the condensor fan not run, the compressor wasn't starting either...  

 

[kelly0721]

Dead Compressor

The repairman came out and says the compressor is dead. He does not know of anywhere to get the part. I am super sad. After spending a month cleaning it, I was really excited to get it in my kitchen this weekend. Anyway, thanks to everyone who responded to my thread. I appreciated you taking the time. 

 

[turquoisedude]

Well, I thought the compressor in my '56 was shot, too, but it was a 9-ohm resistor that was shot.  Once replaced, the fridge started right up and has been running steadily for 3 years now.  

 

Can you post the model number? Perhaps a service manual for it can be found...  I don't give up that easily... LOL  

 

[kelly0721]

Compressor

Hey Paul, 

 

I have good news! I unplugged the fridge and turned on a fan to cool down the compressor and even put an icepack on it. I came back an hour later and plugged it in and the compressor and the fan on the fridge started back up and it is slowly getting cold again! I called the repairman back and left a message telling him that it restarted and if there was anything that he could replace to keep this from happening again to call me back. Maybe it is the resistor and it can be replaced? I am keeping my fingers crossed! 

 

I forgot to add that the model number is T46-9WF (I think). It is kind of hard to read. 

 

[turquoisedude]

This is good news!  Glad you gave it another try! 

 

I'm not sure there is a resistor in a unit like this, but that three-wire feed to the fan motor has me thinking there may be one...   I've had my wall-mounted unit stall on me in very hot weather (we go from one extreme to the other up here!) and I added an extra fan to the compressor compartment just to help with airflow in hot weather.  

 

The clicking you also described may also be due to the relay...  

 

I hope the local repair person can help you out!!

 

Here's a link to a video I shot of my '56 when I was trying to figure out what went wrong with it, just in case this may help!  

 



 

 

 

[kelly0721]

Still needs repair

I just went out to check on it again and the compressor was very hot and the fan was slowing down again, so I unplugged it. I will wait to hear from the repairman and see what he has to say. I will be sure to show him the video and see if that helps him figure the problem out. It was very kind of you to share it with me! I sure hope I can get this fixed so I can get it in my kitchen. 

 

[lorainfurniture]

Did the repair man but an ohm meter on the compressor? Sounds like your start device is failing. That's the stuff hiding behind that black plastic cover on the side of the compressor

 

[kb0nes]

The "dead compressor" is likely just a "It's old and I don't want to work on it" line. Sure the compressor could have failed or the unit may have lost charge but both aren't all that likely.

Odds are that condenser fan is just running slow or stopping and that is that. Replace the fan and you are back in business. There could also be a compressor starting problem due to a start relay issue, also easily fixed. Finally a problem with the defrost system is the other possible failure. All these are easily repairable, assuming that you can find a tech that isn't opposed to working on a unit that is older then they are!

 

[coldspot66]

Try putting a small fan near the compressor with the airflow aimed at the compressor and see if it stays cold and maintains temperature.

 

[kelly0721]

Manual Self Service Checklist

I forgot I bought an owner's manual on eBay after I bought the fridge. I will have to search for a repair manual. 

 

[kelly0721]

Hot Compressor

I have kept the portable fan directed at the compressor the entire time, but the compressor still got very hot. I still have the fan directed at it and hope it cools down. The repairman did not check it with an ohm meter. The repairman did say that if it was not the compressor and only the fan he would install it for me. We will see if I hear back from him. 

 

[kb0nes]

Bear in mind that a compressor will run quite warm, too hot to hold your hand against for any length of time. The heat you describe may well be normal, although elevated by the fan not running well (or at all).

There is usually a temperature sensing overload under that black plastic cover too. If the compressor is getting too hot it could cause a clicking noise as the compressor cycles on the thermal overload bimetal.

Hopefully it is just the fan!

 

[kelly0721]

Compressor

Phil, 

 

Thanks for letting me know that about the compressor. I have plugged the fridge back in and left the portable fan on to help keep it cool. The interior is getting cold again. I have not heard back from the repairman. Hopefully, he calls back tomorrow and I can get him back out here to see if he can figure out what the problem is now that we know it is not the compressor. Otherwise, I may be taking a crash course on refrigerator repair.  

 

Thanks for all your advice! 

 

 

[kelly0721]

Any tips on where to find parts?

I may be having to find my own parts, so I was just wondering if any of you know of a place online to look? I have tried using my model number to search appliancepartspros.com, partselect.com, easyapplianceparts.com, geappliances.com without any luck. 

 

[panthera]

Kelly,

The good news is that none of the parts outside of the sealed compressor are 'special' or no longer made.

You may have to do some research on your own, but every part which tells the compressor when to run, how to start, how to run the cooling fan (including the cooling fan motor), the overheat protection, a capacitor, etc. these are all easily replaced with similar parts.

 

Just keep asking questions and reading up on the matter. Lots of good YouTube videos on the general subject, too.

 

 

 

[rp2813]

If the fan or the above mentioned resistor is the problem, as Keven said, the parts should be available. 

 

My mom's fridge (not like your GE, but the same type of system) had that same fan fail and contents in the freezer started to thaw.  Without that fan drawing air over the condenser coils and past the compressor, the system can't adequately cool. 

 

It looks super clean underneath your fridge.  Just to make sure the condenser coil isn't covered with dust, lint, etc., remove the bottom front grille and take a look.  You need to keep the grille and those coils vacuumed -- once a year should be often enough -- so your fridge can operate at maximum efficiency.  They also make special brushes to use for this job instead of a vacuum cleaner.  The fan draws in air through the right front side of the grille and blows it out the left front.  You should feel warm air flowing out through the left front of the grille whenever the fridge is running.