Re: Refrigerator question -- defrost timer in Home Repair & Improvement http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20885886 en Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:01:43 EDT Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:01:43 EDT Re: Refrigerator question -- defrost timer http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20887220 mityfowl : Incidentally, the freezer seems fine, although I don't monitor the temp in there, just in the fridge. But everything is solidly frozen

I think you need a thermometer if you don't have one.

Measure the freezer. If its anything like 10-15 your good and just need to find the air flow problem.

Now it might last 1 day or ten years!

Good luck!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20887220 Sat, 02 Aug 2008 00:14:48 EDT Re: Refrigerator question -- defrost timer http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20887188 robbin :
said by Wolfie00 See Profile :

I can pretty much guarantee what I would hear -- that it is coming from the bottom area around the compressor, which is open to the front via the vent panel. Everything else is completely enclosed.
I don't doubt that -- but if you are right there when it makes the click you may be able to identify the component by sound. Basically what I am saying is that you are hearing a click -- so go for it and figure out the component making it. It is not necessarily the way the repairman would do it but you could save some $ if you do do it yourself and this is one way to identify the faulty component.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20887188 Sat, 02 Aug 2008 00:04:53 EDT Re: Refrigerator question -- defrost timer http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20887139 mityfowl : I don't think there are 2 thermostats. I think there is 1 thermostat in the freezer and a "slider gateway or electronic gateway" to adjust the air flow from freezer to refrigerator. It looks like 2 adjustments but thats the electronic air flow.

Maybe you might want to dig everything out from the freezer and look at that air flow to the ref side. It might be the fan there.

Or maybe look at the inlet on the ref side.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20887139 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 23:50:33 EDT Re: Refrigerator question -- defrost timer http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20887087 Wolfie00 :
said by robbin See Profile :

Open up the bottom -- get a pillow -- and just lay there and try to identify the click. It sounds like it is happening fairly often so it shouldn't be too hard.

It may help to unplug it and restart to get the click to happen sooner.
I can pretty much guarantee what I would hear -- that it is coming from the bottom area around the compressor, which is open to the front via the vent panel. Everything else is completely enclosed.

said by mityfowl See Profile :

Could this be the thermostat is shot?
Not likely, since there are two, one for the freezer and one for the fridge, and the manual says "the setting of one affects the temperature in the other to some extent", whatever that is supposed to mean!

Incidentally, the freezer seems fine, although I don't monitor the temp in there, just in the fridge. But everything is solidly frozen.

I suppose I should call the Maytag man and if it's something super expensive I'll just pay the service call and get a new fridge. It's just that I also need a new dishwasher and just put in a new A/C and a new roof. And instead of trees that grow money, I get rogue trees in unwanted places that have to be cut down and disposed of at great expense. :(
--
"Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace" -- Dr. Albert Schweitzer
"A dog is like a child who never grows old ... always there to love and be loved" -- Aaron Katcher
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20887087 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 23:37:29 EDT Re: Refrigerator question -- defrost timer http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20886994 mityfowl : Could this be the thermostat is shot?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20886994 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 23:17:15 EDT Re: Refrigerator question -- defrost timer http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20886911 SandShark :
said by robbin See Profile :

Open up the bottom -- get a pillow -- and just lay there and try to identify the click. It sounds like it is happening fairly often so it shouldn't be too hard.

It may help to unplug it and restart to get the click to happen sooner.
I've got rain gear, coats and jackets, gloves, funny looking hats, an umbrella and various tarps on my van. A pillow is on my list. ;-) Really, though, that's a good suggestion for trying to pinpoint that click. ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20886911 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 23:00:24 EDT Re: Refrigerator question -- defrost timer http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20886828 robbin : Open up the bottom -- get a pillow -- and just lay there and try to identify the click. It sounds like it is happening fairly often so it shouldn't be too hard.

