Frigidaire Refrigerator Stopped Working in Oldsmar: Compressor Fine, Start Device Bad
- Symptom
- The refrigerator in the garage had stopped working. The compressor wasn't starting.
- Cause
- The start device on the compressor, a start relay and overload in one piece, had failed. The compressor and the capacitor both tested fine.
- Fix
- Replaced the start device on the spot, checked everything and put it back together. The refrigerator is running again.
A client in Oldsmar booked online, and we came out on a Saturday. Their Frigidaire side-by-side (model FFHS2611LWMA, made in 2016) lives in the garage, and it had stopped working.
The compressor wasn’t starting
With the back panel off at the bottom, we found the compressor wasn’t starting. Before blaming it, we checked the compressor itself, and it tested fine.
A bad start device
The problem was the start device that plugs onto the side of the compressor. On this model it’s two parts in one, a start relay and an overload. The relay gives the compressor the extra push it needs to get turning, and the overload cuts power if it overheats. When that piece fails, a good compressor just sits there and the fridge warms up. We checked the start capacitor too, and it was fine.
We had the part with us, so we replaced it right there and checked everything before putting the panel back on.
Running again
The refrigerator is working again. If your fridge stops running altogether, don’t write off the compressor yet. Quite often it’s the start device, a much smaller and cheaper part. More on our refrigerator repairs.
FAQ
Why won't my refrigerator compressor start?
Often the compressor itself is fine and the start device has failed. That's the relay and overload that plug onto the side of the compressor and get it going.
Does a compressor that won't start mean a new refrigerator?
Not necessarily. Here the compressor tested good, and replacing the start device got the fridge running again in one visit.