Whirlpool American Fridge Freezer broken down – help!

[lomu212]

Re: Whirlpool American Fridge Freezer broken down – help!

I have just replaced a capacitor on the rear board and now the ice machine works again, unfortunately maplin where i bought the capacitor only had one available i am going to have to replace all 4 for as there still is a clicking noise ,a cost of only £15.00 for all 4 alot cheaper than £200+ that i have been quoted for two new boards. I have no training as an electrical engineer all I needed was a soldering iron and solder, I heated up the existing solder on the circuit board and when melted removed capacitor,reheated and inserted new one, it is actually relatively easy, if all falls then a new fridge but definately not a whirlpool too many faults.

[jontifosi]

Re: Whirlpool American Fridge Freezer broken down – help!

Hi I have a 8586 152 15011 , 11033 1011 8816
It’s doing most of the above, clicking randomly the fridge is struggling to maintain a cool temp with a fair bt of cendensation inside and the air vent has ice in and around it.

Is it worth me just going for it to replace the capacitors on the back?
What ones fit my machine, so i can nip down maplins.

Is rscomponents better, can anyone buy from them or do you need an account.

Assistance please, I’m ok with soldering, by the look of the board its a bit cold war ish and not particularly intricate so should be a doddle.

Think i’d like to switch the thing off for 12 hours, and defrost the fridge then solder the new bits in and fire it up.

Bearing in mind capacitor costs, do ‘UK White Goods’ offer a circuit board exchange service?

[tur80]

Re: Whirlpool American Fridge Freezer broken down – help!

I had the chattering relays, then complete Fridge/Freezer malfunction. I contacted whirlpool who eventually replied with an offer to pay for all parts if I paid the callout/labour charges. However despite several emails and phone calls to arrange an engineer (am one myself but not recognised by Whirlpool) gave up.
According to data I required a front and rear PCB . I purchased a rear PCB only, and for less than £70 and Bingo..!! works fine. Have now bench tested the original rear PCB and it would seem that few, if any of the capacitor values are within tolerance, as per previous posts.
So many problems from a few cheap components…!!

[jontifosi]

Re: Whirlpool American Fridge Freezer broken down – help!

Just fitted 4 new capacitors, and cant tell much differnece yet, my main issue is the fridge not getting cold enough but that’s due to the ice build up in top air vent, so i intend on giving it a good defrost.

Capacitors were 4 in noBX78 Polyester 0.22uF 0841 at 0.54p each.
Nice colourful orange ones.
Just took 5 mins to solder (i’m a bit rusty)

I did notice there was one big capacitor what’s that do?

Any checks i can do?

[jontifosi]

Re: Whirlpool American Fridge Freezer broken down – help!

Well 18 hours later, 4 new capictors at 54p each, a deeeefrost.
Everything fine and dandy.
Cool Fridge, Cooler Freezer, lets see if it continues making ice? drinks thing going good with no thumping.

Thanks for this post it’s just savd me about £80. 😀

[realengineer]

Re: Whirlpool American Fridge Freezer broken down – help!

you no good to whirlpool engineers 🙁

wel as long you happy 😆 8)

[Ozzy1]

Re: Whirlpool American Fridge Freezer broken down – help!

I have found the answer to the problems (I think)
After many hours of frustration and getting nowhere with Whirlpool service agents etc. I now believe that I have fixed all the problems with my Whirlpool Side by Side Refridgerator.
Essentially, the problem is a bad batch of capacitors that Isaprano (the Italian Company who makes the control Circuit Boards) used in production. It seems that some if not all of the .22uf Caps in the rear module are suspect and also the larger one that I found even after replacing did not operate 100{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d}. It looks like a design error that can be fixed by putting an extra .22uf or.47uf capacitor across this large capacitor. This increases the stabilty of the whole circuit and in my case fixed the clicking noises and the stuttering of the water dispenser and ice maker. Even if the problem is not there or not too bad, it is still a good idea to change all of the capacitors while you have the module open because with time, they will probably fail anyway.
So much for the rear board – now to the front board.
After some months of trouble free operation, the lights and displays on the front panel began flashing and the water and ice dispensers also pulsed when used. Their is also a buzzer that made clicking noises. This board also has some large capacitors on it but not the same values. I found .47uf and .68uf and after changing them found no noticeable difference. I then noticed that C3 (1000uf 6.3V Electrolytic Capacitor) was slightly bulging. After changing this – PRESTO – All problems gone and fridge working 100{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d}. So in summary, these control boards have bad capacitors fitted and it is best to change them all to be sure of fixing the problems. I hope that this info helps some other poor souls who have wasted a great deal of time and energy with this problem and saves them paying for a new board/s or worse a new fridge.

