refridgerator won't start

[honey_monkey]

I'm new here and I really don't know what i'm doing. The power went out here and i didn't get a chance to unplug the refridgerator before it came back on and now it is messed up. The light goes on but there is no noise or anything to indicate that it's even starting. I read an earlier post that mentioned looking for a "run" "stop" switch, but i could not locate one. There was an unmarked plastic dial at the bottom on the back that i turned a few times, is that going to mess it up? As near as i can figure it's a Hotpoint mod.RTI30BRTI. If anybody has any ideas they would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.


sean

[Dean]

Have you tried plugging something else into the outlet to make sure it's hot?

Sounds like you rotated the defrost timer which should have made the compressor start IF it happened to be in the defrost mode.

[LazyPup]

If the interior light is on we can assume the outlet is okay and the refrigerator is getting power.

The problem then must be in Thermostat, defrost timer, compressor, compressor overload protector (Klixon Thermo Disc) or the Start relay.

Look inside the refrigertor food compartment and you should find two temperatur controls. One marked "Temperature" and the other marked "Freezer". (Disregard the freezer control as it is only a plastic damper in the air passage from the freezer to the food compartment.)

The Thermostat is connected to the Temperature control and should be indexed....OFF, 1,2,3,4,5,6 etc etc. (It may be lettered A.B,C,D. etc or it may be labelled cold,,colder,,coldest.) Turn it all the way to the off position and wait 5 minutes, then turn it on and rotate to the highest setting.

If the compressor motor does not start listen carefully for a faint click sound in the compressor motor compartment.

If your refrigerator has the condenser coils underneath by the compressor there should also be a condenser fan motor. Check to see if that fan motor is running?

Open the freezer and listen for the evaporator fan motor.

If the fan motors are running but the compressor is not starting the problem is in the compressor compartment. (Check the freezer door frame, there may be a small pushbutton switch on the frame to activate the fan. If you locate a small plastic switch on the door frame, push in on it and listen for the fan motor to start.)

If both the compressor and the fans are not running the refrigerator is probably in the defrost cycle.

The defrost timer can be a bit elusive to locate. It is a small black box about 2 x 3 x 4 inches with a wire cable attached to one end and on the front there is tubular shaft about a 1/2 inch in diameter with a slot on the end of the shaft. (The slot is so you can use a coin to turn the shaft, a quarter usually works best.) Some of the defrost timers have a cover over the shaft. It will look like a large white shirt button about 3/4" diameter with a slot across it.

The defrost timer is normally located inside the plastic shrouds(look on the underside of the top food compartment cover near the thermostat, on the bottom of the refrigerator behind the kick plate, on the back of the refrigerator about the middle of the box or in the compressor compartment.

Once you locate the defrost timer turn the shaft clockwise about a quarter to a half turn and listen for a click in the timer. When it clicks the compressor and fans should start.

If the fans start but the compressor does not start, UNPLUG THE REFRIGERATOR and proceed to testing the Overload protector (Klixon switch), start relay and compressor terminals as illustrated below.

[honey_monkey]

Hey, thanks a lot for all the help guys!! I really appreciate it!!

This has certainly been a learning experience but i am still having trouble. I'm really sorry but i forgot to mention that the fridge is frost-free and i may sound like an idiot here, but do frost-free fridges have defrost cycles? Because i can't seem to find any defrost timer. I did find a small black box about the size described but there is no shaft with a slot on it.

I noticed there are coils on the bottom of the fridge but there is no fan.

I think the compressor might be kaput, is there anything else i could check before springing for the new compressor?


sean

[LazyPup]

Although it is possible, it is highly unlikely that the compressor suffered any serious damage from a power outage. Sight unseen i would suspect the defrost timer or the overload protector.

[LazyPup]

look at the attached illustration to see an example of A typical defrost timer.

[CaptainD]

LazyPup, your diagram and formula for figuring out the compressor pins worked great. I replaced the Klixon with a generic start / overload and had no wiring diagram on the fridge. All is working again.

Thanks!!!

[Dan O.]

I replaced the Klixon with a generic start / overload. All is working again.

Be careful using a universal solid state relay if it is on a refrigerator made in the last 10-years. Many newer energy efficient compressors use a different relay system and the compressor can be damaged using a universal replacement instead.



If the relay looks like the above image, I strongly advise you to only install the proper replacement relay or you may be replacing the compressor ($$$+) in a very short time!

JMO

Dan O.
www.Appliance411.com
The Appliance Information Site
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