Fridge does not run, Interior Light Comes on (Check Point) continue…

Check Start Capacitor

There are three types of failures that are associated with the Fridge start capacitor. These failures are a defective capacitor. an open filament capacitor, and a grounded capacitor. You can check each of the above failures with the volt/ohmmeter. First, unplug the Fridge power cord. Using hand tools, remove the screws that secure the Fridge back and remove the starting capacitor from the compressor starting package. Look for traces of oil on or around the capacitor. If oil is present, the capacitor is defective.

CAUTION: A charged capacitor is extremely dangerous. A capacitor that has been removed from the compressor starting package will hold a charge indefinitely, even when not in use. If you touch the terminals of a charged capacitor, the built-up voltage could give a high-voltage shock that could be fatal. A flat-blade screwdriver across the terminals should be used to discharge a capacitor.

To check the capacitor for an open filament, set the volt/ohmmeter on the RX-100 scale. Place one probe on each terminal of the capacitor. The volt/ohmmeter scale should immediately show continuity or full-scale deflection, and then return to infinity or to the start of the volt/ohmmeter scale. Reverse the probes of the volt/- ohmmeter, and again the needle of the volt/- ohmmeter should immediately go to full-scale deflection (0 ohms), and return to infinity. If so, the capacitor is normal. No deflection of the meter means the capacitor is defective.

To check the starting capacitor for internal ground, set the volt/ohmmeter on the RX-10 scale. Touch one probe to capacitor terminal and other probe to case of capacitor. NOTE: This test is only applicable to starting capacitors that have metal cases. Capacitors that have plastic cases cannot be accurately checked using this method. If the capacitor is grounded internally, the volt/ohmmeter scale will show continuity (full-scale meter deflection). You will have to replace the capacitor to restore the Fridge to proper operating order. If the volt/ohmmeter showed no meter movement, the capacitor is good, and you will have to check the compressor motor or overload protector to find the cause of the problem.

Check Overload Protector

Unplug the Fridge power cord, remove the screws that secure the back cover, and check for possible burned or broken wires that are attached to the overload protector. If there are burned or frayed wires, you can assume that the failure is caused by a defect in the compressor motor circuit.

To check the overload protector, set the volt/- ohmmeter on the RX-1 scale, and attach one probe of the volt/ohmmeter to each terminal. If the overload protector is good, the meter should show continuity or full scale deflection. If the above check showed no continuity across the overload protector terminals, the component is defective and needs to be replaced.

Check Fridge Compressor

Two failures will cause the Fridge compressor motor to malfunction: the compressor motor is defective internally, or it is grounded internally. You can check for these failures with the volt/ohmmeter and the Fridge test cord.

All Fridge compressor motors have terminal pins on the compressor housing that are marked “C”, which represents the common side of the line, “S”, which represents the start winding of the compressor motor, and “R” or “M”, which represents the run winding of the compressor motor. To manually start the Fridge compressor motor with the test cord, place one lead to terminal “C” on the compressor housing. Place the remaining lead to terminal “R”. Place a screwdriver with a plastic-insulated handle from “R” terminal to “S” terminal. (This is called bridging.) Plug the test cord into a 110-to-125-volt receptacle. With the screwdriver bridged bridged across terminals “S” and “R”, the compressor should start. Remove the screwdriver after a period of two to three seconds. If the compressor motor continues to run, you can assume that the compressor motor is fully operational.

There will be cases where you cannot use a test cord to manually start a compressor motor. Compressor motors that include a start capacitor in the starting package cannot be manually started using a test cord. For applications of this type, a test cord used by professional appliance technicians must be used to manually start the compressor motor.

In situations where a wiring diagram is not available, you can use the volt/ohmmeter to identify the windings of the compressor motor terminals in order to manually start the compressor. To locate the “S” and the “R” windings, place one probe on the compressor top terminal, which will be labeled “C” or common. Place the remaining probe of the volt/ohmmeter on one of the remaining terminals of the compressor motor. Set the dial of the volt/ohmmeter on the RX-1 scale. A reading of approximately 10 to 12 ohms indicates that the start winding terminal of the compressor has been located

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Move the volt/ohmmeter probe from the terminal that has been identified as the start winding of the compressor, and place it on the remaining compressor terminal. The meter should indicate a reading of approximately two to four ohms. The terminal that shows the lowest reading will always be the run winding of the compressor motor.

Also, use the volt/ohmmeter to determine if a compressor motor is internally grounded (wires touching the compressor case). Set the dial on the RX-10 scale on the volt/ohmmeter. Place one probe on the compressor mounting bolt or other outside metal part, and attach the remaining probe to the compressor terminal pin(s). If there is meter deflection of any type, the compressor motor is internally grounded. You will have to replace the compressor motor in order to restore the Fridge to proper working order.

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