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Frigidaire Refrigerator Intermittent Compressor Issues

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Posted: Tue Sep 26th, 2006 04:48 pm

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1^st Post

Luap123
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I have a 4 year old Frigidaire side-by-side refrigerator model # FRS23R4AB5 which is having intermittent compressor issues. About a week ago, I woke up in the morning to find the freezer side of my refrigerator wasn't as cold as it should be and everything was melting. I was also hearing a buzzing noise coming from the bottom of the unit every few minutes. After some investigating, I determined that the compressor wasn't running. It sounded like it was trying to start, but after about 10-20 seconds of buzzing, it would just give up. The condenser fan was running, the condenser coils were free of dust and frost, the evaporator fan was working. The problem definitely seemed to be the compressor.

I scheduled a service appointment for the following week (it was the first appointment I could get). But when I got home from work that day, the buzzing sound was gone and the freezer was cold again. Everything was working fine for the next week, so I canceled my service appointment. Well, I came home from work yesterday to find that the problem had returned. Everything in the freezer was melted and the buzzing was back. Went to bed and woke up this morning to find that the buzzing was gone and freezer was cold again. Basically it seems like the compressor will just stop working properly for about 12 hours every week or so.

My question is this: Does this sound more like the compressor itself is failing, or could it just be the starter? I wouldn't say I'm super mechanically inclined, but I would be willing to change the starter myself if you think it could possibly fix the problem. Though I've read through a lot of the threads here from people with similar issues and in most cases it seems like replacing the starter offers only a temporary fix and within a few weeks most people have to get a completely new compressor.

My other question then becomes: What can a technician do if the compressor happens to be working fine when he shows up? Will he take my word for it that the compressor only works off and on, or will he just say there's nothing he can do and charge me $65?

The fresh food side of my refrigerator has stayed cool enough that none of the food has spoiled, but at this point the freezer side is basically unusable because I never know when it's going to stop working. So I definitely need to do something about it. Thanks!

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Posted: Wed Sep 27th, 2006 06:01 am

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2^nd Post

A-1 Appliance
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This may shine some light on the problem, key word may:

http://fixitnow.com/wp/2005/12/01/refrigerator-warming-up-and-makes-an-occasional-clicking-noise/#SlideFrame_1

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Semper Fi

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Posted: Wed Sep 27th, 2006 12:15 pm

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3^rd Post

Budget Appliance Repair
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You may have a bad freezer t-stat, (the control on the left), short cycling the compressor.

I have one similiar to this in the shop, that's doing somewhat the same thing only a little worse, will run and get good and cold, (correct temps), then shut off and never turn back on.

When I've found it not working I tap the front of the control and the compressor and condensor fans starts up again, tap it again and it will shutoff sometimes, if the control makes contact, starts the compressor then looses contact and then closes again the compressor can't start because it has built up a head pressure from the first start attempt.

There is another disscussion concerning this style of Frigidaire SxS refrig. where the refrigerator air damper was randomly not working correct. Frigidaire has a service bulletin out to replace the complete control assembly for over $100, you receive the complete controls, (new damper motor, Adaptive Defrost Control, Freezer t-stat, Refrig t-stat, and all housings all as a complete assembly. It appears from this service bulletin that Frigidaire has no idea what is failing.

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William Burk (Willie)
Willie's Budget Appliance Repair
Eureka, CA 95501

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Posted: Wed Sep 27th, 2006 11:30 pm

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4^th Post

nickfixit
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My experience tells me you soon will have a locked up compressor. I've seen your situation many, many times in the last year. Usually within a month of the 1st service visit, when it acted normally, we are out changing the compressor.

I just finished one about 90 min ago. I'll bet I've replaced 40 compressors this year, about half are Frigidairs between 2-5 years old.

Nick

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" Giving numerical data to Sears management is like giving a monkey a machine gun. No one knows for certain what will happen, but you can be sure of two things... It will be real messy, and only the monkey will be unharmed"

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Posted: Thu Sep 28th, 2006 05:15 pm

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5^th Post

Mad Mac
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Budget Appliance Repair wrote: There is another disscussion concerning this style of Frigidaire SxS refrig. where the refrigerator air damper was randomly not working correct. Frigidaire has a service bulletin out to replace the complete control assembly for over $100, you receive the complete controls, (new damper motor, Adaptive Defrost Control, Freezer t-stat, Refrig t-stat, and all housings all as a complete assembly. It appears from this service bulletin that Frigidaire has no idea what is failing.
Willie, what Friggidaire said about the reason for bringing out the "complete assembly" was it was due to field complaints about the damper assembly alone being difficult to install and leading to many recalls. I followed behind a few excellent techs where the issue was that the Molex plug became dislodged during reinstallation of the housing, would test ok and come completely apart a few days later. We never saw an issue with installing the complete housing, and it was actually quicker.

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Mad Mac....Pray to God he's out there....somewhere.

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Posted: Fri Sep 29th, 2006 02:23 am

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6^th Post

Fixum
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I aree with nick, I have change a bunch of these sxs compressors if it is buzzing at the compressor might as well change it, if you can get the factory service guy to agree that the compressor is bad.

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Fix On

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Posted: Fri Sep 29th, 2006 10:30 am

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7^th Post

Budget Appliance Repair
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Mad Mac wrote:
Budget Appliance Repair wrote:
We never saw an issue with installing the complete housing, and it was actually quicker.

Quicker for SURE!!!!, Man, tearing that thing out of there and replacing the individual parts is quite time consuming.

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William Burk (Willie)
Willie's Budget Appliance Repair
Eureka, CA 95501

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Posted: Fri Sep 29th, 2006 11:22 am

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8^th Post

nickfixit
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It's still a pain to get it mounted so it looks right.

Nick

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