Samsung RL41WGTB stops after few hours, requires power cycle

[kwinana]

Hi,

I have a Samsung RL41WGTB fridge/freezer that has recently developed a fault. The unit is 4 years old.

The fridge and freezer both reach the temperature that I set on the LCD display (+4 and -18 respectively), but then some time over the next few hours it stops cooling both fridge and freezer. This is obvious as I open both doors and they are room temperature.

The odd thing is that the LCD display still displayed +4 and -18. If I power cycle the unit for say 30 seconds, the LCD will show +21 for both fridge and freezer (or whatever room temprature is).

The unit will start to cool again if left off for a while.

I have taken it apart as much as feel comfortable doing and performing tests with a multi-meter. Here’s what I have done so far:

[In freezer compartment]

* Tested temperature and defrost sensors for resistance (ohms increase when they are cooled, and ohms decrease when warmed) (OK)

* Tested thermal fuse on heater for resistance – MM displaying 0 ohms (OK)

* Tested heater terminals for resistance – MM displays around 200 ohms (think this is OK?)

* I can see a build up of frost on the evaporator after 5 mins after freezer is powered on. (GOOD)

* The fan works (OK).

[admin]

Re: Samsung RL41WGTB stops after few hours, requires power c

Hi

If its having to be left switched off for a while then it may be a faulty compressor which was fitted to this range about the age of yours. It would stop cooling but restart also if switched off and on again. This took ages and numerous wasted called to eventually find out. But I would be more prone to recheck the defrost side. The compressor will read correctly and will work once it cools down.

Bryan

[kwinana]

Re: Samsung RL41WGTB stops after few hours, requires power c

r600a wrote:Hi

If its having to be left switched off for a while then it may be a faulty compressor which was fitted to this range about the age of yours. It would stop cooling but restart also if switched off and on again. This took ages and numerous wasted called to eventually find out. But I would be more prone to recheck the defrost side. The compressor will read correctly and will work once it cools down.

Bryan

Thanks for the quick reply, Bryan.

Yes it does seem like it needs to be turned off to allow the compressor to cool down. The compressor gets very hot (a little bit too hot to touch for more than a second or 2).

I’m puzzled as to why the LCD display still says the fridge + freezer are cooling away nicely at +4 and -18, but the real temperature is +21 in both.

[admin]

Re: Samsung RL41WGTB stops after few hours, requires power c

Hi

the display shows the last held temperature. Also as there is a technical bulletin by samsung concerning the compressor fault and is known by samsung contact them to get ir replaced F.O.C.

The original compressors used was MD4A1QL1U/E01 and then changed to MD4A1QL1U/E02 and in 2011 they started to use MD4A1Q1U/E03.

Bryan

[kwinana]

Re: Samsung RL41WGTB stops after few hours, requires power c

r600a wrote:Hi

the display shows the last held temperature. Also as there is a technical bulletin by samsung concerning the compressor fault and is known by samsung contact them to get ir replaced F.O.C.

The original compressors used was MD4A1QL1U/E01 and then changed to MD4A1QL1U/E02 and in 2011 they started to use MD4A1Q1U/E03.

Bryan

Thanks very much for your help 😀

[kwinana]

Re: Samsung RL41WGTB stops after few hours, requires power c

r600a wrote:there is a technical bulletin by samsung concerning the compressor fault and is known by samsung

Where can I find Samsung’s technical bulletins? Had a Google, can’t find much 🙁

[admin]

Re: Samsung RL41WGTB stops after few hours, requires power c

Hi

You can’t. but they know there is one and i’ve got it somewhere..lol
Can’ find it at the moment though.

Bryan

[kwinana]

Re: Samsung RL41WGTB stops after few hours, requires power c

r600a wrote:Hi

You can’t. but they know there is one and i’ve got it somewhere..lol
Can’ find it at the moment though.

Bryan

OK, thanks anyway. If you do find it (and you wouldn’t mind giving me a copy!) then please pass on 🙂

Thanks once again.

[kwinana]

Re: Samsung RL41WGTB stops after few hours, requires power c

r600a wrote:The original compressors used was MD4A1QL1U/E01 and then changed to MD4A1QL1U/E02 and in 2011 they started to use MD4A1Q1U/E03.

My compressor is a MD4A1Q-L1U2-E02

[kwinana]

Re: Samsung RL41WGTB stops after few hours, requires power c

Update: It seems that the overload (attached to the relay) is kicking in. I’ve noticed that when the compressor is still very hot, there is nothing moving inside, also the exit pipe isn’t hot.

Hopefully someone will find this post useful 🙂

Time for a new fridge/freezer!!

[admin]

Re: Samsung RL41WGTB stops after few hours, requires power c

Hi

NO.. It’s time for you to contact SAMSUNG and advise that it’s a known defect. Changed piles of these whilst under warranty and it IS a manufacturers defect.

Bryan

[Author]

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