mills wrote:
That's not actually what it says.

Maytag MTB2156GES owner's manual states:
I have no idea of the condition the condenser was in but if the technician thinks it should have been cleaned, you might want to consider periodically cleaning it from here on in?


If it was allowed to continue to click on and off for long before the technician arrived, that would definitely account for the compressor temperature.

BTW. Was the technician you had out a Maytag factory authorized service depot? If they were they might be aware of frequent failures of the particular compressor used on your model and would probably suggest replacing it if they thought necessary.

JMO

Dan O.
Appliance411.com
The Appliance Information Site
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Dan O. is correct about condenser cleaning.

I don't have pets that live in my house, but people with cats and dogs in the home, the pet hair can collect in the condenser even on the self-cleaning condensers, so checking and cleaning it at least once a year is a good idea if you have pets in the home,as well if the inside home environment is particularly greasy, dusty.

If the compressor is clicking on the overload, i always put my test relay and overload on it when the compressor cools to see if it starts running normal, if it still clicks, then the compressor would need to be changed.

You can Ohm out the relay and overload switch as well, and ohm the compressor terminals with each other, i also check continuity with each of the 3 compressor terminals to the compressor shell housing to check for a grounded compressor, A grounded compressor will at times kick the circuit breaker in your home.

If you refrigerator is less than 5 yrs. old, the sealed system warranty will cover the whole cost.

Jake

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So you think build up of pet hair was the culprit?

I'm just really desperate to know what made it fail in the first place. I cannot express what a blood-vessel-bursting experience it has been to deal with Maytag. There is nomeasure we wouldn't consider to avoid another repair call.

BTW: unit is <2yrs. Certified Maytag repairperson (actually a Sears repairperson moonlighting for Maytag) who laughed in our face when we asked why it failed. "Hey, these things are man made."

Its hard to say what caused it, but if its only 2 years old, then you will get a new compressor installed for free.

Jake

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mills wrote:
Is that what was found to be blocking the condenser so much so that cleaning was recommended?

A blockage of the condenser will reduce appliance efficiency increasing energy consumption and put added strain on the compressor that would increase its operating temperature which could lead to premature failure of the relay, overload protector and/or compressor itself.


Short of being a forensic scientist, having the testing facilities to do the necessary tests and being there when the failure occurred, all a technician can do is look for the obvious signs. If none are found and what tests can be preformed turn up negative, the problem would usually just be chalked it up to component failure (for whatever reason - flaw in material, electrical surge, power drop, sun spot, alignment of the planets, etc.). Often a definitive answer can not be found for many component failures.

The only things in the fridge itself which would likely contribute to a failure of the starting relay (besides a problem in the relay itself) is a loose wire connection on it or a problem in the compressor itself and if it wasn't acting up at the time the technician was there so it could be detected, would be impossible to pinpoint as the cause. But in the case of the compressor, it is warranted for at least 5-years so if it did fail totally within that time, it would be replaced under its warranty.

BTW. I don't know any manufacturers which will replace a compressor on the chance it is defective. Only if it can be determined for certain it is bad (or within a high probability) will it usually be replaced.

JMO

Dan O.
Appliance411.com
The Appliance Information Site
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Hi Jeff
Well this is day 4 of my refrigerator running normally-nice and cold- What I did was remove the overload and ptc relays from the compressor and cleaned the contacts as well as possible. when I reinstalled them and turned it on the compressor started right up and has been normal ever since.Maybe I just got lucky and fixed a connection on the start or run winding. Thanks for all your help.
Al

Thankx for the update Al,

**Maybe I just got lucky and fixed a connection on the start or run winding.**

Hope you got lucky!!

jeff.

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