253.9235710 Kenmore freezer recently stopped working - diagnosis

[jpcjguy]

Model Number

253.9235710

Brand

Sears Kenmore

Age

More than 10 years

So I have an older Kenmore upright freezer (from 4/93) that recently stopped working (Friday 11/11). The door was left cracked at one point - not sure how long and there was some ice build up at the bottom. I noticed the temps creeping up. So that morning (Friday) I emptied it, unplugged it and left it with the door open. All the ice melted, confirmed the drain was clear.
Plugged it back in on Saturday morning at around 8AM, by 11:30 AM it was negative 9 degrees celsius. I thought "Sweet! working again!" Left it and it got to -16 celsius. Waited until Sunday morning to put some stuff in it - just some ice packs and a couple small things. Then the temperature kept going up until it was room temp. So I unplugged it and let it sit again.

Got home late Tuesday night so yesterday morning I took it all apart and plugged it back in (it was unplugged the last few days). Fan in the back immediately started running, heard some clicks and not much else. Thought that it is done - compressor not kicking on. Then after about 3-5 minutes, the compressor kicks on! ok. .... After a few minutes I see a little evidence of frost on the coils! This was at 7:29AM - and the thermometer I had in there said 15 degrees C. Went inside to get ready and came back at 7:49AM - thermometer says 10 degrees! Progress!
So not sure what is going on. Then I left for work.
I called home at 5:38PM and had my son open it. It is -9°C. So after cooling all day that is what it got to.
Got home at around 7:30PM and it was at -11°C. I then moved the dial from 3 to 6 (max).
Compressor sounds like it is running. It is pretty warm to the touch. But not scalding

This morning at 7AM (Thursday) I went out and it was -4 degrees C. I moved the temp dial back and forth (from warmest to coldest) a couple times and then left it at the coldest setting (6).
Just checked it at 7:55AM and it was -11 degrees C. What the!?!?!? Any advice? I feel like there is freon because it is getting cold - the evaporator appears to be frosting uniformly, the fan is running. The one thing I cannot check is the condenser coils and fan - there is no way to access them - from what I can tell. Could I have a bad temp sensor? I am will to spend a little on it - if it is something small like a electrical part, but obviously not a ton since it is from 1993.

Thanks!
Joe

 

[jpcjguy]

Just checked again - and it is back up to 2 degrees C? evaporator coils do not have as much frost on them. compressor is hot to the touch - meaning you can touch it but cannot leave your hand/fingers on it - no way...

 

[Dan O.]

The one thing I cannot check is the condenser coils and fan - there is no way to access them

Not all refrigerators and freezers are made the same. Your model doesn't have a condenser fan and the condenser is built into the cabinet walls and doesn't need service.

evaporator coils do not have as much frost on them

The important thing is if the evaporator is frosting evenly across its whole service and not just on part of it.

compressor is hot to the touch - meaning you can touch it but cannot leave your hand/fingers on it - no way...

That is bad. If the compressor is shutting off and trying to restart prematurely, that could cause it. When it starts not cooling, someone needs to check the power to, and operation of the compressor.

I moved the temp dial back and forth (from warmest to coldest) a couple times and then left it at the coldest setting (6).

Don't do that! Once the compressor shuts off it needs to be left off for 2-5+ minutes before powering it again.


Dan O.

 

[jpcjguy]

Not all refrigerators and freezers are made the same. Your model doesn't have a condenser fan and the condenser is built into the cabinet walls and doesn't need service.

- ok - thanks - good to know!

The important thing is if the evaporator is frosting evenly across its whole service and not just on part of it.

- when it was cooling - it appeared to be - see the freezer coils 730PM pic above

That is bad. If the compressor is shutting off and trying to restart prematurely, that could cause it. When it starts not cooling, someone needs to check the power to, and operation of the compressor.

- anything I can test there?

Don't do that! Once the compressor shuts off it needs to be left off for 2-5+ minutes before powering it again

- shoot! good to know also. I will power it off and let the compressor cool off and then plug it in again.... just frustrating because I feel like it could be just one part - but without being able to nail it down - I don't want to shoot the "parts cannon" at it - I mean it is almost 30 years old!

 

[Dan O.]

see the freezer coils 730PM pic

That looks good.

anything I can test there?

Not really besides seeing if the compressor is trying to run but failing to when the temps warm up.


If the compressor tries to start but fails, it will try again and again. That stopping and trying to restart repeatedly will cause the compressor to overheat. That is most often a problem with the relay/overload assembly but could be due to an internal problem with the compressor itself.

Unfortunately the original relay is discontinued. If it was the cause, replacing the original with a solid state relay/overload would be necessary. Compounding things, your compressor uses a run (not start) capacitor. There is a specialized universal relay would be needed.

This link is pertinent to your message. It is supplied by this message author.

LINK > Universal Relay Overload for *Run* Capacitor applications


If the compressor itself was responsible, it is unlikely to be worthwhile to repair and definitely not by most homeowners.


Dan O.

 

[jpcjguy]

Dan O.

Thanks for your insight - looks like the relay part number is: 216008900 and the only place I found it is on Ebay :Relay link
But looking at $120 - and if that is not the issue.....
The capacitor is 10-20 off ebay or 42 from searspartsdirect.com.
Might be time to call it on this freezer..
I plugged it in again this morning and after 4 minutes the compressor kicked in - we will see what happens today. The temp dial is at "3" - the middle.

 

[jpcjguy]

So been about 1 hour 10 minutes and at -1 degrees C and the compressor is still running it is warm to the touch - not scalding. I can keep my hand on it no problem.....

 

[Dan O.]

But looking at $120... Might be time to call it on this freezer..

... or try the $20 universal relay I linked to in my previous message if the relay is suspect. But that's up to you.


Let us know how you make out.

Dan O.

 

[jpcjguy]

Oops! Not sure how I missed that link!
So should I do that universal relay by itself? or do I have to get a new capacitor also at the same time?
There are 3 parts grouped together - the relay, capacitor, overload (#26, #36, #25)

 

[Dan O.]

Oops! Not sure how I missed that link!

I have no idea how I can make a related link more visible in my replies. I guess people just see what they want to see.

or do I have to get a new capacitor also at the same time?

Capacitors rarely fail. It is unlikely to be required but you can test the original as shown at the following link. (You don't need to worry about discharging the capacitor in your application. That is for microwaves only.)

LINK > ApplianceAid: Capacitor Testing


Dan O.