This website is fantastic!

Make: Kenmore
Model# 253.51399105
Serial# LA23807279
Manufactured 9/2002

Here's my problem:
We bought this s/s fridge in 2002 and it has been very reliable. About 3 months ago we bought another fridge for the kitchen and moved the kenmore to the garage. Worked great until about 4 weeks ago when it stopped making cold air. Not even remotely cool. Now the coil fan is blowing, evaporator fan is blowing inside the cabinet but I'm not hearing the compressor kick on. I removed the starter relay and shook it and nothing seemed to rattle. I blew the dust off of the coils and fan and plugged it back in and still no cold air. Could it be stuck in auto-defrost mode? Is the compressor bad? Failed relay? If I took a multi-meter to the relay/overload what would I be looking for numerically on the guage? We had planned on giving it to a young couple who just bought thier first house, providing that we can get it fixed. I Had a sears tech scheduled to come out yesterday and they never showed. I actually found your awesome website while researching how to troubleshoot my dishwasher (with great results). I'm pretty handy and since I am P*SSED that sears stood us up without even a courtesy call, I figured I would give your site another try. I know you guys will know what to do and I'll be able to avoid the BS dance with the sears folks and save myself some $$$. Ideally of course.

Thanks in advance
Scott K.
Dallas, TX

Hi Scott,

Put your hand on the compressor to see if its even warm, like its been trying to start. If it is warm, then its possible that your compressor has locked-up.

The way you test the compressor start relay thats mounted on the side of the compressor is to pull it off, unplug your refrigerator first, then put your ohm meter leads in the 2 small holes in the relay from where it plugs into the compressor and see if you read continuity. Continuity would be 0-1 ohm.

I know you said you moved it to your garage, how hot does your garage get in the Dallas summer, probably fairly hot I imagine.

Ambient temperatures over 90 constantly can overheat/damage any compressor, especially the Kenmore 253 models made by Frigidaire.

Jake

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I let it run for about 2 hours after i cleaned the coils. The compressor was not warm at all. So if I check it for continuity and it seems ok then do you think it's the compressor? could it be the auto defrost is stuck? Thanks again.

__________________
Scott K.
Dallas, TX

Ok Scott, on this model you have an adaptive defrost control board instead of a mechanical timer. Its #23 here:
http://c.searspartsdirect.com/lis_pn...8518-00005.png

Yes, its possible that it could be a bad adaptive defrost control board not coming out of defrost.

Try this:

This is from Jeff's site, your Kenmore 253 model is a Frigidaire:

Frigidaire has also jumped into the market with an adaptive defrost board. The fresh food section light switch and light bulb must work. To initiate a defrost cycle, open the door and push the light switch in and out 5 times within 6 seconds. The compressor and fans should shut off and the defrost heater should come on. Open the door and push the light switch in and out 5 times within 6 seconds to remove the refrigerator from the defrost mode and back into a cooling mode.

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

Thank you Jake. I did however test the relay for continuity and the meter didn't even move. So I'm thinking that the relay may be bad. I will put it back in and try the defrost release protocol. If it doesn't work then I'm inclined to believe the relay is shot. Could you please let me know where I can get a relay as well. Thank you so much. You guys are awesome!

__________________
Scott K.
Dallas, TX

I let it run after doing the defrost release technique. No luck. I think I am going to go ahead and order the relay. That would be the ideal fix. Thanks again for looking up the relay for me.

__________________
Scott K.
Dallas, TX

Ok Scott,

You can order it here, click the part# link.
The part number is 218721119

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

Thanks again. I will keep you posted on the end results.

__________________
Scott K.
Dallas, TX

Ok sounds good Scott.

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 received and replaced the compressor relay today and the fridge works great! Thank you for your help in finding the correct part. I've already told all of my DIY freinds about your site and what a helpful resource it is. Thanks again Jake!

__________________
Scott K.
Dallas, TX