lg gr359sq fizzing/spitting

[gong_parts]

I am feeling rather stupid about this but we all make mistakes right?

Last night I thought I’d remove the accumulation of dust from the rear of the fridge freezer. I pulled the freezer out and removed the guard and began to remove the thick dust with a soft wooden paint brush. I carefully dislodged the dust and then moved in the vacuum cleaner to suck up the fluff. I was wondering how the fan was still turned given the amount of dust.

So, I replaced the guard and then the problem starts. I’d overlooked the height of the temporary support for the FF when I rolled it forward, so it wasn’t high enough to go back on to the step it sits on. I finally managed to wrestle it back into to position after some wobbling, thumping, lifting and swearing. All back in place and I switch it on…Oh sh&t, something isn’t right here.

I switch the FF on and it starts to fizz and dump coolant? ! The room fills with mist and smells like Toner from Printers.

So, I switch it back off and I have to roll the FF back out on to the platform (this time with adequate height) and inspect the rear of the FF. I get behind the FF and switch it on until it starts it’s cycle and switch it off immediately after I can see the leak.

I tried to upload a photo but I haven’t got a large enough quota. (I will include a link to my flickr account)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/186305519@N02/50943893108

There is a copper capillary? (looks like a hollow marker pen) that is spitting from the right hand side. Now, I have replaced washing machine shocks, door seals, oven doors hinges, oven timers and I worked in IT so I know my way around a computer but this is out of my league. Of course, I cannot understand how this has been knocked given that any knocks the FF got were on the edge? And, I have this regret for attempting this in the first place. (extremely sad annoyed face)

Is this a straight forward repair for a service engineer? Or should I look to get this replaced with a new FF. I’ve had it now for 10-15 years and it has served me well. It once had a one off repair of the compressor.

Thoughts, advice much appreciated.

Joel

[Tony R]

The large copper item is the filter drier brazed to the pipework , simple job for a refrigeration Engineer, I would assume the gas leaking out is R600a and you will need an Engineer qualified to work with that gas, to replace the filter drier and recharge the unit.
Please do not run the unit until the repair has been completed, you could burn out the compressor.

[gong_parts]

Thank you Tony. The gas is R600a, yes. The FF spec sticker on the inside of the fridge confirms this. FF is not being run, contents of freezer has already been distributed to people nearby, family members or cooked; fresh veg in garden.

On the 4LG website, there is an

LG GR359SQ Drier Assembly [h=1]https://www.4lg.co.uk/fridge-freezer/gr359sq/drier-assembly/product.pl?pid=3101911&path=622075&model_ref=12045958
…which fortunately, is not one of the many obselete spares for this FF.
There is no image for this part; would this be the part needed?[/h]

[Tony R]

The Engineer would probably carry a replacement on his van as stock, I do as they are standard parts for Engineers in the course of their repairs.

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