Runaway Fridge

[icebox500]

I’ve done some reading and some studying and am now gonna ask questions...

Why does my FPI 13B 61 Frigidaire refrigerator run all the time?

Here’s what I know:

I’ve cleaned and thawed it. Made sure to remove the cover from the thermometer (which was iced) and ensure all things had thawed.

I’ve checked that fan is blowing air it feels good.

I restarted it on high (3) to get it to cool and it go to about 32 degrees. I then turned it down to 2 and filled it with some food.

After a couple days, it seemed to sit at just under 40 on 2 so I turned it up a bit again.

We live at 5,000’ and the house is between 60-70 most of the time.

All that said, there is no frost forming in freezer and it keeps ice frozen. Food seems cool enough.

BUT

The darn thing won’t shut off. Now, it will if I turn the dial down and it will click off but then it isn’t cold enough. Even when I dialed it down from 3 to 2 after restarting it, it clicked off but then later came back on and ran and ran. The compressor runs in a hum hum hum hum sort of pattern all the time.

Maybe someone could point me at the next troubleshooting steps?

Thanks!

 

[icebox500]

Oh and the vegetable bins are ice cold, even when the fridge is 40.

Thanks.

 

[rp2813]

I don't think it's all that uncommon to find items in the back of the crisper drawers that have begun to freeze.  The rear wall is the source of the cooling, and the cold air sinks. 

 

Just under 40 (ideally 37) is the suggested temperature for the fresh food section.  No refrigerator should have to run constantly to maintain that temperature or even a colder one.

 

If things aren't freezing (other than in the crisper drawers) while the fridge runs constantly, it sounds like a mechanical issue since the cold control seems to respond to adjusting it higher or lower.

 

Give the real experts here some time to post with their thoughts.

 

 

 

[lowefficiency]

Are the door seals in good shape?
Are the door hinges in good shape?
Is anything in the way and preventing a door from closing completely?

Also, you checked that the coils underneath (or on the back) aren't caked in dust?

 

[icebox500]

Thanks for both replies.

Seals are in very good shape and the hinges are set well. There is nothing that would block the doors from closing.

Freezer is icy cold. Fridge is almost 40. Currently set at 1 as we have been playing with the temperature. Setting it a two got it down to 32 in fridge and arctic in the freezer.

But yeah... the constant running.

No, I haven’t pulled it away from the wall to verify cleanliness but can do so today.

Lovely unit that I’d like to make happy.

Thanks.

 

[icebox500]

OK, so here are some photos and updates. Fridge coils do not seem excessively dirty. No excessive filth where the motor lives. Removed the plate that covers the thermostat and it is frosty but note icy. Freezer is nice and cold and free of frost.

It is just just in love with running all the time. Seems to function as expected otherwise. Good air movement etc...

We have lived in this house with the fridge since July. It did not run 100% of the time when we moved in. Sorting out exactly when I noticed it seems to be a few weeks ago.

Thanks, would love to get this machine running right.

 

[icebox500]

Anyway... fridge and freezer are nice and cold and set just above 1. If anyone has any guidance on why it runs 24/7 that would be great. Thanks!

 

[combo52]

Constantly Running FD Frost Proof REfs From The 60s

FD had an under powered compressor to start with and this coupled with age was not unusual, unfortunately this leads to a ref that has a very hard time keeping proper temps when the weather gets hot or a lot of food is added and of course the ref is using 3-4 times the power of a new model.

 

You can try replacing the filter-dryer evacuating and recharging [ some times this condition is caused by the F-D starting to clog, other than that the compressor is wearing out and then the best cure is to install a modern R-134 compressor out of a newer ref.

 

John L.

 

[moparwash]

Is your refrigerator running?...

They you should go catch it!

 

[icebox500]

Thanks for the replies (and the humor)!