The Virtual Repairman's Appliance Help

lekraus · Apprentice DIYer Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 10

i have an amana 27 cf side by side fridge frezer. it is 11 years old and today it stopped getting cold. how many years do they normally work i assume i got more years than normal but i just thought i would ask. by the way what would be the reason it quit the compressor is running but it don't get cold. thanks for any insight and i am thinking about this as a replacement is this a good choice both $ wise and quality wise. thank You for Your views they are important to me.

Frigidaire® 26 Cu. Ft. Refrigerator #233968
free $25-$150 GIFT CARD* free NEXT DAY LOCAL DELIVERY AND HAUL AWAY**

$798
thru Jul 16

Virtual Repairman · Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 4:35 am Post subject: amana fridge

If your problems with the Amana are not too expensive, keep it around. Is the fan motor in the freezer blowing air? On Amana units, a small defrost thermostat controls the cooling fan in the freezer. When this thermostat fails the coils ice up and the fan stops. In some cases, a loose wire at the fan motor can occur, causing loss of power. Check your freezer behind the back panel for this condition and report back.

lekraus · Apprentice DIYer Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 10

there is no air blowing in the freezer. do you mean the back side of the unit or the back of inside the freezer side of the unit. the big exhaust fan is working. i know how to force it to defrost would that help? so you think it's worth saving even though it's 11 years old? how long do they nromally last? i would love to save it if i can. i have taken out the ice maker and the back pannel in the top of the freezer there is nothing there. i am going to put it back after i find the problem if i can fix it. I have decided to buy the new Frigidaire and keep this one. i plan on fixing this one and putting it in the basement for extra storage. so i still need your help but you can take your time with any response and help those that have more urgent needs.

Virtual Repairman · Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 2:28 pm Post subject: amana fridge

Remove the inside panel which is on the back lower wall in the freezer section to expose the evaporator. On top of the evaporator, to the right side, there is a small metal disc with 2 wires, clamped to the evaporator coil. This is your defrost terminator. This is the bad part. To order it, call our parts distributor at 800-507-4040 if you can't get it locally. Had you included the required model number, we could have researched the part for you, but oh well.

I would stay away from Frigidaire if possible. They are now a Swedish company and not the same manufacturer as they were 10 years ago. Your best bet is with Whirlpool, Maytag or Admiral if you want the best service later on down the road. You have to look at appliances in regards to who you'll call when they break nowadays. They don't last 10 years any more before breaking down.

lekraus · Apprentice DIYer Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 10

damn i wish i would have waited a little longer. i purchased the Frigidaire about 15 minutes ago. so now that i'm locked in to the Frigidaire is there anything You can tell me to look for as to potentional problems? and how long can i plan on it working? You are a saint to do what you do i understand that you charge a fee but it is small and the info you provide is worth many time the price you charge. you have already saved me over $800.00 or at least delayed the need to spend it for over 4 years now so thank you from me and i bet everyone you help feels the same way. i'm the diabled man you helped not so long ago with the maytag dryer.

Larry Kraus

Virtual Repairman · Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 2:57 pm Post subject: Looking for Mr Goodbar?

Hi Larry;

Since you seem prone to making snap decisions without waiting to consult the ones who know Smile

, I can only say to find a local servicer who is a certified Frigidaire factory authorized technician and keep his number handy.
Good luck!
VR

lekraus · Apprentice DIYer Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 10

man that scares the hell out of me but i didn't make snap decision i started researching last night and i had to buy before i lost everything in the fridge. i do wish i would have asked you sooner but what is done is done. by your post i get the impression the new fridge is a money pit. do you have any idea how long i can expect it to run right before the pit opens? this will be the last time i buy before i consult you that you can count on.

Virtual Repairman · Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 3:31 pm Post subject: New Fridge

Hey Larry;

If my first comment scared ya, then this one will scare your great grandchildren Wink

It makes no difference which brand you buy. The parts are all outsourced to Korea, Brazil, Germany, Mexico....anywhere but the USA. So now what do you do? ..... You stick to the brand which will give you the closest servicer. That's right. It will break right after the first year of warranty is up, most likely, so find out who fixes Frigidaire stuff in your locale. Oh, by the way....the compressors are no longer guaranteed for 5 years, as before. Only one. Thank you Bill Clinton, for that NAFTA agreement (:

Oh, and one last piece of advice....don't purchase the Home Depot extended warranty. Wait for the manufacturer (Electrolux) to send you an offer after you mail in your warranty registration card. Yep, better send it right in....you never know when there will be a recall.

lekraus · Apprentice DIYer Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 10

you are right that is rotten news. i am going to keep my ammana and fix it. i wish i would have sent you a copy of an email i sent to all on my email address book. in it i said we as a nation need to make a statement that even the idiots in DC will hear and avoid buying anything made in mexico if it is made anywhere else buy that one before the one from mexico. if we stop doing this maybe they will stop the insanity of send our jobs there and then turn around an give them more of our jobs if they will sneak into the U.S.A. maybe you can start an email to all you know saying the same ting or close to it.

lekraus · Apprentice DIYer Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 10

i ended up with the Frigidaire but they offer an extended warranty so i bought it. if they have to fix it more than 3 times in the next 5 years i get a new fridge. thanks for the heads up.

lekraus · Apprentice DIYer Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 10

Sir:
i found out what was wrong with my amana side by side. the fan wire was unpluged. i pluged it back in and it works like a new freezer.

Virtual Repairman · Posted: Thu Jul 27, 2006 8:50 pm Post subject: fridge problem

Don't quite know how to respond to this information, Larry...I suppose we should both be glad that you now have a working fridge! Maybe two Smile