Noisy compressor

I think your compressor is not actually coming on.
It sounds like the compressor is stuck or the relay is shorted out. The compressor will not come on and off as quickly as you describe.
If the compressor is a Tecumseh, most likely the compressor will need to be replaced.
If the compressor is an Embraco, most likely the relay is shorted out.
The compressor is covered by a 5 yr warranty and will be replaced free of charge if it is bad.
If it is a tecumseh compressor, you can usually turn the fridge off for several hours until it cools down and then it will start back up again. You can usually limp along this way until you can get it repaired.
Post back with any questions.
Thanks/Mike

I've been told by a tech who repaired my MFD2560HEQ this past week that many of this model had a problem with compressor failure. Your symptoms are classic. What you are hearing is the starter relay trying to start a warm/hot compressor by supplying it with an extra jolt of electricity, but because of the faulty compressor (or if you are lucky a faulty relay) that's warm (cool ones start more easily often) is refusing to budge into motion and compress the freon. That's why often one can unplug a fridge that refuses to start and let it sit for a long time until the compressor gets to room temperature (hours) and then plug it in and it will start and run until the temp inside the fridge reaches the point that it trips the thermostat and shuts off the compressor. But by now the compressor is heated up so when the relay tries to start it (cycling) in a few minutes it refuses with a loud hum that lasts about 10 seconds every 3 or 4 minutes . That's the sound of a hot compressor refusing to start again. Maytag, I believe, has a five year warranty on the compressors. They did on mine, but unless you have an extended warranty the labor replacing it is not covered and that will be around 2-3 hours worth. This is the price we are paying for our quest for energy efficiency. Compressors are being built so small and light that they fail much more often than grandma's old, old refrigerator that was built like Fort Knox and ran for 45 years, remember? But we're being energy efficient! Thank you environmental extremists! I wish I could send you the repair bill.

MP, Maytag published a Technical Service Bulletin on "noisy compressor" issues in August of 2004. I'll post some quotes directly from it...

"Issue....... Popping / knocking sound in refrigeration system resulting from vapor bubbles popping after having entered or try to enter the capillary tube during start-up."

"Action......... If Bottom Mount refrigerator has a popping / knocking noise coming from the refrigeration system during start-up. Perform the following procedures:
1. Remove back machine compartment cover exposing compressor and liquid line dryer.
2. Remove and discard the clip holding dryer in place.
3. Rotate the dryer / tubing up toward the compressor compartment ceiling until the dryer is in the horizontal position."

"NOTE: Make sure to use caution in bending tubing making sure not to kink tubing. Use a level to ensure dryer is horizontal and not tilted."

OK... the dryer is located on the right side of the compressor. It's about 5/8" round and 4" long. It has two 1/4" copper tubes in the top and a very small "capillary" tube at the bottom.

Here's a link to the actual Bulletin... click here.

IF you decide to bend the tubing... PLEASE be careful!!! If a solder joint breaks or if the tubing gets crimped, the fridge will be useless! If the unit is less than 5 years old, the sealed system components are still under warranty so you may want to call Maytag factory service on it.

Hope this helps, MP. Let us know how it turns out.

Is the compressor running when you hear this noise or is it noisy when it is trying to start. If the noise you are talking about is the click it may just have a bad relay on the compressor. If it is a loud humming noise when the compressor is trying to start then the compressor is locked up and needs to be replaced. Compressor comes with a 5 yr warranty and relay has a 1 yr warranty.