Refrigerator is making an intermittent clicking noise (but it?s not the ice maker). The sound is coming from the vicinity of the compressor. Any idea what would cause this noise?

If the noise is coming from the ice maker head itself. Then it sounds like the gear is slipping. They are plastic and it is very common for them to crack or break. Most ice makers are the same. Click Here to see a post on a Whirlpool ice maker with a broken gear.

Good Luck From David at refrigerator repair.

Replace the capacitors in the power supply circuit 880 and 470 mikrofarada.

It can be compressor fan noise,may be motor getting overheated and causing noise.It has to be inspected.

Before going to buy any parts directly.
Go through this troubleshooting help links.

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This is list of refrigerator problems, which is normally faced in refrigerator.
You can go through the details, by clicking the link below:---

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Refrigerator is not cooling properly?
http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2011/06/refrigerator-is-not-cooling-properly.html
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Both refrigerator and freezer not cooling properly in refrigerator?
http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2011/06/both-refrigerator-and-freezer-not.html
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The ice maker not working: ---
http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2011/06/ice-maker-stopped-working.html

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Compressor not running on refrigerator?
http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2011/10/compressor-not-running-on-refrigerator.html
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Water dispenser not working on refrigerator?
http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2011/10/water-dispenser-not-working-on_19.html

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Ice maker stopped making ice?

http://alltypesofpartsreplacing.blogspot.com/2011/10/ice-maker-stopped-making-ice.html

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Water Overflows in Ice maker and freezes inside?

http://alltypesofpartsreplacing.blogspot.com/2011/10/water-overflows-in-ice-maker-and.html

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How to replace Ice maker assembly?

http://alltypesofpartsreplacing.blogspot.com/2011/10/how-to-replace-ice-maker-assembly.html

These will help.

Thanks,.

This is list of refrigerator problems, which is normally faced in refrigerator.
You can go through the details, by clicking the link below:---

--------------
Refrigerator is not cooling properly?
http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2011/06/refrigerator-is-not-cooling-properly.html
-----------
Both refrigerator and freezer not cooling properly in refrigerator?
http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2011/06/both-refrigerator-and-freezer-not.html
----------
The ice maker not working: ---
http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2011/06/ice-maker-stopped-working.html

------------
Compressor not running on refrigerator?
http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2011/10/compressor-not-running-on-refrigerator.html
--------
Water dispenser not working on refrigerator?
http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2011/10/water-dispenser-not-working-on_19.html

-------------

Ice maker stopped making ice?

http://alltypesofpartsreplacing.blogspot.com/2011/10/ice-maker-stopped-making-ice.html

-------------

Water Overflows in Ice maker and freezes inside?

http://alltypesofpartsreplacing.blogspot.com/2011/10/water-overflows-in-ice-maker-and.html

-------------

How to replace Ice maker assembly?

http://alltypesofpartsreplacing.blogspot.com/2011/10/how-to-replace-ice-maker-assembly.html

These will help.
Thanks,.

Check the help link mentioned below:---
Click the link:--

Ice maker is noisy and not making ice?

http://alltypesofpartsreplacing.blogspot.com/2011/10/ice-maker-is-noisy-and-not-making-ice.html

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These will help.
Thanks.

the compressor is probably faulty

No-one posted a solution. I contacted the original solution poster who was very helpful.I hope this helps someone else better understand their refrigerator problem and get on the right track. Staffgage.

Tweezb wrote:
"you are right that cleaning under your refrig wont get rid of a "compressor knocking" sound. what it might do is to lower the amount of heat from the condenser coils and thus cause less pressure and stress on the compressor making it run easier and less likely to bang or knock when shutting off.
if your coils were very plugged with lint and you have cleaned them, that will help but it wont "fix" the problem.
inside the compressor is a motor and a pump, the motor is supported by 3 springs and they can stretch or break causing the motor to hit one side of the black outer can and cause the noise.
that may be too technical, but its not something that can be repaired without replacing the compressor, at a cost of 700-800 bucks. most would not pay this as its not worth putting that amount of money into an older refrig."

"think that you are hearing either a freon related sound or even just the sounds of the unit going thru defrost.
how often do you hear the noise? just maybe once a day or is it everytime the unit shuts off?
either way i would rule out the ice maker and water system as when the "shut off arm" is up then it is off and wont make any noise, or ice.
keep the i/m arm up and then listen for the next day or two and try to narrow down when it makes the noise and frequency you hear it and then get back to me.
it may not even be a problem, just normal operating sounds that cant be changed."

Clicking could be a bad starter relay if the noise is coming from the back under the unit where the compressor is. check it here Check your compressor relay- http://www.acmehowto.com/howto/appliance/refrigerator/check/compressorrelay.php
The clicking could be coming from a fan, one of which is near the compressor under the unit and another is in the freezer behind the rear cover inside.
The defrost timer could be clicking. This sound would come from the fridge. Part 6 on this diagram. http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/getSubComp.pd?modelNumber=ED5NHGXMQ00&productCategoryId=0165000&brandId=1198&modelName=SIDE-BY-SIDE-REFRIGERATOR&diagramPageId=00011&componentDescription=CONTROL%20PARTS&documentId=W0309019&backToLink=Return%20to%20Sub%20Components%20list
How to check everything
http://www.acmehowto.com/howto/appliance/refrigerator/refrigerator.php
If the evaporator coils behind the back panel of the freezer are icing up because of auto defrost failure that will stop the circulation of cold air and eventually affect the freezer too.

check defrost timer, defrost heater, defrost thermostat.
You can turn the defrost timer till it clicks and everything shuts down. The heater should now come on. If it does, replace the timer. If it doesn't, check the heater and defrost thermostat. Turn the timer again till everything starts back up to end the defrost cycle.

the gear may be wearing out.

It sounds like the ice maker. If you don't have the water hooked up, and the ice sensor bar is in the down position, the ice maker assembly will attempt to make ice continuously.
Solution is easy: raise the ice sensor bar until it clicks in the up position. It will lock in this position, and the ice maker will not cycle anymore.