Help me save my fridge!!

[paysensmom]

Fridge is 8 years old. It is a side by side with an ice maker. We have had it in our garage for extra freezer space and the fridge part held our drinks. We smelled something funny for about a week. I finally found where the smell was comiing from when I opened the freezer to get a brisket out.
The light comes on, but obviously the cooler part is not working. Anyone have experience? What should I do next? Hubby wants to go buy a new one

Can't we save this one??

 

[aprilfoolwed]

Is it working at all?

We have a chronic issue with the fan in our freezer. It burns out. The freezer/fridge get cold, but the air can't circulate so nothing stays the right temp. It was a quick and easy fix ($50 part) once we figured it out.

Is it worth $50+ for you to have someone look at it and possibly fix it, or would it be better for you to just buy a cheap new one?

 

[paysensmom]

Is it working at all?

We have a chronic issue with the fan in our freezer. It burns out. The freezer/fridge get cold, but the air can't circulate so nothing stays the right temp. It was a quick and easy fix ($50 part) once we figured it out.

Is it worth $50+ for you to have someone look at it and possibly fix it, or would it be better for you to just buy a cheap new one?

I am not sure if it is working at all, beyond the light. We unplugged it and haven't looked at it. I will plug it in tomorrow and see if anything happens. Any other advice or guidance???

 

[stazmatic]

Since it sounds like you already lost the contents try unplugging it for a week to let it defrost. If ice is built up between the sides then air doesn't flow and thats' what causes so many problems with side by sides. After you leave it unplugged for a week or so try plugging it back in. This worked for us last summer.

 

[debbiemomto4]

Try vacuuming out the coils.Sometimes it gets too dirty in there.

 

[stm61]

we had a similar problem, twice actually. There's a small part that goes in the freezer side of our side by side. It costs all of about $20. It must be kind of a thermostat because it's what makes the freezer cool. It went when we first moved in and the house was under warranty. I remember the repairman showing me the part and where it went. Fast forward 3 years and it's gone out again, but I can't remember where the part went and Dh was working out of state the first time so he didn't see it. Repair bill: $120! $20 for the part, $60 for coming outside town limits, and the rest was the regular service/labor charge. We now have the old part in permenant residence under the kitchen island and Dh and ds16 both know where it goes!

 

[paysensmom]

we had a similar problem, twice actually. There's a small part that goes in the freezer side of our side by side. It costs all of about $20. It must be kind of a thermostat because it's what makes the freezer cool. It went when we first moved in and the house was under warranty. I remember the repairman showing me the part and where it went. Fast forward 3 years and it's gone out again, but I can't remember where the part went and Dh was working out of state the first time so he didn't see it. Repair bill: $120! $20 for the part, $60 for coming outside town limits, and the rest was the regular service/labor charge. We now have the old part in permenant residence under the kitchen island and Dh and ds16 both know where it goes!

Any chance of getting a picture of where/what it is so I can try this as well as the other things mentioned?

 

[buckler]

Perhaps these links will help a bit

Refrigerator Troubleshooting
Diagram of parts in a side by side fridge

 

[paysensmom]

Perhaps these links will help a bit

Refrigerator Troubleshooting
Diagram of parts in a side by side fridge

Lots of good info on there, thank you!

 

[stm61]

Any chance of getting a picture of where/what it is so I can try this as well as the other things mentioned?

my camera seems to be DOA at the moment but I'll try and explain where it is. We have a side by side with the freezer on the left. On the back wall of the freezer is a panel that was removed. Below the plastic covered coils, almost centered, is the removable piece. It slides out, and I'm looking at the part but it's really hard to describe. The directions, that the repairman was nice enough to leave in the box for our next time, say Replacement Heater for Heater Harness Defrost Assembly. Apparently the removable cover is the evaporator cover and the part is an element heater, from reading the step by step directions. Ours is a GE, the box has WR51X10101, HRT HARN DEF A, if you want to look it up online. I'm sorry I'm not more clear, but the piece is hard to describe. It's kind of a curved, vented metal piece, with electronic looking connections on each end, with a glass tube that runs from end to end, over the curved metal. One side continues up with a small metal piece that covers the glass tube. Sorry, I know that's clear as mud lol.

 

[paysensmom]

No, thats great. I am going to go look at mine! Thanks

 

[buckler]

my camera seems to be DOA at the moment but I'll try and explain where it is. We have a side by side with the freezer on the left. On the back wall of the freezer is a panel that was removed. Below the plastic covered coils, almost centered, is the removable piece. It slides out, and I'm looking at the part but it's really hard to describe. The directions, that the repairman was nice enough to leave in the box for our next time, say Replacement Heater for Heater Harness Defrost Assembly. Apparently the removable cover is the evaporator cover and the part is an element heater, from reading the step by step directions. Ours is a GE, the box has WR51X10101, HRT HARN DEF A, if you want to look it up online. I'm sorry I'm not more clear, but the piece is hard to describe. It's kind of a curved, vented metal piece, with electronic looking connections on each end, with a glass tube that runs from end to end, over the curved metal. One side continues up with a small metal piece that covers the glass tube. Sorry, I know that's clear as mud lol.

This part is shown in the diagram I posted. It's one of the parts that is highlighted by a red rectangle. Hover your pointer over the rectangle to see the description. This may or may not be your problem though.