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Hello, I have a KitchenAid "Superba" side-by-side that just failed last night after 10 years of no problems (well, the ice maker broke once and I was able to fix it with replacement parts). I could immediately tell there was a problem when I got home, because the ice in the ice maker was melting and there was a periodic buzzing sound from the base of the fridge, as though something was trying to start, and then it would go silent. There is a total loss of refrigeration, but all other obvious electrical components are working normally (lights, fan, water pump, ice grinder, etc). I removed the rear cover and can see that the fan spins up normally when the power is on, but there is a faint buzz coming from near the compressor, as though something is trying to start, and then it shuts off with a click. The usual dull humming noise of the refrigerator operating normally is not present. I'd like some ideas on how to narrow down what could be wrong. I have a parts list and am reasonably comfortable replacing something if I can be pretty sure I know what's gone bad. Compressor is about $250 to replace so I want to be sure if it's that or just a starter device or something. Thanks in advance! 
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Originally Posted by: denman 
First I would check to see if there is 120 volts going to the motor start device.
If yes then it may be your start device.
See the first link below on how to check the compressor and conmponents.
Note: That even if the compressor windings check out OK as far as resistance it does not necessarily mean that the compressor is OK.
If youur unit has the optional start capacitor remove it and give it a try. Could be the capacitor is shot.
My unit does have a capacitor, and I'm going to discharge it today. But how can I test that it's good? Thanks!
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It is pretty hard to test a capacitor properly without a special meter/device.
The problem is that they can leak current at higher voltages and you meter usually only puts out 9 volts max.
You can discharge them, them measure it for ohms as it charges the ohms reading will increase.
I would disconnect it and give the unit a try.
Since it is shown as optional odd are good that the compressor should run without it.
If the compressor does run then you can be fairly confident that the capacitor is the culprit and you can replace it as it does give the compressor a boost on start up making it more reliable. |
THIS FORUM IS DEAD!!!!!!! |
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Quick followup on my testing:
I discharged the capacitor, pulled the starter and tested both it and the compressor unit. It was pretty obvious to me what the problem was as soon as I pulled the starter relay; I could hear loose metal, and it was failing the continuity test on one of the poles, and only intermittently passing on the other two. When I opened it up (was a solid-state unit), I could see that it had overheated and blown out near one of the poles. I am ordering the ~$40 replacement relay now, and will post an update after I install it.
Thanks for all your help!
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Originally Posted by: bpseattle Hello, I have a KitchenAid "Superba" side-by-side that just failed last night after 10 years of no problems (well, the ice maker broke once and I was able to fix it with replacement parts). I could immediately tell there was a problem when I got home, because the ice in the ice maker was melting and there was a periodic buzzing sound from the base of the fridge, as though something was trying to start, and then it would go silent. There is a total loss of refrigeration, but all other obvious electrical components are working normally (lights, fan, water pump, ice grinder, etc). I removed the rear cover and can see that the fan spins up normally when the power is on, but there is a faint buzz coming from near the compressor, as though something is trying to start, and then it shuts off with a click. The usual dull humming noise of the refrigerator operating normally is not present. I'd like some ideas on how to narrow down what could be wrong. I have a parts list and am reasonably comfortable replacing something if I can be pretty sure I know what's gone bad. Compressor is about $250 to replace so I want to be sure if it's that or just a starter device or something. Thanks in advance! u can easly test the compressor your self by removing the cap u will see a thermal over load under cap that is the buz and click noise u hear with the refrigerator unpluged u can remove the 3 wires from compressor rember were they went take a countinuity meter check each terminal on compressor to ground the coper pipeing if u get continuity from either of the 3 to ground(copper tubing ) the compresser is grounded "bad"
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Replacement starter relay kit came in the mail today. Installed it and now I'm good to go. Thanks for all the help!
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