It may help to unplug it and restart to get the click to happen sooner.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20886828 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:40:26 EDT Re: Refrigerator question -- defrost timer http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20886757 SandShark : What you're describing regarding the temperature can be a control issue, but an intermittent problem with the overload or relay can keep the unit from getting down to temperature, also. I don't work on non-commercial refrigerator/freezers, so I'm trying to relate my experience with commercial reach-in refrigerators and freezers to your equipment. The click you describe sure sounds like the overload or relay, though. ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20886757 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:25:49 EDT Re: Refrigerator question -- defrost timer http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20885886 Wolfie00 : I forgot to mention something too. As best as I can tell when the house gets warm (e.g.- it's a warm day but I don't turn on the A/C) the fridge does not get any warmer -- instead it just seems to run a little longer. But it just refuses to go below 40. It has separate thermostats for the freezer and fridge and both are turned to the lowest temperature, to no avail! That tends to suggest a control problem -- defrost timer or thermostat -- rather than something overheating. But the "click" is definitely not a thermostat -- it sounds like a big relay.
--
"Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace" -- Dr. Albert Schweitzer
"A dog is like a child who never grows old ... always there to love and be loved" -- Aaron Katcher
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20885886 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 19:31:14 EDT Re: Refrigerator question -- defrost timer http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20885719 SandShark : One other click I forgot to mention is the start relay, which can make a clicking noise, too. Here's a thread they might help you. It's a do-it-yourself fix if you've a mind to do that kind of stuff.

»www.applianceblog.com/archives/2···e_1.html]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20885719 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:55:43 EDT Re: Refrigerator question -- defrost timer http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20885191 Wolfie00 : I can hear the click very distinctly (not muffled), so I'm guessing it's coming from the bottom where the compressor is and not from anywhere inside the fridge. Hmmmm... if it's an overheating compressor this sounds like a new fridge may be in my future! :p]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20885191 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:13:50 EDT Re: Refrigerator question -- defrost timer http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20885153 SandShark : Good deal. I guess now we need to determine where that click is coming from.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20885153 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:06:21 EDT Re: Refrigerator question -- defrost timer http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20885136 Wolfie00 : Thanks for the tips. I'm pretty sure the answer about the condenser fan motor is "yes", since it's the type of fridge that exhausts warm air out the front bottom (rather than passive coils at the back) which means it can be fully enclosed in cabinetry, which it is. If this is what you mean by condenser fan motor, it isn't broken because I can feel warm air blowing out the bottom when the fridge runs. I occasionally vacuum out the coil area down there but I'll try it again more thoroughly this time in case it's a dirt problem.
--
"Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace" -- Dr. Albert Schweitzer
"A dog is like a child who never grows old ... always there to love and be loved" -- Aaron Katcher
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20885136 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:03:52 EDT Re: Refrigerator question -- defrost timer http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20885083 SandShark : There are a couple things it could be. It could be the defrost timer, but from what you're describing ("stopping when it shouldn't, accompanied by a loud click") I have my doubts it's the defrost timer. Although they might click when going from one mode to the next, the click is not that loud. Does your unit have a condenser fan motor?

In case you don't know, the condenser fan motor would be in the bottom rear of the unit, right next to the compressor, and it has a fan blade attached. If the condenser fan motor has failed, the compressor will continue to run. Eventually (usually within a minute or two), the compressor will shut itself down on what's called an overload. The overload's job is to protect the compressor from overheating. When the overload trips, it can make an audible click. Once the compressor cools down enough, the overload will reset, the compressor will run (and cool somewhat) until it trips again. This scenario will go on continuously until the compressor fails or the overload fails. Also, the same thing can happen (overheating and tripping) if the condenser coil itself is clogged with dirt and dust. Check it for cleanliness.

Other than those two things, I can't think of anything else that would make a loud click. Can you tell exactly from where the clicking noise is emanating? ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20885083 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:56:03 EDT Refrigerator question -- defrost timer http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20884996 Wolfie00 : I have a Maytag fridge that is around fifteen years old that seems to have developed a problem with what I'm guessing is a relay or timer related to the defrost cycle. Normally when it stops running because it's cold enough the compressor just sort of silently winds down. But lately it has also been stopping when it shouldn't, accompanied by a loud click. About twenty minutes later it starts up again. The end result is it doesn't get as cold as it should no matter what temp it's set at. I'm guessing that something related to the defrost cycle is broken and there is some "safety" feature that keeps the temp from rising much above 40 degrees, but that's it. It won't get any colder. It cools just fine when it runs -- it just doesn't run often enough!

Any ideas? Is this likely to be an expensive repair? I'd probably call the Maytag guy rather than trying to do anything myself. It's a nice fridge and I'd prefer not to replace it.
--
"Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace" -- Dr. Albert Schweitzer
"A dog is like a child who never grows old ... always there to love and be loved" -- Aaron Katcher
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,20884996 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:42:12 EDT