[Shombalor]

Hello, I have a Whirlpool side by side refrig/freezer model ED5SHAXMT00. The compressor doesn't start but the fan runs. I hear a buzzing sound and then a click from the bottom of the unit. This happens every few minutes. From other forum posts I believe this is either a bad start relay or overload relay. How can I tell which one it is? Hopefully it's not the compressor. Thanks.

[rickgburton]

It sounds like you might have a bad compressor. Unplug the machine. Remove the relay/overload and look at the three pins on the compressor. They are arranged in a triangle configuration. The pin at the top of the triangle is the common terminal. The two pins below the common terminal are Start on the left and Run on the right. This configuration can also be opposite with the common terminal or top of the triangle on the bottom. Set the ohmmeter on the RX10 scale. Measure the resistance of the start windings between the Common terminal and the Start terminal. Ohmmeter should indicate between 3 and 11 ohms. Measure the resistance of the run windings between the Common terminal and the run terminal. Ohmmeter should indicate between 1 and 5 ohms. Measure between each terminal and the compressor body. Ohmmeter should indicate infinite resistance (1). Any other reading would indicate a shorted compressor.

[Shombalor]

I wanted to let you know that the refrigerator has been fixed. I checked the resistances for the compressor as described and the values were OK. So I replaced the start device with a Whirlpool replacement that was an exact match. The part numbers are confusing. I bought start device part #8201786. This had parts for 2 model compressors (EGY80 and EGY90). I only needed 1 part in the box for the EGY90. It was part #2188830. I replaced it and everything's fine now.

Thanks for your help.

[rickgburton]

Awesome! glad to hear it's fixed. Good job!

[denman]

Shombalor

Thanks for getting back to us. Now when others search for a similar problem they will see what actually worked instead of just suggestions about what could be the cause.

All I can say is that I agree with how you fixed the unit.
Checking the windings in a compressor is not a definitive test.
The readings can tell you if the compressor in shot (open winding)
But cannot tell you that the compressor is good as it may have a winding to winding short or a mechanical problem.

So if the winding readings are good you remove the start/overload and check it for damage, with luck it will show the fault. Even if it looks OK it is usually worth taking a gamble and replacing the parts, a lot cheaper than replacing the unit.

rickgburton
I would also like to say welcome to the forum.

I see you have hit the Expert rating so you should have access to the Tech Talk forum

denman