Diplomat integrated fridge freezer not cooling down

[thegfb]

Hi, new here 🙂

I have a Diplomat APM6852 integrated fridge freezer which is about six years old.

It has always held temperature fine with the thermostat set between 3 and 4 (1 being least cool, 5 being fast freeze).

However three days ago I went to get a beer from the fridge and thought it was warmer than normal, which was odd because it had been in there all day. All the glass jars weren’t cold to the touch either, but the milk was ok. In the freezer compartment, the bread had started to go slightly soft and I could squeeze the ice lollies. I checked the thermostat and it was between 3 and 4, I turned it to 4 and when I came down the next day I saw some of the water droplets on the back wall of the fridge had actually frozen and it was all nice and cold again in both sections, I thought little of it.

Tonight I’ve gone to get a beer (again 😈 ) and found that yet again the same as before – fridge has warmed up and the freezer compartment has warmed too, with the bread softening again.

I tried turning the thermostat to 5 (fast freeze) and heard a quiet clunk from the bottom (assuming the compressor) but it didn’t spin up. I powered it down, and removed the control box from inside the fridge and disconnected the 6 wire plug. The PCB looks good with no burning, bad contacts etc. I put it back together and powered up, the fridge light and both yellow/green LEDs on the box flashed together until I closed the fridge door and opened it again, I guess this must be some sort of safety thing. I turned the dial up to 5 and the compressor started ok, it hasn’t stopped since I did it (about 15 minutes ago now), I’m afraid to touch it again 😆

So… any ideas what is wrong? I’m guessing if the refrigerant had leaked out then it wouldn’t have cooled down overnight a few nights ago. The compressor appears to be working right now, but I guess I’ll know in an hour or two when I open it up and check inside. I haven’t got any thermometers to hand to actually measure the temps. I can confirm that the interior light goes out when I close the fridge door and both doors are sealing ok. There is minimal ice build up in the freezer compartment.

Any ideas welcome thank you 😀

[kwatt]

Re: Diplomat integrated fridge freezer not cooling down

Good man! Measuring the status of the temperature in the fridge by the temperature of the dispensed alcoholic beverage is the measure of both true experience and character. I truly admire your method sir, none is more accurate than a trained palette.

The refrigerant will not leak unless pipework is damaged, big myth, lots of people think that refrigerant magically leaks but I can assure you, it does not in a domestic unit. A large AC plant, sure, but not a domestic refrigeration unit.

In all honesty, given the age of that machine, it is all too likely the compressor is in it’s final phase of life and is start to pump weak or the seals inside it are failing.

At the age I wouldn’t advise spending any money on it and, MFI who owned the brand are no more as well as Antonio Merloni who built also down the tubes. So, honestly, it isn’t worth wasting time on. If you can squeeze a few more weeks or perhaps months out it while you sort out a replacement I’d think you’d be doing well.

HTH

K.

[thegfb]

Re: Diplomat integrated fridge freezer not cooling down

Thank you, luckily the unit is right in the corner of the kitchen so I’m tempted to remove the unit and carcass completely and replace it with a free standing unit, better value for money 🙂

After two hours, it was icy cold again so I notched the dial back down to four and left it. I came downstairs this morning, opened the fridge to get the milk out and it was still icy in both compartments with beads of ice on the rear wall of the fridge.

30 minutes later, I opened it again to find the ice beads melting and running down the back, though I know this is probably normal operation. If I can eek it out until after Christmas I might be able to get something cheap, I’ll just have to keep a close eye on it.

[thegfb]

Re: Diplomat integrated fridge freezer not cooling down

Hi me again 🙂

I’ve come to the solid conclusion that my problem is now this:

If the thermostat is set anywhere between 1 and 4 (normal cooling), the compressor never starts and the fridge and freezer both just warm up.

If the thermostat is set at 5 (fast freeze) the compressor spins pretty much non-stop and both fridge and freezer compartments are nice and chilly.

Does this sound more like a failed control module or thermistor?

Thanks again 🙂

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