Kitchen Large Electric Appliances - RCA Refridge stops & starts
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kennn
10-12-06, 01:43 PM
RCE Side by Side with Ice maker
Mode# MSX27XLV,
Since Sunday (3-4 days ago) my frige has shut down three times. When it happens sometimes (not always), I am able to get it restarted by turning the freezer temperature from higher (cooler) to lower (warmer) and back up higher. When it shuts down it stops cooling and the food in freezer partially/totally defrosts, the warrm warning light comes on and it appears that the compressor and fan stop. As I said above I can sometimes get it working again by jiggling the temp control and in fact got it reworking approximately 30 min ago and temp in freezed is now 25-30.
I think I've located the bottom of the cooling coils exposed at the bottom interior of the freezing behind the interior rear wall. When I felt (what I thought were the coils) there was no evidence that they were froze up, however, may have already defrosted from shutting down earlier.
Coincidently this started happening after i emptied the ice cube container which had froze up and quit dispensing ice.
I can't help but thinking this will continue. Any suggestion of a what may cause this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Mode# MSX27XLV,
Since Sunday (3-4 days ago) my frige has shut down three times. When it happens sometimes (not always), I am able to get it restarted by turning the freezer temperature from higher (cooler) to lower (warmer) and back up higher. When it shuts down it stops cooling and the food in freezer partially/totally defrosts, the warrm warning light comes on and it appears that the compressor and fan stop. As I said above I can sometimes get it working again by jiggling the temp control and in fact got it reworking approximately 30 min ago and temp in freezed is now 25-30.
I think I've located the bottom of the cooling coils exposed at the bottom interior of the freezing behind the interior rear wall. When I felt (what I thought were the coils) there was no evidence that they were froze up, however, may have already defrosted from shutting down earlier.
Coincidently this started happening after i emptied the ice cube container which had froze up and quit dispensing ice.
I can't help but thinking this will continue. Any suggestion of a what may cause this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
dave6466
10-12-06, 05:28 PM
Does your fridge have 2 dials? One for the freezer & one with numbers for the fresh food section? If you are jiggleing the one with the numbers up & down to make the compressor come on,
that is the cold control & its possible the contacts in it are getting bad & it needs replaced. Other possibilities are the fan in the back by the compressor is not working & compressor is overheating & shutting off untill it cools again. If you hear the compressor click off & on but not run the relay for compressor might be going bad or compressor itself. Hopefully not that. If you think it is the cold control, you can jump the 2 wires together to make sure thats the problem. Dave
that is the cold control & its possible the contacts in it are getting bad & it needs replaced. Other possibilities are the fan in the back by the compressor is not working & compressor is overheating & shutting off untill it cools again. If you hear the compressor click off & on but not run the relay for compressor might be going bad or compressor itself. Hopefully not that. If you think it is the cold control, you can jump the 2 wires together to make sure thats the problem. Dave
kennn
10-12-06, 06:00 PM
Thanks Dave,
You are correct, there are two dials. Not sure but I thought it kicked on when I jiggled the knob with the letter for the freezer, could be mistaken.
Since my last post it has been operating for 5 hours with freezer at at 25 degree (mid setting). Seems to work fine.
Just a few minutes ago I took off the cover of the coils at the rear interior of the freezer and exposed the coils. The entire lenght of the coil had a thin to moderate coating of ice. I'm guessing that the coils are freezing up which may be why its shutting down. I'm guessing that something in the frost free system is not working correctly. Any advise what to look for next. Thanks again
You are correct, there are two dials. Not sure but I thought it kicked on when I jiggled the knob with the letter for the freezer, could be mistaken.
Since my last post it has been operating for 5 hours with freezer at at 25 degree (mid setting). Seems to work fine.
Just a few minutes ago I took off the cover of the coils at the rear interior of the freezer and exposed the coils. The entire lenght of the coil had a thin to moderate coating of ice. I'm guessing that the coils are freezing up which may be why its shutting down. I'm guessing that something in the frost free system is not working correctly. Any advise what to look for next. Thanks again
dave6466
10-12-06, 06:11 PM
No, coils should have a slight coating of frost throughout. Even if it had a defrost problem the compressor would still run. Ice would keep building up untill it all became a solid block of ice. Usually you first notice the fresh food side warming up because fan can't move cold air over there & then freezer side warms up.(If defrost problem).
Still sounds like the cold control if you checked the fan by the compressor. If it does it again, jiggle the control with numbers & see if compressor comes on. If so, replace cold control. Dave
Still sounds like the cold control if you checked the fan by the compressor. If it does it again, jiggle the control with numbers & see if compressor comes on. If so, replace cold control. Dave
kennn
10-20-06, 11:02 AM
Well it appears you right. I patiently waited over the past week and several times the refrig quit cooling properly. It quit 2-3 times and upon moviing it up/down came back on and work great for 2-3 days. If its the part I think it is, the "Contol Temp" or Conrol (PS310823 on partsselect.com), the part cost is $107.10. Would this be correct part?. Does it have to be replaced or could it be cleaned or repoaired? If it has to be replaced is their a test to verify that it is in fact this part before I spend $100 plus. Thanks for you past help.
Thanks
Kennn
Thanks
Kennn
dave6466
10-20-06, 04:00 PM
The part number for your cold control is WR9X442 (GE number).
RCA is made by GE. Do another search under "appliance parts" to see if anyone has it cheaper. I looked from where I get my parts- apwagner.com & it lists at $136.51 so you might not get it much cheaper than partsselect. No real way to check control.
They are filled with a gas that opens & closes contacts inside depending on temp. You can jump the 2 wires together to make the compressor run all the time if the fridge stops again. If it runs with wires together but not with cold control it needs replaced. Dave
RCA is made by GE. Do another search under "appliance parts" to see if anyone has it cheaper. I looked from where I get my parts- apwagner.com & it lists at $136.51 so you might not get it much cheaper than partsselect. No real way to check control.
They are filled with a gas that opens & closes contacts inside depending on temp. You can jump the 2 wires together to make the compressor run all the time if the fridge stops again. If it runs with wires together but not with cold control it needs replaced. Dave