10 replies to this topic

[jimbo1069]

Hi,

My refrigerator seems to be shutting down intermittently - lights stay on and water/ice dispensers work, but the fans and compressor do not cycle and both compartments eventually warm up. A slight rap to the ice-maker sometimes causes the freezer fan to start again and immediately begins to get plenty cold. This usually lasts until the ice-maker starts producing ice, and then it shuts down again.

On the recommendation of this forum I replaced the start relay 2 months ago, and the fridge worked perfectly until now. Is this the same issue and just the progression of a worn-out compressor, or could it be ice-maker or thermostat related? When it is running the fridge seems to work perfectly fine, but it did shut off a couple hours ago and no amount of abuse has persuaded it to come back on. Thanks for any help you can provide.

[kdog]

Please post full model number ....................

Edited by Samurai Appliance Repair Man, 14 May 2013 - 11:19 AM.

[DurhamAppliance]

just to reinforce what Kdog said ... Bad Poster, Bad Poster

Edited by DurhamAppliance, 22 February 2011 - 12:35 AM.

[jimbo1069]

Kenmore Side-By-Side
Model # 596.58695890

Sorry about that - thought I had posted the full model #. Consequently, when I went to get the model # I also gave the ice-maker another rap, and it started working again.

Thanks for the help.

[Budget Appliance Repair]

Next time it stops, don't rap the icemaker. Try a slight tap on the temp control and see if that also causes it to restart.

Most likely a bad cold control/t-stat. Points get all burnt up and don't make contact when they close to call for cooling, closing door hard or the tapping you do makes the contacts make contact again and runs until next time they again don't make contact.

[jimbo1069]

Are you referring to the thermostat located in the ice-maker, or the temp control/control damper located in the control housing on the refrigerator side?

Upon getting home from work today my refrigerator was again off, so I gently tapped the control housing on the fridge side (thinking that is what you were referring to, after telling me not to rap the ice-maker) and it immediately started working. But when I went to order the part I became aware there is also the thermostat in the ice-maker. I just want to be sure which part to order. Thanks.

[jimbo1069]

One more thing: is there an easy way to clean the contact points, or is it better to just replace?

[kdog]

http://www.repaircli...er=596.58695890

 

[Budget Appliance Repair]

The part Kdog linked to, (in the temp controls panel), nothing to do with the icemaker.

Nothing you can do with refrig t-stats, try to open one up to do anything with it and it falls all apart and you will never get it to go back together correctly.

Not worth messing with, it will just cause you to loose more food.

To limp it along until you get the new part, just tell everyone in the house to give the controls a tap anytime they get into the refrig to get anything out and for good measures to give it love tap anytime their around the refrig and don't hear it running. It won't necessarily start every time because it maybe cold enough already and already cycled off or it could be in a defrost cycle.

[jimbo1069]

Well, I took everyone's advice and ordered the temp control unit from repairclinic.com - it arrived yesterday. Part has been installed for two days now and fridge is working great. I just want to say thanks - this is a fantastic web-site with extremely knowledgeable members that not only help to save me money time and again, but also manage to teach me a thing or two along the way. Keep up the great work!

[kdog]

Thanks for posting the outcome !



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