46 replies to this topic

[wireyourworld]

Hi all.

Our garage fridge use to be ice cold when we got it but now the freezer is fine but the fridge barely keeps my domestic beer at imported beer warmness. I'm aware it could be a number of things, defrost timer, compressor, or hopefully just a clogged drain. My main problem, or where i'd like to start, is with a diagram and instructions of what I need to do to unclog the drain and how to perhaps check all the other issues. Perhaps drain is the wrong term but I think the fine experts here know what I mean. :-)

Our house fridge (a POS) motor just totally burnt out and I moved everything to the garage where its not being kept cold enough and I'm afraid at this point I'm in danger of losting $$$ of condiments and other food. We picked up a used fridge for the kitchen yesterday but its still on its side in my van and we know it has to be upright for at least 24 hours before we plug it in. so I'm in a little time crunch.

Can anyone help me with this? Thanks in advance! Cynthia

[tommytech]

start with a pic of evaporator coil and post here. are both fans running?

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

Start in the freezer and check out the frost pattern. If it's choked in with fuzzy ice, then you've had a defrost system failure-- not as scary as it sounds and very repairable. More info on frost pattern interpretation here ==> http://fixitnow.com/...-frost-pattern/

[wireyourworld]

Ok here's what I have so far, it looks like I'll have to removed the icemaker to get into the back, can't access it FROM the back, I hate that. There is ice on the back wall. Heading back out to get the back wall off. Yes I'll unplug it before I take the icemaker out. ;-)

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

Removing the ice maker is no big deal, this is easy. Just remove the three mounting screws unplug the wire harness and you're good to go.

[wireyourworld]

I can't get the back wall off without popping the shelf holders off. Do they just pop off without breaking or is there something special I have to do to them, the one I tried won't pop off easily with a screwdriver underneath.

Its pretty frozen back there so far.

Nebermind I figured them out, loading pics.

Edited by wireyourworld, 23 July 2012 - 10:27 AM.

[wireyourworld]

OK here's what I have. Yikes. The drain actually is clear at least up on top, can't tell if something is stuck in it inside though.

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

Hmmm, not looking good for the hometeam. Looking like a suspected sealed system problem. What was the actual temperature inside the freezer? Need some numbers.

[wireyourworld]

Sorry I don't have a temp gauge. Frozen is about all I can say.

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

Thermometer ==> http://www.repaircli.../8171720/903650

[wireyourworld]

UGH, just looked at the frost pattern photos. Anything I can do with this mess?

Umm yeah, I know what I thermometer is, I don't have one nor do I have time to wait for one to ship, or interest in running to home depot for one. Everything is frozen like a rock, and since the thing is off at the moment I'm sure its warmed up. If I take a hair dryer to the mess where the ice maker is, is there something I can tape up to hold it for awhile or what?

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

End o' da line, budrow.

[wireyourworld]

Thanks, do you mean my fridge is shot? And I should go apply to a big box store for a line of credit? Cause I am out of disposable income.

[RegUS_PatOff]

after the hair-dryer, let the Fridge run an hour or two (with cover on) and post the frost pattern again..

[wireyourworld]

Thanks here is a new pic. This was actually taken about 10 minutes after I opened the cover since I got a phone call I had to take, but the coils were a bit less frosty then this but still showed frost, whereas today they didn't have any frost. I noted a big was of putty type stuff in tape after I de-iced. I take it there might be a leak there and someone tried to seal it? I squished the putty down more when it was warm from the dryer under that theory in hopes it would seal better and cool down in the fridge. The fridge is cooling more now but its only been about 4 hours. My beer is drinkable and I really needed to drink one at this point! Have all the meat in some coolers so I can recheck behind the back wall in a few more hours.

Edited by wireyourworld, 23 July 2012 - 04:38 PM.

[wireyourworld]

That was supposed to say a big WAD of putty, not was.

And don't even get me started on the sand that fell out of the icemaker (we never used the icemaker) just bought this clunker a few months ago for an extra garage fridge. Wonder if it was by the side of the road and someone just picked it up and cleaned it.

Edited by wireyourworld, 23 July 2012 - 04:43 PM.

[RegUS_PatOff]

doesn't look too bad... hard to tell
the Evaporator Coils should be completely, evenly, lightly frosted after the Compressor has been running an hour or two.

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

Still need a number on the freezer temp.

[prairiestr]

Check the door seals, that could be ice built up from very humid conditions/leaky door seals.

[wireyourworld]

Thanks all, fridge still not cooling enough. Won't be able to get a number on the freezer temp until I can buy a thermometer.