Refrigerator Not Cooling - How to Fix - What to Check [2020]

One morning i opened the refrigerator and noticed it wasn't very cold inside. The light was on and the water and ice worked, but it was luke warm inside and the compressor wasn't turning on. So this video is the 4 things i check and was eventually able to fix the problem. It wasn't the compressor, but the compressor start relay. The compressor and capacitor were still good. Just buy a new part and install it.

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[mukeshmodi]

My garage refrigerator stopped working. Fan was working but not the compressor. I followed your instructions and ordered a relay switch and capacitor from Amazon for $20, and now it's working fine.
Thank you so much. I didn't know how much a repair guy would charge, so I was thinking of trashing it. Thanks to you, it's working now.

[karenpacchione]

Thank you! Because of your video I was able to diagnose and fix my freezer. I'm a 67 yr old woman.

[ronrocheleau]

With the help of your video it saved me spending $2000 on a new fridge. It was the compressor start relay. Thanks for the help much appreciated.

[rogerynewtony]

You saved another Whirlpool from the trip to the junk yard. Replaced the fancy relay but not the cap. My local appliance parts vendor said this was a commonly replaced part and the cap very rarely needs replacing. My fridg, with it's bottom freezer, also had Very dirty coils mounted across the bottom near the floor. Had to empty it so I could tilt it and properly remove the dust from the coils. Once all sealed up it took awhile for temp to drop because all the food was so warm. So far so good!

[bobwhite]

After watching a dozen videos and several Google explanations, this video was the only one that fully explained that both bottom terminals on the start relay should have continuity with starter relay removed. My symptom was no compressor start up but 5.4 amps draw, then relay clicked off. I disassembled mine after finding no continuity. I noticed the disk inside (no electronics board) was burned only on one side. I decided to flip the disc 180° and continuity returned. I reinstalled the starter and capacitor to test compressor power up. It worked fantastic! I will be replacing the starter only as capacitor tested good. Thank you for you thorough explanations.

[godsgrace]

Your video is 14.5 minutes long but I haven't watched it for up to 1 minute when I realized I'm watching the right video. This, is the best diagnosis Youtube video I ever watched. Thanks for taking your time to make this.

[Doxymeister]

This video gave me hope. My old refrigerator died less than a year ago, so my local veteran's outreach group had a member who had a used refrigerator sitting in his storage unit taking up space, so he donated it to me, for which I am eternally grateful. Then a couple of days ago it suddenly stopped cooling--lost probably $200 worth of food in the freezer alone. It's a nice late-model Whirlpool side-by-side, too. I think having a repairman come look at it would be preferable to trying to replace it--I could never afford to replace a fridge as nice as this one. This video makes me realize it would be worth having a professional look at it (I'm elderly and very disabled) rather than buying another used fridge. It could be something as simple as the mice chewed through a wire or a broken relay. Thank you so much!

[noelnadasan]

I'm a refrigerator tech and I must say your explanation is on the mark ..welldone

[kenlemmond]

Dave, I feel your pain. The part I got tickled with is where the fridge showed up in the garage because your wife decided you were getting a new one. DIY guys like us are so underappreciated. I have an old Maytag upright freezer that suddenly decided to get a little warm. This time, I went and bought a new freezer without even diagnosing the problem. But, I'm going to try to fix it and give it to my little sister from another mister or my wife's little sister to make things more clear. Don't get discouraged. Keep up the great work and good luck in the future!!!

[zzubuzz]

I just fixed mine, thanks to your video! Yes, it was the same issue, the compressor start relay. First I removed it, jotted down the #s, did searches, found out they are out of stock, out of production everywhere. But after looking really close at one on Amazon, I noticed it looked exactly the same as mine (the same shapes, same plug shapes, and it was the same brand)..so I bought it (about $78) plugged it in and whammo! I just ordered another one so when and if it breaks again I'll have one. My fridge was made in 2005, so the original lasted 17 years. I did some cleaning in the coils while under there also (they need to be kept free of dust and dirt). I intend to buy a special brush made for fitting in between the coils but for now I just used my compressed air system's blow hose. Mine is a Frigidaire model FRS6R4 EW2, the original part which is now obsolete had these #s on it: 3ARR55C4E2A and is part # 241543958. The new start relay is a Frigidaire part # 241524611 "compressor start relay", it got here in one day Amazon Prime. I used the original capacitor, it fit the new start relay exactly and apparently it was fine. Bottom line: if you have searched the part # for yours everywhere and it can not be found, just search your brand name and "start relay" on Amazon and look at each one, it helps to have your original in your hand for close examination.

[mohammedfrancis]

Hey Dave! I loved the walkthrough. You are a natural teacher, clear and precise. Thanks! I just defrosted the freezer. The evaporator and condenser fans are working and blowing cold air and freezing. However, the cooler isn't really cooling much. Also, I can't hear the condenser buzzing, so as you show, it could be a relay or capacitor problem. Perhaps the condenser is only half working. Great video!

[richardclapp]

Same here, but I wanted to mention, my relay tested fine, but I replaced it on a hunch after testing the capacitor…. Works like a champ! $20. So consider trying a new relay even if the old one tests!

[henrylee]

thanks Dave. i have a Frigidaire upright freezer. i hear a click every 20-seconds and i found a burn mark on the controller relay kit. i am going to replace both the capacitor and the relay.

[ramonsutton]

Thanks bud all the way from UK it did the trick

[rancelynch]

Rance here, my refer quit cooling ran across your video… have two things to say…THANK You, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, , THANK YOU… my Refrigerator is working! Thanks to you….I will tell you again THANK YOU..

[foreclosurepedia]

Incredible! We don't have a lot of money and I have been searching everywhere to get layman's terms and you nailed it! Thank you, not just from me, but from my family!

[davidalter]

Dave Wirth, this video really helped me. Was able to diagnose and fix my 15 yr old LG fridge for 10 bucks. It was a bad starter relay and protection combo. The multimeter tests you showed were super helpful. You saved me a couple thousand bucks for a new fridge.

[joeyelda]

This was a good video explaining what to check in a no cool situation in a refer. The only thing I would add as a 40 year refer tech(Whirlpool/Sub Zero) is that the compressor sounded noisy after the start relay was installed. The compressor may be going bad and a good check is to put a amp probe on the wiring and see what the compressor is drawing in amps. Overall this video tells you what to look for. Great to see these type of video's helping consumers

[robbie]

Great video! Direct to the point. Mine is doing the exact same thing. I am taking the part to my friend the electrician and he is going to test it for me! I hope my fix is as easy as yours is! The cleanup took me all afternoon. But so much better than buying a new fridge! I am a single woman and I really appreciate helpful, no fluff videos like yours ! Thank you

[DivineKraze]

I'm a training appliance repairmen and honestly this video really helped me understand not only how to check voltages on the compressor units, but you actually did what I wish my teacher would've done for me and go down a list of things that could not work, but do in this case. But I haven't been able to see many fridges yet.