Issues with LG LFX33975ST fridge...

[diabloappliance]

Hello,

So I'm working on an LG LFX33975ST french door fridge, and it's looking pretty bad at this point. The original (and current) issue is no cool in both the freezer and fridge. There were no error codes displayed. The compressor and all fans were not running. I put the unit in test mode and everything came on, all fans and compressor. I then unplugged the unit for a bit, and plugged it back in. When I plugged it back in, the compressor and fans came on normally, as they should.

At this point, all signs are pointing to a sealed system leak, but that's definitely what the owner doesn't want to hear. I've looked at the fridge no-cool flowchart and that's what it suggests. However, I'm wondering what else I might want to check.

When I left the owner's house the compressor seemed to be running, but it's really quiet and doesn't vibrate. Is that normal for this fridge? I basically could only tell the unit was running by directly touching the compressor. I ended up leaving the place thinking the compressor is running, and told the owner to let me know in a few hours if the unit gets cold again.

Any advice is appreciated. I'm hoping this is a fixable issue.

Thanks,

Chris

[BradE]

I have replaced 6 compressors on this same unit in the last 2 months. POS unit.

[diabloappliance]

Let me ask this then. Is there a way to tell the difference between a bad compressor and a refrigerant leak? I would like a little bit more hard info before I give the owner the bad news. I'm new to the game, so it's still hard for me to charge for a service call only to tell the owner that there's nothing I can do for them. At least, nothing I can do that would be cost-effective.

[leamy]

these compressors are crap but so are most of the appliances made today.

But they sure are pretty...

well with that said you need to put a a valve on the process tube stub and check the pressure

if it is in vacuum then you have a leak. 

If it is sitting at 20 pounds or so after running for 10 minutes or so you have a bad compressor.

the plastic seals in the internal piston valve seat break off and jam the valve so it won't close completely

this is why you get the 20 pound reading.

quick test on this is the freezer temp is around 40 degrees and not froze up you can pretty much 

figure the compressor is bad

the best way is to tap the system and verify the high suction pressure

Also most of the compressors have a 5-10 year warranty so if you have a bad compressor and you not LG authorized

have the customer call and LG may ship you the compressor at n/c

 

Leamy

[diabloappliance]

I should have been more specific. The fridge and freezer are both at room temperature.

I told the customer to call LG but he doesn't like that idea. I'm not equipped to do a compressor change, and I can't even find a place to order one. I'm going to try to hand this off to someone who can change the compressor out.

I wish I could have made this work, but there's evidence all over the internet that this is a lemon fridge. So it is what it is.

I appreciate the advice guys.