whirlpool side by side frig stopped cooling

[rollermatic]

i know very little about refrigerators except that mine is only 9 years old and it stopped cooling. i see vintage frigs that are over over 50 years old still running fine!

before i pitch this thing and hunt for a 50 year old frig to go with all my other old vintage stuff i was wondering if anyone has any knowledge to share.

i have it down to the coils, they are not iced up and both fans for the evaporator and condensor are running. compressor is very very hot, too hot to touch but no cooling!

any advice will be appreciated. maybe i can fix it. it's a whirlpool side by side, model ed2ftgxkq00.

thanks

pete

 

[limitededition]

not cooling

Are the condensor coils clean,  is the compressor kicking in and out of overload ?  Worked on a older GE bottom just loaded with dust worked fine but with heat wave could not cool cleaned replaced panels worked great,  hope this helps

 

Rick

 

[cfz2882]

starting relay

could be the compressor's start relay not engaging the start winding,causing the
compressor to just cycle on and off on the overload protector...
In my experience at least,start relay problems are very rare-especially on a fridge
only 9yrs old.Many smaller compressors,especially japanese/asian ones,use a"ptc"
starter-a large thermister disc in series with the start winding instead of the
magnetic current relay.
If you are used to working with electricity in appliances,you can connect and run
the compressor for a test run of a few seconds with a test cord to make sure it is
good.

 

[combo52]

SOLID STATE STARTING REALY

Is very likely the problem WP has had a good amount of failures with these and your ref is at the right age for this. Good news it is a cheap and easy fix. Unplug the ref remove back and take off the relay retaining clip and the relay just pulls off. Shake it and if it rattles it is bad, if you buy the exact part it just plugs in.

 

[whirlcool]

There are several different relays that are in that fridge. You must check them all. Fortunately, they are not that expensive.

I have pretty much the same refrigerator as this and our relays went out after only 3 years.

What's next in store? Well after about a year you get to replace the fan motor, which is neither cheap nor easy to do!

Then after that repair the door on your freezer will start to rust through.

 

[combo52]

WP SXSs

Are by far the best built and most reliable SXSs over the last40+ years and they are the easiest to repair also. Everything takes it turn at needing repairs eventually. When you compare the last 10 years or so WP SXSs to Amana built models and Frigidare that have the Mexican built Tecumseh compressors which are close to a 100% failure rate over 10 years. And then the GEs after 2000 with thier computerized boards and defrost heaters that are lucky to last 3-5 years you are almost guaranteed to have about 3 repair calls in the first ten years. And worst of all were the Admiral built SXSs that were sold under MT, Jenn-air and Admiral names, MT had the good sence to close this factory before they were sold to WP, they should have never bought it.   All this while not making WP SXSs any better sure has made them by the best choice for many years.

 

[rollermatic]

thanks to all!

i'm gonna try to fix it. will pull the starting relay off and look at that first. i assume the compressor motor is still good even though it was really hot when i first pulled the frig out and took the back off yesterday.

your help has been great!

 

[rollermatic]

might as well put some pics on here

it might help someone else in the future.

here's the compresor with starting relay attached. a red and white wire go to it. i assume that's the usual hot and nuetral wire. these are also wired in series with the compressor fan that sits nearby.

 

[rollermatic]

i cut the zip tie holding it on

and removed the relay. it attaches to 3 prongs that stick out of compressor. these are the 3 electrical leads. the hot (red) wire feeds the bottom prong. the top 2 prongs will feed the running and starting winding nuetral side. this relay will feed the starting winding long enough to start compressor, then disconnect.

3 prongs visible in this pic

 

[rollermatic]

starting relay removed

here. red (hot) wire goes to bottom lead, white wire (nuetral) goes to top left side of relay.

 

[rollermatic]

view from top of relay

i also tested compressor by very briefly connecting a hot lead to the bottom prong and a nuetral lead to both top prongs and plugged in refrig. for about 5 seconds. compressor kicked on and did run which tells me the compressor itself is good.

 

[rollermatic]

next step is to get a new relay

i can either order on line thru part select or repair clinic.com or pick one up locally at dayton applaince parts. they are about 65 bucks and i am willing to take a chance on this being the problem after getting the above advice from you guys and doing a bit of testing myself. hopefully this will fix it!

thanks

 

[iheartmaytag]

When we moved into our new offices we purchased two Whirlpool S/S with Ice/Water through the the door.

 

In three years the one in the break room had the compressor replaced twice, the evaporator fan replaced twice, the circut board replaced twice, and then the refrigerator replaced with a Fisher/Paykel.

 

The one in the volunteer room has never given a bit of trouble. 

 

[whirlcool]

My neighbor across the street who does commercial refrigeration repaired our relays.
They were something like $25.00 each. He had them on his truck. He said that now a days all the relays are pretty much standardized so the prices are cheap and one relay will fit a lot of different refrigerators.

It seems that it's hit and miss as to whether or not you'll get a reliable Whirlpool.

 

[arbilab]

If that relay was really worth $65 it would last the life of the appliance. I'd say they made it for 65c and sell it for 100x, just cuz they know you need one.

 

[rollermatic]

I AGREE

but if i want this frig to run again i have no choice but to buy one. the original was made in mexico i did notice.

i have several extra starting relays for 1/3 hp. dishwasher motors and they are all made in the good old USA! wish i could use one of them to start this compressor motor. i know how i would wire it in, that's the easy part, i'm just not sure about whether this compressor motor uses about the same current as a dishwasher motor.

 

[combo52]

Starting relays

Peter a starting relay from a washer or DW motor will not work, and if it works at all you will likely burn out the compressor.  I would try this only if you have good fire insurance and at the least you are ready to buy a new refrigerator.

 

[rollermatic]

ok

i won't even play with this idea! don't want to buy a new frig and def don't want to buy new stuff cause the house burnt down!

thanks, will pick up a relay from the part supplier this week!