Fridge Compressor fault finding.

[BigBrand]

Anyone any experience.

Had my fridge around 2 years, it was a cheap one from Currys for 2 ton.

The freezer works grand, but the top fridge no longer gets cold. The fridge is barely cool, but certainly not room temperature. The temp dial does nothing, and the compressor doesn't seem to kick in now as you can't hear it.

I do have moisture built up on the back wall on the inside of the fridge, and there is a condensation drain plug at the back that is filled with water, and casing small ice to form around it in the fridge,

Any idea what's going on?

Should this drain be empty? Tried turning on and off for a while and can't seem to get the compressor to kick in, so presume it's knackered?

[BigBird]

If there is condensation and a drain on the back wall of the fridge then this doesn't sound like a frost free version. If it only has one compressor then it is the type where the gas first travels through the freezer evaporator and then through the fridge evaporator. If the gas is low then the freezer may still operate but there is not enough gas to cool the fridge sufficiently in which case the compressor would be running continuously so you will never hear it kicking in. (">

[BigBrand]

Aye it's certainly not a frost free version.

Can you top the gas up then? Or is it sealed up so if it's gone it's gone type scenario?

[BigBird]

I have topped up the gas on them before using the equipment I was using to top up vehicle air conditioning but if it has leaked out then it will only leak out again if you cant find the leak and fix it.

There is another possibility although I have no experience of it happening myself. As it's a cheap model it will have just the one compressor serving the freezer and fridge. Depending on how they have designed it there may be a solenoid that bypasses the fridge evaporator which will be controlled by the fridge thermostat. If the solenoid seals are leaking or it is stuck partially open the fridge will exhibit the symptoms you are experiencing with the fridge not cooling as well as it should. (">

[BigBrand]

Is it worth getting someone into fix it? Or cut my loses here?

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[BigBird]

Is it worth getting someone into fix it? Or cut my loses here?

Sent from my GT-I9195 using Tapatalk

Cut your losses I think. Even if it is a solenoid it will have to be degassed silver soldered and regassed which wont be cheap. I would give trading standards a quick call for some advice though because even a cheap fridge freezer should last more than two years. The fact that it has failed in two years when most fridge freezers go on for 10+ years you could argue that it must have been inherently faulty when you bought it. Also I was under the impression that white goods importers have to state that their products are reliable and have an average fault free life of 6 years or more before they can sell them in the UK. Nothing to lose by giving them a call. They are usually quite helpful. (">

[bbshark]

phone currys tell them it isnt working and they have a up to 6 year responsibility. they will ask you to get them a quote with a description of whats wrong and email it to them. when they have that they will make you an offer of a repair or compensation.

[BigBrand]

Brilliant, thanks guys, only a few hundred quid, but obviously it's no the issue!

Will report back.

Cheers

[BigBrand]

Just called them and they said I don't have any cover for any Warranty to any faults. Allegedly purchase date was 12/09/2010! Longer than I thought.

Is this worth pushing with them or do as BB says and just cut my losses and buy a new one?

[greens117]

Happened to me a while back with a whirlpool fridge, only 2 years old but I got.it from comet :/, I'm sure there is a web template to send to currys, and they may tame it more seriously then.

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[tempralflux]

frost free can be combined with wet wall. compressor will be toasty hot if it`s short of gas TBH not worth repairing. most of these cheap Fridge freezers leak on the fridge evap normally pushes the plastic off the back wall.

[tempralflux]

Bigbird not seen that configuration(diagram) in a long time hotpoint/electrolux . Samsung American FF now have them their twin cooling, rs21 should have been fitted with solenoid valves from the start.

[BigBird]

Bigbird not seen that configuration(diagram) in a long time hotpoint/electrolux . Samsung American FF now have them their twin cooling, rs21 should have been fitted with solenoid valves from the start.

Only do the odd repair for friends and family so haven't come across one with a solenoid myself. My experience with older fridge freezers are the ones where the gas goes to the freezer first and then to the fridge with the freezer relying on the fridge switching the compressor on and off to keep the freezer frozen.

My more recent experiences are only with frost free where cold air is circulated to the fridge with a flap controlling the airflow. Main problem I have seen with those are fan motors failing and they are a simple job to change. Would be even simpler if the screws holding the inside back panel in place had a decent locating thread instead of a plastic insert which is bonded to the fragile foam which breaks off so easily. Also seen a couple of control panel faults with the freezer defrost cycle not operating for long enough and the ice build up blocking the airflow to the fridge. On certain Hotpoint models I have just disconnected the evap defrost sensor from the control panel to simulate an open circuit sensor which forces the system to perform a 30 minute defrost cycle every 15 hours. Couple of friends freezers have run for years in that mode without any problems apart from a fault code on the display. (">

[akimba]

Keep on at Currys what's the worst they can do other than say No ;-)

[BigBird]

A few people have told me that you can claim up to six years including a friend that sells white goods (mainly washing machines) so worth giving trading standards a call just to clarify whether it is true. At least then you will know where you stand and can get on to Currys or buy new. (">

Edit: Look here to find your local trading standards:

http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/advice/

[blacksheep]

You have to prove its an inherrant fault, this would be tossed out of the small claims court quicker than czarjunkie buying tickets for a she male granny wet tshirt competition. You're only wasting yours and currys time as its 4 years old and a bottom of the range product.