Refrigerator Does Not Turn On Automatically Options  Email this topic  Watch this topic  Print this topic » Normal Threaded
Model: EST15PMARO	Brand: Whirlpool	Age: More than 10 years
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Jerry8A		#1 Posted : Wednesday, February 25, 2009 5:26:52 PM(UTC)
Rank: Member Groups: Registered Joined: 2/20/2009(UTC) Posts: 14		My refrigerator and freezer would get cold (compressor running) and then turn off too soon. So, the first thing I did was to tap the defrost timer and it came on. I replaced it and still had the same problem. I then checked the compressor relay and it did not pass the continuity check on terminal S and M. So, I replaced it with an overload relay kit #819160. My unit is a 15 cu. ft. and I was told by two sources that the kit was the correct kit for my unit. After installing the kit, the compressor would not turn on. I tapped the compressor and it turned on, but as before, it did not cool down enough and the compressor stopped running. I tapped it again and the compressor started and is running as I write this post. I am going to assume it will turn off as it did before. So, do you think I have a bad compressor? And, if so, why won’t it stay on long enough to cool down and restart only when I tap it? Thanks, Jerry
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Jerry8A		#2 Posted : Thursday, February 26, 2009 11:07:22 AM(UTC)
Rank: Member Groups: Registered Joined: 2/20/2009(UTC) Posts: 14		I’m back again with an update. My last assumption was incorrect. When I made my last repair, the refrigerator turned on when I tapped the compressor and got cold, but turned off too soon and both compartments were warm. I turned off the fridge and wrote my previous post. I decided to turn the fridge back on and see what would happen overnight. As it turns out, when I checked the next morning the fridge (both compartments) were cold and all seems to be working. So, I’m hoping this is not a fluke and it keeps working considering the effort I did in replacing parts. If it does keep working, I am thinking replacing my old relay with the overload relay kit might have been the solution. Jerry
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Gene		#3 Posted : Friday, February 27, 2009 11:12:24 AM(UTC)
Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Senior Expert, Administrators Joined: 7/19/2007(UTC) Posts: 27,455 Was thanked: 4 time(s) in 4 post(s)		Jerry, According to any manufacturers instructions it has to be about 24 hours waiting time since refrigerator has been turned "on" to see how it cools down. Very likely the repair you did solve the problem. Gene.
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Jerry8A		#4 Posted : Friday, February 27, 2009 12:49:25 PM(UTC)
Rank: Member Groups: Registered Joined: 2/20/2009(UTC) Posts: 14		Gene – Thanks for the return. As I mentioned before, I was hoping what I had done was not a fluke. It turned out my fridge would turn on, but now would not turn off automatically. So, what I did was to turn the unit off at the cold control. But when I tried to turn the fridge back on with the control, it was somewhat erratic. And when I tapped the control it would come back on. It appeared no matter what part I tapped on the fridge it would come on and stay on. However, the cold control did not seem to work in a consistent manner. So, I took a continuity check of the cold control and it read zero ohms at both ends of its rotation, except in the off position it read infinity. With those readings and the erratic operation of the control, I am assuming I have a bad control and hence, have ordered a new one. So, I’ll keep my fingers crossed and hope this last part will do the trick. It’s my thinking I had more than one problem in this unit with each problem showing up at different times. Jerry
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Gene		#5 Posted : Friday, February 27, 2009 2:22:20 PM(UTC)
Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Senior Expert, Administrators Joined: 7/19/2007(UTC) Posts: 27,455 Was thanked: 4 time(s) in 4 post(s)		Good luck and keep us posted. Gene.
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Jerry8A		#6 Posted : Sunday, March 8, 2009 2:45:25 PM(UTC)
Rank: Member Groups: Registered Joined: 2/20/2009(UTC) Posts: 14		Originally Posted by: Gene Good luck and keep us posted. Gene. Gene – After the last repair the fridge seems to be working, but with some differences that perhaps you can comment on. 1. My cold control has numbers from 0 to 7. Before all of the repairs, I operated at about 3 to 4. Now I need to set it at between 6 and 7 to get the same cooling temperature in the fridge. 2. The freezer control also is set at its maximum number for same temperature as before. Berfore repairs it was a lower number. Also, with the freezer control at maximum, the freezer cycles between 5 and 15 degrees. When the compressor is running, it’s 5 and when off it goes to 15 degrees. The fridge temperature seems to stay constant, about a 3 degree change when on to off. 3. Should I be seeing water in the pan below the fridge? I have never bothered to look before, but now it is dry? Jerry
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Gene		#7 Posted : Sunday, March 8, 2009 5:56:59 PM(UTC)
Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Senior Expert, Administrators Joined: 7/19/2007(UTC) Posts: 27,455 Was thanked: 4 time(s) in 4 post(s)		Jerry, Remove the rear panel in the freezer and check how the evaporator coils covered with snow. If there is no 100% thin snow then possible the sealed system is low on Freon. In order to confirm it the pressure in the sealed system has to be checked and it has to be done by a certified tech. Gene.
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