[RnCharlie65]

Greetings. My Kenmore refrigerator began to make clicking noises three weeks ago after a power outage. I have replaced the relay twice with a new one. Replaced the cold control because it was going bad. Replaced the defrost board. Refrigerator is still clicking every 3-4 minutes, lights inside dim.

The model number is 106.51103.10. It is only four years old. Capacitor checks OK. The readings that I am getting from the compressor are from the two bottom prongs (8.5) from the common to the other prongs. (3.0) and (5.7). What should I do next? Is the compressor a goner? Thanks you.

 

[BayouRunner]

Is the compressor running? If it's not I would unplug it. There seems to be a lot of trouble with the starting relays on those units. We just install the 3in1 relays but you have to buy one that will wire in the run capacitor as well. The 3 in1 starting relay give the compressor an extra boost to get it started. I am assuming this is not a linear compressor

 

[RnCharlie65]

Thank you for replying. The corrected model #10651103110. It sounds like when the compressor tries to come on, the relay shuts it off. I do not hear the compressor humming. After about 5-7 minutes of the compressor attempting to start and failing, I unplugged the fridge.

 

[BayouRunner]

Well it's either a bad starting relay or a bad compressor.

 

[vipmaint70]

Sounds like the compressor windings are shorted causing it to kick the overload you can check with an ohmeter from the pins with respect to ground by touching a probe on each individual pin and the other on the compressor casing itself just scatch the paint off in a spot so you get the actual car I g and not the paint you should get no reading at all if you do compressor is shorted

 

[vipmaint70]

Actual reading

 

[RnCharlie65]

Sounds like the compressor windings are shorted causing it to kick the overload you can check with an ohmeter from the pins with respect to ground by touching a probe on each individual pin and the other on the compressor casing itself just scatch the paint off in a spot so you get the actual car I g and not the paint you should get no reading at all if you do compressor is shorted

Thank you. I did not get a reading or a beep from any of the prongs from the scratch/continuity test. I have ordered another relay to double check again. Could the fan have a short even though it is running? Could a tight fit at the top of the fridge between the cabinet cause the compressor to fail prematurely?

We had a major power outage the morning before the refrigerator started clicking.

 

[vipmaint70]

If your getting 120v to the relay and your capacitor and relay are good the compressor should start...so I would start by checking the wires that go into the relay from the small plug to ensure that the refrigerator is in fact sending 120v to the relay

 

[vipmaint70]

If you have the 120v and your compressor is good the relay would be my guess you can take the relay off and give it a shake most times you can hear the glass inside rattling when there bad but not always