Amana Refrigerator: SDI-25E-L/P74100-7WL. It uses R12 and is over 25 years old. In the past, I have been able to add freon and this corrected the temperature problem--last time I did this was about 6-months ago. However, currently the Freezer temp is 18 degrees F, refrigerator 54 degrees F. I have added a can and a half ====(12 oz/can) of R12 but it doesn't seem to make any difference. Further, I don't hear the compressor coming on from time to time. Is there some way I can check to see if the problem is possibly the defrost timer or whether the compressor has gone bad or, alternatively, I have overcharged the unit. Initially, after I added freon, I waited about 12 hours before adding more. Also, how can I tell when it has the right amount of R12? I want to keep it going as long as possible since it was a top of the line refrigerator and would cost too much to replace. I have a supply of more cans of R12 if necessary. P.S. All coils at the bottom are clean, but they are neither hot nor hold--just room temperature. Should they have a temperature? Suggestions?

if you disassemble the unit which is never a good idea you hav the likely hood of damaging the freon lines --if you remove the doors will probably get 2 1/2 inches more clearance

an undercharge refrigerant / freon / or needs to add oil to the compressor will also cause such noise

Could be a number of things, low Freon, defective defrost timer. Suggest have a tech check it.
If it is 10 or more years old suggest replace it with a new one rather than invest funds in it.

If you do not have guages (freon) and have a licens to proforme this type of work you will need to have someone qualified in this area to varify.You can call sears home repair @ 800 469-4663

Saw your post a week late but the sound could be the start relay on compressor is weaking or if the water is turned off to ice maker the water control valve will try to fill ice maker if the ice make switch is left on and has no water. I will send a manual shortly, Sea Breeze

depends on price of parts plus labor time -easy replacement nothing in way to work on unit, wiring good and compressor/freon oil is not contaminated should take about 2 hrs @ $70hr ---$40 house call plus price of compressor[which can be from 100 to 200+] ,freon,filter and other mics parts it adds up quick best is to call and ask for an estimate from a repair service

try unpluging it for 24 hrs with the doors open then plug it back in if it does not change then it could be low on freon it would be best to purchase a new one since it is 15 years old.

the backpressure or suction pressure varies with the load and the ambient temoerature of the unit. best way to make sure that your charge is correct is to pull refrigerant out and evacuate aand weight in new refrigerant with a scaloe.

Welcome to fixya richarddl53,

You said, you have a side by side about fifteen years old need to know what type freon to charge it with.

The freon that's used in the old refrigerators is not legal now!
They started using a newer kind of freon years ago that does not deplete the ozone layer.
Yes you are low on freon, but that's because you have a leak somewhere.
And if by chance you could acquire the freon that you need to add into the older model fridge, it will just leak out again shortly!
My opinion is that you should not put good money into bad!
A new refrigerator uses less electricity than a fridge that is ten years old.
And yours uses 10% more than that!
you will see the differents in you utility bill as it will pay for it self in a few years!


I just read this report you may find interesting.

Repair or replace?

When to pull the plug on your old refrigerator

It nearly always makes sense to undertake simple do-it-yourself repairs,
such as replacing a gasket on a refrigerator or a freezer.

Typically, you'll also find a troubleshooting section for more-serious problems
in the owner's manual.

Should you pay for a repair or buy a new model?
The answer depends mostly on the age of your refrigerator,
how much you bought it for,and the cost of the repair.

Follow these guidelines:

When a repair makes sense.

If your refrigerator is under warranty or less than four years old (three years for top-freezers),
paying for a repair makes sense.
Note that refrigerators under warranty might require service from a factory-authorized technician;
readers have found them on a par with independent repairers.

When a repair might be a wise choice.

If your refrigerator is out of warranty and is four to seven years old,
it might make sense to pay for a repair. Customers generally pay $100 to $200 for a repair.
But you might want to buy a new model even at this stage,
given that today's models are quieter and have added features.
Higher energy efficiency is another plus: Energy Star-qualified models made after April 28, 2008,
are 43 percent more efficient than conventional models built before 2001 and 56 percent
more efficient than those built before 1993.

When it pays to replace.

The repair costs more than half the price of a comparable new refrigerator.
Data also shows that it doesn't pay to fix a less-expensive top-freezer refrigerator
six or more years old or a bottom-freezer or side-by-side eight or more years old.

Thanks to better recycling programs, less than 10 percent
of a refrigerator you replace is likely to end up in a landfill.


Thanks for giving me the opportunity to help!
Please do not for get to give a rating before you sign off!
Thank You, HUUUM

replacing leaking evaporator on Sub Zero R134A