Re: Need Refrigerator Advice
- From: Red Green <postmaster@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:39:59 -0500
"Walter R." <wr@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
news:h9gud3$tlt$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:
Forget about ratings. All current refrigerators are equally prone to
repairs. This is evidenced by the fact that you cannot buy a
refrigerator with an warranty in excess of one year.
The only way out is to buy a five year warranty in addition to the
factory warranty. Costs maybe $ 100 but is worth it.
We bought a Jennair French Door 3 years ago(2,000 bucks). The
compressor had to be replaced after two years and it broke down again
in the following year. We were glad we had an extended warranty.
Otherwise the repairs would have cost us $ 900.
They don't make them like they used to, any more, and you better
believe it. Refrigerators used to run for 20 years.
The same holds true for all kitchen appliances. Right now we are
waiting for a new display for our 2 year old GE Double Oven.
Our new dishwasher broke down twice, so far.
13 year old Roper (aka Whirlpool) side by side frig.
So two nights ago I go in the kitchen to turn out the evening light.
Something smells like it's burning. Soon I hear a crackling coming from
the frig area and target it as coming from underneath where sound can
exit the front vent. Unplug and pull out frig. Remove cardbord access
cover on bottom. PeeeeUuuuu. Plug in quickly and immediately hear
crackling along with black smoke and actually tiny flaming coming from
under plastic cover on the side of the compressor. Quickly unplug and
remove cover.
I find this: http://tinypic.com/r/2a91hn5/4
I know jack about appliance repair and just wing things. Some Googling of
diagrams I find this is a compressor relay. Nasty failure if you ask me.
Along with relay under this plastic cover is an "Overload" device as they
call it.
No time for Internet orders if I can help it. Overnighting would offset
any savings anyway. Next morning I'm lucky that the local appliance parts
shop has the kit which contains everything under the cover including the
cover. Guess someone along the lines figured new cover would also be
needed when it burns. Same price as online. Surprising!
I ask the guy there what this overload device is for considering I had a
small flame and melting part. Said he thought it protects the compressor.
Not sure what that means but maybe like an AC so it doesn't cycle on-off-
on too quickly with power glitches or something. I'm like oh
great...saves the compressor...which will burn up in the house fire.
I don't think this is the first time this failed. There was a wire
routing retainer piece that came with the new cover and is mated to fit
in the cover guide. Guide was on old and new one but piece was missing in
old one. PITA to get in properly routed and locked when reassembled.
Probably why whoever replaced it left it off be it a tech or hack.
So for a bad situation it turned out best it could actually. If I had
gone to bed 10 min later I might woke up to smoke alarms, a fire or never
woke again. Repair cost was minimal. Part was available locally. No food
lost.
Checked for product recalls on the Internet with no hits.
.
- References:
- Need Refrigerator Advice
- From: dmacq@xxxxxxxxx
- Re: Need Refrigerator Advice
- From: Walter R.
- Need Refrigerator Advice
- Prev by Date: Re: Harbor Freight vs. Home depot
- Next by Date: Re: Harbor Freight vs. Home depot
- Previous by thread: Re: Need Refrigerator Advice
- Next by thread: >>>> RUN FILES <<<<
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
