Sub-Zero 561 Refrigerator Not Cooling - The Kitchen Appliance Repair Forum - Do-It-Yourself Appliance Repair Help - ApplianceGuru.com: The Samurai Appliance Repair Forums

ApplianceGuru.com: The Samurai Appliance Repair Forums Home

ApplianceGuru.com: The Samurai Appliance Repair Forums > Do-It-Yourself Appliance Repair Help > The Kitchen Appliance Repair Forum > Sub-Zero 561 Refrigerator Not Cooling

Find Appliance Parts & Diagrams Here

Enter a model number, part number, type of appliance, brand, or even a part description.

365-day return policy on all parts ordered through this site!

Moderated by: BrntToast, RegUS_PatOff, appl.tech.29501

Search Our Sites for More Info!

Page: 1 2

New Topic

Printer Friendly

Sub-Zero 561 Refrigerator Not Cooling

Rate Topic

Author	Post

Posted: Wed Jun 23rd, 2010 01:03 am

Quote

1^st Post

smash
Senior Apprentice Appliantologist

Joined:	Fri Oct 31st, 2008
Location:
Posts:	45
Flavorite Brew:	Single malt
Status:	Offline

~20 year-old SZ 561 (SN P863785) is inconsistent in cooling. Sometimes it gets down to temp, but it is spending most of the time around 60°F. I've read through many of the similar topics (and I never know whether to post to one of them, or start a new one).

The freezer works fine (except for the ice maker, but that's for another time).

A few years ago, there was a sealed system leak (glacier forming on the evaporator coils in the classic SZ pattern). This was fixed, and I also replaced the defrost timer at the same time.

I've been through the warm refrigerator fire drill:

The condenser fan runs continuously
The condenser is as clean as the stupid design allows
The evaporator has a small bit of frost on it (and it measures 7°F with an IR thermometer)
The evaporator fan runs when the door switch is closed

I shook the condenser start relay, and it does not rattle. (But the Overload,ti 4tm734lfb does).

Quote

Posted: Wed Jun 23rd, 2010 03:23 am

Quote

2^nd Post

RegUS_PatOff
Fellow, Academy of Sublime Masters of Appliantology

Joined:	Sat Sep 24th, 2005
Location:	Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA
Posts:	16509
Flavorite Brew:	Indian Head. Black & White
Status:	Offline

smash wrote: ... The evaporator has a small bit of frost on it ...

doesn't look good .. picture ?

The Condenser Fan is wired direct to the Line Power on that model/serial #

Does the Compressor run ?

____________________
The new repair forums==> http://appliantology.org

RegUS_PatOff http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPAY2LsKVEw

my video production: “Easter Seals Walk With Me” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EBiLyYXMiA

Quote

Posted: Wed Jun 23rd, 2010 06:04 am

Quote

3^rd Post

smash
Senior Apprentice Appliantologist

Joined:	Fri Oct 31st, 2008
Location:
Posts:	45
Flavorite Brew:	Single malt
Status:	Offline

Yes, the condenser is running.

Here is the evaporator. The unit was only off for a short while, and had the door open while I emptied it. It did not go through a full defrost. When I first opened it up, it was no worse than this

Attachment: Copy of _MG_3834.JPG (Downloaded 68 times)

Quote

Posted: Wed Jun 23rd, 2010 09:20 am

Quote

4^th Post

RegUS_PatOff
Fellow, Academy of Sublime Masters of Appliantology

Joined:	Sat Sep 24th, 2005
Location:	Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA
Posts:	16509
Flavorite Brew:	Indian Head. Black & White
Status:	Offline

smash wrote: ... It did not go through a full defrost....

I think it didn't go through a full frost ..

Sealed System leak ?

The Evaporator should be compleyely, evenly, frosted after the Compressor has been running at least one hour.

Quote

Posted: Wed Jun 23rd, 2010 04:21 pm

Quote

5^th Post

certified tech group 51
Fellow, Academy of Sublime Masters of Appliantology

Joined:	Mon Mar 10th, 2008
Location:	Tidewater, Oregon USA
Posts:	1178
Flavorite Brew:	natural ice
Status:	Offline

Fresh food side is an 'off-cycle defrost'... If the f.f. side was off for a short while, 'I.E. as you removed the food stuff' and the unit started, the small drops of water that normally would have dripped off, refroze into the small ice pieces you see in the picture........ The frost pattern appears to be O.K.,........................ cannot see the last passes on the evaporator............... How long did the unit run for this frost pattern??

Quote

Posted: Wed Jun 23rd, 2010 04:57 pm

Quote

6^th Post

smash
Senior Apprentice Appliantologist

Joined:	Fri Oct 31st, 2008
Location:
Posts:	45
Flavorite Brew:	Single malt
Status:	Offline

This frost pattern was after about 2 hours, but with the rear panel off, and a fair amount of door opening and closing.

