Fridge finally packed up?

[RichardS]

About 6 years ago when my wife bought her flat she bought a secondhand Zannussi fridge/freezer - a DF50/16 I think.. It was fairly old then.

It worked well, except that it iced up gradually due to less than perfect door seals on the freezer part. Installed in it's (then) location it also used to overheat very occasionally, and then needed pulling out a few inches, switching off for a while, then back on again and it would then be OK for another couple of months.

When we moved into our house she let the flat and left the fridge there for the tenants. It worked faultlessly for the next year, but then exhibited it's old overheating trick, and although the solution worked again we decided that we'd replace it with a new one (it's OK living with such a risk yourself but not really good expecing tenants to bear the same risk). It came back to our house to be used as a drinks fridge, and has stayed here for the past 2 years doing it's job well.

Until yesterday....

The motor starts up, runs for about 5 seconds, then stops again.

We've defrosted it completely, left it for a few hours, but no joy - still the same problem, and it's not getting cold. Airflow isn't a problem in it's current position.

So, has the compressor finally packed up? Is there anything that I can do that could revive it?

Any suggestions welcomed. Otherwise it might be due for a second career as an insulated tool store, and we'll be doing a quick search around for another S/H fridge....

cheers Richard

-- Richard Sampson

email me at richard at olifant d-ot co do-t uk

[BigWallop]

The poor thing sounds as though it owes you nothing and has given its life to keep you happy, so I think it might be time to put it out of its misery, don't you ? You can try all the tests and repairs you want to, but at this age and having been moved around many times during its life, it might cost you more and more and still not give its usual old performance. Be gentle but firm and tell it is going into retirement for a much deserved rest as a tool shed.

I just can't bare to watch anything suffer. :-))

[PoP]

Hmm, tool shed. Now there's a purpose I'd never thought of before.... :)

PoP

[The Natural Philosopher]

No, its alwasy best to keep your clothes on when torturing things, I find...

[Christian McArdle]

It might have run out of refridgerent. Probably not worth fixing.

Christian.

[RichardS]

Thanks, this is what I feared. Would the symptoms indicate this?

It's a case of fix it if possible and near-as-dammit free, but retire the thing if not.

thanks Richard

-- Richard Sampson

email me at richard at olifant d-ot co do-t uk

[Mungo "two sheds" Toadfoot]

Poor old thing! Buy a new one, ya pikey ;o)

Si

[RichardS]

Ah, we do have a new one, a nice tall shiny Bosch fridge/freezer.... this was handy to have as a drinks fridge. Oh well. All things come to an end...

cheers Richard

-- Richard Sampson

email me at richard at olifant d-ot co do-t uk

[BigWallop]

LOL

Everybody to their own tastes, eh ? LOL

[N. Thornton]

Hi. If it runs for 5 seconds and cuts out, then the problem is not due to refrigerant gas or thermostat. That leaves only 2 things, compressor and cutout. I'd wire over the cutout, put it in a fireproof location (garden), switch on and stand back. If it then runs perfectly all you need is a new thermal cutout, cost a pound or so. I have to think this is the most probable culprit, a cutout with damaged contacts so that it heats itself up and cuts out. Probably a very simple repair.

OTOH if the compresor has shorted windings, doing this could just maybe perhaps set something alight, so I have to say dont do it. Its on you.

Regards, NT

[Andy Dingley]

My aged fridge and freezer both died. But all new fridges (that aren't pikey-market specials) are either 2" or 4" wider than the available gap.

So until I get off my backside and chainsaw the ugly kitchen units, my replacement fridge/freezer sits proudly in the middle of the kitchen floor.

-- Die Gotterspammerung - Junkmail of the Gods

[RichardS]

Thanks, NT

I'll be checking the thermal cutout shortly. If it's a stock part that I can source cheaply at the local spares place (about 200 m away) I may replace this anyway and see what happens.

There's been a development, however.... it must have heard me talking about it's demise and decided that it really wanted to go on living as a fridge and not a tool store - a day's rest was sufficient to kick it back into full action again!

So, my beers and the old pinot grigio are now nice and cold again... :-)

thanks to all

Richard

-- Richard Sampson

email me at richard at olifant d-ot co do-t uk

[Christian McArdle]

Fridges come in 50cm, 55cm and 60cm widths. Sounds like you have a 50cm gap. Look for a "slimline" fridge.

Try

and search for 50cm fridge. They aren't all dodgy unbranded tat and fridge freezers are available, too.

Christian.