Please help. I need to save some bucks and try and fix it myself, if I can.
The freezer and fridge is not working properly. After I cleaned off the condenser coils and the condenser fan, I noticed that the compressor is just slightly warm and not hot. After I plugged it back, I noticed that the freezer only gets to around 40 deg and the fridge part around 40 deg. Turning the control knobs ( either the freezer knob or the refrigerator knob) does nothing to control the temp. When I turn the right hand knob that says "refrigerator" to off and then to 5, I hear a click and the compressor comes on. Then the freezer temp goes to -20 and the fridge temp goes to 20 deg. After a while, when the compressor goes off and the temp goes back up again to freezer 40 deg and fridge 50 deg, I can get the compressor to start again by giving a hard knock to the panel where the control knobs are located. So I do this often to get the compressor to start again and get the temp down again.
I also notice that the air blowing out from underneath the fridge is cold and not warm.
Please let me know what the problem is and if I can easily fix this myself. I am no whiz but I can handle a screwdriver.
Thanks for your help.