Fridge Problems I have a Frigidaire side-by-side. In the last two weeks or so, I noticed that it (motor?) would cycle a few times, then run or shut off. Four days ago, it stopped running (except the fan that cools the coils, it still ran intermittently) and everything thawed in freezer and fridge. After I cleaned out all the spoiled food, it started again, and was running normal. Now, it shut down again yesterday, I threw out all my food again, and now this morning, it's running (cooling) again. I have temp on factory settings, and have cleaned the condenser coils (weren't very dusty) HELP!!!

it may be the thermost you can by pass it temporaly to see if the motor will start up again if it does replace thermostat

FRIDGE COILS or door walls SEEM VERY HOT:

The condenser coils do get hot. They can even be to hot to comfortably touch and this is normal.

The refrigerator should not run constantly but shut off with each defrost cycle.

Running constantly and never cycling off can indicate a cooling problem.

One thing to try is to wait till it has been running a few minutes then open the door and turn your cycling thermostat towards the off position. It should cycle off before getting to the off position on the dial.

If it does not cycle off then it's not getting cold enough to satisfy the thermostat. This is likely the reason the refrigerator runs all the time.

A thermometer in a glass of water can be used to check the temperatures in the refrigerator section.

You can check that all fans are running.

the reason the outer side of the door seal area is getting hot is the compressor is over heating, probably the condenser fan motor to your compressor is bad.
It should be a little warm but not hot. they don't use heaters anymore ( some older models still use heaters) around the doors, instead they use the condenser coils to remove condensation and moister, you might want to check your condenser coils on the bottom or back of fridge to see if they need cleaning
If the condenser coils/condenser fan are all plugged up they need cleaning and/or the condenser may fail or has failed..

The ones that use an electric heater will have an "energy saver" switch that will turn it off.: God is the reason I give you free advice so God is good!














Fridge FAN CONTINUALLY STAYS ON OR SHUTS OFF WHEN DOOR IS OPENED:

NORMALLY WHEN THIS HAPPENS U EITHER HAVE A DOOR CONTINUALLY OPEN ISSUE OR A BAD DOOR SEAL LETTING AIR IN AND CAUSING FAN TO OVERWORK ITSELF. ANOTHER CAUSE CAN BE DIRTY COILS AND CONDENSER AND LASTLY NOT TO COMMON IS A SHORT IN THE FAN SYSTEM ITSELF. A MORE PROBABLE CAUSE COULD BE BAD THERMISTORS OR EVEN COLD CONTROL THERMOSTAT ( WHEN THE THERMISTORS OR THERMOSTAT DO NOT GET/GIVE A PROPER READING, THEY CAN CAUSE THE FAN TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE AS THEY FAIL TO RECOGNIZE OR REGULATE THE PROPER TEMPERATURE.

Not neccessarily the cool cycle uses less power and pressure from the motor, the winedings on motor may be bad or going out? does it shut down after 20-30 minutes of running? u may also want to check ur venting and ur thermostats the cycling and the thermal cut off, if ur having an over heating problem they can and will shut off the cycle as a safety precaution

Here is a video to show you how to test the compressor.

this appears to be a stuck relay or contactor . follow the wire back from the fan and locate the contactor or relay slp it and see it it comes lose. ?? this does not mean it will solve the problem as you will still have to repalce any part that is causing it.. Hope this helps let me know Jon

you moved the fridge out from the wall and it started running again?try opening the fridge door and tap on the fridge control and see if it starts up.i,ve gone into houses and then the woman tells me when the fridge shuts down she hits the side and it runs again.it's the control,this could be your problem also,when you moved the fridge the control could have kicked back on.let me know what you find

if it seems like the evaporator is getting cold then your sealed system should appear to be ok. you need the evap fan to transfer cold air into fresh food section. if not turning u need to replace fan motor. make sure your not getting to much frost build up on the evap.

Did you leave the door open? check the light socket for shorts ..check the door switch the light will go off when to door is closed..

Check that the AC outlet works where the unit plug. Its seems that you have a power loss problem, either on the unit or in the wall outlet.

CHECK AND MAKE SURE YOU CAN HEAR YOUR EVAPORATOR FAN RUNNING (INSIDE MOTOR). IF IT IS NOT RUNNING ... AND YOUR COMPRESSOR IS RUNNING. THE MOTOR OR DEFROST TEMENATION SWICTH COULD BE DEFECTIVE. IF NOTHING IS RUNNING ... TRY TO LOCATE THE DEFROST TIMER(USUALLY LOCATED WHERE YOUR COLD CONTROLS ARE) YOU SHOULD SEE A SMALL HOLE WHERE YOU CAN MANUALLY TURN THE TIMER WITH A SCREW DRIVER.IT CAN ONLY TURN IN ONE DIRECTION. IF THE MOTOR IS RUNNING. CHECK TO SEE IF COMPRESSOR IN THE BACK IS RUNNING ... IF IT ISNT AND IS "HOT" (BE CAREFULL) SEE IF THE CONDENSER MOTOR NEAR THE COMPRESSOR IS RUNNING ... IF NOT ... THE COND. MOTOR IS BAD ... THAT MOTOR RUNS IF POWER IS GOING TO THE COMPRESSOR ALWAYS. IF COMPRESSOR IS HOT AND NOT RUNNING AND COND. FAN IS RUNNING .... UN PLUG FRIG AND WAIT TILL COMPRESSOR IS COOL TO THE TOUCH. THESE COMPRESSORS HAVE AN INTERNAL T-STAT THAT PROTECTS THE COMPRESSOR IF IT SHORT CYCLES.IT SOMETIMES GETS SO HOT IT DOES TAKE HOURS TO COOL OFF. THERE IS ALSO A DEFROST-TERMINATION SWITCH THAT CAN GO BAD. CONSULT A LICSESED FACTORY CERTIFIED COMPANY TO GIVE YOU A FIXED-PRICE DIAGNOSTIC TEST.