The problem started with water dripping from the bottom of the freezer door. Then I noticed that ice cubes were wet and ice cream was soft. Everything else in the freezer is hard. I checked the coils and they are not frozen and have no frost on them. Then I checked the compressor and fan behind the unit and they are both working. I unplugged the unit to clean the back and when I plugged it back in, the icemaker will not dispense the ice. I have felt the ice and it is hard but the unit will not dispense. I am considering buying a new refrigerator since this one is 13 years old. Can you help?

Hi,

Can you put a thermometer in your freezer and let us know what the temperature reads in a few hours?

This is the one I use in mine:


The freezer should always be between 0-10 degrees.

Jake

__________________
Appliance Repair School 1987-1988
Star Appliance Tech. 2 yrs. 1988-1990
Wards Appliance Tech. 11 yrs. 1990-2001
Sears Appliance Tech. 4 yrs. 2001-Oct. 2005
Jake's Appliance Repair Nov. 2005-present

If you need more repair advice help on your appliance, click Here

Look-Up & Order Parts

Shop Home Appliances

I put a thermometer in a couple hours ago. The temperature is 24 degrees. Also, I said before that the compressor was working. It worked when I had unplugged the refrigerator and plugged it back in. I have had the refrigerator plugged in all afternoon and have not heard the compressor kick on.

Ok, then yes, its likely your compressor has worn out and gone bad.

Repair cost would be about $600

Yes, after 13 years, Its best to save your repair money and get a new refrigerator.

Jake

__________________
Appliance Repair School 1987-1988
Star Appliance Tech. 2 yrs. 1988-1990
Wards Appliance Tech. 11 yrs. 1990-2001
Sears Appliance Tech. 4 yrs. 2001-Oct. 2005
Jake's Appliance Repair Nov. 2005-present

If you need more repair advice help on your appliance, click Here

Look-Up & Order Parts

Shop Home Appliances

Is there any chance that it could be the relay that has gone bad?

Possibly, unplug your refrigerator, then get an ohm meter to ohm that start relay for continuity.

Radio Shack sells cheap volt/ohm meters if you don't already own one.

Jake

__________________
Appliance Repair School 1987-1988
Star Appliance Tech. 2 yrs. 1988-1990
Wards Appliance Tech. 11 yrs. 1990-2001
Sears Appliance Tech. 4 yrs. 2001-Oct. 2005
Jake's Appliance Repair Nov. 2005-present

If you need more repair advice help on your appliance, click Here

Look-Up & Order Parts

Shop Home Appliances

If I purchase an ohm meter, what do I connect it to for continuity?

I unplugged the refrigerator and then pulled the cover off of the relay. I set the meter at the lowest setting (200). The meter has a digital readout that read a constant 2.8. The compressor was very hot to touch.

After trying the meter and having a constant reading of 2.8 and the compressor very hot to touch, do you still feel that it is a bad compressor?

Yup, its your compressor thats bad for sure, your relay at 2.8 ohms is good.

Jake

__________________
Appliance Repair School 1987-1988
Star Appliance Tech. 2 yrs. 1988-1990
Wards Appliance Tech. 11 yrs. 1990-2001
Sears Appliance Tech. 4 yrs. 2001-Oct. 2005
Jake's Appliance Repair Nov. 2005-present

If you need more repair advice help on your appliance, click Here

Look-Up & Order Parts

Shop Home Appliances