Frigidaire mini fridge...time to say goodbye?

[klandingham]

Model Number

FFPE4522QB

Brand

Frigidaire

Age

6-10 years

Hi,

I have an older Frigidaire mini fridge/freezer (model FFPE4522QB if I'm reading the right label) that has been running fine for years, but recently stopped cooling.

With the thermostat set for maximum cold, I noticed that I could not feel the compressor running. I read the AC voltage at the starter pins and it was just over 10 VAC. This puzzled me as I thought the thermostat was basically a switch. I decided to try replacing it.

The original thermostat was marked as 'WDF27', but I couldn't find one of those anywhere. The closest I could find was a WDF24, so I got one of those and installed it.

After doing that, I saw 120 VAC at the starter pins and could feel the compressor running. I set the thermostat to max cold and let it run for a few hours. I put one thermometer in the freezer and one in the main section. After what seemed like a very long time (6+ hours, sorry I didn't time it), the freezer finally went down to -10F, but the main section didn't get any colder than 55F.

This also puzzled me as I thought that the main section was cooled by way of colder air sinking down from the freezer above (there doesn't seem to be any sort of convection fan anywhere - in fact the main section doesn't seem to have any openings at all).

The fridge runs in a very dusty environment (unfinished basement), so I'm wondering if the evaporator and/or compressor coil may be clogged up with dust and debris. I'd like to clean them, but I have no idea where they are nor how to get to them. The back of the unit seems to be a solid panel with no screws of any kind.

My questions:
1. Am I correct in assuming the main section gets cold air from the freezer above it?

2. Could dirty coils in fact be causing this?

3. Or, is it more likely that the problem is refrigerant loss, meaning it's time to bid farewell.

Thanks for any info!

 

[klandingham]

A little bit of follow up...

I laid this fridge on its face to have a better look at the back and underneath. It continues to baffle me. Looking at the photos, I don't see how there could possibly be any airflow through the condenser or evaporator coils (if it even HAS them). The entire back/bottom seems to be sealed. It appears that the tube to the evaporator (on the left?) and the one for the condenser both travel up into the back of the unit, but again, I see no way air could flow over these coils.

How would heat be dissipated if the evap and condensor coils are both buried in the back of the unit, with no airflow to carry off the heat?

Still baffled (pardon the pun).

 

[klandingham]

Never mind...found a YT video answering my questions.

 

[paulhl]

Could you possibly let everyone know what you discovered

 

[klandingham]

I will try! If I understand what I saw, the condenser coil(s) are embedded in the side walls of the unit, and their heat is dispelled via the external cabinet walls. The evaporator coil is in the freezer compartment. So by design, there is no direct air flow (forced nor convective) directly on the coils.