In regards to your second paragraph, that sounds like the opening for the barring tool. It's a place where a simple tool that goes on the end of a ratchet is used to manually turn the engine over during valve adjustments and the like. It should either have a metal door that swings out of the way or a plastic plug. If it has the metal door then it may be there and just not in position or maybe someone forgot to tighten the little bolts down. In either case it should be covered.
As far as the fridge is concerned, make sure there is 120VAC at the socket where it's plugged in and make sure the flue gets hots when on AC. If not then the element is probably burned out.
