Anyone know anything about refrigerators?

[sperry]

I've got a GE Profile refrigerator (I don't have the model number handy since I'm at work right now) with some issues.

At first the ice dispenser just started working intermittently: put the cup against the switch and the light would dim, but the dispenser wouldn't turn over. Playing with it made it seem like it wasn't just a frozen auger motor or something, the motor was actually not getting power at all.

Then the as the ice dispenser got less and less reliable, suddenly the water dispenser started going out intermittently as well.

Then today when I tried to get a glass of water, not only did the water not work, but the whole damn fridge died when I pressed the lever! After a few seconds it powered back up, but now I'm thinking my issue isn't just w/ the dispenser switch or something... I'm starting to think there a bad main relay or a loose or corroded power connector.

Anyone know jack about these things? Or know a local repair shop I can get to come look at it without paying out the ass for them?

[Dean]

Appliance repair out of warranty requires lube...

Sounds like the problem is a short in the door module unless pushing on the fridge itself causes the problem. They usually aren't too bad to get access to.

Service manuals might be on the web.

They are pretty simple machines and easy to fix unless it is the compressor. If you can do all the wiring you have on your car, you can handle this if you want to try.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by Dean

Appliance repair out of warranty requires lube...

Sounds like the problem is a short in the door module unless pushing on the fridge itself causes the problem. They usually aren't too bad to get access to.

Service manuals might be on the web.

They are pretty simple machines and easy to fix unless it is the compressor. If you can do all the wiring you have on your car, you can handle this if you want to try.

I just learned that while GE appliances aren't top of the line these days like they used to be, at least their service folks are on the ball.

Lisa called the service number at about 2:00 (just as I was posting this thread). The guy was at my house by 2:30... I had to race home from work to beat him there. Fridge repairs get priority to help make sure you're food doesn't spoil.

The problem was the main control board. It's not super common, but common enough on this model that the repair guy keeps 4 of the replacement boards on his truck. Either way, the rev1 boards like to burn out slowly, causing the ever worsening operation of all the accessories on the fridge like the ice maker, water dispenser, etc. Once they start to go, you have around a week before the fridge conks out and stops working altogether.

The replacement rev2 board was $170, but the repair guy did what he could for me and knocked the price down to $110... I guess because we've only had the fridge for a year since that's how long since we moved into the house... or he was just blowing sunshine up my ass and the boards are always $110 and he was just trying to make me feel better about it, but he seemed like a nice enough guy. Either way, $100+ for the part, plus the required $100 house visit fee, plus the actual labor charge and tax, and $288 later my fridge it good as new. And the new boards supposedly don't fail like the old ones, and come w/ a 5 year warranty to back that up.

So, I'm not feeling like I got totally raped on the repair considering the excellent response time, quick diagnosis, repair, and warranty. But on the other hand... nearly $300 to keep an only 4 year old fridge working sucks. I guess I shouldn't bitch since I didn't have to buy the fridge in the first place as it was included in the purchase of the house.

[Dean]

That one repair might have paid for the "appliance warranty" when you bought the house though... Hindsight...

Be interesting to see what that board is worth on the Internet... Bet it was caused by a failing capacitor... I'd be tempted to bitch at GE over a known defect...

That is great response though. Glad it is fixed. Was the board in the door?

[sti deede]

Damn. I was going to suggest a kink or blockage in the waterline to cause reduced pressure to the refrigerator.
Glad to hear it's fixed.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by Dean

That one repair might have paid for the "appliance warranty" when you bought the house though... Hindsight...

Be interesting to see what that board is worth on the Internet... Bet it was caused by a failing capacitor... I'd be tempted to bitch at GE over a known defect...

That is great response though. Glad it is fixed. Was the board in the door?

Board was in the back, down at the bottom, behind an access panel. It certainly looked like a bad cap was the failure.

I'm not sure how to get an appliance warranty on an appliance purchased by the original owner. The rest of my appliances are in fact covered under the home warranty we inherited when we bought the house because they were installed by the home manufacturer. The fridge... notsomuch.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by sti deede

Damn. I was going to suggest a kink or blockage in the waterline to cause reduced pressure to the refrigerator.
Glad to hear it's fixed.

That was what I was originally thinking too... frozen auger, frozen water line, bad switch... simple stuff. Then when the fridge flat out turned off because I tried to get a cup of water... I knew it was something electronic and not mechanical, and figured it was better just to get a repairman out to at least look at it.

[Dean]

Ah... when I bought my house, somebody offered me an appliance and water/air heating warranty. Wish I had taken it. It was cheap.

[Kevin M]

We bought the warranty on ours. Of course, we bought a brand new fridge and about 3 weeks after we moved in it quit on us. Then 2 days before the guy got out to fix it it came back on by itself. The guy figured it was an intermittent problem on the control board, but we haven't had any issues since.

[cody]

3 years on the Whirpool appliances that came with the house (all of them) without an issue. *knock on formica*