# What could be wrong with my refrigerator? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 23, 2009, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-my-refrigerator/511240 "2009-09-23T14:34:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-my-refrigerator/511240/1 "2009-09-23T14:34:44Z")
My refrigerator keeps shutting off–it doesn’t completely lose power, as the light stays on, but I can hear the motor stop running and it stops cooling things. Unless I unplug it /plug it back in. Then it immediately starts up again, and it will probably work for a few hours before shutting off again. Anyone ever had this problem? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-my-refrigerator/511240/2 "2009-09-23T14:52:45Z")
The compressor is going out. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-my-refrigerator/511240/3 "2009-09-23T14:56:25Z")
Sonds like a [thermal reset](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_cutoff) in action. If so, your compressor is running too hot. You might try cleaning up the dust that is probably coating it. Unplug the fridge first! ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-my-refrigerator/511240/4 "2009-09-23T15:00:23Z")
And if you have sigificant frost/ice build up inside, you need to take all the stuff outa the fridge, turn it off, and let all that ice melt. Don’t use tools to get the ice off, cause you might damage it. Just let it melt. ---
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-my-refrigerator/511240/5 "2009-09-23T15:24:14Z")
thanks…as I am somewhat ignorant of these things, can anyone tell me what the compressor looks like and how to access it so I can clean it? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-my-refrigerator/511240/6 "2009-09-23T15:28:57Z")
not only could dust on the compressor cause it to run hooter, having dust on the heat exchanger fins would cause the compressor to have to run longer. dust and vacuum carefully to not bend things. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-my-refrigerator/511240/7 "2009-09-23T15:32:44Z")
your compressor is likely underneath in front or rear, a large cylinder. your heat exchanger may be underneath or in back depending on age and design. there would be a front panel or open or panel in rear for compressor. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-my-refrigerator/511240/8 "2009-09-23T15:36:14Z")
> [@batsto](#): > > can anyone tell me what the compressor looks like and how to access it so I can clean it? Looks vary. Here’s a bunch of [pictures](http://images.google.com/images?q=refrigerator%20compressor%20motor&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi) that’ll give you an idea of what to look for. Compressor and the motor that drives it are located at the bottom of the fridge. Generally there’s a cardboard-like panel across the back of the fridge that can be taken off to allow access to it. You have to move the fridge out from the wall to get to the panel. ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-could-be-wrong-with-my-refrigerator/511240/9 "2009-09-23T20:15:43Z")
I would vote for the heat exchanger fins. They must be kept clean of dust or the refrigerator will overheat and possibly stop. They are usually on the back of the refrigerator or underneath. Use a vacuum cleaner to get the dust out.