KitchenAid Fridge Took A Dump

[Rick G.]

…..throwing out a feeler here to see if I can get lucky in case anyone here has been down this KitchenAid path before.

Our 11 year old KitchenAid fridge / freezer that we bought from brand new has quit cooling and freezing. Freezer on bottom, French doors fridge at top. 

I took the back lower access  panel off to get a look-see, because I am getting a clicking sound out of some gizmo mounted right next to the compressor. I presume this is some sort of relay / capacitor type of thing?

I am wondering if this relay thing may have failed, causing the compressor not to run? Either that, or maybe the compressor tied up and failed? 

I have unplugged the connections and removed this object from its mounting. I think I’m just going to take a chance and order this new part on-line and hope it gets the fridge running again.

If that idea doesn’t work, I think  I’m just going to say screw it and we’ll buy a whole new fridge. I did some reading on our model and age  of KitchenAid fridge. It says that at 11 years old, this model is now in the “twilight” of its expected service life. Ugh, so It sounds like it’s not worth sinking a lot of money in to.

So, anyone with a 10 year old KitchenAid fridge ever been down this road with theirs? Am I on the right track with thinking of replacing this small relay thing? I’m not sure it’s a capacitor, it’s all just a small square plastic encased part.

If that doesn’t fix it, I guess we’re buying a new fridge- I’m thinking another KitchenAid, or maybe Whirlpool. (I think Whirlpool makes the KitchenAids????) 

We’re limping along right now with our refrigerated stuff in a couple of big picnic cooler ice chests, and our terrific next door neighbors are also letting us use the fridge / freezer of their motorhome that they have parked at their place. Lucky there.

I thought about calling in an appliance repair service, but I called a couple places to check, and one place wants $105.00 for a service call, and the other wants $125.00 to come out. F’ing ludicrous! They both said  they would wave the service call fee if I agree to proceed with any repairs. They both told me if they check it and then deem the fridge is not worth repairing, the service call fee still applies.

Thanks for any knowledge to share or input. Rick. 

 

[Lars (midessa)]

Fix what you have. Unless you(more accurately the Wife) absolutely hate the design and features your current one has. 
 

[Rick G.]

3 minutes ago, Lars (midessa) said:

Fix what you have. Unless you(more accurately the Wife) absolutely hate the design and features your current one has. 
 

We have really liked this KitchenAid fridge. It hasn’t caused us a moment’s trouble until now.

It DOES NOT have the ice dispenser or drinking water dispenser in the door, which we like. We prefer NOT to have those features external on the door anyway.

I am concerned that any new fridge will be less reliable than this one has been. It seems anything being built these days is over-priced junk. 

[whweldit]

Place here still does house calls.  They came and checked our washer a few years ago.   Found the problem to be in the circuit board. Said they could fix for around $250.  Then said they did not advise it.  Told us why.  Said to go get a speed queen and be done.  Was glad to pay the $100 call just for the advise.  Maybe you only need a $25 part or maybe not. Time you dinker around and then maybe you also need this and this or you did not need what you ordered.  Let the expert wizard tell you.  As Andy Griffith said - pay the man!   My opinion!  Your mileage may vary. 

[dale560]

9 minutes ago, whweldit said:

Place here still does house calls.  They came and checked our washer a few years ago.   Found the problem to be in the circuit board. Said they could fix for around $250.  Then said they did not advise it.  Told us why.  Said to go get a speed queen and be done.  Was glad to pay the $100 call just for the advise.  Maybe you only need a $25 part or maybe not. Time you dinker around and then maybe you also need this and this or you did not need what you ordered.  Let the expert wizard tell you.  As Andy Griffith said - pay the man!   My opinion!  Your mileage may vary. 

Yes speed queen they say are best washer dryer.

[dale560]

Most refrigerators are lucky to go 5 years now. Even the sales people tell you that. We bought a kenmore on close out when Sears was just ending it was a LG made kenmore though. Nice refrigerator but almost exactly at 5 years it abruptly quit. Google the problem and the LG linear compressors are known to fail. So being wife has to have final say on that stuff she found a fridge on Home Depot she wanted. I can’t offer any advice on that stuff as she gets irate so we ended up with the exact same fridge but this one is a lg branded. So in three more years we will be buying one again. That being said I have a 20 year old kenmore that is just starting to fail in the garage. 

[stronger800]

I had what I think would be the same  fridge as you’re talking.   I thought I had a plugged condensation or evaporator drain once, would drip water into freezer then it would pool and freeze. took it apart, cleaned out bread crumbs. Worked for a year. We have a local appliance guy, he came out and put a $300 or 350 computer “mother board” on it…worked for another year, maybe two.

I’d just replace it. And pls go replacing that one even sooner.  Sign of the times 

[Ihfan4life]

1 hour ago, Rick G. said:

…..throwing out a feeler here to see if I can get lucky in case anyone here has been down this KitchenAid path before.

Our 11 year old KitchenAid fridge / freezer that we bought from brand new has quit cooling and freezing. Freezer on bottom, French doors fridge at top. 

