Need help! Refrigerator Not working

[sigbrown1297]

I have an older kenmore refrigerator that has been sitting in the garage for about two years and was going to sell it but when i plugged it in today to test it, it doesn't work. It worked fine before.I took the bottom cardboard cover off in the back of the fridge to see the compressor, but can't tell what going on.Lights come onCompressor cooling fan worksCompressor is warm but not sure if its doing what is supposed toNo air blows out in the refrigerator part at all.In the freezer, I can feel cold air blowing out of the small vents, but not the large vent in the backAny help?

Edited December 20, 2011 by sigbrown1297

[Erik88]

did you clean the coil?

[Garufa]

How long did you leave it running?

[sigbrown1297]

No i haven't. Would that make it stop working completely?

[sigbrown1297]

How long did you leave it running?

Its been running most of the day.

[sigbrown1297]

Got it working! The fan in the freezer which blows the cold air into the fresh food section was stuck. I took cover off and just moved the fan blade with my fingers and it started spinning. I guess from sitting for two years and not moving, it just needed a jump start.

[Westwindmike]

I hear that leaving one sitting like that is worse than running it.

[RobertNashville]

Just FYI, cleaning the coil/getting rid if dust in general can have a huge impact on a fridge....with enough dust; they will "run" but will never cool the interior. Doesn't sound like your problem this time but good info for the future!

[sigbrown1297]

Just FYI, cleaning the coil/getting rid if dust in general can have a huge impact on a fridge....with enough dust; they will "run" but will never cool the interior. Doesn't sound like your problem this time but good info for the future!

For sure. I need to get a long brush and clean it out to make sure its running at optimal performance.

[Guest jackdm3]

Try not to tilt it much or at all. Sometimes disturbs the lubricants. We pulled ours out a foot, tilted it back to get better access to clean the coils, and it got sick for 3 or 4 years. Leaked water in the back corners under the freezer section. Had to put a cup at each corner to catch it and dump the water out once a week. The problem slowly stopped. I'm not sure of the technical reason of it's not from the shifting of compressor liquids/oil, but moving it around like that was straight up bad juju. Whoever buys it, you should tell them to take it home and let it sit for a few hours before plugging in. That's SOP, as told by the manufacturers.

[peejman]

Try not to tilt it much or at all. Sometimes disturbs the lubricants. We pulled ours out a foot, tilted it back to get better access to clean the coils, and it got sick for 3 or 4 years. Leaked water in the back corners under the freezer section. Had to put a cup at each corner to catch it and dump the water out once a week. The problem slowly stopped. I'm not sure of the technical reason of it's not from the shifting of compressor liquids/oil, but moving it around like that was straight up bad juju. Whoever buys it, you should tell them to take it home and let it sit for a few hours before plugging in. That's SOP, as told by the manufacturers.

I used to work in the stock room at Sears. Can't think of how many appliances I loaded into some strange places. If loading a fridge required laying it down, we always advised folks to leave it standing up for at least 12 hours before plugging it in.

The brush attachment for your vacuum does an excellent job cleaning out dust bunnies. If you're outside and don't care about a mess, compressed air works well too.

[sigbrown1297]

Sold the frig last night. Now i got to sell my washer and dryer so i can put a workbench in the garage. Can't wait!