- Model Number
- 106.52692100
I have a 9 year old Kenmore Elite side by side. The refrigerator will not get any colder than 40F, with the fridge temp setting at "7" (the coldest setting). The freezer works great and holds at -5F, with the freezer temp setting at "4".
Last week, I noticed the condenser fan was running constantly and I could hear the starter relay click every few minutes, but the compressor would only start intermittently. The compressor was really hot, and I discovered the condenser coils were completely covered in dust. I cleaned the coils thoroughly, but the compressor still wouldn't start reliably and I noticed the fridge and freezer weren't cooling well. I pulled the starter device off the compressor and sure enough, the relay sounded like a baby rattle when I shook it, not to mention it looked like it had taken a lot of heat. The only other odd thing of note is I haven't heard the familiar dripping sounds of a self defrost cycle for a couple of weeks now, and the drip pan has been bone dry.
Two days ago, I replaced the starter device with the updated parts kit (PTC relay + overload module). Now the compressor starts and cycles as normal, and the condenser fan and evap fan both start and run as normal. However, 30 hours later, the fridge still will not get any colder than 40F, even though the freezer maintains -5F. I checked that the air damper is wide open, with freezer air blowing into the fridge side, and the return air grille is free of obstruction. On board diagnostics check ok. I forced the defrost heater to operate (using fridge's internal diagnostics test). It start melting what little frost was on the evaporator coils within about 30 seconds. After defrost, and resuming normal operation, I watched a very thin layer of frost form evenly on all of the evap coils.
Now I'm not sure what else to check (or replace)
. Any help would be greatly appreciated! If I had $1000 just laying around, I would toss this beast and just go get a new fridge, but... well, you know. On the other hand, expensive parts would just be the last nail in this sucker's coffin. Sorry this is so lengthy...
Last week, I noticed the condenser fan was running constantly and I could hear the starter relay click every few minutes, but the compressor would only start intermittently. The compressor was really hot, and I discovered the condenser coils were completely covered in dust. I cleaned the coils thoroughly, but the compressor still wouldn't start reliably and I noticed the fridge and freezer weren't cooling well. I pulled the starter device off the compressor and sure enough, the relay sounded like a baby rattle when I shook it, not to mention it looked like it had taken a lot of heat. The only other odd thing of note is I haven't heard the familiar dripping sounds of a self defrost cycle for a couple of weeks now, and the drip pan has been bone dry.
Two days ago, I replaced the starter device with the updated parts kit (PTC relay + overload module). Now the compressor starts and cycles as normal, and the condenser fan and evap fan both start and run as normal. However, 30 hours later, the fridge still will not get any colder than 40F, even though the freezer maintains -5F. I checked that the air damper is wide open, with freezer air blowing into the fridge side, and the return air grille is free of obstruction. On board diagnostics check ok. I forced the defrost heater to operate (using fridge's internal diagnostics test). It start melting what little frost was on the evaporator coils within about 30 seconds. After defrost, and resuming normal operation, I watched a very thin layer of frost form evenly on all of the evap coils.
Now I'm not sure what else to check (or replace)
. Any help would be greatly appreciated! If I had $1000 just laying around, I would toss this beast and just go get a new fridge, but... well, you know. On the other hand, expensive parts would just be the last nail in this sucker's coffin. Sorry this is so lengthy...
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