Fridge freezer not chilling!

Sounds like there is a leak somewhere in your system. One way you can check yourself is to run your fingers over every solder joint you can find and if you feel any oil at a joint or if I think you said there are coils in the freezr check them too and if you find oil you found a leak. There also could be a small pin hole in one of the coils and you may not find any oil. Most times its a bad joint and it will be wet. other then that either call a repair man or as you said convert it to a tool box. Good luck

NEVER TEST FOR LEAKS USING A VACUUM PUMP !!!!! IF YOU HAVE A LEAK IT WILL PULL AIR AND MOISTUREINTO YOUR SYSTEM. REAL REFRIG. REPAITMEN KNOW THIS AND CARRY NITROGEN AND LEAK DETECTORS TO FIND LEAKS. THE REFRIGERANT LEVEL CAN EASILY BE CHECKED BY TAKING THE TEMP AT THE CONDENSER COIL OUTSIDE AT THE TUBBING ON THE CONDENSER. THERE SHOULD BE A 20-30 HIGHER DEGREE DIFFERENCE THAN THE AMBIENT AIR TEMP.(INSIDE OR OUTSIDE TEMP.) IT SHGOULD BE AT LEAST 110 DEGREES. THESE COOLERS ARE NOT MADE FOR HEAVY LOADS. THEY ARE DESIGNED TO KEEP COLD PRODUCTS COLD. TRYING TO COOL WARM PRODUCTS IS A OVERNIGHT PROCEEDURE AND A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY. HEARING REFRIGERANT GURGLE IN THE SYSTEN AFTER AN HOUR OF RUNNING INDICATES A LOW CHARGE. MOST OF THE TIME A SMALL SPOT OF ICE WILL ACCUMULATE ON THE INSIDE OF THE FREEZER WHEN IT IS LOW. IF A LEAK WAS REPAIRED AND A VACUUM PUMP WAS NOT USED TO REMOVE AIR AND MOISTURE FROM THE TUBING, COILS, AND COMPRESSORM TO 29" VACCUUM YOUR DEVICE WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY. YOU CANNOT COMPRESS LIQUID OR AIR IN A REFRIGERATION SYSTEM !!!! IT IS CALLED A NON-CONDENSABLE. WHEN MIXED WITH DICLOROMONOFLOROETHANE OR ANY TYPE OF REFRIGERANT IT WILL TURN THE MOISTURE AND AIR INTO AN ACID. THE THERMOSTAT HAS NO OTHER USE BUT TO MAINTAIN TEMP (33-50) SOME HAVE AN "OFF POSITION. THESE A SMALL MACHINES TO DUMP- ALOT OF MONEY INTO IT... I WOULD CUT YOUR LOSSES ESPECIALLY IF SOMEONE ALREADY RIPPED YOU OFF.

It sounds like you have a problem seal that has allowed the refrigeraqnt out - perhaps the unit got excessively hot (in the sun or similar), and due to the lower pressure in the system, the seal is no longer leaking. You need to get a fridge guy to vacuum test the system, and change the refrigerant if he thinks necessary - he can also check for leaks without the risk of sucking detergent into the system. You could do all this yourself with the right tools and refrigerant, but unfortunately it is now almost universally illegal to carry out these sort of repairs without being qualified and certified. Hope this helps :)