[i12flyskyhigh]

Hello,

I have a Whirlpool Refrigerator ET0WSRXML03 small auto defrost fridge. The compressor is running and is relatively hot but appears not to trip or overheat. The fan inside the freezer runs. The air coming out of the fan is slightly cooler than the roughly 65 degree temp where fridge is but never cools beyond ambient air temp. It has external grids so being dirty is not the issue.

Any idea what may be wrong? It has a board (not on parts list), some kind of capacitor (not on parts list), and a relay of some sort in the bottom by the compressor. I assume the cap is for start up, the relay for off and on and overload and of course the board. I would think it would cool if the compressor were running. The coil inside the freezer behind the cover is not cool. When unplug the fridge it hisses a bit similar to what one might here for a home ac or a car ac...I can't see that it has leaked or is empty. I do not see an access to check or charge the Refrigerant.

Perhaps it is stuck in defrost from some kind of relay or board (the compressor is running so not sure if it could be stuck in defrost but allowing cooling too vs. alternating). Is there a way to chack voltage to the defrost or would the coils heat up (which they are not)?
The defrost tubing section is not hot ever that I can tell .

I could not locate the defroster as referenced in the parts section of this site. There is a computer board on this fridge by the compressor with pink wires etc and it may be a computer board version of defrost. The factory parts manual does not show this but another defrost switch seeming to show it is located in the fridge portion. I see no defrost there. Perhaps they switched it to a board it's weird that even the manual does not show this part. There is also a 2 blue wire soemthign another in the same compressor area that may be a cap but it is not in the parts list.

Thanks,

Doug

[denman]

Yes it looks like there is some confusion on these units.

See the attachment for a couple tech sheets. The ET0B seems to match if you look up the parts listing but ETA seems to match how your unit is wired.

Since the compressor is running the unit should be cooling.
Sounds like you have a sealed system problem.
It could be the compressor itself, no freon or low on freon.
Not that low on freon will usually give you some cooling just not enough. There will be some frost on part of the evaporator coils usually where the freon enters the coils from the compressor.

I doubt you are stuck in a defrost cycle as the compressor and the fan would be off.

I would check your warranty the sealed system may have a 5 year warranty.
If you do not have you can downloads it from the Whirlpool website.

[i12flyskyhigh]

I cannot find the source of the leak but I did find the waranty as you said it may have and it is 5 years which I did not know so Thanks for letting me know! I am curious how it got to this state. I got it as a display model on sale at Lowes. I wonder looking back if it ever even cooled right.

I am curious about a couple things pre-service call. I don't want to be suprised when Whirpool sends out a tech and there is some reason they decide not to do the repairs or blame me. I wonder if there is a way to tell where the leak might be from visially? Is it possible to be low without having a leak? Is there a way to test/refill the units refrigerant? Or do they have to break into it, pressure test it and then recharge it after reparing a leak by some soldering process?

The unit is outside under a covered area. Lot's of people use them this way but does it void a warranty in any way? I see the unit is weatherized somewhat at the base but the wiring looks good. Inside the fridge/freezer the parts are a bit corroded looking but things function normal except for the cooling it would seem from your response. Should I move the unit indoors for the service call or just leave it where it is?

Thanks,

Doug

[denman]

I wonder if there is a way to tell where the leak might be from visially?
I would doubt it.

Is it possible to be low without having a leak?
No unless it was low from day one.

Is there a way to test/refill the units refrigerant? Or do they have to break into it, pressure test it and then recharge it after reparing a leak by some soldering process?
The latter, you need a pro.

The unit is outside does it void a warranty in any way?
Not that I know of but probably depends where outside.
If the unit is sitting out in the elements then that would probably void warranty.

Should I move the unit indoors for the service call or just leave it where it is?
Cannot really say but I would.
You said that there is corrosion on the bottom that may well be a tip off to a repair tech that the unit was at one time outside.
If the compressor etc. under the unit have gotten wet then that would void warranty.

Often units will not run correctly outside if the temperature gets down to or below freezing. I do not think this is your problem because the compressor is running.