I have replaced the starter and relay for the third time now on my Kenmore frig. It was manufactured and purchased in 2000. Every other time I have replaced the parts it solved the problem. Yesterday, after installing the new parts it started cooling and cooled long enough to make two trays of ice, but this morning when I woke the ice had started melting and the compressor was not working. Is it most likely that the compressor this time? Is it really economical to replace it?

What year is it and is it a top line model ?
Sounds like it could be the comp , got an amperage tester
?

Need to check if compressor is getting voltage! A lot of short cycling can cause compressor buildup of contaminants that cause the compressor to seize up after running for a period of time.
Also if there is no short cycling now (brief high current draw then aclick noise from the overload) then one of the conmpressor windings may be open

Yes, I agree with luger and szm200.

If you have replaced the relay/overload many times recently, then its likely your compressor is bad.

Since your refrigerator is out of the 5 yr. sealed system/compressor warranty, it would extremely costly to have it replaced. About $400-$600.

Jake

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To answer some of the questions: It is a 6-7 year old side by side Kenmore's basic. Not fancy and definately not top of the line. (I think around $800 at the time) It seems that the concensus is that I should just look at buying a new unit. Does anyone have any particular brands? My wife is really upset and swears that she will not get another Kenmore. I had someone local here recommend only GE and Whirlpool. Any advice will make the purchase easier. I had heard that there are really only a few places that make units anymore, but I would guess that each brand has different parts making them either better or worse than the other.

Whirpool, Frigidaire and GE are good brands.

You can click this banner and look through all the ones listed here:


I purchsaed a brand new Front-Load Washer from Best Buy last week, and I love it, Its a GE.

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

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As I stated earlier I replaced the starter and relay on 12/26 and it worked for maybe 2 hours and stopped. Well I never unplugged the frig and when I got hoe today I heard it drop a tray of ice. It has now been running for most of the day without any problem. Is this still symptamatic of a compressor going bad?

Your fridg. may now have a damaged start /run winding and is now a "hard start" unit. At low line voltage times it may not start.
A 3n1 kit may work but will need to retain the run capacitor if the fridg. has one. Some parts places sell a 3n1 with wiring for run capacitor.
Or the compressor may be seizing due to build up of contaminants.
There is a supco additive that will fix this but will need to open the sealed system.

The 3n1 kit for this is Pn#urco41, the supco additive is SUPCO88 oil additive.

I wouldn't recommend the 3n1 kit on the refrigerators made after 1990. I used to use them alot, but seemed like every time I did, a few months later I would be back to change the compressor.

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

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