Thread: Compressor has trouble starting

Hi,

This is a 1979 refrigerator, so it sounds more like your compressor is just wearing out and thus this issue your having, I doubt a new compressor start relay will solve this.

Maybe its time to retire this refrigerator, its had a longer than normal life.

And the new refrigerators of today have a much more energy efficient compressor and you will definitely notice your electric bill decrease a lot.

Jake

Jake,

Thanks for your quick reply and your complements to this long-lived fridge.

However, I still want to "keep it on the road" if possible. It's in a summer cabin that's owned by an elderly friend, and it's only used in summer months.

Are you saying that a new compr start relay will probably not solve the starting difficulty, because start relays "either work or fail completely"? And what about the capacitors ... is that something to go after?

Thanks.

Andy

Are you saying that a new compr start relay will probably not solve the starting difficulty, because start relays "either work or fail completely"?

Exactly Andy.

And what about the capacitors ... is that something to go after?

No, because the capacitors used on refrigerators are for the running of the compressor, after it starts.

Jake

Jake,

OK. Thanks for the reply. I guess I'll have to replace the fridge.

Andy

Ok Andy.

Jake

Hi Jake,

I'm writing again about the same fridge (1979 Kenmore Model 106.7698380). I have not replaced it since we last communicated about it 18 months ago.

But the symptoms have transmogrified. When the thermostat calls for it to start, it starts fine in about half of the instances ... this part is the same as before. What's different is that, when it doesn't start right, something buzzes very loudly ... you can hear it throughout the house ... sounds like a buzzing relay ... it buzzes for about three seconds, then it turns off (which I assume is due to the thermal overload protector), and a few minutes later it tries again and usually starts fine on the second attempt. There has never been any problem with insufficient cooling, i.e. the compressor always does start by the second or third attempt.

When I wrote 18 months ago, the noise was just humming, as if the compressor failed to turn over. Now, instead of the humming, there is this loud buzzing ...

Does this affect the diagnosis?

I'm wondering about the start relay, PTC relay, capacitor? Is it worth trying replacements of any of these parts? If not too much trouble, what are the p/n's I need?

BTW, before I disassemble anything and possibly cause it to fail altogether, I want to have the replacement parts on-hand!

(And please help me out with basic understanding: Are the start relay and PTC relay the same item with two names? And is the thermal overload protector inside the sealed compressor unit, or is it also external?)

Thanks.

Andy

Its still the compressor Andy.

Go refrigerator shopping this weekend.

Jake

Thanks Jake.