Our Amana refrigerator has stopped working. The compressor does not start and is cool to the touch. There are no clicking noises and no signs of life, no fan is running. The freezer and refirgerator are both warm. The starter relay was replaced about a year ago. What could be the trouble? Thanks!

I have been doing refrigeration for over 30 years and I have never seen a compressor with a chip inside of it. Have you tried cleaning the condensor coils? I almost sounds like you have a weak start capacitor. Let me know if i can help you any futher.

Sounds like the compressor is trying to start. Shut it off overnight. Try re-starting. If it still clicks you'll need a service call.

Hi,

Many times a freezer and/or refrigerator do not work right because of a dirty condenser coil...there are also many other things that can go wrong.

If you are hearing a clicking or buzzing then check out the last two tips.

If your refrigerator is running but warm, then...

Check out these tips that I wrote about that... it is a great place to start trouble shooting your unit...and something that you can do rather then calling a repair person to do a simple thing for you...

Refrigerator Condenser Coil Cleaning Refrigerator Repair

Refrigerator Troubleshooting Refrigerator Compressor

Refrigerator Compressor Start Capacitor and Start Relay

Refrigerator or Freezer not Cooling or Getting Cold

heatman101
,....,,

Hi,

Many times a freezer and/or refrigeratordo not work right because of a dirty condenser coil...there are also many otherthings that can go wrong. If you are hearing a clicking or buzzing then check out thelast two tips.

If your refrigerator is running but warm, then...

Check out these tips that I wrote about that... it is a great place to starttrouble shooting your unit...and something that you can do rather then callinga repair person to do a simple thing for you...

Refrigerator Condenser Coil Cleaning Refrigerator Repair

Refrigerator Troubleshooting Refrigerator Compressor

Refrigerator Compressor Start Capacitor and Start Relay
Refrigerator or Freezer not Cooling or Getting Cold

heatman101

Contact the repairclinic.com for tech advice, they are very knowledgeable about these types of problems and what causes them, the service is free and they can sell you the needed parts after you chat with them online.

Start capacitor,start relay, overload and windings in compressor need checked. When clicking like that the compressor is overheating and could damage the internal overload. Send model number so I may tell you the correct parts. I will be here if you need, Sea Breeze

The clicking noise you hear is a relay trying to start your compressor but your compressor does not want to obey! Compressor most likely is bad and needs to be replaced or all your refrigerant gas has leaked out and would need to be repaired and system re-charger with refrigerant gas. Not a cheap venture either way. Might want to consider getting a new one.

Pull it away from the wall and remove the cover the covers the compressor. Unplug and tell me if the compressor is too hot to touch or if running or any signs of life. If not running and cool I want plug it back in, and open the fresh food door and and look for a hole in the control panel where you adjust temperatures. The opening is about the size of a pencil eraser. Sometimes this hole is covered by a plastic plug. Stick a small flathead screwdriver slowly clockwise until the compressor restarts. If this works the refrigerator needs a new defrost timer. Sometimes the defrost timer will stick in defrost and stop. Let me know, Thanks Sea Breeze

Sounds like the compressor is in thermal overload. Let it cool down completely and meter the starting amperage on start to run. The compressor could be seized or it's windings could be shorted to ground (checking the resistance between the windings terminals on the compressor while unplugged will determine this.).

if the compressor isn't running and is hot or you hear it clicking noise then replace the overload rely on the compressor its the little whit box on the side of the compressor shake it after taking it off and if it rattles and black stuff falls out the thermo disc is bad