Most common causes
- Settings or demo mode. Some refrigerators have a showroom or demo mode that runs the lights but turns off cooling. A bumped control panel can also change the temperature settings.
- Dirty condenser coil. Dust and pet hair on the condenser coil trap heat. The refrigerator runs longer and cools less, and in hot garages it may stop keeping up at all.
- Condenser fan not running. On most refrigerators with coils underneath, a fan near the compressor cools the condenser. If it stops, the compressor overheats and shuts off.
- Start relay or compressor problem. If you hear a click every few minutes but the compressor does not keep running, the start relay or the compressor itself may have failed.
- Control board failure. The main control board powers the compressor and fans. When it fails, the lights may work while nothing cools.
- Sealed system problem. A refrigerant leak or a restriction in the sealed system stops cooling. This needs a technician with the right equipment.
What you can safely check
- Make sure the refrigerator is plugged in and the outlet works. Check the breaker if the lights are off too.
- Check the temperature settings and look in the owner's manual for how to turn off demo or showroom mode.
- Unplug the refrigerator, remove the bottom front grille or check the back, and vacuum the condenser coil with a brush attachment.
- Leave at least an inch or two of space behind and above the refrigerator so heat can escape.
- Listen near the bottom back. A click every few minutes with no steady hum usually means the compressor is not starting, so call for service.
Call a technician if
- Both sections are warm after you clean the coils and check the settings
- The refrigerator clicks on and off but the compressor never runs
- The compressor area is very hot or smells burnt
- The condenser fan does not spin when the compressor runs
What affects the repair cost
A condenser fan, start relay, or control part is usually a moderate repair. Compressor and sealed system work costs more and takes longer, and on an older refrigerator it often becomes a repair versus replace decision. We diagnose first and quote the price before starting.