[jontifosi]

Re: Whirlpool American Fridge Freezer broken down – help!

Ozzy1

We’ll my firdge settle for a week but towards the end of week i noticed ice building up again and the freezer temp display says it’s too warm (actually the temp is ok in the freezer.

Help me here.
I want to swap the big capacitor in the back what should i put in its place (two ?)

I haven’t found the front panel yet?
Where is it?
How many capacitors required?
If you know maplin part no’s i’ll replace the big one at back and any at the front.
(I’ve already done the four little ones at back). But could do them again anyway if there’s a btter part no you have?

Cheers

[Ozzy1]

Re: Whirlpool American Fridge Freezer broken down – help!

Your symptoms sound different to mine and most others that I have read about. I supspect that this is caused by something else other than capacitors. If you dont have any lights flashing or things clicking, it sounds like a different fault. Maybe a thermostat problem ?
I recommend getting someone from whirlpool to look at it.
Hope this helps

[FrozenNorth]

Re: Whirlpool American Fridge Freezer broken down – help!

Problem – warning lights flashing, no temp on freezer.
Defrosted, left overnight, all working again, went out to work, came home, problem back!
Appliance 15 months old! – 8586 158 15000
Contacting retailer at the moment as have been advised that under the “sale of goods act 1979” domestic appliances must be “satisfactory and durable” (Test case – 3 year term).
Has anyone else had this problem in such a young appliance?
Whirlpool customer service – only thing i can say is – they are good at getting you off the phone and only wanting you to book a service call.

[kwatt]

Re: Whirlpool American Fridge Freezer broken down – help!

Hi FN,

Have a read at the article, Consumer Rights Myths before you go too far.

Basically durability is a tough one to argue and remember that, whilst you do that and it will take a while, you’re the one with the broken appliance. 🙁

You also don’t as yet know what the problem is, it could be something simple and cheap to put right and, if you read that article, you will see that the rights that you have do not guarantee any appliance (or any goods) to be entirely fault free.

It does sound like a board fault but I’m not familiar enough with the Whirlpool machines to answer much beyond that in this case.

K.

[jontifosi]

Re: Whirlpool American Fridge Freezer broken down – help!

Frozen North

My one performed ok after defrost, until about 5 days later then, fridge not getting cool enough and lots of ice forming in freezer.

I gave it another defrost the other night, this time i removed the aluminium backing on the insie of the freezer, behind this i found a big cooling element which was caked in ice. It made me think meybe it didn’t defrost properly before.

It’s been running now for 4 days and ok so far. no problems yet? fingers crossed.

Try removing the same in yours and a more thorough defrost. Also when you do remove this sheet, there’s a drain pipe in the bottom, i tried to check it was clear but it has an elbow in it so couldn’t prod anything down it. Maybe a cup aof water may test it, next time.

[FrozenNorth]

Re: Whirlpool American Fridge Freezer broken down – help!

Hi
Tried the overnight defrost, switched back on and relief everything looked fine then within a few hours it was back to warning triangles etc.
I will let you know how we get on with the “sale of goods act” bit.
More than anything I am really disappointed that the most expensive fridge i have ever bought has broken down within such a short time. I have previously owned fridges / freezers that just go on for ever.
Does anyone at Whirlpool care about their reputation? If I had read this site before buying I would have chosen a different manufacturer.

[FrozenNorth]

Re: Whirlpool American Fridge Freezer broken down – help!

The other question – Does anyone know of an engineer in the North East of Scotland?

[jontifosi]

Re: Whirlpool American Fridge Freezer broken down – help!

did you remove the rear panel inside the freezer compartment, to ensure full defrost? that panel holds a lot of cold in.

[Author]

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