Desperate repair to fridge. 2 years later still works great!

[BobsYourUncle]

A couple years ago I posted a thread about my fridge conking out when I was FT in Alberta in crazy cold weather. Minus 30 something C and I was living in the thing.

Anyhow my fridge bailed on me. I couldn't get it to work so I bought a bar fridge and parked it on the sofa until I could replace the refer with a new one.

As spring rolled around and I was still using the bar fridge I decided to pull the fridge out and see what I could do. It was dead anyhow so what did I have to lose? Nothing.

Did a bit of reading online and read a few things about people turning the fridge upside down and back a few times and reviving it.
Hmmm......

So I took the fridge out into the parking lot and took it for a walk. I rolled it end over end about 15 times or so, then let it rest upside down for about half an hour, then turned it back over and put it back in, hooked it back up and turned it on.

Lo and behold! It came to life! And it started working again.

I posted about this not quite 2 years ago I think it was. I tried to find my original thread but guess I'm brain dead tonight and can't find it.

Anyhow, reason I'm posting this is because I'm sitting here at my table looking at my temperature readout screen device and the fridge is indeed, still running like a champ. It keeps everything perfectly cold as it should and has not skipped a beat since I did my makeshift repair.

As I type this, Fridge compartment is 1.8C (35.2F) and the freezer is -18.7C (-1.6F) Freezer has been colder the past few days but I had it open a few times this evening.

So, just thought I would report this to those who may be having refer issues and considering a new cooling unit or fridge replacement like I was looking at.

Not suggesting this is a cure all for everyone's broken refer but hey, if the thing is toast anyways, why not give this a try? Worked for me and still going strong nearly 2 years later.

Now if you have the ammonia smell, forget it, your fridge is done.

[korbe]

Byrogie wrote:
Bob'syouruncle has the best adventures. I remember something about melted butter in the furnace vents......

:B

[Byrogie]

Bob'syouruncle has the best adventures. I remember something about melted butter in the furnace vents......

[korbe]

Since some are saying the cart-wheels didn't fix anything, I was wondering that when spring rolled around , and before you took the frig for a walk, did you by chance turn it on first and see what happened?

[dougrainer]

DownTheAvenue wrote:
I don't think turning the refrigerator upside down did anything for you. Your refrigerator quit working during that extreme cold because gas absorption refrigerators have a range of ambient temperatures in which they will work, and you were outside that range. Interestingly, extreme cold ambient temperatures will make it quit working.

This is exactly what caused your problem. Regardless, when people claim vibrating or Burping(turning upside down) fixes a cooling unit. They are not correct. The CU did NOT have a blockage. Something else was wrong and by vibrating or Burping, it did nothing. Just letting it sit for 24 hours OFF would have done the same thing. Vibrating or Burping CANNOT restore a blocked or partially block CU. The blockage is as hard as a weld and is attached to the inner tubing that way. Doug

[Ivylog]

If you can get a vibrating sander (no sand paper) to the bottom coil and some have had luck tapping the coils with a wooden dowel and a small hammer... no need to move the refer.

[2oldman]

BobsYourUncle wrote:
I posted about this not quite 2 years ago I think it was. I tried to find my original thread but guess I'm brain dead tonight and can't find it.

You're fine, it's the forum that's brain dead. Lots of posts are 'missing' from the search here.

[DownTheAvenue]

I don't think turning the refrigerator upside down did anything for you. Your refrigerator quit working during that extreme cold because gas absorption refrigerators have a range of ambient temperatures in which they will work, and you were outside that range. Interestingly, extreme cold ambient temperatures will make it quit working.

[DavidP]

RVhiker wrote:

Ivylog wrote:
Many, me included, have had luck vibrating the bottom coils to bring one back to life.

What is the procedure to vibrate the bottom coils?

I don't think we want to know.

[RVhiker]

Ivylog wrote:
Many, me included, have had luck vibrating the bottom coils to bring one back to life.

What is the procedure to vibrate the bottom coils?

[Ivylog]

Many, me included, have had luck vibrating the bottom coils to bring one back to life.

[Chris_Bryant]

Now you've jinxed it.

😉

[Old-Biscuit]

Even a broken clock is correct twice a day.

[pianotuna]

Glad to hear it is still performing well.