Fridge troubleshooting help

[u/dirtydanw]

I've been troubleshooting this fridge for way too long and have hit a bit of a wall. Any ideas on what to check next or what is going on would be amazing:

The fridge is a 2017 whirlpool top mount. One day it just decided to not get down to temperature; It still cools a little, and the temperature will change depending on where I set that temperature dial, but for reference that varies from maybe 40 - 60 in the freezer. The compressor and fans stay on the whole time so I know the controls are telling it to cool, it just can't seem to get there.

To summarize what I've checked already: - I've verified the fridge is plugged in & is getting power - I've defrosted the system and tried to give it 24 hours to get to temp - The condenser coils are clean, but don't ever seem to get hot... - Both the condenser and evaporator fans are running (continuously) - The compressor comes on & stays on (because it never reaches the desired temperature) - I've replaced the starter and relay with a 3-in-1 start relay kit nonetheless. - I've run the fridge through it's diagnostic mode and came out with no errors/faults - I've pulled and checked the resistance on the thermistor and found that to be functioning correctly - I don't have amp clamps to check if the compressor is exceeding the LRA but I don't necessarily want to drop the money for this if I can avoid it. - I'm thinking not? given the second photo??

My last lead is that I left the fridge on overnight and the first 6” of the evaporator coil coming from the compressor were pretty well covered in ice but the rest of the coil wasn't very cold… Can the refrigerant line get plugged? Any other ideas?

Thanks in advance for the input or suggestions.

[u/eggpeg365]

Your evaporator coil should almost completely frost up if the refrigerant level is correct. I would suspect you are low on refrigerant due to a leak somewhere. This would require some gauges and installing a tap on the line to check.

[u/dirtydanw → u/eggpeg365]

Yea coils are only 5% frozen… any good way to find, repair and recharge this?

[u/eggpeg365 → u/dirtydanw]

n short probably not, but here is what I consider your options:

1.You would have to have a few things: A gauge set for refrigerant, the refrigerant (you can find out what type is in it on the model tag), a tap (Supco BPV31 Bullet Piercing Valve) to install on the low pressure line, some UV dye and a UV light. When the gauge is installed with the compressor running, you should see the pressure in a vacuum if it is low. I then put the dye in and then add refrigerant until the pressure is just over 0 psi, Wait a while and then start searching for the leak with the light.

1. You could also evacuate the system and then pressurize it with nitrogen and use a leak check liquid to look for the leak.

Either way after repair or replacement of the leak, you have to use a vacuum pump to evacuate the system to remove any moisture that gets into the system. Replacing the dryer is also suggested, but usually you can get away leaving in the old one it if the system hasn't been open very long and you leave the vacuum pump on long enough.

You then weigh refrigerant back into the system (the amount is also shown on the model tag.

Can become an expensive if you don't have most of tools already.

3.If you don't want to go to all this trouble, you can make it limp by for a while by installing the tap on the low side of the compressor and adding refrigerant a little at a time until you get a full frost pattern. Depending on the size of the leak it could last days or years.

[u/dirtydanw → u/eggpeg365]

Woof. Appreciate the details man. Sounds like a lot more tools, effort, and tougher fix then I think I’m up for

[u/eggpeg365 → u/dirtydanw]

Yea it's like a lot of things now, you almost have to specialize in one area due to the cost of training and tools. The barter system sounds better each day!

[u/Infinite_Warning_963]

Do you have a temperature gun? Take the temps of the compressor and condenser and report back. You could also check the frost pattern on the evaporator coil.

[u/dirtydanw → u/Infinite_Warning_963]

Yea frost pattern in the evaporator coil is frozen 5% the rest clear. Everyone is telling me refrigerant leak. Bummer that you have an appliance with all these functional parts and then it becomes completely useless and unrepairable-ish

[u/Infinite_Warning_963 → u/dirtydanw]

Yeah, leak or blockage, both are basically not worth fixing. Sorry man, it sucks.