I took the back lower access  panel off to get a look-see, because I am getting a clicking sound out of some gizmo mounted right next to the compressor. I presume this is some sort of relay / capacitor type of thing?

I am wondering if this relay thing may have failed, causing the compressor not to run? Either that, or maybe the compressor tied up and failed? 

I have unplugged the connections and removed this object from its mounting. I think I’m just going to take a chance and order this new part on-line and hope it gets the fridge running again.

If that idea doesn’t work, I think  I’m just going to say screw it and we’ll buy a whole new fridge. I did some reading on our model and age  of KitchenAid fridge. It says that at 11 years old, this model is now in the “twilight” of its expected service life. Ugh, so It sounds like it’s not worth sinking a lot of money in to.

So, anyone with a 10 year old KitchenAid fridge ever been down this road with theirs? Am I on the right track with thinking of replacing this small relay thing? I’m not sure it’s a capacitor, it’s all just a small square plastic encased part.

If that doesn’t fix it, I guess we’re buying a new fridge- I’m thinking another KitchenAid, or maybe Whirlpool. (I think Whirlpool makes the KitchenAids????) 

We’re limping along right now with our refrigerated stuff in a couple of big picnic cooler ice chests, and our terrific next door neighbors are also letting us use the fridge / freezer of their motorhome that they have parked at their place. Lucky there.

I thought about calling in an appliance repair service, but I called a couple places to check, and one place wants $105.00 for a service call, and the other wants $125.00 to come out. F’ing ludicrous! They both said  they would wave the service call fee if I agree to proceed with any repairs. They both told me if they check it and then deem the fridge is not worth repairing, the service call fee still applies.

Thanks for any knowledge to share or input. Rick. 

 

https://youtu.be/b8rh3Y-KIUk

can’t help you on fixing it but I just saw this video about a week ago… so for what it’s worth here it is. 🤞

my fridge is a 10-12 year old Fridgidaire and still going strong 
 

[acem]

I had to replace the relay on my old refrigerator a couple times. The relay is on the side of the compressor. It was a 15 year old Whirlpool which makes Kitchen Aid.  

I recommend taking the relay to an appliance parts place to match it up.  Should be quicker and you should get the right part the first time.  

Ours finally died and I could not revive it.  Bought an almost new one at an estate sale for $300.

Good Luck!

[jeeper61]

I have had the compressor relay go bad on my last fridge replaced it and got another 5 years out of it for a total of 20. Was a KitchenAid side by side.

[TomH]

About 5 years longer than LG, we have an LG and it’s gone south. We are planning on replacing it with a Kitchenaid.

After 20+ years repairing electrical and HVAC/ refrigeration on a college campus and having a friend in the appliance repair business: stick with the Kitchenaid ( made in USA by Whirlpool) or GE, made by Haier . Chinese owned but I guess GE keeps the quality good. Avoid LG, Samsung, and not that any sane person would spend 5 figures on a refrigerator; high end like Z-line, Sub zero and the like. 10 to 15 years is unfortunately about what to expect.

[mmi]

Fix if U can

First I check fan/s  air channels/food ice blockage, relays/ electric path

Pick up #5 of salt first

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8rh3Y-KIUk

 

59 minutes ago, TomH said:

Avoid LG, Samsung, and not that any sane person would spend 5 figures on a refrigerator; high end like Z-line, Sub zero and the like.

Com'on corporate types/franchise  like the kicks backs $$$  from sales/service mandate.

Any time I get to OPM $ / elites    ...Suggest viking and wolf

[Board Shortener Tom]

When our used $30 fridge started to go 6 years after we got it we could not see spending even 4 figures for the junk available today. Got a cheap Chinese (I assume) Midea for around $600. If we get 5 years out of it I will be fine with that.  I don't need bells and whistles on things. Just the basics with less stuff to fail.  Our latest vehicle purchase has crank down windows and manual door locks. 2013 Jeep. 🤣

[mike newman]

16 minutes ago, Board Shortener Tom said:

When our used $30 fridge started to go 6 years after we got it we could not see spending even 4 figures for the junk available today. Got a cheap Chinese (I assume) Midea for around $600. If we get 5 years out of it I will be fine with that.  I don't need bells and whistles on things. Just the basics with less stuff to fail.  Our latest vehicle purchase has crank down windows and manual door locks. 2013 Jeep. 🤣

...are your neighbours 'shunning'' you Tom ??....are they circling your home at night with flaming torches and pitchforks...??

...because if they are....you would be a perfect fit for our  local community.....

Mike 

[Rawleigh99]

Replace that relay on the compressor. I had it happen to me once.  Refrigerator just keep getting crappier and crappier so keep what you have.

[TroyDairy]

Didnt even read your post

 

They all suck.  We have 12 washer and dryers in farm.  6 refrigerator, 4 microwave, numerous other stuff.

We know repair guys by name and have many parts to do our own sometimes.  Fwiw...9 of 10 times they are not worth fixing.  You put new relay in an then the board quits.  New belt on dryer and then safety switch.  Replace light on fridge and it starts in fire..Whirlpool variants (yes..American) are the best honestly with Maytag lagggggin wwwwaayyyyy behind even though they are part of same family.  More like ******* greedy step child from a 4th cousins marriage imho.  Repair guys faint when say the word Samsung. They make nice TVs....not appliances.  Everyone we know with a 5 to 6 year old home replaced most appliances by year 7.  And are told they did well.  Oh...vac the bottom of fridge often.  Helps

[lorenzo]

Well first off, the clicking sound your hearing is most likely the overload.

