Whirlpool Frig. model: ET1FTKXKQ02 no cold air

[Taimi]

Fan is working.  Light is working.  No cold air.

For two days prior to me noticing that it was not cooling food, frig was making a medium pitch sound that lasted from 2 to 10 seconds at  time.

For months prior to this stoppage, it had been collecting moisture inside down under the fruit and vegetable drawers.

Thanks for your time and opinion.

 

[Rhubarb Tau]

Check if the compressor is running. That medium-pitch sound you're describing could be the compressor cycling on the overload switch (aka start device), usually with a pretty noticeable 'click'.

 

[Taimi]

OK.  I will check it in the morning.  Thank you.  

[Taimi]

I looked at the compressor (canister?).  The fan next to it was running.  Not sure how to tell if it is working or not.  Looked for a switch.  None.  Did not hear any click sound, but I did not have the refrigerator on for more than 3 - 5 minutes.

Should I try the same thing tomorrow morning, leaving frig on for longer  or . . . ?   I am quite the novice.

[KaveMan]

I agree it's probably the compressor. If you put your hand on it, can you feel it running? You should feel a steady vibration. Is it warm or cold? If the fan next to it is running, but the compressor is not, you either have a bad compressor or start relay. A bad compressor is a huge, expensive repair, the relay not so much...

[Taimi]

Thanks, Kaveman.  I will check it again tomorrow morning.

If it does happen to be running, I'm wondering how to check the start relay.

Taimi

[KaveMan]

You can carefully pry it off the compressor, ( unplug fridge of course), and shake it. In some models it will rattle like a baby's rattle if it's bad. Otherwise you need a meter to test it electrically. Might be worth your time and money to have a professional check it out...in most cases he would have a relay on the truck and for cheap money get you going again. He could also evaluate the health of the compressor at the same time. 

Edited June 28, 2018 by KaveMan

[16345Ed]

8 hours ago, Taimi said:

If it does happen to be running, I'm wondering how to check the start relay.

If it’s running no need to check start relay. 

If its NOT running your start relay is likely culprit. 

[Lighthouse]

2 hours ago, KaveMan said:

shake it. In some models it will rattle like a baby's rattle if it's bad

I don't trust this method anymore. Used to be good method but I have had some new ones rattle right out of box & work. Had some bad ones that never rattled.

[Thirstytech]

With the "shake method" you can shake it like a salt shaker into the palm of your hand and get some crumbs of the burned up contacts. Carbon trails and classic burned up smell usually are present, too. 

[Taimi]

Hello, Everyone.  Thanks for this.

I plugged it in this morn and sat and watched and listened.   15 minutes after I plugged it in, the compressor started.  Cold air coming into freezer and frig.

5 hours and 36 minutes later, it shut off.    10 or 15 minutes after that, I opened the freezer door and heard a faint "zzzzip,  zzzzip" sound from the back.   I walked away, came back about 30 minutes later and found that the frig was running again and producing cold air.

About 4 and 1/2 hours after that,  I looked at the coils in the freezer and noted that they were really covered in frost --- more than I've ever seen.  (Please note that for maybe 2 years or more this frig wasn't defrosting properly, so I was defrosting it myself.  Then, in the last  7 months, I've only had to defrost it once -- maybe twice.)

I will check it again in the morning and give you an update about the frost, etc.

What do you make of all of this frig's odd behavior?

Thank you.

 

 

 

 

[Taimi]

As of an hour ago, frig. is still running and making cold air.

I checked the freezer for frost, and noted that there wasn't a lot --- just a bit on the ends of the metal, slide-trombone shaped, horizontal things, tiny amount of ice around the opening of the drain, and a small amount of ice under the plastic tray that the food rests on. 

I do not know what to make of the frig's symptoms over the last few days.

Thanks.

[Taimi]

One more thing:

Kaveman mentioned that one can put their hand on the compressor to see if it is running --- it should be warm and one can feel a vibration.  My frig's compressor is beyond warm, it is definitely hot, but not too hot to touch.   I don't know if that indicates any malfunction or imminent malfunction.

Thanks.

[certified tech group 51]

the compressor should be more hot than warm...About  120 degs....  First post, on water on the fresh food section floor, I would have check for a blocked defrost drain tube..........The high pitch sound , I would be checking  the bearings of the evaporator motor, failing bearings will cause the motor RPM to fluctuate.. slow  RPM  means less chilled air to the fresh food compartment......Evaporator motor P/N   WPW10189703.... Picture of evaporator coil after about 20 minutes of run time would be nice....Remove floor of freezer and check for water/ice..

[Taimi]

Thank you!

When you say, "Picture of evaporator coil after 20 minutes of run time would be nice", are you saying that you want me to unplug the frig., maybe let the motor cool down, then plug back in, let frig run for 20 minutes, then take a picture of the evaporator coil?

Thanks.

[certified tech group 51]

after a defrost cycle or turn the cold control to "OFF".... clear any old ice/frost with steamer/ hair dryer and restart system.  I.E.  turn cold control "ON"... No need to let evaporator motor to cool down....We want to see your frost pattern,  you can run this test with the evap. panel off....Have you seen any more water under the storage drawers???

[Taimi]

As of this morning, about 7 hours ago, frig was still working fine.  No strange sounds, either.  Odd.

I will check to see if any moisture under storage drawers.  Thank you for the help.  It may take me  few days to get a picture of the frost pattern --- I have to figure out how to send a photo to my email with this phone.