little Sanyo refrigerator - not cooling well, compressor hot

Neil Covington

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Nov 25, 2001, 3:21:37 AM11/25/01

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This is a very small Sanyo brand refrigerator. I found it and do not
know its history, but I would really like to get it working if it can be
done inexpensively.

The symptom is that it does not get cool, and the compressor gets very
hot (hot enough that I could not hold my hand on it). I let it run for
a little over an hour, and there was a contstant quiet humming that I
think sounded normal. The freezer compartment, which appears to contain
the coolant lines does get cool to the touch, but not cold. The coils
on the back of the unit are very clean and do not get warm. I looked
carefully and did not find a fan on this unit.

It looks like there probably is nothing that can realistically be done
to save this unit. If it's a compressor or coolant problem, it's
probably not worth fixing, and I don't think there is anything else that
could be bad. Please let me know whether these assumptions on my part
are accurate.

If anyone has any advice for me on this unit it would be greatly
appreciated. I am a college student and would like to have it working
for my dorm room.

Thanks,
-Neil Covington
nei...@home.com
410-893-3305

Sam Goldwasser

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Nov 25, 2001, 8:04:54 AM11/25/01

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Yep, sorry, either there is no coolant (any damage visible on the plumbing
like someone trying to defrost it with a hammer?) or a valve has failed
inside the compressor.

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kc8adu

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Nov 25, 2001, 2:05:04 PM11/25/01

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look for icepick holes in the evaperator.this is the freezer box.
very common damage.
customer was chipping out frost an it started hissing is a common symptom.
"Neil Covington" <nei...@home.com> wrote in message
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Neil Covington

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Nov 25, 2001, 7:53:17 PM11/25/01

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Upon closer inspection I have found that you and Sam were exactly right.
There is a leak from the coolant line, in the evaporator. It does in
fact look like it was done with an ice pick. I have a friend of a
friend who works with refrigerator coolant from time to time. Is there
any chance that it would be possible to plug this hole and
recharge the coolant system? Could running it for a while (I ran it for
about an hour and I don't know how much the previous owner ran it)
without coolant have damaged the compressor?

Thank you for all your help and advice on this fridge, it is very much
appreciated.

-Neil Covington
nei...@home.com
410-893-3305

Alan 'A.J.' Franzman

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Nov 26, 2001, 2:03:03 AM11/26/01

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"Neil Covington" <nei...@home.com> wrote in message

news:3C019343...@home.com...

You've most likely destroyed the compressor by running it dry for an
hour. The refrigerant also contains oil which evaporates or gets
blown out along with the refrigerant when the system is punctured.
Sorry to tell you, that fridge is a doorstop now.

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Alan "A.J." Franzman

Email: a.j.franzman at verizon dot net

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