Howdy,

I have a 1990 Kelvinator TAK190GN1D that has run for 17 years. We overstuffed the freezer last week, and the freezer door popped open overnight. It has not worked reliabable since.

We emptied it on Friday, and left it shut off overnight. When I turned it on Saturday morning, the fan started at first, and then a few minutes later, it sounded like the compressor started for a few seconds, and then quit. A few minutes later, it sounded like the compressor was started again for a few seconds, and it quit again. It must have gone through this cycle a half dozen times or so, and it eventually kicked on and stayed on, and brought the fridge/freezer down to temperature. The freezer and fridge temperatures could good and cold, and we left for a birthday party. When we got back a few hours later, the fridge was warm again. Every now a then, you would hear a faint electrical hum (not quite the same as the compressor actually starting, but it sounded like it was doing something. Sunday, we had a repeat. We left it shut off overnight, and turned it back on. The fan comes on instantly, but for the first couple of tries, the compressor only runs for a few seconds and shuts off. After a while, it worked, and the freezer was ice cold when we got back from being out for 2 hours. We went to a family reunion, and got back Sunday night to a warm fridge and freezer.

I cleaned off the coils on the back during the Saturday run, and the coils on the back seemed very hot.

The unit has a new controller and defrost timer, which I replaced last fall.

Any idea what to check or replace. How hard is it the change compressor's if that's what it is. Any links with instructions that I can follow if I need to change compressor. What's the deal with $35 dollar compressor's on Ebay - are they any good ? If it is compressor, do I need to find exact model# on ebay, or should I buy similar brand/refrigerant compressor - i.e. a Kelvinator/Electrolux/Frigidaire/Gibson/Tappan compressor, of the R12 variety.

Thanks for the help. I haven't the money for a new fridge, and $100 might break the bank right now. If I can pull off a fix for under $100, I'd probably keep the unit going.

Dave
davidbrianlove@yahoo.com

Hi,

Yes, it sounds like your compressor is bad.

By law you can't change your own compressor without a refrigerant license, due to EPA laws with the R12.

You would also need a turbo-torch to weld the copper and steal tubing lines, etc.

This is something I don't recommend someone doing without prior knowledge.

The compressors on ebay are a joke. Compressors are usually between $150-$300.

Here is the one for your model:
Compressor Kit

Jake

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