After letting it run overnight, the frozen condensation spots are gone. When I opened it--the rear panel is still off--the compartment was 38°F, the evaporator coils were ~45°F, and the condenser was not running. It kicked in a few minutes later, and the evaporator dropped to around 5°F. I am seeing relatively light frost uniformly on the condenser when it has been running.

All of this is with the thermostat turned to 10.

Quote

Posted: Thu Jun 24th, 2010 09:20 pm

Quote

7^th Post

smash
Senior Apprentice Appliantologist

Joined:	Fri Oct 31st, 2008
Location:
Posts:	45
Flavorite Brew:	Single malt
Status:	Offline

I think that I'm giving up on it. Rather than spending another $500+ on this, I think that I'm going to get a new one. Unfortunately, since this is a built-in, and I don't want to spend $7K+, I probably won't find something that fits. But the kitchen really wants a built-in style, so I need to remodel the cabinet where this goes. And the wife wants new ovens that are installed right next to it.

So, can you recommend a reliable, good brand (and model - 24" depth) that looks good in a built-in style. And twin ovens...

Quote

Posted: Thu Jun 24th, 2010 10:18 pm

Quote

8^th Post

RegUS_PatOff
Fellow, Academy of Sublime Masters of Appliantology

Joined:	Sat Sep 24th, 2005
Location:	Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA
Posts:	16509
Flavorite Brew:	Indian Head. Black & White
Status:	Offline

smash wrote: I think that I'm giving up on it. Rather than spending another $500+ on this, I think that I'm going to get a new one. ...

? ? ?

I wouldn't give up, yet.

we didn't even determine what the problem is.

It could just be a bad Fridge Cold Control ..

If the Fridge is too warm, and the Compressor isn't running, ...

Is the Compressor hot ?

does it try to run ? (clicks) ?

OR does the Compressor run "forever" and it still isn't cooling enough ?

Do you need the service manual ?

Quote

Posted: Fri Jun 25th, 2010 12:48 am

Quote

9^th Post

smash
Senior Apprentice Appliantologist

Joined:	Fri Oct 31st, 2008
Location:
Posts:	45
Flavorite Brew:	Single malt
Status:	Offline

The fridge is too warm, cycling between ~35°F and ~ 60°F. The compressor runs; when it runs, the housing gets up to about 150°F.

The only click that it makes is when the refrigerator compressor cycles on, and it's just one click, although it can be a little loud.

And today, the freezer seems to not be working. Maybe it's jealous of all the attention that the refrigerator is getting, but I've not seen it cycle on, and the compressor housing temperature has dropped down to ambient. Although I just now turned the defrost timer, and the freezer condenser kicked in. So maybe I did something to it Tuesday.

You sent me the service manual a few days ago, for which I thank you.

Quote

Posted: Fri Jun 25th, 2010 06:36 am

Quote

10^th Post

certified tech group 51
Fellow, Academy of Sublime Masters of Appliantology

Joined:	Mon Mar 10th, 2008
Location:	Tidewater, Oregon USA
Posts:	1178
Flavorite Brew:	natural ice
Status:	Offline

The compressor temp is about right, the speed or R.P.M. of the condenser motor could be slow.........( the condenser is tied to both the freezer and the fresh food section ) ........................The cold control could be failing, not sensing the correct temps.... the cold control is reasonably priced....cannot check the price just yet................. ( you stated that you turned the defrost timer and the freezer condenser turned on??? )

Quote

Posted: Fri Jun 25th, 2010 05:04 pm

Quote

11^th Post

smash
Senior Apprentice Appliantologist

Joined:	Fri Oct 31st, 2008
Location:
Posts:	45
Flavorite Brew:	Single malt
Status:	Offline

I think that the control is $71 if I have the correct part here. Is there a way to test it?

I turned the defrost timer on Tuesday, and by Wednesday, the freezer was warming. Its compressor was not running. I turned it again Thursday, heard a click, and it started up. The freezer is now fine, and the housing is around 180°F. I thought that, being a timer, it would cycle back on no matter what I did, but that did not seem to be the case.

Is there an easy way to test the speed or R.P.M. of the condenser (fan?) motor? It does seem to be running without any hindrance.

Quote

Posted: Fri Jun 25th, 2010 05:52 pm

Quote

12^th Post

RegUS_PatOff
Fellow, Academy of Sublime Masters of Appliantology

Joined:	Sat Sep 24th, 2005
Location:	Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA
Posts:	16509
Flavorite Brew:	Indian Head. Black & White
Status:	Offline

smash wrote: ... I turned the defrost timer on Tuesday, and by Wednesday, the freezer was warming. Its compressor was not running..... I thought that, being a timer, it would cycle back on no matter what I did ...
The Defrost Timer is for the Freezer (as shown in the service manual)

The Fridge doesn't use one.

The Cold Control shown is the correct one.

You could by-pass the Cold Control for testing, but the Compressor or Start Relay could be bad.

