Newish Maytag Refrigerator will not shut off...Help

[Ogee]

My maytag refrigerator that is about a year old will not shut off (or stop running...skip all the old jokes please). It seems to cool correctly and the freezer section freezes, but it runs continuously.

Any suggestions as to what might be wrong so when I call for my repair I will have some idea what I'm talking about.

[Dr.Dan]

If it's not getting too cold (still running at normal temps in the fridge and freezer), then it's not cooling properly and the thermostat is asking it to running continually just to keep it at the temp it should be.
This could be caused by a weak compressor or a leak in the system.

If it's getting colder than normal, it's probably a bad thermostat.

[Ogee]

If it's not getting too cold (still running at normal temps in the fridge and freezer), then it's not cooling properly and the thermostat is asking it to running continually just to keep it at the temp it should be.
This could be caused by a weak compressor or a leak in the system.

If it's getting colder than normal, it's probably a bad thermostat.

Not a good option, the first one...

Thanks Dr. Dan

[Exmortis]

Inspect the seal around the doors for cracks... It may be leaking cold air.

[Dr.Dan]

Is it not under warranty?

If not and it was a cheap one, it might not be worth repairing.

My dad's was just over 3 years old when the compressor went on it... wasn't worth repairing, so he bought another fridge
And by the way, he repairs appliances for a living (retired now) and could do it himself... and it still wasn't economical to repair ;)

[Mouse]

If it's a freezer under, could it just be a circulating fan???

[Ogee]

The one year warranty expires the 7th of October...talk about planned obsolesence...repair guy coming the 6th...

It is basic (no water thru the door etc) side by side with the freezer compartment on one side...we bought it because we can't get a chest freezer into the basement (can't make the turn to go down the stairs...and maytags had the most useable freezer space (ie width) of the side by sides.

The "running" component does sound like a fan and appears to come from the upper half of the refrigerator...

[BillD]

If the defrost timer goes, you will get the symptoms you describe. The coils get coated with ice and lose their cooling ability, so the fridge runs continuously. You can temporarily rectify the siuation by pulling the plug and defrosting the freezer. The ice will melt off the coils (and run down the tube to the drip tray, as long as the hose isn't plugged, which could also be the trouble) and it will return to normal operation, until they ice again. As an aside to Dr. Dan, what kind of fridge doesn't have a 5 year warranty on the compressor?

[Ogee]

If the defrost timer goes, you will get the symptoms you describe. The coils get coated with ice and lose their cooling ability, so the fridge runs continuously. You can temporarily rectify the siuation by pulling the plug and defrosting the freezer. The ice will melt off the coils (and run down the tube to the drip tray, as long as the hose isn't plugged, which could also be the trouble) and it will return to normal operation, until they ice again. As an aside to Dr. Dan, what kind of fridge doesn't have a 5 year warranty on the compressor?
You are correct the compressor has a five year warranty as does any part of the "sealed refrigeration system"...which doesn't include the defrost timer I'm guessing...but it is still under warranty.

Thanks all for you expert opinions...I'm always amazed at the amount of knowlege that the memebers of this site have outside of computer knowledge...

[Dr.Dan]

Well I'm glad you're getting in just under the wire there Ogee :xcc:

And to BillD, the cheapy that my dad had (as a second fridge) only had a 3 year warranty... he just wanted something small and cheap... but not the second time ;)

[Lesley]

My last fridge ran all the time, it was an "all fridge". I have a Samsung freezer on the bottom fridge now and it too is always making noises of some sort, the defrost cycle is one of them. It's done it since day one and seems to be part of the normal operation

[BillD]

My new Kenmore (Whirlpool) side by sidefridge makes a number of noises.The automatic icemaker is part of the reason for that. It also runs more often the old fridge, yet uses half the electricity.Overall it is very quiet, but you do hear the ice falling or the water turning on.My first ever fridge repair was a faulty defrost timer, which caused the described symptoms.

[Dr.Dan]

Well, it's the 6th now... wonder if Ogee is going to return and update us on what repairs are required :)

[Ogee]

Well, it's the 6th now... wonder if Ogee is going to return and update us on what repairs are required :)

Well I was waiting to see if the problem is fixed, and only time will tell I guess as it was one of those things that always seems to happen to me...nothing obviously wrong. See attachment for a crude drawing on a similar model.

He checked all the components after removing the inside back freezer panel. They were all receiving the correct "current"...the door seals were correct and in good condition...there was ice on the coil (3 on my diagram)...there are two vents between the freezer and the refridgerator (1&2) to allow the circulation of the cold air...the top vent #1 was plugged by ice...after consulting by cell phone with a technician with more experience with the model they decided that warm air was getting into the system some how and the only place that seemed to be a possible problem was where the copper tube with the 'coolant' went through the back fridge body...he appled a sealant...he felt that this probably occured when the fridge was installed and the the very small leak gradually over a year caused the vent to completely ice up...

Anyway it is now back on cycle, but whether it is fixed or not...????