electric refer repair

series60man · 10-28-2011, 07:18 AM

My 06 Exec has a 22 cu ft electric Whirlpool refer that died yesterday. Seems a little premature to me. I have a old refer in my garage that is over 60 years old and still works great with no repairs. Just getting it out of its built in location so a repair man can work on it is a challenge. Buying a new one means going through the windshield so my repair may cost as much as a new one and I will still fix it. I have always kept it running and use it as a back up to the house. Just ranting.

Rex · 10-28-2011, 08:20 AM

Man don’t you just wish they made things today as good as the 60 year old fridge you have. Just doesn’t happen.

Sorry for your problem. If you must remove it from the coach, check the front to back dimension without the doors on it. It just may fit through your entry door with the top brace disconnected and the door opened more, and the passenger seat and base removed. Another option is to remove the driver’s window. Either will be much less expensive than the windshield.

Stretch · 10-28-2011, 06:21 PM

Series 60; don't panic. Get the local Whirlpool repair guy over. He will help you unbolt and move the reefer out where he can work on it. Worst case is a new compressor. Not that big of a deal. If worse comes to awful and you have to remove the reefer, take it out the drivers window. You can have that frame out of the coach in 15-20 minutes. With the doors of the reefer off, out it goes.
New one goes in the same way. Beats the hell out of wrestling a gas reefer.

Twomed · 10-28-2011, 07:18 PM

Bad batch of inverters in that fridge series. Ours went two years ago! Whirlpool no help 10 days out of warranty. Good appliance guy was able to fix it through the side wall cutout, just slid the fridge out a little bit. Replace cooling fan at same time about $20 that part could save another trip later while he's in there.

Hope yours is that simple too.

Barlow46 · 10-28-2011, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twomed

Bad batch of inverters in that fridge series. Ours went two years ago! Whirlpool no help 10 days out of warranty. Good appliance guy was able to fix it through the side wall cutout, just slid the fridge out a little bit. Replace cooling fan at same time about $20 that part could save another trip later while he's in there.

Hope yours is that simple too.

With respect to the "bad batch of inverters", could you go into a little more detail. Are you talking about the modified sine wave inverter in the coach or something in the refrigerator electronics? Thanks.

R&J · 10-28-2011, 10:29 PM

Whirlpool solid state relays are failing after a few years (5-8) in most cases you will hear the compressor trying to start and then a click sound. Removing the relay and shake it, if it rattles just replace it. Whirlpool has a kit that replace most all the 20-28-cu. SXS and botton mounts relay and overload, part Number is 8201786.
Rich

Twomed · 10-29-2011, 07:59 AM

WHOA....sorry guys. There is an inverter inside the fridge circuit. NOT the big one we use in the coach.

I can see where the that could be inferred...sorry. I think my repair was about $350 and that included overnight freight because we needed to get going.

Sorry for the confusion.

Barlow46 · 10-29-2011, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twomed

WHOA....sorry guys. There is an inverter inside the fridge circuit. NOT the big one we use in the coach.

I can see where the that could be inferred...sorry. I think my repair was about $350 and that included overnight freight because we needed to get going.

Sorry for the confusion.

Thanks. I went to my appliance forum and found this. I think this is what you are referring to. Inverter box

series60man · 10-31-2011, 05:46 PM

I have a repair appointment set for Saturday. I am within the 5 year time frame so some of the parts my be covered by Whirlpool. I was able to move the refer out a few inches but even with the doors removed I will be 1 inch to long and will hit the opposing kitchen counter and it does not move. I hope the tech and I can figure something out.

Mike Canter · 10-31-2011, 08:22 PM

Let me know what you find out because I have the same unit.

series60man · 11-07-2011, 06:44 AM

I was monitoring the freezer since it was full and normally stayed close to zero. When it jumped to 28 and I set it on max cool and then went to 32, I unplugged it and emptied it. Service man could find nothing wrong and it is working OK, go figure. But!!!! It will never come out of the position the factory put it in one piece. With all of the different configurations of interiors, I think the factory guys grabbed the wrong refer without checking. It will not clear the opposing counter. Removing the counter is a big deal. When it dies or requires repair that means removal, I will have the refrigerant evacuated by a pro and cut a large piece of the dividing wall between freezer and fridge so that it can clear the opposing counter. Then I will carefully measure and buy a new one, slightly smaller to eliminate this factory screw up.