Kitchen Large Electric Appliances - Refrigerator turns off on 4-5 times when starting up

I have an older Kenmore 19.2 Frostless model, freezer on top (Model # 67921...probably 15+ years old). It keeps things cold but when the motor kicks in it tends to go off and on about 4-5 times, each time dimming the lights more than it should, sometimes shuddering in the process, before it settles down and works normally. It feels like there is an electric switch that is not catching quite right (bad contact?)...and I wonder if someone came point me to the kind of switch (or other device...solenoid?) that would cause this kind of problem. If it's something electrical it's probably not too big a deal to repair or replace. But I'd appreciate some advice where to look and what to look for.

Thanks in advance...jc

Could be the compressor has got hot from working too hard, due to low on freon or fault with compressor, and clicks in and out due to the thermal overload at the compressor being overheated. Or from the relay and run capacitor parts hooked up down there by the compressor being faulty. Any of these easily replaceable and fairly inexpensive parts could be your problem. Around my area, the service-trip charge alone would roughly cost you what the parts alone cost if you changed them yourself. Call up appliance parts store and tell them your make and model and have them look up what these couple of parts cost. Tell them it is the parts that hook up off the compressor and tell them what your unit is doing.

First though, pull out the fridge and feel the compressor to see if it is really hot while this is going on. If hot, set up a fan back there and cool down the compressor. Unplug the unit and leave the doors closed, while doing this (to keep food cold), for say 1/2 hour. Then feel compressor again, and if it is merely lightly warm to cool, plug it back in and then see if it still wants to rapidly click the way it was, in the beginning, or if it only starts to do this clicking again once the compressor were to get hot (again). Let us know.

Also, put thermometer in freezer and refrigerator sections to see what temps you have if it has been actually running for a while. When reading the thermometer you have to quickly read it when opening up the door(s).

You should also make sure your condenser coils are not packed up with dirt and that the fan under there is running. Usually you take off the kick plate off the bottom front of the unit and you will see the dust, and pet hair if you have any, on the black copper tubing. Use a vacuum cleaner or buy a brush made for cleaning them at HD or lowes. On some models you may have to take the cardboard cover off the bottom back and the coils will be back there.

This problem has just taken a leap forward...today I came home to a warm refrigerator, and something clicking on every 20 seconds. Looking in the back, there is a small device, actually two of them, on the side of the compressor. It's clicking on, and the fan starts turning, and after 15-20 seconds it clicks off, with a little spark in the second device. The second device is a small cylinder pressed up against the side of the compressor, the hot wire goes into it then out and on to the other device, which is plugged into two pins that come out of the side of the compressor.
The compressor is warm, and I'm letting it cool down...but it's not super hot and it looks to me like the compressor isn't really starting up. I don't hear the usual compressor noise(a groan type sound?), just this device on the side clicking on then off.

Does this make sense? These two little devices don't look very expensive, possibly they come as a unit. Are they relays that supply power to turn enable the compressor to turn itself on. The round cylinder one that is loosely pressed against the side of the compressor must be measuring temperature or vibration? and shuts off the current when the measurement is to high...I'm just guessing but that's what it looks like.

Any advice for me here...as I said it doesn't even look like the compressor is going on, possibly because 15-20 seconds isn't enough current to make it start.

jc