More testing would have to be done.

wait.. are we still talking about the Fridge side, or the Freezer side ?

Quote

Posted: Fri Jun 25th, 2010 06:32 pm

Quote

13^th Post

smash
Senior Apprentice Appliantologist

Joined:	Fri Oct 31st, 2008
Location:
Posts:	45
Flavorite Brew:	Single malt
Status:	Offline

Yes, the fridge side. I obviously screwed up the freezer side, but then recovered.

> More testing would have to be done.

What testing, and how?

> You could by-pass the Cold Control for testing, but the Compressor or Start Relay could be bad.

Is this just simply connecting the Cold Control terminals? Adjusting the cold setting does (sometimes) trip the thermostat, and cooling turns on (or off). There is no question that the fridge runs and gets cold, but it does not hold cold--it fluctuates and rises too much. When I do short across the terminals, the compressor does run. The fridge gets cold.

Quote

Posted: Fri Jun 25th, 2010 06:33 pm

Quote

14^th Post

RegUS_PatOff
Fellow, Academy of Sublime Masters of Appliantology

Joined:	Sat Sep 24th, 2005
Location:	Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA
Posts:	16509
Flavorite Brew:	Indian Head. Black & White
Status:	Offline

smash wrote: .. Is this just simply connecting the Cold Control terminals? ..

yes ..

Quote

Posted: Fri Jun 25th, 2010 07:04 pm

Quote

15^th Post

smash
Senior Apprentice Appliantologist

Joined:	Fri Oct 31st, 2008
Location:
Posts:	45
Flavorite Brew:	Single malt
Status:	Offline

OK, so I short the terminals, it runs. What does this tell me? What should I be looking for?

Quote

Posted: Fri Jun 25th, 2010 08:37 pm

Quote

16^th Post

RegUS_PatOff
Fellow, Academy of Sublime Masters of Appliantology

Joined:	Sat Sep 24th, 2005
Location:	Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA
Posts:	16509
Flavorite Brew:	Indian Head. Black & White
Status:	Offline

OK, leave it connected for a few hours or more to see if the temperature gets and stays cold..

Quote

Posted: Sat Jun 26th, 2010 12:36 am

Quote

17^th Post

smash
Senior Apprentice Appliantologist

Joined:	Fri Oct 31st, 2008
Location:
Posts:	45
Flavorite Brew:	Single malt
Status:	Offline

After about 4 hours with shorted terminals, it is down to about 22-25°F (depending on where I measure). The water that the thermometer is in is freezing. The compressor is hot, around 150°F.

Does this suggest that the problem is the cold controller?

Quote

Posted: Sat Jun 26th, 2010 12:59 am

Quote

18^th Post

RegUS_PatOff
Fellow, Academy of Sublime Masters of Appliantology

Joined:	Sat Sep 24th, 2005
Location:	Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA
Posts:	16509
Flavorite Brew:	Indian Head. Black & White
Status:	Offline

yes ...

Quote

Posted: Sat Jun 26th, 2010 01:28 am

Quote

19^th Post

smash
Senior Apprentice Appliantologist

Joined:	Fri Oct 31st, 2008
Location:
Posts:	45
Flavorite Brew:	Single malt
Status:	Offline

I just dug into the piling system, and see that the evaporator was replaced for a leak in July '05, the defrost timer in August '05, and the compressor and thermostat were replaced in September '05.

Last edited on Sat Jun 26th, 2010 01:30 am by smash

Quote

Posted: Wed Jun 30th, 2010 05:13 pm

Quote

20^th Post

smash
Senior Apprentice Appliantologist

Joined:	Fri Oct 31st, 2008
Location:
Posts:	45
Flavorite Brew:	Single malt
Status:	Offline

The replacement cold controller has now been in for about 20 hours. The temperature in the upper portion has not gotten below 50°F. The temperature of the lower back panel is 36°F (measured with an IR thermometer), although the lower portion of the refrigerator is 41°F. I started at setting 5, but have gradually inched it up to 9.

Now what?

In other news, our back-up party refrigerator--where I had put everything while working on the SZ--died yesterday. It is a True GDM-223 Commercial Reefer. I thought that I heard a noise like a circuit breaker popping, and now it is not cooling. The condenser fan is running, as is the top fan. Do y'all know about these things?

Quote

Current time is 01:04 am	Page: 1 2
ApplianceGuru.com: The Samurai Appliance Repair Forums > Do-It-Yourself Appliance Repair Help > The Kitchen Appliance Repair Forum > Sub-Zero 561 Refrigerator Not Cooling	Top

Find Appliance Parts & Diagrams Here

Enter a model number, part number, type of appliance, brand, or even a part description.

365-day return policy on all parts ordered through this site!

Your Sometimes-Lucid Host:

"If I can't help you fix your appliance and make you 100% satisfied, I will come to your home and slice open my belly, spilling my steaming entrails onto your floor."