I have a Vinotemp VT-60 that is not working properly. I replaced the control board for $38 to no avail. It started cooling from 72 down to 66 and then I left it alone to continue to cool for a couple of hours. When I returned, it was at 82! The compressor is running and is getting hot. The fan is not running at all. Is it worth me buying a new fan and motor for $40 or should I throw in the towel on this one?

Here is the link to the main Vino Temp Online Support page with all the service manuals, troubleshooting guides and user manual.

http://www.vinotemp.com/Service-Support/Troubleshooting-Repair.aspx

Here is the direct link to the Troubleshooting Guide:

http://www.vinotemp.com/Resources/Documents/VT60.pdf

And here is the direct link to the Detailed Service Manual:

http://www.vinotemp.com/Resources/Documents/SERVICE_MANUAL_FOR_VT182.pdf

If you have a digital multimeter (voltmeter) and a screw driver then you can do most of the troubleshooting yourself. You should be able to tell if it is a controller board problem or a refrigeration compressor problem just by following the instructions in the guides.

If it is a control board problem you should be able to fix it with just a soldering iron, or if you need new parts, they should be available on Ebay.

If the problem is with the refrigeration compressor then any refrigeration technician (even in Mexico) should be able to fix it. Especially if you provide him with the service manual above.

Good luck and please comment back and rate if this was helpful or if you need further assistance.
Thanks.
Joe.

ether relay or compressor

Yes, brilliant!

Sounds like the cooling unit, i.e. heat sink and controller chip. $35 + $10 shipping from vinotemp, and you install yourself. I'm looking at the same thing (on the 28TEDS), though mine came after having to replace (for $45 and my own installation, incl. soldering) the circuit board. I hope yours doesn't go, too. I've read of others. Pretty poor quality parts they appear to use. I'm trying to find somewhere to buy the controller chip on its own, as the heat sink is simply a hunk of metal. Hopefully that's do-able, as it is with computer cpu's.
See:
http://www.vinotemp.com/Browse.aspx/446/Replacement-Parts

It will either be the thermal resistor or the controller of which the electronic thermostat is a part and yes it can be repaired. It is a reasonably common and cheap fault to repair. If you go to the following link you can get the service manual FOC

http://www.vinotemp.com/Resources/Documents/VT60.pdf

and you can contact a repair company via Vinotemp at the following link

http://www.vinotemp.com/Service-Support/Repair-Companies.aspx

I also have the same problem and am looking for a solution short of buying a $35 replacement board with $10 shipping for a fridge that costs $60 new.

if the evaporator coils are warm, you have a leak and no refrigerant.

First check the grating over the fan in the back. If it is covered with dust, there won't be enough air flow and the unit won't cool. Clean the dust off and see if it cools back down. It may take a long time to cool down if it is full of wine, so I recommend taking the wine out to test if it works.

It might be a sensor or control board problem. Any appliance repair place should be able to help you out with this. Or you can try contacting the manufacturer directly for help or if you need to purchase replacement parts. Otherwise, my cheapest suggestion would be to hook the cooler up to a timer, so you can turn the unit on and off maybe every 20 minutes or so. That should help keep it from causing more harm and then you can monitor the temperature with a thermometer. Hope that helps!