Its a small black round plastic part fastened to the compressor usually right next to the relay. it’s about the diameter of a nickel.  It will have a black wire from your common ( hot ) power lead going into it , and the wire coming out of it will go to the common terminal on your compressor .When the compressor either draws over current or gets too hot it will open its circuit. When that happens it makes that sound. 
If your compressor is stuck from an internal failure it will draw overcurrent and open the overload. Another thing that will cause it is  low-voltage . Another thing that will cause it is if your relay sticks in the start mode, it will draw over current on the start winding. Another thing that will cause that  click is if it gets too hot from a dirty condenser or a condenser fan that has went bad . You can bypass the overload just long enough to see if your compressor will run. Wait untill it has had time to cool off   if the compressor will run after bypassing your overload then chances  are you got lucky and that’s all you would need.  That rarely happens. Lay your hand on the compressor and chances are it is so hot You cannot touch it.
if you choose to go buy a relay buy the overload at the same time, they are gonna want the model number off the compressor and take the model number off the refrigerator also and go to a wholesale house that sells that brand. On the downside if you buy a new refrigerator, it’s probably  gonna have propane as the refrigerant.

[lorenzo]

On another note, the prices you were quoted for a service call are really not that bad. By the time a technician is paid, the truck insurance and a few gallons of gas get consumed to get to your place and back over half of that fee is already burned up. 
when you get told they will wave the service call fee thats a line of BS.  They are going to have at least two or three hours of time involved in it and there going to make it seam as though your getting a deal but probably not. 
 If for example you have a freezer on the bottom then you probably have french doors on top. Those are absolutely the worst to work on. You have to tear the whole inside of that thing out to get at any internal problem . Remove all the food all the shelving all the brackets that hold the freezer door sliding in and out rip all that out just to get at the evaporator coil. If you have a compressor out and it’s not in warranty the cost of replacing that compressor and the labor involved in doing it will exceed the price of the refrigerator. Most of the time they are just not worth fixing unfortunately we live in a throwaway world and appliances are designed with planned obsolescence.
I spent over 40 years in the HVAC business specializing in grocery store refrigeration. I taught refrigeration at a local college for 20 years, although I did not do any residential work I have worked on household refrigerators for friends and family and there’s no way on earth You would get me to come out for $125. That is cheap.

[vtfireman85]

8 hours ago, whweldit said:

As Andy Griffith said - pay the man!

Love that episode 

[drglinski]

Have you tried unplugging and letting it warm up 24 hrs and see if it still has the issue? 

[Ihfan4life]

5 hours ago, TomH said:

About 5 years longer than LG, we have an LG and it’s gone south. We are planning on replacing it with a Kitchenaid.

After 20+ years repairing electrical and HVAC/ refrigeration on a college campus and having a friend in the appliance repair business: stick with the Kitchenaid ( made in USA by Whirlpool) or GE, made by Haier . Chinese owned but I guess GE keeps the quality good. Avoid LG, Samsung, and not that any sane person would spend 5 figures on a refrigerator; high end like Z-line, Sub zero and the like. 10 to 15 years is unfortunately about what to expect.

Father in law bought all top end GE kitchen appliances maybe 3-4 years ago. He’s already had to repair the refrigerator, microwave and oven… I was going to buy all GE appliances for my remodel/renovation but now I’m not. 
 

[acem]

A friend bought an old really big nice house in poor condition. It was an old plantation type house that had been added on to and updated off and on since the 1850s.

The kitchen had been updated in the 70s or 80s by the appearances. It had built in refrigerator and freezer with outside compressor and condenser. Some high end commercial style units.

Really nice but nobody could find parts for them.

Cool old house with alot of history but a massive money pit...

[vtfireman85]

Bosch

[Board Shortener Tom]

11 hours ago, mike newman said:

...are your neighbours 'shunning'' you Tom ??....are they circling your home at night with flaming torches and pitchforks...??

...because if they are....you would be a perfect fit for our  local community.....

Mike 

I have only met 2 of my neighbors since moving here and they are like minded. This area is full of people like this.  In my previous places of residence I had the problems you described though. 😂 I'm assuming you have extended an invitation to move into your community if things go sideways where I'm at? I will get a "go bag" packed in case I need it! 🤣

[Matt Kirsch]

From what I can find, a basic fridge cost $300 in 1955, which is just shy of $3800 now. A basic fridge today costs around $450, the equivalent of $36 in 1955. Imagine if they had $36 refrigerators in 1955. If they could have replaced their fridges 8 times over for the same money as what one new one cost, they wouldn't have fixed them, either. The repair guy probably charged $10 just to come look at it. What do they charge now, $100? Why would you spend almost 1/3 the cost of a new one to have a guy come and tell you he can't fix it or the fix is going to cost more than a new one?