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It is a Smeg mod. no. FA561X and both the fridge and the freezer failed on me completely a few weeks ago.
I did a bit of reading up and it seems that the compressor relay had failed. Sourced one on the internet and fitted the replacement relay yesterday. Felt really proud of myself, as when I re-powered the appliance everything seemed perfect. I have 2 thermometers and within hours both the fridge and the freezer seemed to have reached the appropriate temps.
Few bits and pieces of food purchased, but when I checked on them a few hours later, although the fridge had maintained its temperature, everything in the freezer had de-frosted. I set the freezer to max. and ensured that the vent from the freezer that helps chill the fridge was closed. Unfortunately the temperature in the freezer has continued to rise. Checking the vent into the freezer, while the air is not warm (as it was when the relay had failed) it is certainly not as cold as I would expect.
One further point, there were slight differences in the electrical specification between the original and replacement relays. However, I would have thought that as a relay is simply a switch, it either works, or it doesn’t.
To simplify things I have left the water supply turned off and I’m going to leave the appliance undisturbed overnight, in the vain hope that it settles down, but I’m not very hopeful.
Is anybody able to shed any light on this ? Thanks in advance for any ideas or help.
Could be as simple as a probe reading reading wrong so the freezer thinks its at temp when its not.
The fridge is working fine with no issues? its only the freezer your having an issue with now?Let me know the outcome of leaving it alone for abit and i will guide you as best as i can
So after leaving the appliance to settle overnight, no improvement.
It appears, that despite initially firing up both fridge and freezer, the repair has failed.
Fridge is currently reading 9-10 degs and the freezer about 12.
As replacing the relay did work at first, that would appear to confirm that it was that component at fault. However, maybe the specification of the relay is important and that is why it is no longer chilling.
Unless there are issues with the compressor.
Would anybody please be able to advise on the part no. and a source for the correct relay ?
you need to email the site shop with model and serial and ask them to see if they can find either the gen part or a suitable alternative
Dave
Kippax wrote:So after leaving the appliance to settle overnight, no improvement.
It appears, that despite initially firing up both fridge and freezer, the repair has failed.
Fridge is currently reading 9-10 degs and the freezer about 12.
As replacing the relay did work at first, that would appear to confirm that it was that component at fault. However, maybe the specification of the relay is important and that is why it is no longer chilling.
Unless there are issues with the compressor.
Would anybody please be able to advise on the part no. and a source for the correct relay ?
When you left it was the compressor running? and now the unit is at 9-12 deg is the comp running? if it is running is it hot to the touch with the discharge line being hot and the suction line being cold? is there any sign of freezing/frosting in the unit?
Before you ordered a new relay did you happen to test the old one to see if it had failed?
You can do a simple test on the comp with a multimeter (only if you feel confident and safe doing it, you can also take the running amps of the comp too)
If the comp checks out okay it may be worth getting it fixed, if the comp has failed it will be classed as B.E.R due to the cost of repairing, i tend to write units off if the comp has failed due to the cost of repair to the customer would outweigh the cost of a new unit
So an update, now I have had time to move it and investigate further.
As I understand, from left to right.
- Capacitor
- connector block
- relay
- compressor
- fan unit
When I now plug in the fan works fine, there is no indication that the compressor is working.
For several seconds there is a quiet buzzing from the relay. When this stops there is silence for 20 seconds or so and then the cycle just repeats.
So despite it starting on the very first occasion this leads me to believe that either the replacement relay has insufficient kick to start the compressor, or the compressor has now died.
Nothing however explains why it worked for a few hours after me initially replacing the relay.
you need to do some research on starting single phase motors to understand whats going on
you could have
faulty motor
faulty capacitor
faulty relayany of which will give you the same result
Dave
At which point I am now out of my depth.
Comfortable with easily replaceable components, but not going beyond that. 😀
Gutted that I now face skipping a £2K appliance, in otherwise great condition, for the sake of something that might be so relatively basic.
Is it likely that a local qualified engineer might be able to sort ? My experience says not. 10 minutes of meddling around the back has previously only resulted in a call out fee and the comment .. “easier to just buy a new one”.
Up until now I have proved them wrong with a dishwasher, washer-dryer, vacuum cleaner and audio amplifier all going on to give me years of service after a little digging around and buying a part for nothing more than a few quid online.
It appears I may now have been beaten.
you could serch here
https://www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/search/find-an-appliance-engineer
the unit could be repaired it just depends on whether you like the price
Dave
hi
the buzzing you hear is coming from the compressor when it tries to start. You will then usually hear a click meaning it has gone out on overload.
It is either the start capacitor and relay or the compressor itself you can check the capacitor and relay with a multimeter and if faulty just replace them and see how you go as they are cheap to buy just make sure you get the same uf capacitor. If the new capacitor doesnt get the compressor going then the compressor is seized and will need replacing.
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